Scream Me a Dream

I do recommend, going to the link when you see it pop up. Just for effect.

XxxxxxX

“So really, you have to tell me how you met Rosalind.” Soya laughed as they sat around the living room, Impi playing a game on the laptop Jyrki had set up for her. Soya sat on the couch next to Jussi, while Ville sat on the floor between her legs allowing her to play with his growing curly hair. While Jyrki sat on the floor next to Impi monitoring her actions out of the corner of his eye.

“I’m surprised she hasn’t told you that one.” Jyrki laughed, leaning back against the other couch.

“I’ve never seen Rosalind blush until I asked her how you two met.” Soya admitted.

Jyrki laughed. “With good reason, what does she tell you?” he asked curious as to the story his on again/ off again girlfriend liked to tell.

“Just that her manager got her and her brothers tickets after they signed with Olympia, she got backstage passes, her brothers ditched her and she went backstage where she met you.”

“That is a very watered down version of how we met.” Jyrki laughed. “She fancied Jussi.”

Soya’s eyes widened as she looked over at a grinning Jussi, then over at Ville who smirked. “You knew?”

“Much later.” Ville nodded. “But I’ve heard the story.”

“Rosalind swears you were the only one that caught her attention the minute she stepped backstage.” Soya said.

“Ha!” Jussi laughed. “She made a beeline straight for me!”

“She did not!” Soya laughed, looking at Jyrki for confirmation.

“All true.” Jyrki laughed. “We were told there were a few people that had backstage passes, one of which was a young girl that had just got signed who was a big fan. I opened the door, she literally walked right past me and went for Jussi who was drinking on the couch.”

“She always looked up to you.” Soya admitted, turning to Jussi. “While others who learn to play drums want to be like Rick Allen, John Bonham, Stewart Copeland or even Chad Smith, all Rosalind wanted to be like was Jussi Vuori.”

Jussi grinned. “So she told me, it was flattering really. I mean an eight year difference isn’t that bad.”

Jyrki rolled his eyes. “You’re forgetting that after talking for three minutes you both lost interest.”

“There’s that too.” Jussi laughed. “Lyn and I, we have a lot in common, the fact that we’re drummers happens to be one of them, but we’re so alike in personality that after three minutes of talking, we were already clashing.”

Jyrki smirked. “They got in an argument about what was the proper type of drumstick.”

Jussi groaned. “She swears on Vic Firth, I like mine more weighted and she called me a fucktard.”

“What’s a…” Impi began looking up from the screen.

“Not a little girl word.” Jussi said absently, knowing Impi wouldn’t say it once they put it on the list of words she wasn’t meant to say.

“Fine.” Impi sighed, turning back to the computer screen.

“They were actually yelling at each other.” Jyrki laughed, “To the point where I had to separate them. Literally pick Rosalind up and remove her before Jussi killed her.”

“And I was going to.” Jussi admitted with a laugh. “Anyway, after our yelling match, she said that she couldn’t believe she was actually going to try and seduce me and then she looked at Jyrki and said…”

“Don’t those leather pants lower your sperm count?” Jyrki laughed. “And the rest is history.”

“Jyrki forgets that he literally stared at her for five minutes in disbelief that she had actually asked him that.” Jussi laughed.

“We got to talking, once I was able to regain speech, and she told us that she and her brothers actually had a gig at a small club the next night, if we were interested.”

“We were.” Jussi grinned. “Two minutes of talking with her, everyone was enchanted. So we went and that’s where the rest is history.” Jussi pointed out.

“Her version is so watered down.” Soya laughed then tugged on Ville’s hair. “What about you, I haven’t heard your story of how you met Rosalind.”

Ville laughed and leaned his head back so he could look at Soya while he spoke. “I met her when Jyrki brought her to Finland for Christmas. We all got together for dinner the day before Christmas Eve, she took one look at me and said. ‘You are so not gay.’ Then turned to Gas and started talking to him.”

Soya shook her head in amusement at her friend. “She did the same thing to Josef, only she took one look at him and said, ‘I have the perfect man for you,’ and walked away.” Causing them to laugh

“What’s going on down here?” Bam asked, as he walked down the stairs, falling onto the couch, Jyrki was leaning against.

“We’re talking about Rosalind.” Soya smiled.

“I’m sort of offended I haven’t met this girl.” Bam told Jyrki. “I didn’t even know you were seeing someone.”

Jyrki shrugged, looking at Impi when she tugged on his hand. “It’s complicated Bam. What kulta?” he asked as he looked at the laptop screen.

“I want to change games.” She whined.

Jyrki nodded, and closed the programs for her and listened as she dictated what she wanted to play.

“Does she miss Rosalind?” Soya asked Jussi, causing him to nod.

“A lot, they’re very attached to one another, but we rarely get to see her, so she enjoys being on the bus with us.” Jussi shrugged. “She talks to Lyn every night before our shows, and every often they’ll set up the web cams to talk.”

She smiled at Impi as she watched Jyrki’s moves on the computer, she turned to Bam, about to ask him if he wanted something to eat, when she felt her phone vibrate in the pocket of her boxers that she had yet to change out of. Looking at the caller ID, she hesitated before answering.

“Amelia?” Soya asked, causing Ville to look up at her.

“Well, Soya, it looks like Regan may be able to move in as soon as tomorrow.”

Soya bit her lip. “Really?”

“There’s one little problem.”

“I don’t like problems.” Soya breathed.

“We have to sign all the guardianship papers tomorrow afternoon, Joe has to leave tomorrow evening.”

Soya looked down at Ville who was still looking at her curiously, before she nodded. “Um…let me…give me a minute Amelia.” She said into the phone before nudging Ville forward so she could move.

“Everything all right?” Ville asked as she accepted the crutches he held out for her.

“Mmhmm.” She murmured before she moved to the kitchen and out of hearing range. “Where is Joe going?” Soya asked, thinking of Regan’s father.

“He has a shipment to deliver in Washington, he says he has to leave by tomorrow afternoon to get the truck there in time. Brooke told me you’re not in New York right now.”

“I’m not, no.” Soya answered with a sigh as she leaned against the counter. “I’m staying with a friend, visiting.”

“Is there any way you could cut your trip short?” Amelia asked, “Because otherwise we’d have to wait almost a month before Joe gets back, and I don’t think Mrs. Jacob’s can keep Regan that long.”

“No, no, I can cut it short, definitely. Regan is what’s important right now.” Soya nodded. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“You’re lucky Joe isn’t fighting this Soya, just think about it that way, otherwise we’d have to go to court to get you guardianship, instead of your lawyer’s office.”

“I know, and I’m grateful.” She bit her lip. “Does Regan know?”

“He’s been told, I can tell he’s excited, but he’s not sure whether it’s going to last or not.”

“It’ll last.” Soya assured. “Be sure to tell him that.”

“I will.” Amelia said kindly. “I’ll see you tomorrow at one all right?”

“Perfect. I’ll be there.” Soya nodded, saying goodbye, before hanging up the phone.

“So you’re leaving Ville to go to this Regan?”

Soya looked up at Bam who was glaring at her. “I thought our truce was in effect.”

“It is.” Bam said quickly.

“Then as a friend, you should know better than to assume something about a situation, when all your hearing is one side of the conversation.” Soya told him calmly, before taking a deep breath. “God, I wish I still smoked.” She muttered, before pushing past Bam and going outside. Bam watched as she took a seat at the table outside and stared out towards the bare land, before turning around himself and going back to the living room.

Ville had Impi in his lap, nodding to whatever the five year old was telling him in excitement.

“Hey Ville.” Ville looked up and motioned for Bam to continue. “I think you should go outside and talk to Soya.”

Ville sighed. “I knew everything wasn’t fine.” He muttered, lifting Impi up and handing her to Bam before going outside. Bam stared at the little girl who he held under her arms and raised an eyebrow.

“Hi.” She smiled, before baring her teeth and going for his wrist.

“Impi!” Jyrki snapped causing her to look over at Jyrki, just before Bam dropped her to avoid being bitten. “Only Jussi.”

“But…” Impi started.

“Only Jussi.” Jyrki told her, “Or I’ll take away the biting privileges.”

“It’s a privilege?!” Jussi asked, looking at the five year old. “You’re lucky I love you so damn much.”

Impi grinned as she struggled out of Bam’s hands, causing him to let her go as she ran to Jussi and hugged him. “I love you too isi.” She laughed.

Jyrki sighed. “We really need to break her of that habit.” He muttered.

XxxxxxX

“Hey.” Ville said quietly as he sat next to her.

“Hi.” Soya said just as quietly, picking at the wood of the table.

“I’m going to ask one more time, and you better answer with the truth.” Ville warned her. “Is everything all right?”

Soya bit her lip, but stared past is shoulder. “I have to leave.”

Ville nodded. “I know, on Sunday.”

“No,” Soya said, finally looking at him. “Tomorrow.”

Ville blinked. “What?”

Soya bit her lip. “I don’t want to leave.”

“Then don’t.” Ville told her. “I thought you didn’t have to go back to work until Monday.”

“I don’t.” Soya answered, watching as Ville took out his crushed packet of cigarettes and lighter, taking one out and lighting it. Soya pushed the ashtray that was on the table closer to him. “I have a student, his name is Regan,” she smiled lightly. “He was the one the screamed when he found out it was you on the phone.”

“I remember.” Ville nodded, blowing smoke out the corner of his mouth.

“He doesn’t have the best home life.” Soya said slowly. “His mother died giving birth to him and his father is a truck driver that just doesn’t care. His priority is his job and not his child.” Soya sighed. “I met Regan just as he turned thirteen, his social worker thought ballet might help him with some of his anger issues and I agreed to help him.”

“You’ve known him since you opened this studio.” Ville stated.

“I have. Regan is part of my original ten, the ten that are now in my advanced class.” Soya sighed and brought her good leg up to hug it to her chest. “I’ve watched as he’s been shuffled from home to home, the only bright light in his life is Emmy.”

“Emmy?” Ville asked.

“Another one of my students, they met in ballet, she’s Regan’s girlfriend; her name’s Emma, but everyone calls her Emmy. Anyway, when Regan leaves his home or he is in between them he ends up staying with her. He’s there now.”

“So what does that mean, he goes into another home?”

Soya nodded slowly. “Yes….mine.”

“What?” Ville asked in surprise.

“He’s seventeen Ville, he turns eighteen in August and he graduates in three weeks. I can’t have him going into another home, adjusting to that home so close to graduation, his grades have just gone up, he’s on the track to graduate again, I just…”

“You want to give him a good three months.” Ville said, putting his hand on top of her knee.

“I just want him to be comfortable, he’s always been with good families, a few bad ones, but if I can help him then I will.”

“So why does that mean you have to leave tomorrow?”

“I’m not a licensed foster parent, but in order for me to have legal guardianship of Regan until he’s eighteen, I need his father’s permission. I have it.”

“You do?”

Soya nodded. “I do, but the only time we can sign the papers is tomorrow before he leaves. Otherwise we’d have to wait a month, and that’s even if he’s back in the area in a month.”

“So you have to leave.” Ville nodded, leaning back in his chair as he snuffed out his cigarette.

“I don’t want to.” She admitted. “I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”

Ville frowned and looked over at her. “Who said you’re letting me go?”

“Well.” Soya shrugged.

“Soya,” Ville scooted his chair closer to hers and leaned in close. “You think I have a kind heart because I signed a few autographs in a grocery store for fans. You’re opening your home to a teenager; you have the largest heart of anyone I know.”

Soya rolled her eyes. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“But it is.” Ville told her. “You don’t have to do it, we both know it. It’s three months of this kids life and because you want him to have a good experience his last few weeks of school and his last few months in the system you’re opening your home. Not many people do things like this for purely unselfish reasons.”

“You’re not mad I have to leave early?”

“Of course I’m not, yes I’m upset, for purely selfish reasons, I assure you. I like having you to myself again.” He said, taking her hand and intertwining their fingers. “But we both have lives to get back to, I leave next Saturday and you have your own job to do. We both knew it was coming.”

Soya sighed. “This sucks.”

Ville laughed and gave a nod. “Yes, it does.”

Soya bit her lip, before smiling at him. “One request before I leave tomorrow.”

Ville nodded. “All right,”

“Sing to me.”

Ville laughed. “I already have.”

“No.” Soya said shoving his arm. “You know what I want to hear and I want you to sing it right.”

“God Soya I haven’t sung that in forever.” Ville said, running a hand through his hair.

“Please.”

Ville looked at her, saw her pouting lips and couldn’t help but groan. “Fine, but on one condition.”

“What’s that?” Soya asked.

“Go to the living room, and I’ll bring down the condition.”

Soya eyed him suspiciously, but gave a slow nod. “All right.” She got up, grabbed the crutches and made her way back into the living room while Ville headed up the stairs.

“What’s going on?” Jussi asked.

“Not quite sure myself.” Soya admitted as she sat on the couch.

“All right,” Ville announced as he came back downstairs holding his guitar. “Soya has requested I sing to her, so sing I must.” He teased, as he sat on the floor in front of the fireplace and patted the spot in front of him. “Come on.”

Soya sighed but moved from her spot on the couch to sit in front of him, where he placed the guitar in her lap, causing her to look up at him in disbelief. “I don’t know how to play it.”

Ville grinned. “You used to play it on the cello right?”

“Well yes, but that’s the cello!” Soya cried. “I haven’t played that in nearly fifteen years!”

“And the guitar in thirteen, I think you’ll be fine, and I’m right here if you fuck it up.” He teased.

“Oh thanks!” Soya groaned, staring at the instrument in her lap.

“This is my condition, I’ll sing it, and sing it right,” he teased, knowing that whenever he use to sing the song to her, he would make his voice go as low as it could possibly go, causing her to get flushed with annoyance and he loved annoying her. “If you play it on the guitar.”

“What song will you be gracing us with?” Jyrki asked with a grin.

“You know it Jyrki,” Ville said. “Tuuditan Tulisoroista.”

“Tu-what?” Bam asked.

“Ah…” Ville hesitated as he thought of the translation. “It’s loosely translated into ‘I’m Cradling a Spark.’ It’s an old folk lullaby that Soya loves.”

Jussi grinned. “I remember that one.”

“That doesn’t mean I know how to play it.” Soya whined still staring at the guitar.

“Just…do that thing in your head where you switch the notes.” Ville told her. “You used to do it all the time when you played Linde’s guitar.”

“Yes, but that was Elvis and Billy Idol, Ville; much easier to learn by sight.”

“Much…” Jyrki blinked. “You think learning Elvis and Billy Idol on guitar are easier to learn by sight than ‘Tuuditan Tulisoroista’?” He looked at Jussi. “Hän on vitun hullu!”(She’s fucking crazy!)

Ville laughed. “She’s not crazy, for her it honestly was simpler. Here I’ll start it out then you’ll see it.” He said settling behind her and putting both their hands on the neck of the guitar, positioning her fingers to start the slow song.

Soya kept her eyes trained on their fingers, moving them along with Ville until she started remembering the rhythm of the song and felt his fingers drop into her lap and his deep voice began the lullaby she loved.

“Tuuditan tulisoroista,
Kipenäistä kiikuttelen.
Vaalin pientä valkeaista,
Loujan lasta liikuttelen.
Vaalin pientä valkeaista,
Luojan lasta liikuttelen”

Soya looked up when she heard a small drumming, to find Jussi drumming his fingers on the table to the slow beat of the song. She turned back to her fingers, when she heard herself hit the wrong chord and Ville’s fingers over hers again to reposition them, as he started the second verse of the song.

The song was about a young loved child that was to grow up with a good heart and a happy life. Her mother used to sing it to her when she’d been younger, before her father had become famous for his politics and back when her mother had actually been happy with just her husband and daughter, before the seduction of being at the top of the totem pole had reached her.

Soya felt the tears gather, as Ville hugged her tighter, knowing how the song affected her as he started the last verse, whispering it in her ear so only she would be able to hear.

“Senpä tuudin tuikkeheksi,
Tähdeksi tähän talohon,
Maan hyväksi maineheksi,
Suurionnisten ilohon.
Maan hyväksi maineheksi,
Suurionnisten ilohon.”

Soya set the guitar beside them, not bothering to strum the last chord, before turning and hugging Ville by the neck, hiding her face in the crook of his neck as she cried.

Ville chucked. “I will never sing it again if this is going to be your reaction.”

Soya gave a watery laugh as she pulled away, allowing him to wipe her tears. “Thank you.”

Ville nodded. “You’re welcome.” He nodded up stairs. “You should go pack.”

Soya nodded and allowed Ville to help her up; she accepted the crutches and left the living room making her way upstairs, listening to Ville explain just why she had to pack. Leaning her crutches on the wall of the room, she sat on the bed with a sigh.

As much as she didn’t want to leave Ville just yet, she knew she had to for Regan’s sake. Grabbing her phone back out of her pocket she slid to the middle of the bed, picking at the comforter as she dialed Josef.

“We need to talk.” Josef said.

“I know.” Soya sighed, knowing that Brooke had probably already talked to him.

“I get what you’re doing for Regan and I do approve Soya, but you really need to talk to me before we open our doors to all the troubled teens in New York you become attached to.”

“Just Regan I swear.” Soya said with a smile.

“Sure.” Josef sighed. “I’ve already started getting the room ready, as well as writing up the rules.”

“Rules?” Soya laughed. “He’s seventeen Josef, I highly doubt he needs rules.”

“I think he does.” Josef muttered, “I’m still writing them.”

Soya shook her head. “Do what you want Josef, as long as you’re okay with this.”

“Of course I’m okay with it!” Josef exclaimed. “I wish you would have talked to me about it, before you said he could stay with us, but I agree with the choice.”

“You are taking this much better than I thought you would.” Soya admitted.

“Honestly Soya, I’m surprised it took you this long to invite him to stay here. Either way, it’s fine by me.”

“Well in that case, I need you to pick me up tomorrow morning, not Sunday.”

“Why?”

“I have to sign everything tomorrow afternoon, before Joe leaves, otherwise he leaves and who knows when he’s back.”

“Are you all right with leaving, you sound a bit upset?”

Soya laughed. “I’m fine. Ville just made me cry is all.”

“He what?!” Josef asked, causing Soya to laugh as she heard the chair he was sitting in scratch the floor.

“He sang a song, and the song makes me cry.” Soya laughed. “He’s been a saint I swear, you don’t have to come and protect me, everything is fine.”

“Good.” Josef sighed in relief. “I’ll be there in the morning, then.”

“Thank you.” Soya bit her lip and couldn’t help but ask. “Hey, have you been to your e-mail lately?”

“Just finished clearing it, why?” Josef asked.

“Hannu was supposed to e-mail you with some links with buildings, I was just wondering if he had.”

“Oh.” Josef laughed. “He did.”

“He did?” Soya asked in surprise. “Why didn’t you send them to me?”

“I must have forgotten.” Josef said, though she could hear the smirk in his voice. “Just as you forgot to tell me that ‘The 69 Eyes’ played in Bam’s bar last night.”

“You bastard.” Soya laughed. “I swear I didn’t know they were even in town until Bam introduced them. They don’t leave until tomorrow afternoon, so you’ll still be able to see them, and they have Impi with them.”

“What is that girl doing with them?” Josef laughed.

“She snuck onto their bus.” Soya grinned. “She’s gotten so big, Josef.”

“I bet. Well, since I’m going to still meet them and see Impi, I’ll send the links. Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a dance studio in Finland?”

“It’s a fairly new idea, Hannu’s looking around for buildings for me; he said he knew of a few in Helsinki I might like.”

“There’s one in particular that caught my attention, I’ll send you that one. Hannu said that out of all of them, he thought this one was the best and I agree.”

“Well, I’ll take a look at it.”

“Perfect, it’s sent. I’ll be there around eight?”

“That’s fine.” Soya said. “Thanks Josef, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She heard him say goodbye before hanging up the phone, grabbing her laptop off the floor and booting it up. She opened her e-mail box and found Josef’s email, opening that one and clicking the link that was attached.

“Oh my god.” She whispered as she grabbed her phone and blindly dialed Hannu’s number, not surprised when she got his voicemail. “I want it,” she said without any type of greeting. “You were right, it’s perfect and I want it. I don’t care about the price, I don’t care if I have to speak to Mr. Jolien himself, I want it Hannu. I’m prepared to meet any price, tell them that please…It’s Soya by the way.” She said absently before hanging up the phone to stare at the picture on her screen.

“Unbelievable.” She whispered with a grin.