Black boots created a soft resonance as they tapped across the stage. Each movement sent a swirl of white-grey frills bouncing about a pair of legs swathed in white stockings. Clad in the same dress as the day at the Rose Garden, Alice was fortunate it was made of light material despite its numerous signerature layers. With the arrival of summer, it was hot outside. Cicadas droned noisily beyond the walls of the theater. Their chirping was less poignant inside, of which the spider was grateful for. She never really was fond of the noisy insects.

Frosted orbs drifted patiently the front doors of the spacious theater. Jessie was late. Fortunately, the widow had a great deal of patience. Though she was beginning to grow a little jaded of waiting and disliked the symphony of the cicadas. Letting out a puff of air, she halted her walking, now in the center of the stage. Perhaps she should do something to pass the time? She thought about practicing a ballet number, but didn't want to wear herself out. Then an idea surfaced. Maybe...

Taking a step to the edge of the stage, the snowy spider freed her stiff posture and took a deep breath, letting a soft, confident melody in French drift from her pale lips:

Petit oiseau blanc. (Little white bird)
Es-tu un ange? (Are you an angel?)
Brûler des ailes blanches, (Burning white wings)
Dans le feu du ciel.(In the heat of heaven)

Maintenant tomber du ciel. (Now fall from the sky)
Vers le bas dans les vagues. (Down into the waves)
Mousse se bloque sur le rivage. (Foam crashes on the shore)
Avez-vous vu , mon chéri ? (Did you see it darling?)
Cette étoile pour vous et moi. (This star for you and I)

Je ne savez pas qui vous êtes . (I do not know who you are.)
Vous ne savez pas qui je suis . (You do not know who I am)
Pourtant, nous sommes voués à rencontrons . (Yet we are destined to meet)
Un jour dans le ciel étoilé . (One day in the starry sky)

Feet ran to the theater groceries hitting her legs as she did . Her camera sliding back and forth.

Jessie was late!

Jessie had gone in the in the naborhood for the farmers market for a few things. Yet because she didn't have a job yet she had struck up a deal , taking photos for food. She would give the photos back to them next week for there little news paper. She had been early,but there there was a kid,with a puppy and they were so cute...she had to ask for a photo,sigh the mother was fine with the idea,but the father asked her twenty questions.

Shed finally gotten the photo needless to say,though..a family photo rather then the joy full carefree one shed wanted. Sigh.

She finally reached the school sliding into the theater she made her way. White sneakers wasn't the ideal choice as she slid in, neither was the white cargo shorts or pink tank top she wore now that she thought of it.

Yet she was already late no time to change. Yet as she got closer to the stage she froze..was that Alice? Yes it indeed was, white hair shimmered in the lighting , the dress she wore looked warm,though Alice wore it for a reason so it must not be. But what caught Jessie off guard was the singing. The white snowy figure was truly and angel. Jessie slide her things on the floor, happy nothing yet had caught the spider attention.

Jessie lay in wait, listening to each word. The song was soft, at least that is how the ice figure sang it. Jessie had trouble now breathing her lips were dry, what was this feeling? Her fingers loosened the pink and white bandana she wore across her neck. This was like a dream. She took another step forward once the song was done . She thought of saying something but didn't,no couldn't her voice was gone for a moment left breathless Jessie wondered up the stage, unknowingly out of sight. She found her place beside Alice, had she actually snuck up on the spider ? She wondered.

A sigh rolled from the white spider's lips as she concluded her song. It had been one she hadn't sang in a while; one of the first she had ever learned. Granted, it was a melodic and soft one, but being a love song, Alice didn't really care for it much of the time. Though she always found the song to be a bit depressing in the beginning. Not that that deterred her any less to sing it. Regardless, it felt nice to slip into the mellifluous language of French again. She hadn't spoken it since she came to Astrea.

Folding her arms across her chest, the widow closed her eyes for a moment. Where was that girl? A presence was soon sensed, though not entirely processed. Wintry eyes opened. Then she noticed the boyish girl beside her all of the sudden. When did she get there? Alice took a surprised step back, the frills swirling when she moved. She refused to let the emotion connect with her face, and instead managed to keep it blank, her lips ultimately betraying her in the end to part and project a quiet sound. Jessie had snuck up on the spider. She hadn't been paying attention to her web.

Allowing herself to calm before speaking, she took a moment to study the girl in her usual pose. Her clothing was certainly suited for the summer weather - not to mention a bit attractive - though her shoes lacked the proper style for dancing. Oh well.

"You're a bit late, miss McKnight." She commented, though in a more or less genuine lighthearted nature.

She was in a bit of a playful mood though her guard had just been ultimately infiltrated. Perhaps she'd just have to get the girl back somehow. Yes, that's what she'd do. Though how? The widow looked to her partner as she thought.

Finally frosted eyes opened, noticing the pink haired tomboy. It was odd surprizing the sneaky spider. Even hearing a whispered bit of shock from the girl, this was amusing . She would have enjoyed it more is she wasn't so late. It was for sure noticed. " Ah yes sorry Alice ! I got caught up taking a photo and buying food at the market , I didn't mean to be so late "

Sighing she was rambling she left the rest of her apology to a bow pink hair fluttered up as she bent down. Raising up it was clear it was a bit more shaggy then when they first met. " oh, but before I forgot ...Y-you have a great voice , it was really something to watch..i er... I am sorry I caught you by surprise though. It wasn't my attention."

Rubbing the back of her neck she couldn't help but have flash backs of just a few moments ago it really was amazing to see the snowy white haired girl sing. It was just as amazing as the young girls dancing. This only made her excited to dance with her partner. Yet there was one last thing to be said. " I am also sorry I am not dressed for practice ...i did t want to make you wait any longer "

Her hand fell from her neck as she said her last apology. She looked down at her shoes , should she just take them off? No , that would be ridicule. Shed just hope they won't scuff the floor.

"It's quite alright, miss McKnight." She offered in response to the girl's apology.

Fortunately, Alice had a lot of patience unlike many. She was used to waiting for people and things. When a compliment about her singing was made, the widow waved it off naturally, also noticing that Jessie's hair was a bit different. "It's nothing special. And that is alright, as well."

All generations of the Himeno family were taught to sing when they were young. Likewise, the forms of ballet and ballroom dance were highly prided upon from the wealthy family. She herself mirrored the talent of one of the most influential ancestors of the family line, Shigeki Himeno, of whom she had inheritated a piece of her full name from. It was all traditional etiquette to the family. A guidebook, really. Though Alice often cared little for rules unless there was an honest reason to obey them. Spiders typically weaved webs where they pleased, after all.

As for not being dressed correctly for practice, the widow didn't really mind. Jessie looked down, seemingly contemplating whether to take her shoes off or not. They wouldn't really damage the stage, but they would be a bit slippery.

"Just try not to slip."

She didn't really want to fall off the stage again.

She seemed to wave off the singing as if something she did everyday. Jessie pondered on this for a moment but when she really thought about it Alice's family seemed the type to make it a choir,with not much phase for skill.

Well this was all speculation of course. Though it some how bothered her that the icy spider couldn't see how amazing she was. Another caring word left the widows lips , don't slip. Was the main words that was spoken. Jessie nodded as a response. " I won't , so shall we begin?"

She knew she was cutting there conversation short but she also knew that Alice wasn't much of a talker, at least not usually.

She did worry, making sure to keep at least a eye out for her footing , she didn't want to fall of the stage again, that wasn't necessarily the most fun thing ever. Actually it was pure dangerous.




( oc it would be ironic for Alice to cause the fall)

A nod was offered, agreeing to begin. Alice wasn't much for conversation, but didn't really mind speaking with Jessie much anymore. It was a strange realization; one that almost frustrated the her a bit.

Adopting the proper stance, she gently reached out to grab Jessie's hand, letting the other drift upwards to rest in its proper place on the girl's shoulder. Cold, slender fingers pressed with a soft pressure aganist the back of her hand, bringing their palms closer together. The widow's own hands bore fading scars from the time she'd sliced them picking up the broken pieces of glass from the dropped measure. They'd bled a little now and then, but now were for the most part healed and dissolving.

Her mind drifted briefly to the sleep over with Jessie. Of the video she'd seen featuring the girl's mother. How Jessie had brushed her hair to help her relax and ultimately sleep. How she had awoken to find herself curled up with her partner. It had been a rather nice experience. Well, maybe except for that last part. Of all its rare occurrences, why had that little sleep habit transpired then? Thinking about it made the spider wish to sigh in annoyance with herself.

Turning her frozem gaze back to the boyish girl, she awaited patiently for her to prepare herself.

(Haha, it would~ Should she cause it~?)

Meeting her and with her partners she couldn't help but notice the scares. She wished she hadn't been so clumsy so to hurt the frosty girl. She sighed yet she couldn't help but smile though that had happened a lot of positive things happened as well.

She closed the gap between them and rose her other hand to meet the girls waist. They began as they always did. Jessie taking a now perfect start she glided them into a twirl. So far so good. These shoes aren't a problem as of now. With that said Jessies pink gaze made sure to watch were the edge of the stage was. Everything in her right now reminded her oh f how they sleep over went. They ended up cuddling and it was pure joy for Jessie.

Though Alice wasn't the time for that kind of intimate position, when she was asleep Jessie had a hard time knowing that.





( oc yea she should also we should both reflect on the kiss )

Alice managed to keep herself from tensing as the boyish girl connected with her leading position. The dance was soon into motion, and the snowy spider fell into sync after a twirl. She relayed the rhythm of her steps in her head in French. Un, deux, trois...

Jessie had certainly improved since the first day they had danced together. Well, she didn't really require improvement; it had just all seemed as just an act of polishing skills once had. Nonetheless, she kept an almost perfect sync throughout their practices so far. It was impressive, the spider had to admit. Most couldn't really keep in step. But, seeing as Jessie had had prior experience, it was certainly understandable.

Then came something the widow hasn't expected. Though she had been the one to warn the girl beforehand of the possible issue, she herself suddenly underwent a rare stumble, failing to catch herself completely and instead crashing into Jessie. This impact downed the both of them; like before Alice felt only the jolt of the impact yet not any of the pain it might have caused. But...something wasn't quite right in her landing. She felt a rather pleasant warmth against her lips. A softness, too. Ah, wait a second...

Easing herself up off the girl, icy orbs had widened in unmasked shock. She could feel the warmth tingling like fire across her lips. A slender digit glided up to rest upon them. Distracted by her thoughts, the snowy widow had had an unelegant stumble and fell...and her inconvenient landing had resulted in an accidental kiss.

(I apologize for the slight power play here. Hope it's alright~)

Each step was in sink. She looked a the Alice, the frosty girl seemed to be keeping track of each step, though it didn't show but a little nod if that at each count. They glided nicely. Her shoes hadn't caused any unwanted fall or stumble.

Yet just as Jessie thought of that something unexpected happened Alice had stumbled.Jessie placed her hands on the girls shoulders to try and stop them from falling but her shoes finally caused her trouble as the slid from beneath her.

With a ooomf she fell, her back hit the stage floor, shed closed her eyes for the impact. Hands now had been pushed to wrap Alice,well they messily fell against the cool body on top of her.

There legs had become entangled as they feel. Alice's seemed to be elegantly laid between Jessies . How ever Jessies legs were a mess, one lay flat while the other bent between Alice's slight opening between her knees.

Jessies eyes finally opened to only widened. A soft sweet taste lay on her lips, the soft texture was lovely. Yet even when lovely she was utterly embarrassed.

Frozen eyes tightened slightly at the edges, and the snowy widow managed to sit up, breaths tumbling out in temporarily shattered composure past tingling pale lips. She'd just kissed - no - accidentally kissed Jessie from the momentum of the ill-fated fall. For once, Alice didn't know what to say. How to react.

Finally, she averted her gaze and projected a soft exhale into the atmosphere. That made her feel a little more composed. It'd have to do for now.

"My utmost sincere apologies, miss McKnight." She started softly. "Are you hurt?"

Was that even the right thing to say? Everything inside the snowy widow was blaring an alarm. That hadn't been the best fall of her time. Not certainly the best end result either. While she desired to just wave it off, she couldn't bring her icy gaze to refocus back on her downed partner. Maybe it was for the best in this situation.

How would her partner react? Alice was still in a bit of shock, yet endeavored to mask it. Though the warmth still quivered across her now burning lips. The position they were in didn't help too much either.

She was shocked yes but she couldn't just sit there and do nothing. Especially seeing as how Alice had been unraveled and was apologizing. She waited for a moment until Alice had seemed to go back into her iced covered web.

Jessie worried that wasn't the best thing for the girl, but it wasn't necessary a bad thing. She knew Alice's web was one of comfort for the girl so shed let it be.

How ever she did need to do something , and reply to the soft spoken question. " Y-yes I am fine... How are you holding up ? "

Speaking of holding up Jessie thought best to help the girl up , carefully she lifted the girl from the tangled mess setting the frozen figure on the wooden floor beside her she let a light breath go. " I am sorry about that, I am sure it has you very conflicted... And uneasy ..we can.. Stop practice if you'd like"

Jessie mentioned she was alright. The widow felt a bit relieved at this though she wasn't exactly sure why.

"I'm fine." She responded a bit more composedly.

Truthfully, she didn't know what she felt right now. Shock overrided all other senses except for the thoughts of what had just happened. Jessie's lips had been soft and warm -- much more so than her own. It was a sensation the widow hadn't quite experienced before... Maybe just a gentle teasing brush here and there with random prey, but nothing quite like that. Even if it was an accident. Yet...the boyish girl's lips had held a faint sweetness and a warmth that the widow hadn't found entirely unpleasant.

Next Alice found herself being helped up. She tensed a little as normal, but permitted it without protest.

"It's alright. Besides, this was not of your fault."

The spider rarely took blame on herself, but in this situation it had been her who had stumbled and caused it despite ironically warning the girl not to do the same beforehand. She'd recovered for the most part now - or at least made it out to seem so - and had forged her icy guard again. She couldn't let this accident hold her down for very long. But it had genuinely shocked her.

"I-it isn't your fault either, yea we fell, but ... Well now were even heh-he."

Jessie really didn't know what to feel, she enjoyed the kiss, was that wrong? She couldn't help the unconscious action of touching her lips, her blushed gaze looked at the frosty figures lips, quickly looking away. Why is my heart beating this fast! Jessie shook her head and she stood up leaving a hand for Alice to take her hand fell from her lips.

Alice didn't mind the star of practice again, but would it be really this easy just to start up as if nothing happened? Jessie wondered this as she waited for Alice take her hand.

A soft chuckle fell past pale lips.

"We are, aren't we?" She echoed in a more or less amused tone.

The widow actually wasn't too sure how continuing practice would go after that. Would they even be able to focus? She couldn't fully obscure it from her mind. At least, not right now.

Frosted eyes drifted to the hand that was offered to her. She contemplated taking it for a moment. Jessie was surely flustered. Embarrassed, even. Had the spider not been any less composed and iced over, she probably would be the same way. Though with the initial shock devoid from her face, she bore no distinguishable emotion. Everything was internal, rather.

Finally, a cold hand connected with the warmer outstretched one. That little accident had caused the spider to realize slightly just how physically cold she was in comparison to her warm partner. Fire and ice never really mixed well together. But yet that accidental kiss... Alice shook her head of it, sending a snow flurry of white ribbons of hair haloing around her head. She'd enjoyed that warmth...