Scream Me a Dream

Ville stood at the entrance of the balcony watching the ballet, more watching Soya as she tiptoed her way across the stage in a loose white gown.

Mige settled back in his seat, causing Linde to turn back to look at Ville and grin widely. Ville couldn’t help but share the sentiment as he went and took his seat again.

“Now aren’t you glad I dragged you here?” Linde asked with a smirk.

Ville rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t have had to drag me if you’d just told me she was dancing in the first place.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Linde asked with a snort, before they both turned back to the stage watching Soya.

“So that’s her?” Bam asked.

Ville gave a short nod. “Yes, that’s her.”

“You like her.” Bam stated.

Ville looked away from the stage to look at Bam. “Of course I like her; she was one of my best friends.”

“No, I mean…” Bam shook his head. “Nevermind.” He muttered, as they both turned back to the stage.

Ville knew, of course, what Bam had meant. That he liked Soya as more than a friend, and yes, he was now willing to admit that when he was twenty and Soya was sixteen he would have enjoyed pursuing a relationship with her. He would have loved to call her his, but he knew then just as he did now, that it would never have worked back then. They weren’t ready for each other. The band was just gaining its popularity while Soya was still in school and still under her parents thumb.

Now, though, he was in a much better place in his life and if her dancing was any indication of her life, he would say she was in a much better place as well. Of course, thirteen years changed a person and as a thirty three year old man, he could honestly say that he wanted nothing more out of Soya then her friendship, for the time being anyway.

“She’s good.” Bam spoke as Soya stretched her body in ways that Bam had thought impossible.

“She’s amazing.” Ville corrected.

“Have you ever seen her dance, other then this?” Bam asked.

Ville shook his head. “She would never let us, we’d catch her dancing sometimes when we would pick her up from practice but she would stop before we ever got a good look.”

“Weird.” Bam muttered.

“Not really.” Ville quickly amended. “Not for Soya anyway, she kept her family life and the things she did for them separate from us.”

Ville turned back just as the music began to slow, Soya tiptoeing back to the prince who was sleeping before lying next to him. The curtain dropped and the house lights came back on, signaling intermission. Linde stood and got out of the row only to stop when Ville called out to him.

“Where are you going?”

Linde raised an eyebrow. “I believe there are these places now, where when one needs to relive themselves they can go into these rooms and do so.”

“Smartass.” Mige muttered with a smirk.

“I have to take a piss Ville,” Linde sighed. “Do I have your permission?”

Ville narrowed his eyes. “If you go see her without us…” Ville warned.

Linde laughed. “How in the world would I go see Soya backstage Ville? I don’t have any backstage passes.”

Ville smirked. “You’re going to tell me, that after thirteen years Soya reaches out to us with tickets to her show but no way of contacting her? Really? That’s your story?”

“Ville,” Linde said slowly. “I really have to piss.” With that said he turned on his heel and left the balcony.

“He’s going backstage.” Mige said with a laugh.

“Bastard.” Ville muttered leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms over his chest.

XxxxxxX

Linde found himself face to face with a security guard in front of the door that led to the back stage area of the theater.

“Name.” the guard asked with a sigh.

“Mikko Lindström.” Linde said, wondering what name Soya had put down.

The guard looked down at his list, before giving a nod and opening the door, allowing Linde backstage. Walking through, he looked around the backstage area that looked much more hectic and crowded then it had the night before when they had played.

He saw dancers changing in front of others, while others were helping with hair and makeup, everyone rushing around during the fifteen-minute intermission in various stages of undress to get ready.

“You look lost.”

He turned around to see a young blonde girl looking at him with a teasing smile. “Uh, a bit.” He admitted. “I’m looking for Soya.”

The girl nodded and pointed out a woman standing with her back to him, long brown hair falling down her back and resting at the small of her back, talking with the dancer that was playing the prince.

“Thank you.” Linde said before walking over to her. He saw the man look over Soya’s shoulder at him with a frown, before grinning widely and saying something to Soya, causing her to turn.

Linde grinned as Soya’s eyes widened, soon finding himself in front of her still grinning. “Oh my god.” She whispered, her hands finding his cheeks. “Oh it’s really you.” She laughed.

“And it’s really you.” He teased back.

“Ten minutes Soya.” The man said with a wink before walking away.

Soya gave an absent nod before grabbing Linde’s hand leading him into a room. “I have to change real fast, but come with me.”

“No, Soya, I just…” Linde tried only to be pulled into the room they had used as their own dressing room the night before. He looked around at amazement at how twenty-four hours could change a room so much.

“Sorry for the mess, I’ve been coming back here, throwing my costumes off and putting on the new ones.” She laughed, before turning back to him. “Oh! I can’t believe you’re here!” she laughed wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

“I can’t believe it’s been thirteen years.” Linde said in amazement as he hugged her back. “Look at you Soya, you’re even more beautiful then I remember.”

Soya laughed, “Please, I’m covered in sweat, my makeup’s caked on my face, I am definitely not at my best. And look at you!” She giggled, taking one of her dreadlocks into her fingers. “God thirteen years, oh, I still can’t believe you’re here! Is it just you or…” she trialed off as she backed away with a grin going over to her portable wardrobe, grabbing her new outfit.

“Ville and Mige are here as well,” Linde said as he turned around to allow her to change. “Bam as well.”

“Not the others?” Soya asked as she slipped off the white gown she had worn in the last act and pulled on a black gypsy outfit, much like the red one she had worn earlier.

“Not tonight, I thought this was more for us than anything else, but you’ll meet Gas and Burton later.”

“Later?” she teased, as she pulled on her shirt.

Linde smirked. “You don’t think that after thirteen years of not seeing you, we’re just going to let you go again.”

Soya laughed, “You can turn back around now.” She said smiling at him kindly as he turned around to see her dressed, she walked to her vanity and did a touch up of her makeup. “And no, because I don’t plan on letting you guys go either.”

“That’s good to hear.” Linde laughed. “God Soya, we’ve missed you.”

Soya looked at him through the mirror, not being able to help the large smile that was taking over her face. “I’ve missed you all as well, so much.”

A knock came to her door, before it opened; they both looked over as the man Soya had been talking to came in shutting the door again. He smiled at Linde and held out his hand. “I’m Josef.”

“Linde.”

“Nice to meet you,” Josef said with a smile. “Soya’s talked a lot about you guys,”

“All good, I hope.” Linde said.

“Of course.” Soya said with a smile, before turning back to Josef. “Ready?”

“Two minutes, Bill’s getting everyone together.”

Soya nodded as she took off her white ballet shoes, switching them out for her black ones. She looked back over at Linde. “You’ll come back?” she asked, “After the show?”

Linde couldn’t help but laugh. “I think Ville would chain himself to his seat if I even suggested we leave without seeing you first.”

Soya shook her head in amusement. “I do not doubt that in the least.” She grabbed his hand with a large grin. “It really is amazing to see you Linde, thank you for coming, I didn’t think you would.”

He clasped her hand, trapping it between both of his. “Soya, we wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” He leaned down kissing her cheek. “Have fun out there.” He whispered before pulling back.

“I always do.” Soya laughed, gently pulling her hand away. “I’ll see you boys after.” She grinned once more before allowing Josef to pull her out the door.

Soya walked towards the center stage with Josef, their hands clasped as they got in position for the next dance. Josef grinned over at her. “You look like a child who’s just been led into a toy store and given free reign.” He teased.

“I feel like one.” Soya laughed, only to get a disapproving glance form their stage manager.

“You’re supposed to be upset.” Josef teased her, referring to the next piece, which was much more somber, then the last.

“Then stop making me laugh.” She teased back, before relaxing her face, closing her eyes, she laid her head on Josef’s shoulder, pointing her foot out and making sure she kept her leg straight as she reached over her head, bowing her arm to clasp Josef’s opposite hand.

“Ready?” he whispered, as he watched their stage manager from the corner of his eye; give the signal to raise to curtain. Soya gave a brief nod against his shoulder. “Almost done Soya.” He whispered, clasping her hand tighter, kissing her temple quickly, just as the curtain rose all the way and the lights came back on.

Three costume changes, a million pirouettes and an hour later Soya found herself minutes away from the scene she was dreading. Josef grasped her hand tighter as they danced, as if feeling her fear being transferred on to him. He let go and did his high jump, catching Soya mid air as she did her own. Sliding down Josef’s back, they heard the music swell which was their cue; she danced into position at Josef’s side.

She bit the inside of her cheek as the moment came faster, while the outside of her appearance showed a serene dancer, a gypsy at peace with her relationship with a prince, the inside of her was trembling with nerves at the final scene of their dance. Their thirty turns, something she had been doing for the last four months, as Josef had kept reminding her throughout the night.

She could do this, she thought to herself as Josef looked at her, giving her a wink just as the cymbals crashed. With that crash, Soya and Josef both started the first of the thirty turns. She kept her left leg pointed and on the ground, her Pointe shoes holding her up as her right pushed her into the turns. She kept her eyes trained on the low chandelier that hung from the center of the building, finding it every time to she made her turn.

An old trick she had been taught her first year of dance class to keep their turns straight. Even though she knew she didn’t need her stationary spot, she always found one, just for her own piece of mind. She counted her turns, finding herself on fifteen right on time with the music; she tensed her leg tighter, wanting to make sure she would make it, only to feel her ankle tremble with the weight.

She inwardly winced at the pain that radiated from her ankle to her leg and reviewed the count, twenty five, she had five left. She made three more turns before she felt her ankle begin to fold. Not willing to fall in front of the audience, especially an audience that contained her parents, she placed her foot down at the end of her twenty eighth turn, watching as Josef finished the last two in time with the music. His eyes widened slightly in surprise to see her waiting, but grasped her awaiting hands, turning her, before dipping her down and nuzzling his face in her neck, as her arms wrapped around his back.

“What happened?” he whispered his breathing harsh as he kept his face hidden, the lights lowering, and the curtains slowly closing.

She shook her head slightly, feeling the tears starting to gather. He stood her back up once he was sure the curtain was down all the way and led her off stage, while the rest of the dancers took their place to do their bows, the curtain rising as the audience applauded.

“Soya,” Josef said as they took their place at the right of the stage, waiting for their turn to take their bows. “What happened?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t make it.” She muttered.

“I realize that.” Josef muttered, with a slight glare. “Why didn’t you make it?” he looked down at her ankle. “It’s bothering you, isn’t it?”

“No.” she quickly denied as they waited.

“Soya.” Josef warned.

“It’s not.” She said with a shake of her head. “I just lost my balance and had to stop before I fell.”

“Bullshit.” Josef muttered before they both plastered smiles on their faces, gliding out to center stage holding hands, Josef did his bow as Soya curtsied, both giving their formal waves to the audience. Josef pushed her lightly to the front as she curtseyed to each end of the audience, before stepping back and gesturing for Josef to take his place in front of her.

The curtain dropped for that last time and Soya walked off stage and towards her dressing room without waiting for Josef, only to stop when she saw her parents and little sister waiting in front of the door. She could already feel herself regressing from the twenty eight year old women that lived to dance, to the sixteen year old that danced to please her parents. With a deep breath, she took a towel and a bottle of water off the table that had been set up before the last scene and walked towards her parents.