Scream Me a Dream

Tuesday July 27, 2010
New York
4:45 am

“Wake up.” Soya said shaking Regan’s shoulder, causing him to groan and smash his face further into his pillow that was on the couch. Since summer had come, Emmy had spent more time at the house with Soya, Josef and Regan than she had in her own home. Her family didn’t mind, as long as she continually checked in, but because of Emmy’s stay, Regan had spent more time sleeping on the couch than on his bed.

“Leave me alone.” He muttered.

“No, you have to wake up.” Soya said lightly, trying to hide her laughter.

“I know you’re laughing,” Regan said, opening one of his blue eyes slightly to glare at her. “What time is it?”

“The sun is out.” Soya said biting her lip.

“Bullshit,” Regan groaned. “You and Josef wake up at the ass crack of dawn, I bet the sun hasn’t even woken up yet, leave me alone.”

“Come on, wake up.” Soya said shaking his shoulder again. “Josef and I leave in a couple of hours.”

Regan groaned but sat up on the couch running a hand through his already messy hair. “Didn’t we just get off a plane?”

“About four days ago.” Soya nodded.

“And you’re leaving again?” Regan asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Blame Josef,” Soya shrugged. “He’s the one that planned his trip home so close to us coming back from LA, and Sonisphere is in-”

“Ten days, I know.” Regan said cutting her off with a smirk. “You’ve been counting down ever since your tickets got here.”

“I’m excited!” Soya grinned. “Now get up, we have something to show you before we leave.”

“Ugh.” Regan groaned flopping back on the couch. “I’m only going to be alone for three days Soya, I know where the take out menus are and I know where the emergency cash is. I swear I won’t have a party or invite a lot of friends over, I’ll keep the house clean and make sure everything’s locked before I leave.”

“Hey! You rhymed!” Soya teased. “And I know you’re going to do that, you sweet wonderful child.”

“I’m not a child.” Regan muttered.

“Sorry. You sweet, wonderful teenager.” Soya corrected. “Now up.”

“You’re so annoying!” Regan muttered as he rolled off the couch and accepted the coffee mug that Soya held out for him.

“Put on shoes, we’re going outside.”

“Outside?” Regan asked, he looked over at the entertainment center where the cable box flashed the time. “It’s five in the fucking morning and you expect me to go outside?”

“Stop complaining, put on your slippers and follow me.” Soya said rolling her eyes.

Regan sighed, pushing his feet into his slippers before taking the sweatshirt Soya handed him, and taking in her appearance, she was already in her black yoga pants with the purple waistband, as he knew she liked to travel comfortably, and her grey and purple Nikes on her feet. She also had on a cream colored Minnie Mouse tank top she’d bought when they were in LA and a white devils wings hoodie with the word ‘Dudesons’ written in script across the top of it.

“How do you end up with so much merch?” Regan asked as he followed Soya out the front door. “I know you don’t order it, because I haven’t seen any ‘Amazon’ boxes come through here.”

Soya looked down at the hoodie she was wearing and shrugged. “I don’t know, Hannu sent me this one because he thought I would like it.”

“She also likes to steal them.” Josef teased as he stood from the porch step with Emmy.

“Morning.” Emmy said, kissing Regan lightly.

“Ugh,” Josef groaned.

“Hey,” Emmy teased. “We’re outside; it’s not against the rules.”

“Who’s Hannu?” Regan asked, looking at Soya while resting his head against Emmy’s shoulder.

“She means HP.” Josef said with a roll of his eyes. “I don’t know why you don’t just call him HP when he’s not around.”

Soya lifted a shoulder before taking a sip of coffee from her mug. “Habit.”

“Wait, HP.” Regan asked. “Like…HP from the actual Dudesons?”

Soya nodded. “Yep.”

“Is there anyone in Finland you don’t know?” Regan asked with wide eyes.

Soya thought about it and nodded. “A lot of people actually.” She said seriously.

“He was being sarcastic, Soya.” Josef laughed, causing Soya to roll her eyes.

“Yes well, it’s still early, sorry my sarcasm radar isn’t on.”

“Now it is!” Emmy laughed, causing Soya to grin at her.

“Ugh, why am I up so early?” Regan groaned.

“Don’t be ungrateful.” Josef smirked. “Soya and I have a surprise for you, and we wanted to give it to you before we leave.”

“And the surprise is outside?” Regan asked.

Emmy laughed. “Are you still so tired, that you missed the large ass tarp that sitting in front of us?”

Regan stood up straighter; looking in front of them, sure enough there was a blue trap over something that looked like a car. “Is that a…” Regan trailed off as he looked between Soya and Josef who were both grinning at him. “You didn’t get me a car did you?”

Josef rolled his eyes. “Did you really expect us to leave you, in New York, by yourself, without any type of transportation?”

“I assumed I’d use your car.” Regan smirked.

“Don’t even joke about that.” Josef said with a glare.

Soya rolled her eyes. “The point we’re getting at, is that not only are you going to be here by yourself, but you’re moving to Texas and you’re going to need something to get you from point A to point B.”

“Soya you didn’t have to get me a car.” Regan said in shock. “I could have figured out bus schedules or gotten a bike.”

Josef snorted. “Don’t get to excited kid; we didn’t get you a new car.”

“I had to stop Josef from getting you a new one.” Soya assured, knowing Regan wasn’t one for large acts of kindness or presents. Regan always felt like there was something attached to a present, some type of obligation; both Soya and Josef were trying to break him of that way of thinking. “It’s just a simple car.”

“The engine is crap.” Josef said as he started to pull the tarp away from the car. “The interior needs to be redone, and it probably needs a new paint job, but…”

“It’s perfect.” Regan breathed, walking away from the stoop towards the black 1974 Ford Mustang Fastback.

Soya smiled as she sat on the steps next to Emmy as they watched Regan touch the car reverently.

“Is the engine really crap?” Emmy asked quietly, leaning her head against Soya’s shoulder.

“No.” Soya laughed, laying her head on top of Emmy’s. “The car itself is actually in great condition, the mileage isn’t even high. We got it from a woman who was tired of her husband leaving it in the driveway and not driving it. We had it checked out and got everything replaced while we were in LA; it was actually supposed to be his graduation present but all the parts hadn’t gotten in until two days ago.”

“So, the interior?”

Soya shrugged. “It’s just a bit tattered, we wouldn’t let Regan and you make that cross country trip in some death trap. We may be leaving him alone for a few days, but we’re not that irresponsible.”

“He doesn’t mind being by himself Soya; you shouldn’t feel guilty for leaving.” Emmy told her as they continued to watch Regan talk to Josef about the car.

Soya gave a small shrug. “I just got him, I feel like I’m letting him down by leaving.”

Emmy gave a small laugh. “He turns 18 in a week and he wants to do this for you. He knows you’re excited about going home and he wants you to get there as soon as you can, he doesn’t want to hold that back from you.”

Soya shook her head. “I don’t want him thinking he’s holding me back, because he’s not. I would have stayed had he not been so adamant about me and Josef leaving today. He practically booked the tickets for us.”

Emmy moved her head, causing Soya to lift her own head up. Emmy looked at her and nudged her shoulder. “We just want you to be happy Soya.”

Soya frowned at the redhead. “I’m happy.”

“Not as happy as when you were with Ville.”

Soya gave a shrug. “Ville and I…” She sighed.

“No use fighting it Soya,” Emmy teased. “You’re happier with him.”

Soya gave another sigh. “It’s just so easy.” She admitted. “I’ve never had that, even with that one.” She said gesturing towards Josef who had opened the hood of the car and was showing Regan the engine.

“I know what you mean.” Emmy agreed.

“Even at seventeen?” Soya asked looking at Emmy in surprise. “You know, without a doubt that Regan is the one for you, even now?”

Emmy tilted her head to the side. “Didn’t you at sixteen?”

“That’s different.” Soya said waving off the comment.

“How so?” Emmy challenged, causing Soya to take pause. How so indeed? She thought.

“Soya!” Josef interrupted. “Where are the keys?”

Soya dug into her hoodie pocket, pulling out a Heartagram keychain they had gotten especially for Regan and threw the keys over to Josef, who caught them and passed them to Regan who looked at them in disbelief.

“Are you serious?”

“Ask Soya.” Josef laughed.

Regan looked over at Soya who grinned. “Like it?” she asked.

“A Hello Kitty key cover? Really?” Regan asked.

“I evened out Hello Kitty with HIM, I thought you’d like it.” Soya defended

“He loves it!” Emmy laughed. “Every time he looks at his keys, he’ll be reminded of you.”

“Awww!” Soya cooed, causing Regan to develop a red tint to his cheeks and look away, causing the girls to laugh. “My little boy is growing up.” Soya teased.

Emmy giggled. “You’re both going to miss each other.”

Soya nodded. “I will not argue that. I’m going to miss you too, my little ginger.”

“Don’t say shit like that, you’ll make me cry!” Emmy complained hiding her face in her knees, causing Soya to hug her.

“You act as if we’ll never see each other again.” Soya laughed. “You’re coming back for your Christmas break.”

“You won’t be here.” Emmy pointed out, her cheeks marked by tears that were making their way down.

“I’ll be back the second week of January.” Soya laughed. “And you’ll still be here, probably here in this house with Josef and Regan.” She kissed the girl’s temple. “Josef and I care about both of you too much to let you go and never see you again, all right?”

Emmy nodded. “Okay.”

“And you know, that no matter what country we’re in or who we’re with, we will always answer the phone for you guys. If you need us for anything Emmy, you know you can call me, you know you can call Josef, even if it is to tell us about your dance classes and how much better we are at teaching.”

Emmy laughed at Soya’s teasing, wiping her tears away from her face. “You’ll be getting a lot of those calls.”

“Good.” Soya nodded. “I want them, everyday.”

“Are you making my girlfriend cry?” Regan asked, sitting next to Emmy and taking her hand.

“Happy tears, promise.” Soya told him with a smile. “So?”

“Thank you.” Regan said with a smile. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“Trust me, we know.” Josef said, taking a seat on the step below Soya. “Do you guys have everything set for Texas?”

“Almost.” Emmy admitted. “My dad found an apartment down there; it was really cute when he said he found a really nice two bedroom for a good price, before Regan and I just stared at him.”

Josef laughed. “Does he still think you’re a virgin?”

Emmy rolled her eyes. “He knows I’m not, but what father wants to think about his daughter having sex?”

“So the apartment you guys got, it’s a one bedroom?” Soya asked

“Emmy talked to her father, I’m just lucky the man likes me.” Regan laughed. “But we just need to get the shit that goes inside the apartment and we’re fine.”

“But mom said we’d work all of that out when we got there.” Emmy assured.

Soya shrugged. “You can take the bed from Regan’s room if you want; I mean now that Regan’s moved in here, technically everything in that room is his.”

“Oh Soya, we couldn’t.” Emmy said shaking her head.

“Of course you can.” Josef insisted. “I’ve been meaning to redo that room, but with Regan moving in, I put it on hold, now with him moving out I have an excuse to do it. All that shit has to go, so go ahead and take what you want.”

Soya looked at Regan. “Were you planning on using your graduation money for furniture?”

“Maybe.” Regan hedged.

Soya sighed. “Look, I know you aren’t going to be starting school next semester, and I respect that, but I want you to at least go back and get you general education done Regan, that was part of this whole arrangement, of me allowing you to move to Texas with Emmy right now.”

“I know.” Regan nodded. “And I do plan on going back to school, but I figure if I work full-time while Emmy’s at school then I’ll not only have enough for school, but enough to cover bills too.”

“Where do you plan to work?” Josef asked.

Regan shrugged. “Not sure yet, I figure when we leave in a few days, I’ll start looking.”

“In the mean time,” Soya said with a shake of her head. “I don’t want you using that money, I know it’s yours,” she said quickly. “But I’d prefer it if you let me help.”

“How?” Emmy asked. “Because we sort of wanted to do this ourselves. You know, do the whole independent thing, like you and Josef.”

Josef snorted. “Oh, sweetheart, Soya and I lived in and out of hotel rooms when we were your age, we had no sense of independence. We bought this house about the same time we got the studio.”

“We?” Regan asked, looking over at Soya, “I thought it was just yours.”

Soya shook her head. “Josef and Brooke both have money in the studio, they’re silent partners though.”

“We give her money, but don’t have a large say in what’s done.” Josef said. “Though Soya makes sure our money is being put to good use.”

“Really Regan,” Soya said. “Josef and I haven’t been independent that long, and even when we were your age and traveling around the world, we had help from our parents. My father always gave me money to spend, and Josef’s parents still put money into his account when they feel like he may need it.”

Josef snorted. “Last time I saw my father, he palmed me two hundred dollars.”

“We just want to make sure that when you’re out there, you’re taken care of. I know the Jacob’s will give Emmy money and make sure she’s provided for, but you’re my responsibility,” Soya said, looking at Regan who was staring at her in surprise. “I want to do this for you, I have the money and the means and I want to make sure you don’t struggle. That your efforts are best put towards something you enjoy, rather than something you feel is a chore.”

“But you’re in the middle of getting an apartment in Finland and a studio, how are you going to take care of that and still manage to take care of me?”

“One, the apartment is a temporary thing, and knowing Linde and Mige, and the way they’ve been avoiding the question, they’ve already gotten me the damn thing.”

“They still haven’t told you?” Josef asked amused.

“Every time I ask about the apartment Mige’s phone is suddenly losing its reception and I get hung up on.” Soya rolled her eyes. “Secondly, I’m not buying the studio alone; Josef will once again be a partner as will HP who has decided he wants to have a toe in dancing again, and a toe is all he gets.”

“But-“

“But nothing, thirdly, you’re my little brother!” Soya laughed. “How can I just allow you off to Texas with only two thousand dollars? Yes, New York is expensive, but it’s just as expensive to live in Texas as it is here. Two thousand dollars, realistically isn’t going to cover all of your expenses for more than two months and that’s if you buy cheap, and I’m putting my foot down on you getting money from your savings account and touching that graduation money.”

Reagan sighed. “I have no choice do I?” He asked, looking over at Josef who was laughing silently.

“Either way, whatever you take out of your savings, Soya is just going to replace, so it’s either you accepting money she gives you or her putting in what you take, plus what she thinks you need. There’s no fighting with her when she’s like this.”

“Fine.” Regan sighed, looking back at Soya who was grinning in triumph. “But only what’s necessary Soya. Once I get a job you stop.”

“I won’t give you as much, I’ll cut the amount.”

“By half.” Regan argued.

Emmy snorted. “Dude, you’re not going to win this one, just let her do it.”

“I love you Regan, I’m going to make sure you both live as comfortable as possible, yet still feel the strain of independence. Don’t worry, I’m taking what you want into account as well.”

“That’s all I ask.”

“Now be a good boy.” Josef said, causing Regan to look over at him. “Get our bags and load up the car.”

“What car?” Regan asked.

“Yours.” Josef said with a roll of his eyes. “You hate Soya’s car and you’re not allowed within ten feet of my car while I’m gone, so obviously yours.”

“You’re an asshole, you know that?” Regan asked with a grin, before getting up from the step and doing as he was asked.

“So I’ve been told!” Josef said just before Regan shut the front door.

“I’ll go help him,” Emmy laughed, taking the four empty coffee mugs in her hands and going inside after her boyfriend.

“You know,” Soya said as Josef moved from the step underneath her to the step next to her. “He’s going to have to get near your car to take it to the storage unit before he leaves.”

Josef sighed. “I know, I’ll make sure to remind him.”

“No need, I’ve already taken it into account in the note I wrote him.” Soya said.

“Excited?” Josef asked nudging her shoulder with his.

“Of course!” Soya laughed. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen your family. I can’t wait to see your brothers again.”

“Don’t remind me.” Josef groaned thinking of the two hulking men; he had the unfortunate privilege of calling his older brothers. “And I didn’t mean visiting my family, I meant, excited about Finland.”

Soya smiled and nodded. “I am.”

“You don’t seem it.” Josef pointed out.

“No, I really am.” Soya said. “I haven’t been home since Aida was born, and I just, I’m looking forward to stepping onto Finnish soil for the first time in nearly eight years.”

“Then why do you seem so down about it?”

“I’m not.” Soya hedged, before sighing. “There’s just a lot that’s unknown.”

“How so?”

“My family is a large issue.”

“Fuck it.” Josef shrugged. “Helsinki is a pretty large place Soya.” Soya raised an eyebrow causing Josef to laugh. “You know what I mean, it’s not impossible to avoid someone, including your family. Plus, you’ll be spending so much time with Ville I doubt you’ll even be thinking of your family. Next problem.”

“My mother doesn’t know I’m coming.”

“She’s a bitch, she doesn’t deserve to know.”

“Josef!” Soya exclaimed, slapping his shoulder.

“What?!” Josef asked. “I’m serious. Elizabeth is a bitch of the biggest kind, she doesn’t deserve to know her daughter’s coming home.”

“I know, but she’s still my mother.” Soya muttered.

“Next problem.”

“I feel like my father’s keeping something from me.”

“And your father will tell you when the time is right.” Josef said, knowing of Soya’s weary relationship that she was finding with her father and her fear of getting to close to the man, only for him to turn into the uncaring man he’d been most of her life “Now the next problem?”

“Ville.”

“How in the world is Ville a problem?” Josef asked with wide eyes. “I would think that Ville would be the least of your worries when going to Finland!”

“We haven’t talked,”

“Of course you have, you talked to him last night.”

“No, I mean…about us.” Soya sighed. “We haven’t talked about our relationship, we both hint around about it but nothing’s been sorted out. What if everything’s different once we see each other again?”

“Is that it?” Josef asked. “Is that what you’re worried about?”

“Well…yes?” Soya asked looking at Josef with a frown.

“God, Soya, you both went thirteen years without seeing each other and you literally picked up where you left off once you both got over the initial shock. I’m sure, once he sees you get off that plane in Pori, the same thing will happen. Don’t over think this, for the love of God, do not over think this Soya.”

“But-“

“No!” Josef said quickly, slapping a hand over her mouth. “You’re thinking, don’t think! Just let everything happen naturally. Ville, is the least of your worries when you go to Finland, all right? I understand you’re worried about your parents and their reactions and that whole shit storm of drama just waiting to happen, but Ville is nothing to worry about. At this point, that should be the one thing you’re sure of all right?”

Soya nodded slowly, causing Josef to remove his hand. “All right.” She said quietly.

“You’re not going to over think this?”

“I’m not going to over think this.” Soya assured with a slow nod.

“I see you thinking Soya, stop.”

Soya laughed, and leaned her head against Josef’s shoulder. “I am excited Josef, so very excited.” Her feet bounced as she said it causing Josef to laugh.

“Now that’s excitement!” Josef pointed out. “And I’m happy you’re happy Soya.”

“Are you happy Josef?” Soya asked.

Josef bit his lip and gave a slow nod as the plans he had set out for going home, turned in his head. “I’m getting there Soya.” Josef turned and kissed the middle of her forehead. “I will be.”

“Good, because that’s all I want for you.” Soya said closing her eyes.

“Same for you, miláček, same for you.”