Welcome!

[renee marie redford]

Renee was practicing on the banks of the canal, alternately watching the water glitter and the people pass by on the road behind her. No one saw here lurking here. In between two particularly squished trees, there was a slight gap that she'd squeezed through one day when she'd lost her bracelet while walking. After picking it up, she'd noticed that there was an alcove of sorts; a hidden room created of trees. Renee liked to call it her special place.

Unfortunately, she knew that someone else knew of it. One of the last times she'd been here, a jacket had was draped on an overhanging branch. It was fairly generic, so Renee couldn't tell if the person was male or female. Either way, she didn't like him or her invading her space.

Renee continued practicing a scene from meeting with giants where maiden aude gets captured by the giantess. She twirled and dipped madly, attempting to master a certain movement that seemed simply impossible. She'd fallen for the fourth time when she finally broke, yelling and kicking the ground in frustration.

The ground was unforgiving, dry and cracked with the hot, sunny, May air. As she sat, hair in her face, skirts around her, Renee heard the rustle of dry leaves behind her.

[katlyn madison reefer]

Katlyn walked along the banks of the canal, enjoying the shade from the tree’s and the sound of the moving water. The trees were bright a green as a slight breeze blew through them before reaching Katlyn and blowing through her currently down blond hair. A small smiled formed on her face as she pushed her hands into the front pockets of her favorite pair of jeans.

She glanced over at the canal and watched the water reflect the sunlight back up at her. It reminded her of the many streams back home in Cody, Wyoming; a small little town not far from Yellowstone. As much as she disliked the place after her embarrassing graduation, it was still home. It was where she had grown up and it was where most of her family lived. Katlyn tore her eyes from the water and made a mental note to call her father later.

She continued to walk along the canal under the trees, simply enjoying the time to think when she heard someone yelling in frustration. She looked in the direction the sound had come from and bit her lip. Should I go see who it is? Why would anyone want to talk to you when they are obviously frustrated? I could help them. You? Help someone? Please. You can’t even help yourself.

Katlyn gasped as she was knocked out of her thoughts by the sound of the leaves rustling as she past them. She looked down at the blond on the ground and blushed, adverting her gaze to the ground. “Oh. Sorry Renee. I-I just heard someone yell and…..um…..wanted to see if I can help.”

[renee marie redford]

Renee laughed. Katlyn was always so unsure of herself, so worried about what people would think of her. Not unlike yourself, a nasty little part of her brain put forth. Mentally sighing, she pushed the thought out of the way. Bother me later, she told it, annoyed.

"Hey Kat," Renee smiled, standing up fluidly. "Do you think you could help me with this step? From the scene with maiden aude and the giantess?" she asked. This was one of Renee's favourite scenes, but when she tried to execute it, her form was never tight enough. Katlyn usually had crisp steps when she moved, so somehow Renee figured that maybe the girl could help.

The breeze blew softly through her hair, stirring it up, and swishing her skirts around her. Giggling rather uncharacteristically, Renee pushed them down and adjusted her tights. With the breeze came the sudden smell of... chocolate?

"Katlyn!" she exclaimed, the frightful step forgotten, "Do you smell that?" she asked, then noticed what she was doing. "Sorry, I can be a little attention deprived sometimes. Do you know the step?" she asked, attempting to get back to the subject at hand. You're going to scare her, and she's going to run far away from you, what with your giggliness and craziness, Renee's brain reprimanded. She looked at Katlyn, hoping that this wasn't true.

[katlyn madison reefer]

"Hey Kat. Do you think you could help me with this step? From the scene with maiden aude and the giantess?"

“Sure,” Katlyn replied quietly, looking down at the ground beneath her feet. Why is she, the lead dancer asking you for help? She’s much better then you. She should be able to do it just fine on her own. Why ask you, of all people, for advice.

"Katlyn! Do you smell that?"

Her head popped up as she jumped at Renee’s exclamation. She glanced around through the trees and sniffed the air. She shook her head in response to the question. “What exactly do you smell?”

"Sorry, I can be a little attention deprived sometimes. Do you know the step?"

Katlyn nodded in reply to Renee before stepping forward, out of the branches and into Renee’s secluded area along the canal. No worries about what Renee would think came to her at that moment. She just did the thing she loved; she danced. She performed the step with ease before the younger girl. When she completed the step she swallowed and stepped back, motioning with her hands for Renee to try the move.

[renee marie redford]

Surprisingly, Katlyn didn't seem put off by Renee's out-of-control-ness. She did seem a bit quiet and unsure of herself... until she started dancing. Renee (for once) moved to the sidelines, mimicking Katlyn's move in watered-down form as she did them. The girl completed the step in front of her effortlessly, and motioned for Renee to try.

She stepped up confidently, sure she would do the move. She'd seen that one missing link when Katlyn had done it; that one thing that Renee had been unable to master. She completed the step with a poise that was exaggerated because someone was watching. The fact thrilled her. "So?" she asked expectantly, once she was done and the flying feeling in the pit of her stomach subsided. "How was that?" She asked, knowing perfectly well that it was flawless. She was Renee Marie Redford, after all.

Renee had the urge to dance wildly suddenly, to give it her all, to spend all her energy and get that feeling that she was as close to flying as possible... but no. She tried to remain grounded. She was standing in front of another person, attempting to act like a mature adult. For however much Katlyn loved dancing, Renee got the feeling that were she to start dancing madly, the other girl would be put off.

[katlyn madison reefer]

Katlyn stood silent as she watched Renee perform the move perfectly. The younger girl had a poise and grace that Katlyn could only dream of. It was obvious why she had been chosen as the lead dancer. Katlyn stood side, her arms wrapped around herself as if she were hugging a painful injury. Yeah, and she’s ten times better then you. What were you thinking when you stepped up and showed her the move? That you could actually show her something she didn’t know? As if.

“So?"

Katlyn jumped as Renee knocked her out of her self-conscious bashing and looked up at the other blond, a small blush creeping up into her cheeks. Her arms around her stomach loosened and fell blindly to her sides.

"How was that?"

“Perfect,” she replied quietly, with a small nod. How in the world could she ever compete with a girl like Renee Redford? You can’t Katlyn. You’re not nearly good enough. It’s surprising you made it into the troupe at all. Yeah. I’ll never be that good.

[renee marie redford]

Renee looked curiously at Katlyn who was hugging her midsection as though if she let go, she would fall in half. Still, she asked how the move had been and Katlyn nodded, giving a near inaudible, "Perfect."

Renee nodded and grinned. "Thanks," she replied, trying to see gracious. She added a mental, I didn't really need you to tell me that. then took it back hastily, knowing it was rude. Renee. You're arguing with yourself inside your head. That is wrong. Stop being so strange! She told herself.

"So," Renee said, a mischeivous look on her face. "Seen Kiers around lately? He's been gone and we needed to practice. The competition is soon."

Katlyn and Kiers were adorable together, and Renee knew it. For some reason, Kiers couldn't see that. The poor guy didn't know that he didn't stand a chance with her. He was too... she mentally wrinkled her nose, old. Renee wanted someone closer to her age, more fun-loving, but stable, and someone who knew how to party. She wasn't entirely sure she even wanted an uptight dancer boyfriend who was always careful of what they ate or did or wore or said. Still, playing with Kiers' mind was fun. She hoped that Katlyn knew she was just joking.

[katlyn madison reefer]

"Thanks"

“You’re welcome,” Katlyn replied, looking back down at the ground. Her subconscious was right. How could she ever compete with her? She wasn’t pretty enough, she wasn’t good enough. She was back-up. Second rate and second best, and it would always be that way for her.

"So, seen Kiers around lately? He's been gone and we needed to practice. The competition is soon."

“Can’t say I have,” Katlyn replied softly, looking away from the ground and back at Renee, a slight blush rising in her cheeks at the mention of her best friend and secret crush. Her liked Renee, simple as that. He would never return the feelings she had for him, she knew that and it killed her inside to think about it.