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My concentration doesn’t improve later either. Not during lunch, which I spend with John and Francesca. They’re talking about rehearsals and the performance, and I pretend to listen, but I don’t register a word because I keep seeing Lia in my mind’s eye. The way she looked when she was asleep in my bed this morning. Her blond hair spread out like a fan across the pillow, with a peaceful expression on her face that I’ve never seen on her before.

And it doesn’t get any better when I finally return to the practice building after the break to rehearse with Lia.

Tyler is here today too. Pearson has decided he should join our rehearsals twice a week, and the rest of the time she and I will be alone. I quickly realize that Tyler is slowing us down, because Lia has already put her walls up again before we even enter the upstairs studio. She’s back to her usual self. Friendly but cool. Perfect and not real.

She’ll never let her feelings show when he’s around, and that’s the damn problem. I have no idea how we’re going to manage this and meet Pearson’s expectations. Or Lia’s own expectations. How can I help her save her dream when I can’t even manage to save my own? In her case, we have no other option because it’s all that matters to her. I know at least that much about her now.

I watch Lia and Tyler closely as we go through the individual steps, slowly at first, so they both get a feeling for their roles. The minutes tick by, but the two of them don’t fit together, not in the slightest. I can sense that Lia feels uncomfortable with him, and I suspect Tyler is afraid of her and her perfection. It’s understandable, because no one can keep pace with that.

I only hope that Susannah and Charlie never drop out at the same time, because Lia and Tyler would never do justice to Swan Lake as a couple.

“You have to put yourselves more into Odette and the Prince’s characters,” I say, even though I know it’s hopeless. They just have no chemistry together. Tyler is good, but not that good, and Lia is getting more frustrated by the second. She’s clearly seething inside, but she hides her disappointment behind a fake smile and tries again.

“Remember, you’re in love.”

Tyler groans, relaxes his shoulders, and returns to his position. As soon as he turns his back to Lia, she rolls her eyes in annoyance, just enough for me to see. I struggle to suppress an unprofessional grin.

“All right, let’s start again.” I nod at them, and a moment later, music fills the small studio. One measure, two, and Lia closes her eyes. When she opens them again, she’s almost who she’s supposed to be. The White Swan.

But only almost, because something is missing.

Her steps are perfect, and every movement is exactly as it should be, including the hesitant smile on her face and the innocent, slightly uncertain look in her eyes. But she’s too controlled again. She can’t show the emotions she desperately needs to show, and I wonder if she’s just incapable of doing so because she’s never been in love.

How do you know how it feels?

You just know, Ophelia. You know.

After three hours, I send Tyler home for the evening. It’s no use anymore.

“Please stay for a minute,” I say to Lia.

She nods silently, her face a mask of cool indifference. She can be a fantastic actress when she wants to be.

“Fine by me, see you Monday.” Tyler grabs his bag with a mock salute and disappears down the hallway.

As soon as Lia and I are alone, her facade melts. “Tyler drives me nuts.”

“I think you drive each other nuts,” I reply, taking a step toward her.

“He doesn’t take any of this seriously enough.”

I tilt my head thoughtfully. “Yeah, but maybe you’re taking it a little too seriously.”

Her expression darkens. “How else are you supposed to rehearse for Swan Lake?”

“Come here,” I say, reaching my hand out to her, just like I did this morning.

“Why?” She looks at me expectantly and crosses her arms over her chest but takes a small step toward me.

I could tell her what I’m planning to do, but I want to find out if she trusts me.

Her hand finds mine, and I breathe a sigh of relief. She does. Even though I don’t really deserve it.

“What now?” She stops right in front of me. I turn her around until she’s looking in the mirror. My arm goes around her waist all by itself, and I pull her toward me until her back touches my chest.

“What do you see?”

She rolls her eyes again, and this time I don’t hide my grin.