I watched her as the twirled around. She had told me a hundred times what all these moves were called, but I was completely oblivious. This was ballet, and she was good at it, and that’s all I knew. I wasn’t even sure what play they were working on. It was some production, something big, something promising a huge career. Something promising fame. But I knew better.

     She didn’t care about any of that. She was simply there to help. She wasn’t going to go on tour, she wasn’t going to get her shot, she wasn’t going to leave. She was going to stay here. With me. And I knew that that was all that mattered to her: Me.

     She’s tall and thin and I’m amazed she doesn’t just break. But she is like liquid mercury and it’s magical. The whole set is this green-blue-gray colour and everyone is wearing black or silver, except for her. She’s wearing this amazing off-white, which only enhances her magnificence.

     They’re all watching her, whether they’re looking at her or not. They can’t help it as much as I can’t. She has admirers and fans and she’s completely oblivious to it. She comes home and sits in front of the mirror and brushes her hair blankly. She searches herself with every movement trying to see what they all see, because she can’t see them looking.

     They’re done practicing at this point, and I wait about a half hour before the dancers begin to reappear from backstage. They’re all skinny with long hair pulled back and high cheekbones. They giggle and laugh and wave at me and I lightly wave in response. Finally she appears.

     I stand up and begin to clap. All the other dancers turn around from where they are and look. They start to giggle jealously and get dreamy looks in their eyes. She blushes and walks gracefully up to me. She is never without grace, even though she doesn’t realize it.

     “Heero!” she blushes.

     “I wish someone would do that for me!” one of the girls says, walking by. “Lucky Ayria! She has the best audience in the world!” Ayria blushes even more. For the life of her, she has no idea what they all talk about.

     “It’s not the audience,” I say proudly. “It’s our beautiful Prima Donna!” They all laugh and begin to clap as she stands helpless.

     “Heero!” she chastises. “You’re always giving me too much credit! I’m not even in this ballet. I’m simply-“

     “Simply helping,” I say, cutting her off. “This I know.”

     “Then why…”

     “Because, you are well worth it.” We walk out into the freezing cold. The snow is whipping around gray and white and everything is dingy. Her cheeks instantly go pink and I wrap an arm around her.

     “Christmas is coming.” She smiles.

     “I know. I don’t want you to get me anything though.” I roll my eyes dramatically.

     “I’m well aware of that.”

     “Yes. Well. I just don’t want you to spend money on me. That’s all.”

     “I want you to meet my friends,” I say, smiling.

     “They’ll be shocked to see you, I’m sure.” I smile.

     “You’ve changed so much since I met you. You smile now, for instance.”

     “Well, one of us has to,” I mutter. “And besides,” I say, turning to her.

     “Like I don’t have reason!” Her cheeks turn red.

>