Scream Me a Dream

“Jada! Where in the world is Jada!” Soya yelled over the sixty girls and boys that were roaming the backstage, all of which were getting dressed, practicing in small groups or just catching up with their friends that they hadn’t seen since their last dance class.

“Right here, Miss Soya.”

Soya looked down at the small voice and gave a sigh of relief. “Where did you disappear to?” she asked the five year old.

“Bathroom.” Jada said innocently, blinking up at her with wide brown eyes.

“Okay, sweetheart, if you need to use the bathroom, remember to ask one of the older girls to take you, or ask me or Miss Brooke, all right? I can’t have you wandering around by yourself.” Soya kindly reminded kissing the top of the girl’s head.

“Sorry.” Jada whispered.

“It’s okay, now go join your group, all right?” Soya said pointing towards the group of girls who were running around.

Jada nodded enthusiastically before running off. Soya dropped her head and took a deep breath, reminding herself that the end result of this damn thing was always worth it.

“Tired yet?”

She looked over her shoulder and groaned as she leaned her forehead against Josef’s shoulder. “Never again Josef, I can’t take the stress.”

Josef laughed and rubbed her back. “You tell me this every year, and every year I remind you about what you say, and you dismiss me and say, ‘Don’t worry Josef, this year will be different’ and it never is.”

“Remind me I love my job.”

“You wouldn’t have any other one in the world.” Josef laughed, “Now where’s your cell phone?”

“In the car.”Soya shrugged, pulling out of Josef’s arms. “Why?”

“Your man’s been trying to call you.” Josef said lifting his cell phone.

“He’s not my man!” Soya said, hitting his arm before taking the cell phone. “Ville?”

“Soya.” She could hear the grin in his voice and knew he’d heard what Josef had said and her response.

“Josef said you’ve been trying to reach me, sorry I’ve left my phone in the car.”

“It’s fine, we’re just wondering where the theatre is, Bam can’t find it.”

Soya laughed, “It’s a bit hidden.” She admitted, as she figured out where they were and directed Ville the right way. “Just park in the back lot, you’ll see my car next to a green VW Beetle and Josef’s car.”

“Perfect.”

“Uh…I should probably tell you there’s a fee to enter, it’s five dollars.”

Ville chuckled into the phone. “I’m sure a poor man like myself, can handle a five dollar fee.”

“It’s for a good cause, I swear.” Soya laughed. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Ville hung up the phone, sticking it in his pocket as Bam parked the Hummer across from Soya’s blue Mini Cooper.

“So how long does this thing last?” Bam asked, looking at Ville through the rearview mirror, only to turn and look at his wife when she hit his arm.

“Be nice, it’ll be fun.” Missy told him. “Plus, maybe you’ll get a laugh out of the kids who fall.”

Ville shook his head in amusement as he got out of the car, while Bam laughed.

“I’m not that much of a bastard.” Bam said as he took Missy’s hand and followed Ville towards the front door, where parents were milling around talking. They walked inside the theatre and were greeted a red headed woman, sitting at a table manning a brown metal cash box.

“Welcome to the annual showcase of Soya’s Dance Studio.” The woman said with a smile. “The tickets are five dollars.”

Bam looked over at Ville, who rolled his eyes and produced fifteen dollars; she placed the money in the cash box, before counting out three pamphlets and three orange tickets that looked like carnival stubs.

“Here are your programs and tickets.” She said holding them out for Ville, Ville was about to thank her when they saw a girl rush up to the table, gripping the back of the older woman’s chair and breathing hard.

“Mom!” she said, her breathing labored as she pushed her short red hair out of her face.

The woman turned and looked at the red head with wide eyes. “Jesus Emmy, what’s wrong?”

“I can’t find my other set of tights!”

“Oh damnmit, Emmy! You gave me a goddamn heart attack.” The woman scolded.

Bam grinned at the woman, liking her more by the minute.

“My tights, mom!”

“Check your bag. I’m not your maid, you were responsible for getting your things together before you left for school. I’m sure Soya has extras, ask her.”

“I can’t just ask…” Emmy trailed off as she caught sight of Ville and frowned at him, before sliding her gaze next to him and looking at Bam, before giving a small gasp and running off again.

“You better have your inhaler!” The older woman yelled after her, before turning back to Ville “I swear the older she gets the weirder she gets.” She grinned before pointing to the doors. “Doors right through there honey.”

“Thanks.” Ville nodded, before ushering Bam and Missy into the theatre, deciding to sit near the back. They took their seats, Ville near the aisle as he watched the parents talk amongst themselves. It was easy for Ville to pick out the parents who had been to one of the showcases before. Those parents were standing in the aisles, talking with other parents, all of them trusting enough with their surroundings to leave their personal items in their seats, while the new comers either gripped their purses or bags tightly with them as they talked or were already seated, not sure what to do with themselves.

The small community Soya had created with her dance studio amazed Ville, people who would probably never talk to each other on the streets in passing were laughing with each other. He noticed a younger man with a Mohawk talking with an older woman who was more conservative in her dress, the woman laughing and nodding and whatever the young man had said. Simply amazing.

“If you’re looking for Soya, she’s right there.” Bam said, breaking Ville out of his musings. He looked up to see where Bam was pointing, only to see Soya standing on the stage with a blonde woman he knew as Brooke, and the younger red headed from earlier, who he remembered was named Emmy.

Emmy pointed towards the back, a large smile on her face, causing Soya to look at her with an amused smile, before she pointed towards the curtain, obviously sending the girl back with Brooke, before making her way off the stage.

He watched her with a smile as she walked down the aisle, greeting some of the parents by name, and introducing herself to the newer ones. She was in a pair of black tailored dress pants and a sleeveless cream-colored ruffled blouse that cinched neatly at her waist with black lace detail on the ruffle. She looked every inch as the professional dance teacher, especially with her hair up in some elegant twist that left him baffled as how she had managed to twist all of her hair into it. He stood when he saw her get closer, hugging her seconds later when she reached him and immediately walked into his arms.

“Hi.” She said, as she pulled away, but not leaving his arms completely.

“Hey.” he smiled, before leaning down and kissing her softly.

“I fucking knew it!” They both pulled way and turned to Bam who was smirking at them. “I knew you both hooked up!”

“Yes, Bam, and know the entire theatre knows.” Missy hissed, before looking at Soya. “Sorry, there’s only so much I can do to keep him quiet.”

“It’s fine.” Soya laughed, pulling away from Ville completely, though Ville kept her at his side by interlocking their fingers, his thumb playing with the white rose on her ring, which lay on her ring finger. “I’m glad you guys came.”

“I told you we would.” Ville said, as he sat back in his seat, though Soya kept near him still holding his hand.

“Who knew Ville Valo enjoyed watching children do ballet.” Soya teased, causing Ville to groan.

“You make it sound bad.”

Soya laughed, and kissed the top of his head, an action she would have never been able to do had he been standing.

“Soya, those shoes are adorable!” Missy told her. “Where’d you get them?”

Soya looked down at her black lace heel booties and couldn’t help but smile; they were one of her favorite pairs. “Birthday present. I practically drooled all over them when I saw them in the window last year, Josef got them for my birthday, and an as an apology present too.”

“Apology?” Missy asked.

“My ankle twisted about a week before my birthday due to his idiotic dare, he still felt bad. Apparently, eight hundred dollars worth of bad.”

“Eight hund-” Bam trailed off as he stared at the shoes.

“Dolce and Gabbana.” Soya laughed. “Shoes are definitely one of my indulgences, especially when someone else buys them for me.”

“Those are really high heels.” Ville pointed out.

Soya rolled her eyes. “I’m wearing the damn brace, and because of you ratting me out, Josef and Regan both had me on couch rest ever since I’ve been back. If I’m not at home sitting down, Regan forces me into my office and makes me sit down when I’m at the studio. I’ve barely walked anywhere, trust me, my ankle is fine.”

Ville gave her ankle a wry glance before looking up at her. “All right.”

“I’m fine!” she laughed, only to frown when she felt something tug on her pant leg. Looking down she saw the big brown eyes of Jada staring back at her.

“Jada.” Soya frowned, looking around the aisle for one of the older girls but looked back down at the five year old when she didn’t see one. “Sweetheart.” She started pulling her hand out of Ville’s to crouch down to Jada’s height. “What have I told you about wandering around here by yourself. You have to have one of the older girls come with you.”

“But Miss. Brooke is watching me.” Jada said, pointing towards the stage. Soya looked up, sure enough Brooke was on the stage, her watchful eye on them. Soya gave a wave, causing Brooke to give her a thumbs up before disappearing behind the curtain.

“What are you doing out here Jada, you need to be with your group.”

“Miss. Brooke sent me out here; she said if you saw me you would panic.”

Soya sighed. “Of course she did.” Standing back up, she looked at the group with a smile. “I should go back, I think we’re about to start. I hope you guys enjoy it.”

Ville grabbed her hand before she left and tugged her down, kissing her lightly. “I’ll see you after.”

Soya smiled against his lips. “Definitely.” She whispered before turning away and grabbing Jada’s hand.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Jada asked, looking over her shoulder at Ville, who grinned.

“Dude! Tell!” Bam said, looking over at Soya who had reached the stage, lifting Jada onto the stage and pointing to the curtain, before climbing up the set of stairs herself.

“Nothing to tell Bam-Bam.”

“Bullshit!”

Ville shook his head. “Really there’s nothing to tell Bam. It’s a kiss, nothing more.”

“That’s such complete and utter-” Bam started to rant, only for Missy to slap a hand over his mouth. She looked over at Ville, while the smirk he wore and the raised eyebrow all read amusement, Missy could see frustration and sadness swirling in those green eyes of his.

“Ever think that when Ville says there’s nothing to tell, there really is nothing to tell?” Missy asked.

“But-”

“Or maybe he just doesn’t want to talk about it with you.” Missy said blatantly with a roll of her eyes.

Bam looked at Ville who had turned back to the stage, before looking at his wife. “So let it go?”

“I think that would be best babe.” Missy nodded, knowing that for his friend Bam would willingly let it go, though it didn’t mean he liked it. Bam turned back to the stage, where Soya had just started walking out from behind the curtains. She had papers in her hand as she walked over to the microphone stand, only to find that it was too short.

Ville chuckled as he ran a hand through his hair with a grin.

“What?” Bam asked.

“Microphone stands have never been Soya’s friend.” Ville said watching as she glared at the stand dropping her papers on the floor before she attempted to adjust it.

Soya groaned when she found she couldn't loosen the microphone stand to adjust the height. Always the damn microphone stand, she groaned to herself as she stood back up and walked towards the side of the stage where she knew Regan was standing.

“Regan.” She said, causing his eyebrow to raise.

“I thought you said you could do it yourself.” Regan teased as he followed her back on stage.

“Well apparently I can’t.” Soya muttered.

“With all your rockstar friends,” Regan said, loosening the stand and lifting it up for Soya. “You’d think you’d be able to adjust a simple mike.”

“They’ve never liked me.” Soya muttered.

“Or maybe you’re just not strong enough.” Regan grinned picking up her papers and giving them to her.

Soya grinned back at him. “You’re so lucky that I need you to do so many errands during the week, otherwise I would so ground you.”

Regan couldn’t help the snort that escaped him. “Please, we both know Josef is the disciplinarian in the relationship.”

“Go!” Soya laughed pointing back towards the curtain, before motion for Jeremy, their lightening technician to lower the lights. Sure enough the lights dimmed and the bright spotlight flashed on her, causing her to wince. Way too bright.

“Jeremy” she said talking into the microphone. “You got to lower the lights please.” She rolled her eyes when the light got brighter. Jeremy never paid attention to her, and she had to wonder why she continued to hire him. Walking over to the side of the stage again, she called for Josef, who walked out with her, wincing at the lights himself.

“Jeremy, baby,” Josef cooed in the microphone, causing a few snickers from the crowd. “Dim the spotlight hon, just like we practiced.” The spotlight started to dim, causing Josef to grin. “Perfect, now keep it like that all right, just like rehearsal.” He turned to Soya “All yours.”

“Thank you.” Soya said, gripping his arm.

“It’s going to go great.” He whispered in her ear, before walking away to help with the groups backstage.

“Hello all.” Soya greeted, smiling at the parents that were starting to take their seats. “If you’ll take your seats, we’ll get started.” She looked down at the notes she’d written down, only to fold them in half and hold them at her side.

She always wrote things down thinking she would need them, the nervousness of speaking in front of the crowd seemed to overwhelm her at times. But every year as she stood in front of the parents she’d gotten to know and adore and the nervousness washed away as she looked over the crowd.

“For all you veterans out there,” she started with a smile. “Welcome back, it’s great to see all of you again, for all the new parents out there, I’m Soya Toivonen, I haven’t gotten the pleasure to meet all of you yet, and I’m hoping that that will fix itself soon.” She admitted, she loved meeting the parents, loved praising their children, and hearing the stories of how much they loved coming to her studio.

“When I first opened the studio five years ago, I swore I would do a showcase twice a year, so the children would be able to show you just how hard they’d worked and that I wasn’t taking your money for no reason.” She teased, causing some of the parents to laugh.

“Unfortunately, due to my own dancing schedule and the guilt I felt just thinking of Brooke organizing all of this on her own, we’re only able to pull this off once a year, and even then I swear I’m going to start planning months in advance, only to find all of us pulling this all together in a week.”

She looked over the crowd, and instantly caught Ville’s green gaze, causing her smile to become just a bit wider. “Your children, your brothers and sisters, your friends.” She said, thinking of everyone in the crowd. “Have worked amazingly hard the last six months on each and every performance you’re about to see. I know I was blown away at rehearsals, I hope you all feel the same.”

Biting her lip, she looked down at the program to see who was first, even though she knew the schedule like the back of her hand. “The first group you’ll see if Miss Evie’s toddler class, doing a scene from their recital from last month ‘The Ladybug and the Frog’.”

She smiled as the lights dimmed and changed according to the piece. Turning off the microphone, she moved it out of the way, before walking backstage, watching as the toddler class lined up in front of Evie, as Evie pulled her long curly crimson hair back into a bun.

“Okay.” Evie smiled as she ushered the kids out.

“Five bucks says twenty seconds.” Evie muttered to Soya, causing her to laugh.

“I don’t know, they seemed pretty focused at rehearsals, I say thirty five.”

“You,” Evie grinned. “Have a deal.” She said, shaking Soya’s hand before walking onstage with her class.

“And we’re off.” Josef muttered, as the music for the piece started and they watched as Evie led her class into the short piece of chorography. She looked over at Josef, when she saw him lift his wrist, looking at his watch, before looking back on stage.

“What are you doing?” Soya asked.

“I bet forty.” Josef muttered. “Twenty down.”

She looked at the watch, watching the seconds tick by, then looked back up at the class and saw them starting to lose their focus. “I just need one.” Soya muttered knowing once one of them started to do a bunny hop; all of them would follow, she looked back at the watch and groaned when her thirty five seconds had passed. When she looked up, she saw one girl standing the middle of the others, frowning at Evie.

“Two seconds.” Josef muttered, watching her, sure enough the girl still confused, starting doing a little hop in the middle of the stage, causing the rest of the class to follow little by little. “Yes!” Josef said pumping his fist in the air.

“I think it’s a little mean that you bet on them.”

Soya looked at her side and smiled at Emmy, ruffling the girl’s hair. “You’re just sore because you bet the minute.”

“One of these days.” Emmy vowed.

Soya would have felt guilty if it had been any other class, but with the toddler class it was expected of them. They were young and lost focus easily and really, what was more fun? Doing a dance routine that was difficult and long for them, or hopping like a bunny. The bunny always won in the end, it was just a matter of when. It was a bet throughout all the students and teachers, some optimistic souls swore the toddlers would make it the entire two minute while some bet low swearing they wouldn’t make it ten seconds.

Soya always bet thirty-five seconds, some she would win some she would lose. Either way she knew the toddlers, well enough they would never make the full two minutes. Josef on the other hand, always won.

The lights dimmed again, and Evie walked back towards them, her class following in their hopping position as the laughter of the crowd followed them.

“Who won?” Evie asked.

“I did of course.” Josef smirked proudly.

“Ok, seriously.” Evie said, glaring at Josef, “Which one of my kids’ palms are you greasing?”

“I am insulted!” Josef said, placing a hand over his heart. “I would never bribe your students!”

Soya rolled her eyes. “To win, yes you would.” She laughed, before she stepped back on stage.

Ville watched amazed at the talent some of the younger kids had. While the toddler class had even made Bam chuckle, the other classes had held all of them captive. From the slow performing art piece the beginners’ class had done, to Josef’s intermediate class with their more intricate moves that had Ville swearing they were an advanced class.

“I didn’t think kids could dance like this.” Bam admitted. “I mean I know they do but-“

“It’s amazing.” Ville agreed as the dancers finished, causing applause to erupt throughout the theatre. Soya stepped out again with a grin as the dancers filed off stage grinning to each other, and even getting high fives from Soya before she turned the microphone back on.

“We’ll take a fifteen minute intermission right now, before the intermediate class steps out again with a dance they’ve choreographed themselves, and then with a performance from the advanced class.”

Soya was about to take a step away when someone shouted from the backstage, causing Soya to grin and step back out to the microphone. “Sorry what was that?”

The shouting came again, only for Soya to look behind her shoulder. “I still can’t hear you.”

One of the girls that had just been on stage got pushed out from behind the curtain, and rushed over to Soya, whispering to her.

“That’s all you guys, I’m not saying a word, but you can.” Soya said, taking the microphone from the stand and handing it to the girl. The girl stared at Soya wide eyed but took the microphone and looked out at the crowd, obviously nervous.

Soya placed a hand on the girls shoulder and prodded her into action gently.

“Um….hi.” she said quietly. “I’m Jenna, I’m…uh…part of the…uh….intermediate class.”

“Go ahead and tell them.” Soya told her, her voice loud enough for the microphone to pick up.

“Um…a few months ago before Miss Soya and Mr. Josef went on their tour, they made…a….uh…bet with us.”

“’Bet’ is so not the word I use.” Soya said, causing the girl to smile up at her.

“We were, uh, talking about how a lot of us had never been to Disneyland and Miss. Soya and Mr. Josef had admitted they’d never been either. So we asked if we all worked really hard if we could all go.” Jenna admitted with a grin. “Miss Soya laughed and said that if we were able to raise the money for airfare and a hotel for a week, she’d be more than willing to chaperone.” She gave the microphone to Soya, for her to finish, causing Soya to chuckle.

“Josef,” Soya started. “Then goaded them, by saying that if they raised half the money we would fund the rest, mostly because he doubted they would actually do it. When the advanced class heard about this, they wanted to be a part of this also. Josef and I never thought they would all get so organized and we’ve been eating our words ever since.” Soya laughed, causing the parents to chuckle.

“Our only conditions were they had to obtain the money legally, and that they couldn’t ask their parents, it was their trip, not the parents’. Sure enough, they’ve followed the conditions doing…” she looked over at Jenna. “Car washes, bake sales, and…garage sales right?”

Jenna nodded. “We also did book drives.”

“Right, from my understanding they’re…” she looked over her shoulder at Brooke who was holding a sheet of paper with the amount on it. “Oh! Wow, you guys are close. They just need four hundred more to reach their goal.” She turned to Jenna. “How about you tell them, how they can help?”

Ville watched in amusement as the girl took the microphone back, obviously more confident to talk to the crowd now that Soya had made it seem like they were having a conversation between just them, instead of an entire audience.

“We have some homemade baked goods and sodas and stuff in the lobby you guys can buy, along with a donation basket that’s going to be going around. ‘Cause begging for money isn’t against the rules.” Jenna said, grinning up at Soya who covered her mouth to keep the laughter in. “Every dollar helps.” Jenna said, before handing the microphone back to Soya and flouncing off the stage.

“Well, then we’ll be back in fifteen minutes.” Soya said, before tuning the microphone off and signaling for the house lights to come back on before she disappeared backstage.

“You guys want anything?” Bam asked, already moving past Ville to get into the aisle.

“Water babe.” Missy said, causing Bam to nod.

“You, Ville?”

“I’m fine.” Ville said, knowing that if he wouldn’t contribute to the food fund, he knew the cash in his pocket was going to go into the donation basket that was already circulating the aisles.

“Soya’s done an amazing job with her studio huh?” Missy asked him.

“Really amazing.” Ville nodded. “I can’t wait to see what her plan for Finland is.” He admitted, knowing that while Soya had yet to find a studio, the dream of having one in her real home was growing with every passing day.

“Do you think she’s really going to set one up there?” Missy asked, moving to sit in Bam’s previous seat next to him.

Ville shrugged. “I hope so, but I can see how much she loves her students here, I don’t know if she’s willing to leave them for Finland.”

Missy bit the inside of her cheek before she decided she’d speak her mind. “I think she’s willing to leave them for you.”

Ville moved his eyes away from the stage to look at Missy. “I don’t want to be the reason she decides to uproot that part of her life.”

Missy shrugged. “Maybe out loud you don’t, but inside, you totally want to be the reason for her to move. I’m not Bam Ville, I’m not going to push you to telling me what happened between you two in Westchester, but something did happen, and it’s a major something.”

Ville snorted and moved his gaze away from his friend’s wife. “We didn’t sleep together if that’s what you want to know.”

“I never said you did, had you, Dunn would have reported that to Bam, seeing as his bedroom’s right next to yours. But something shifted between you two.”

Ville gave a short nod, not wanting to give anything away. “Sure.”

“I think you’re enough, more than enough reason for her to move over there.”

Ville shrugged. He liked to think so, he liked to think him and the rest of the guys, along with all her other friends that still resided in Helsinki were enough for her to go home. Even if it was just for a visit. He smirked at his thoughts; Soya missed Helsinki, as much as Helsinki missed her.

He was broken by his thoughts as he saw a young couple, dressed in dancing gear, walking towards him. The young boy, no older than seventeen, pulling at the girls arm back towards the stage, while the girl seemed determined to walk up the aisle regardless of the weight. Ville took another look at the girl, and recognized her as Emmy, from when they’d been buying the tickets.

“He’s not going to do it Emmy!” the boy hissed as they stopped a few feet away. “Don’t ask!”

“How do we know if we don’t ask? Will you let me go Regan?”

Ville looked over at the boy again, so this was Soya’s Regan.

“Don’t!” Regan pleaded, but Emmy broke out of his hold with a roll of her eyes and walked closer to him.

“You’re Ville Valo right?”

“Are you shitting me?…of course he’s… God Emmy!” Regan groaned covering his face in embarrassment.

Ville couldn’t help but grin. “I am.”

“You’re Soya’s friend right?” Emmy asked, as if assuring herself she had the right person.

“God Emmy will you just-” Regan started only for her to turn and point at him.

“You, shut up.” Emmy warned.

“But-“

“Shut up Regan,” Emmy told him with a glare. “If you don’t shut up I’m telling my dad what we really do when he leaves us alone in the house.”

Ville watched in amusement as Regan blanched. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.” Emmy glared. “He’s right over there, so either shut up and stand there or go backstage.”

Regan glared back at her, before turning on his heel and walking back down the aisle. Emmy rolled her eyes and waved a hand of dismissal towards the boy.

“Sorry about my boyfriend, he has anger issues.” Emmy admitted. “I’m Emmy, one of Miss Soya’s students.”

“Did you find your tights?” he asked with a smirk.

Emmy gave a giggle and nodded. “In my bag like my mom told me to put them.” She said rolling her eyes at herself. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you right away, my boyfriend’s a fan but I’ve never really seen pictures of you.” She admitted. “Bam on the other hand, Regan lives for Jackass, so Bam I recognized right away, and I remembered Soya saying he was bringing you.”

“You remembered right.” Ville nodded, liking the young girl more by the minute. “He’s in the lobby getting some drinks, this is his wife Missy.”

“It’s nice to meet you!” Emmy said, shaking Missy’s hand before turning back to Ville.

“I…uh…” she looked back over at the stage, were Regan was sitting on the edge watching her. “I…uh…want to ask you a favor.”

Ville raised an eyebrow. “A favor.”

“For me,” Emmy told him. “Well really the class, but it’s ultimately for Soya.”

Ville grinned. “Well you’ve got my attention, anything for Soya.”

“Really?” Emmy asked surprised he agreed so easily.

“Of course.” Ville nodded. “What is it that you need me to do?”

Emmy bit her lip as she grinned. “We’re sort of doing this behind Soya’s back, is that all right?”

“Even better.” Ville laughed. “Now I want in even more.”

“Perfect.” Emmy said, rubbing her hands together before crouching down next to Ville and explaining the situation, watching as his smile became wider as she talked.