Elise stepped into Max’s dorm, trying not to show her hesitation. She stood just inside the doorway with her arms crossed under her chest as she listened carefully to what he had to say and stared at him. “So you love your cruel father. I suppose I can understand that. After all, it was how you were raised. But you can love him from a distance.” A small grin appeared on her face, one practically said ‘challenge accepted.’<br/><br/>“You made a mistake, Max. You placed me in a category with everyone else. I’m a little more stubborn than that. You have no other choice but to go back home? I don’t see that you have a choice to go home. Why would you stick with the same old broken past if you have the chance to change it in the future? Are you just accepting things? Then accept this. I’m not letting you leave.” As if to prove her point, she planted her feet and stood directly in the doorway. “I’m not about to let a good dancing partner run off to someone that might make his life more miserable, or ruin his chances to continue doing the dances he enjoys. You admitted that you’re having trouble figuring out who to trust and that you aren’t sure what you should do. You should stay here at the Academy and give it a shot. And I’m going to stay here and see that you do.”