[Lana's Basement – Late Afternoon]
Ava knocked lightly on the basement door, hearing a soft shuffle from the other side before the door creaked open. Lana stood there with a wide grin, her eyes glowing with excitement.
Lana: (beaming) You came! I wasn’t sure if you would, but I’m glad you did.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfTNn4ZGPE
Ava: You sure this is a good idea? I really don’t think I can do it...
Lana: Trust me, I’ve got you. I’ve been practicing here for ages. You’re gonna love it.
Ava stepped inside the basement, her eyes scanning the space. The dim lighting cast shadows over the ballet barre set up along one wall, mirrors lining another. The floor was covered in soft mats, and a few pink ballet slippers were scattered around. It looked like an actual studio, but this place was still far from the world Ava was used to.
Ava: (looking around) This is... impressive. I didn’t know you were so into ballet.
Lana shrugged, walking over to the barre and adjusting the height.
Lana: (nervously laughing) I don’t exactly broadcast it. But... I really like it. And, well... I thought maybe it could help you, too. You know, get better at it.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zoba5EyD8
Ava: I don’t know... ballet's just not my thing.
Lana: I get it. I do. But just try. You might surprise yourself.
Ava hesitated, but Lana was giving her that look again, the one that always made her say yes.
Ava: (sighs) Fine. But if I mess up, don’t laugh at me.
Lana smiled, leading her over to the barre. She quickly adjusted her stance and put on a pair of pink ballet flats.
Lana: (playfully) I won’t laugh. You’ll be fine, promise.
Ava followed her lead, doing her best to mimic the way Lana stood. She raised her arms the way she’d seen in class earlier, but her form felt clumsy and awkward. She didn’t have the same grace as the other girls.
Lana: (encouraging) Okay, now just try a simple plié.
Ava tried, bending her knees slowly, but it wasn’t fluid. She felt stiff, like she was doing it wrong.
Ava: (frowning) See? It’s just... not natural. I can’t do this.
Lana stepped forward, gently guiding Ava’s arms into a better position.
Lana: (softly) You’re trying too hard. Ballet’s not just about the moves, it’s about feeling it. Try to relax.
Ava bit her lip, trying again. This time, she took a deep breath, focusing on her posture rather than the actual movement. The plié felt a little better, smoother than before.
Lana: (smiling) See? You just needed to relax. You’re doing great.
Ava shot her a skeptical look.
Ava: I don’t know about great... but okay, I guess it’s not as bad as I thought.
Lana grinned back, clearly pleased that Ava was starting to loosen up.
Lana: You’re a natural. But, let’s see if you can do this one.
Lana moved to the center of the room, slipping into a beautiful, flawless arabesque. She held the position with elegance, her body stretched like a swan. Ava couldn’t help but stare, completely in awe of how graceful and fluid Lana looked.
Ava: (in disbelief) Whoa. How are you doing that? You’re, like... amazing.
Lana lowered her leg, smiling shyly.
Lana: Well, it’s taken some time. But you could do it too... if you wanted.
Ava shook her head, laughing a little nervously.
Ava: (shrugging) Nah. I don’t think I’m cut out for that kind of thing. I can barely keep my balance as it is.
Lana’s eyes softened, and she stepped closer to Ava, her voice lowering as she spoke.
Lana: (gently) You’re stronger than you think. You just need to give yourself more credit. I believe you can do it. You just have to trust yourself a little more.
Ava met Lana’s gaze for a moment. There was something in her eyes, something more than just encouragement. It was a softness, a care that Ava hadn’t noticed before.
But she quickly looked away, feeling a strange, unexpected flutter in her chest.
Ava: (laughing awkwardly) I’ll stick to the basics for now. But thanks, Lana. This... means a lot to me.
Lana smiled warmly, her eyes still locked on Ava’s.
Lana: (grinning) You’re welcome. We’ll take it slow, okay? No pressure.
Ava nodded, feeling a strange warmth in her stomach. She hadn’t expected to feel this comfortable in a place like this. Maybe there was more to ballet than she thought—or maybe it was just because she was here, with Lana.
As the day went on, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something different about this time. Something that made her feel more connected, more open. And for the first time, maybe ballet wasn’t such a bad idea after all.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJkFk52U14
