Of course, this ballerina was nothing short of utterly perfect in Ida’s eyes, whose bright smile rendered the witch only an inch away from a complete swoon. The fact that she made the ballerina smile only bolstered her confidence enough to prattle on. For the record, she veritably blacked out of all the subsequent pleasantries and introductions, the upcoming performance and future shows – the witch all too enamored by the curl of the woman’s dark hair framing her face, or the pretty red stain she wore on her lips, or the tinkle of her laugh. Love feels so strangely like obsession, Ida thought at some point.

So immersed in her obsession, Ida nearly forgot she was there with Mister Greengrass at all. The woman’s touch on her arm threw her heart up in her throat, and it took a moment for Ida to overcome her shock enough to understand what Ms. Voss had suggested. A quick venture together, to the powder room?!

They were both looking at Mister Greengrass for some reason, though of course, he would only find Ida’s expression to be utterly elated. Based on everything they’d discussed, she knew he’d say yes, so she volunteered – “Oh, of course! I shall… find you later, Mister Greengrass?” And before she knew it, Sophia had taken her arm and started to tug her away. It felt an awful lot like she was abandoning him, her dear companion with all his friendly advice, but she would die before she missed a chance like this. The witch turned her head just as they disappeared around a corner, waving back at him as she mouthed silently– “Don’t worry!” …Not that he was worried. But Ida wasn’t going to go on and do anything stupid, like declare her love or anything.

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