Scream Me a Dream

Josef had been right in his estimation, as he tended to be after spending so much time with Soya. It had taken her less than an hour to get ready, dressing in khaki shorts, a loose white bohemian style t-shirt with sunglasses as its print and a pair of gladiator inspired black ballet flats. She had decided to wear jewelry as well, a silver ankh necklace that Rosalind had sent her as a birthday present the previous year, along with her standard bottle of soy sauce; and a silver banded ring with a blue diamond on her ring finger, a gift her father had sent her on her first year away from home.

“Do we have time for coffee?” Soya asked with a yawn as she pulled her loose hair back and started to braid it, before rolling it into an intricate bun, leaving the tattoo high on her neck visible.

“The interview is at a coffee shop so don’t worry, we’ll get you coffee and food, and has Ville seen this?” Josef asked amused, running his finger over the name on her neck and the two black hearts that lay at the end of it.

Soya put her hand up, tracing the name with a laugh. “I tend to forget I even have it Josef.”

“But it’s so unforgettable.” Josef laughed as he led her down the street towards the café Rebecca had sent them too. “I mean, the story of you getting it.”

Soya laughed, thinking of how she had ended up getting Impi’s name on her body. The little girl had fallen in love with the fact that her mother had gotten a tattoo of her name and had decided that everyone around her had to get one too. Soya, though, had been the only one to give in, getting Impi’s name in blue lowercase letters in a cursive script with the two shaded black hearts nestled next to the last ‘I’ in her name.

But because it wasn’t a tattoo she saw every morning, unlike the one on her ribs, she tended to forget she even had Impi’s name on her neck, unless someone pointed it out and as she always had her hair down or in a braid covering it, no one asked about it. She wasn’t surprised Ville had yet to notice it.

“I just do,” Soya shrugged. “That little girl was tenacious though, wasn’t she?”

“That she…” Josef trailed off as he caught sight of a blonde women standing in line at the café. “Isolde?!”

The blonde in line turned, her hazel eyes darting around the café, before she squealed and flew into Josef’s arms. “What the fuck are you doing home!?” Isolde asked dropping back onto the floor, pushing her shoulder length hair back, showing off the pink streaks she had through it.

“Oh! Now I’m not allowed home?” Josef asked amused.

“Not when you ditch me for two years! And what the hell is up with this calling me once a month bullshit! It’s just not acceptable!” Isolde teased.

Josef laughed. “Forgive me! I’ll try harder! Ah! Isolde, this is Soya, my roommate, dance partner, and best friend second to you.” Josef said quickly at Isolde’s playful glare. “Soya this is Isolde, my best friend in the entire world!”

“I don’t know whether to be hurt at the statement or amused at the situation.” Soya laughed. “But it’s wonderful to finally meet you, Josef has talked nonstop about you.”

“As he has about you!” Isolde grinned, hugging Soya. “Though I’m glad he made friends in New York, I don’t know if you know this, but Josef is a bit difficult at times.”

“No!” Soya said in mock surprise, looking at Josef. “I didn’t notice a bit.”

“Oh yes, please make fun of Josef.” Josef said with a roll of his eyes.

Isolde shoved his arm lightly. “When did you get here?”

“Yesterday.” Josef answered. “Had I known you were here I would have called.”

“Well of course you’re the type of asshole to choose the week I leave to come home.”

“Leave? Where are you off to now?”

“Deutschland.” She said roughly in German, causing Josef to laugh.

“Now, as the model or the photographer?”

Isolde waved a dismissive hand. “I’m to pose this time around, but how long are you here for? Please tell me you’ll be here until the tenth of next month!”

“I will be,” Josef nodded. “But our little Soya is leaving the seventh.”

Isolde turned wide hazel eyes to Soya. “Now why would you ever want to leave my beautiful city?”

Josef snorted. “You came from England, dear, you adopted Prague.”

“She doesn’t have to know that!” Isolde said scolding. “Now why are you leaving?” she asked turning back to Soya.

“I’m meeting some friends of mine in Pori on the seventh, they’re playing at the Sonisphere festival.” Soya answered.

“She says it oh so humbly.” Josef said with a roll of her eyes. “She’s meeting HIM.”

Isolde frowned. “Him who?”

“The band Iz, the band HIM.” Josef said with a roll of his eyes.

“Oh!” Isolde laughed at herself. “Right, I knew that. Well, then we’ll just have to go to Finland so I can get to know you better!” she looked out the window when she heard a honk of a horn. “Oh, Josef, I wish I could stay, but I’ve had the cab waiting for me to take me to the airport, my flight leaves in half an hour.”

“What the hell are you still doing here Isolde? Leave!” Josef laughed, hugging her one last time. “We’ll get together when you get back.”

“Perfect! Soya, it was wonderful meeting you!” Isolde said hugging her again. “We’ll meet again, I promise baby doll! Now I’m off, kisses!” she shouted over her shoulder before she breezed out of the café.

“That’s your best friend?” Soya asked with a laugh as they got in line.

“Do I have to remind you that Rosalind is yours?” Josef asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No.” Soya said with a laugh. While she and Josef were the best of friends, living together, dancing together, and vacationing together, at the end of the day, they both had those friends that they always wanted to turn to before they turned to each other. For Josef it was Isolde, for Soya it was Rosalind. “She’s very…” Soya trailed off not quite sure how to describe the vibrant blonde she’d just met.

“She’s scatterbrained half the time.” Josef laughed. “But that’s why I love her.” He smiled at the barista behind the counter, ordering Soya her iced mocha latte, while ordering himself an iced caramel blended drink, along with two lunch sandwiches and paying for them before leading Soya to a table outside.

“Her accent is very different than yours; it’s… it’s blended with something else.”

“Isolde is a mutt.” Josef smirked. “She’s a mixture of everything under the sun and has the accents to prove it. She lived in England until she was ten, then moved into the house next to ours until she was sixteen before she started modeling, then she lived everywhere. She lived in Helsinki for about a year before she moved to Germany, she’s just recently moved back to Prague. Her mother is English with a bit of Irish, while her father is Hungarian and Czech.”

“And you’re a pureblood?” Soya asked with a raised eyebrow.

“What, are we in Harry Potter?” Josef asked with a laugh. “Yes, Soya, I’m a pureblood.” Josef rolled his eyes. “Both my parents are both full blooded Czech. Aren’t your parents full blooded Finns?”

Soya shrugged. “I believe my father is, I’m not sure about my mother.” Soya frowned as she really thought about it. “Really, I don’t know much about my mother’s childhood or family, just that she met my father at her prep school and they married once she turned eighteen. Then again, even at a young age I tended to avoid talking to my mother.”

Josef chuckled. “I probably would too. Elizabeth, that really isn’t a Finnish name though.”

“Neither is Jonah.” Soya pointed out then sighed. “Sad that I don’t know much about my family’s background.”

“You don’t sound too torn up about it.” Josef teased, thanking the waitress as she set down their drinks and food before walking away.

Soya shrugged. “I’m not really. It was the only assignment during high school that frustrated me to no end though, doing our family tree. I could only go as far up as my father’s parents and I always got marked down for not going any further.”

“Is the overachieving sixteen year old in you, still bitter about her first B?”

Soya laughed. “Just a bit.” She said putting her forefinger and thumb together.

“Just a bit.” Josef mocked, only to turn when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

“Josef Kolář, správné?”(Correct?) A brunette bespectacled woman asked with a kind smile, she was in black trousers that had Josef wincing at the idea of wearing black in the heat and a white blouse, while an overflowing messenger bag hung off her shoulder.

“Ano, a vy jste?”(Yes, and you are?)

“Lída Dvorak, ze dne ‘Dance Europe, To je skvĕlé, že vás poznávám, to je Soya Toivonen správné?”(Lida Dvorak of ‘Dance Europe, it’s great to meet you, this is Soya Toivonen correct?)

Josef looked over at Soya, who was looking between both of them, lost and probably trying to sort out the words she’d just heard. “Ah, myslíte si náhodou vĕdĕt anglicky?”(Do you by chance know English?) He asked Lída.

“Oh! Perfectly!” Lída said quickly.

“Oh, thank you.” Soya sighed in relief. “A language I understand perfectly.”

Lída laughed. “Sorry, may I sit?”

“Please.” Soya said waving at the free chair in front of Lída. Lída sat, setting her messenger bag on the ground next to her, before smiling at them.

“Sorry, while Josef has tried to teach me the Czech all that’s stuck are the basics and a few of the curse words.” Soya admitted.

“Which she doesn’t use.” Josef laughed. “They just caught on because I yell them out all the time.”

Lída laughed. “Had I known, I would have started out with English. I’m Lída, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Josef.” Josef greeted, shaking the woman’s, hand. “As you know, and Soya.”

“It’s nice to meet you as well.” Soya smiled, shaking Lída’s hand, before taking a sip of her iced mocha.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you during your vacation, but when I heard that you would both be here, I wanted to see if you would grant me in interview.” Lída admitted.

“It’s fine.” Soya said, causing Josef to raise an eyebrow in her direction. “Ignore what Josef says otherwise.”

“Yes, please ignore me.” Josef said with a roll of his eyes.

Lída laughed, as she bent down, pulling a recorder out of her bag, setting it up and pressing record before pulling out her notebook and pen. “I can see why you both make good partners.”

“Have you seen us dance Lída?” Josef asked.

“Once.” Lída admitted. “When you danced in San Francisco at the beginning of this year.”

“A while then.” Soya said, picking at her sandwich with a frown, only for Josef to push the plate closer to her, his own silent command for her to eat.

“You were both amazing.”

“We’re only as amazing as the partner we have.” Soya said absently. “And at the risk of making Josef’s ego much larger, Josef is a wonderful partner.”

“Thank you Soya.” Josef grinned at her.

“This is where you say the same about me.” Soya said biting into her sandwich.

“Oh, right.” Josef nodded. “Soya’s okay.” He said, only to laugh when Soya hit his arm. “No, no, Soya really is a wonderful partner; I’ve told her many times that I’m lucky I ended up in Ben’s company because I believe any other female dancer would have killed me by now.”

“He’s got quite the temperament.” Soya nodded.

“Soya’s the only one that’s been able to really handle it on and off the stage. We push each other to do better and to give the best. It’s why we work.” Josef told Lída as she scribbled notes down on her notebook.

“Have you ever feared being dropped by Josef?” Lída asked turning to Soya. “A lot of partners I’ve talked to, especially the newer ones, say that that’s their biggest fear or worry, being dropped on stage.”

“Never.” Soya laughed and corrected her statement. “Well on stage anyway. Rehearsal is another story.”

“Soya and I have known each other for years. We met when I was seventeen and Soya was sixteen when, we both attended Juilliard. Pure luck that we ended up in the same company when we did.”

“Not exactly pure luck.” Soya laughed, causing Josef to turn to her. “I had signed on to Ben’s company about two months before Josef was, Ben was still looking for a principal dancer, and I knew Josef wasn’t quite happy with the company he was with, so I recommended him to Ben.”

Josef frowned at her. “I never knew that.”

Soya grinned at him. “You’re welcome.”

Josef rolled his eyes. “Anyway, when we started dancing together there was already that level of trust. We were already used to dancing together in class, so doing it professionally was just as easy.”

“There was an adjustment period.” Soya said. “As there is with every dancer, but Josef and I adjusted quickly and like he said, we push each other to do the very best.”

Lída nodded. “Are you both aware that you’ve both been named dancers of the year here in Europe?”

Josef grinned while Soya blushed. “Really?” Josef asked. “I thought that bastard Rupert Pennefather was the dancer of the year.”

Soya rolled her eyes. “Rupert is your friend, Josef.”

“Acquaintance.” Josef said dismissively.

Lída laughed. “He was in July for the month, but it was quite unanimous that both your performances in ‘For the Love of the Gypsy’ warranted dancers of the year. You both danced beautifully, and Soya, as Prima Ballerina, you executed a very difficult dance routine, including the thirty pirouettes.”

Soya blushed. “Josef executed them as well.”

“Stop being so humble Soya, and take the compliment.” Josef said nudging her arm. “It was her idea to do them when I was doing the choreography.”

“That’s in my notes as well, that both of you worked together to choreograph the entire thing.” Lída noted.

“In this I will say that I had very little to do with it.” Soya admitted. “Planning out choreographies is Josef’s passion and not at all mine.”

“It’s actually the one aspect of dance that Soya refuses to work with me in.” Josef added.

“But, when he asked my opinion I would give my input, I would help him in dancing out what was in his head and somehow that turned into me having helped with the ideas. That was not at all what happened. Josef told me what to do and I did it, adding in my ideas when asked. ‘For the Love of the Gypsy’ is Josef’s baby.”

Lída looked at Josef, expecting him to tell her that Soya was downplaying her part in it, only for him to grin. “No, she’s telling the truth, while I was planning it out, we would spend hours in her studio, where Soya would just stand in the middle of the room, while I muttered to myself; I would tell her to turn and she would turn. I told her to move to the left, she would move to the left; only when I asked her to voice her opinion did she.”

“Really,” Soya said, knowing that the way Josef had said the last part sounded a bit cold hearted. “I know that the best way to let him work is to let him think things out in his head, mutter to himself, curse and rework everything to his satisfaction. It’s best not to interrupt him when he’s like that.”

“Much like Soya when she’s working on costume ideas, which by the way she created every piece we used in that recital.” Josef put in.

“Did you?” Lída asked in surprise.

“I dabble.” Soya said, the heat rushing to her cheeks a bit, she hated praise for something she just did for fun. “Josef saw me drawing out some skirts, took them, showed them to Ben and Ben had them sent off to our costume maker before I even had a chance to say a word. Ben then refused to let anyone else design the rest of the costumes asking me to complete them.”

“And you did?”

Soya nodded. “I did. Lucky for him, I actually had a clear vision of what the piece needed.”

“Josef, you work on other choreography for the company when you don’t dance, is that correct?”

Josef nodded. “I’ll use Soya’s words, I dabble.” He teased, looking at Soya who was laughing at him. “I have very high standards, from the dancers I’m teaching, to the dancers I work with. I’m actually quite the asshole when it comes to my career.”

“He really is.” Soya said. “At rehearsal, if he doesn’t like the way I do the jump, instead of letting me go gently and telling me what I did wrong, he’ll drop me and demand I do it again.”

“I just started as the choreographer with Ben’s company, I just finished with my first one, and it’s actually on the road right now.”

“And you’re not enjoying it?” Lída asked.

“Visiting my family at this point is was a bit higher on my priority list at the moment, I have faith my dancers will pull off the choreography to the best of their abilities.”

“It helps that Josef calls the Principal and Prima Ballerina every night, threatening to kill them if they don’t do it right.” Soya teased.

“There is that too.” Josef laughed.

“And Soya, you own your own dance studio in New York. You teach young children, is that right?”

“I teach children from the age of four to eighteen, all different levels of dance. We also open on the weekends for some other classes that my teachers offer, like Yoga, Pilates, as well as Jazz and alternative dance.”

“And you’ve been open for five years?”

“Five years.” Soya nodded.

“And she’s planning to open another one.” Josef added.

“Really? Where?” Lída asked interested, having not seen that in any notes about Soya.

“It’s a fairly recent decision, but I’m planning to open one in Finland, I still need to meet with the owner of the building, but he’s assured me that the building is mine if I want it. It’s actually my old dance studio, where I learned to dance and where my little sister is currently learning.”

“That’s sounds fun!”

“It will be,” Soya nodded in agreement not able to help the smile that formed on her lips. “Opening the one in New York was a lot of work, tedious work, and long nights as well, but it was worth it in the long run. It’ll be nice to have one close to home.”

Josef opened his mouth to add to it, and Soya having a feeling it would be about Ville, slapped her hand over his mouth. “Don’t.” she laughed.

Lída smiled at them both, when Soya slowly uncovered Josef’s mouth causing him to grin. “I wasn’t going to say a word.”

“Of course you weren’t.” Soya laughed.

“Okay one last thing before we’re done. When does your next recital begin?” Lída asked.

“Mmm, rehearsals start in January, so probably mid March, early April, much like ‘Gypsy’ did last year” Josef answered. “We still don’t know what the recital will be and Soya and I are trying hard not to think too much about it. We just spent the last year on stage, so we’re enjoying the vacation.”

“I bet!” Lída agreed. “Well then, it looks like I’m done, by the way, congratulations both of you on your engagement.”

Both froze and stared at Lída as she packed up her recorder, she was about to close her notebook, when Josef’s hand slapped down on it to stop her. She looked up to see Soya staring at her in shock, while Josef had confusion written on his.

“What do you mean ‘engagement’?” Josef asked.

“I…” Lída looked between them, “I…heard rumors that you were both together, I saw the ring on Soya’s finger… I just assumed.”

“Rumors from whom?” Josef asked, looking over at Soya who was looking between Lída and Josef.

“I…” Lída looked between them again, before focusing on Josef, “I just heard rumblings from some of the other dancers I’ve talked to. They all said that because you all lived together, you were together romantically. When I saw the ring on Soya’s finger just now, I thought it was true. It’s not?”

Josef looked at Soya, who was looking back at Josef, before Josef slowly turned to Lída and shook his head. “No.”

“No.” Lída repeated slowly.

“No, we’ve never been together.” Josef elaborated, leaning back in his chair. “We’re close friends and nothing more, we decided to move in together because it was a factor of convenience and not romance. I’m gay and Soya’s in a relationship.”

Soya opened her mouth to correct him or quickly argue with him, but the words died on her lips when the words ‘I’m gay’ rang through her head.

“Soya, did you know Josef was gay?” Lída asked, noticing the look of shock on Soya’s face.

“What?” She asked quietly, focusing on Lída.

“Did you know Josef was gay? It seems to be coming as a shock to you.”

“No, no…” Soya shook her head to clear it. “I mean yes.” She said her voice clearer. “Yes, I knew he was gay.”

“And the ring?” Lída asked, looking at the blue diamond that sat on Soya’s ring finger.

“It’s a gift, from my father when I turned seventeen. I…” Soya looked down at her ring finger. “It’s a habit, to put rings on this finger, I don’t think about it much anymore. I never thought about the significance.”

Lída nodded. “I’m sorry I assumed.”

“It’s fine,” Josef said. “Just be sure to please clear that up in the article.”

“Of course. Thank you for taking the time from your vacation to speak to me.” Lída said before she took her notebook and left with a small smile.

“Soya?” Josef asked, looking at Soya who was staring at the ground, her fingers tightly clasped in her hands. “Soya?”

“I…” She looked up at him, her eyes full of panic, causing Josef to go around and crouch down next to her, unclasping her stiff fingers.

“Hey, hey, calm down, breathe.” Josef said patiently.

“Do you know what you just did?” Soya asked quietly, her eyes still wide.

“I do.” Josef nodded, looking around the café and signaling a waiter; when one walked over he ordered a bottle of water, knowing Soya would need one. “Do you know what I just did?”

“I just….your parents Josef.”

“My parents know, as of this morning, that I prefer men over women Soya.” Josef said, thanking the waiter as he set a bottle of cold water on the table next to Soya. “Soya, miláček, I need you to breathe, you’re acting as you’re the one that just publicly announced they were gay instead of me. It’s all right.”

“But…”

“But nothing.” Josef said, cutting her off as he settled back down at his chair, “Do you remember that night in your dance studio, after our last performance?”

Soya nodded slowly, looking at Josef. “Of course.”

“Do you remember what I told you?”

Soya bit her lip before speaking. “That if I found that person, you would talk to your parents.”

“And I see that with Ville, you have found that person you’re happy with Soya. I’m not going to stand in the way of your first real relationship because I’m afraid of what my parents will think. Turns out my fear was quite irrational.”

“I knew it was.” Soya said quietly.

Josef eyed her and couldn’t help the small smile that formed. “You’re being selfish Soya.”

Soya blinked. “How so?”

“You’re worried about what your parents will say once they find out that we’re not really a couple. You’re not worried at all about me.” Josef stated, not at all hurt, he knew Soya didn’t mean to be thinking of herself at the moment, but couldn’t help it. The situation he’d just destroyed had been created in a large part, to protect her from some half schemed marriage her parents would push on her if she were single.

“I don’t mean to be.” Soya said. “I’m ecstatic that you’ve told your parents and it’s all out in the open.”

“As your relationship with Ville will be the minute you set foot in Pori and pictures are taken of you kissing him. Soya, either way our ‘relationship’ would have been in shambles, it would have turned into some torrid drama of you cheating on me, and you would have been worse off with your parents. At least now I’m out and proud.” Josef grinned. “And you have a clear path to pursue a relationship I know you want with Ville. You’re twenty eight years old Soya, it’s time to grow up and live your life the way you want it.”

Josef looked at her as she looked down at the table, she’d gone deep in her head, obviously analyzing every possible outcome of his ‘coming out’ and her parents finding out. It was time for him to pull out the big guns to knock her off her worry. Guilt would definitely do the trick. “Soya.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s time for both of us to move on with our lives. I love you, miláček, dearly, you know that.”

“I do.” Soya nodded slowly, wondering where he was going with the conversation.

“I can’t keep protecting you from this. It’s time for me to live my life as well, and I want to attempt to live it with Russell.”

“Oh Josef.” Soya said covering her face with her hands.

“Oh Soya.” Josef chuckled, making her stand up and sitting her down on his lap, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. “It’s time.”

“I know.” Soya sniffed, laying her head on Josef’s shoulder. “I just can’t help but feel like it’s the end of a very good book, one I really don’t want to end.”

Josef chuckled, loving Soya’s way with words at the time. “Think of it as the end of one book and the start of another, one that will be even better then the last Soya.”

“I still can’t help but be sad.” Soya sighed.

Josef grinned as he turned to look Soya. “I know what will make you feel better.” He sang.

“Oh?” Soya asked.

“Július and Johan, prancing around a dance studio, in pink tights and a tutu I had delivered especially for them.”

Soya burst out laughing, throwing her arms around Josef. “Oh, you always know how to make me smile.”

“We’re going to do wonderfully well Soya.”

Soya sighed happily, resting her head on Josef’s shoulder again. “Yes, I believe we will.”