Status: Active, seeking feedback.

Searching for Estelle.

Before the Show

Ville and Mige walked over to us and as Jyrki stood I did too, not wanting to be rude. He greeted each of them with a man-hug and then gestured to me. I was feeling nauseous with shyness and bit my lip awkwardly.

“This is Estelle, a good friend of mine,” he said, smiling at me.

I wasn't sure when or how we'd become 'good friends' or even friends at all, but I wasn't complaining. I smiled shyly at the HIM guys, blushing slightly. I was afraid to open my mouth, and I wasn't sure if this was because I might be sick from nerves or because I might say something stupid.

Ville saluted me and smiled, saying “Nice to meet you, I'm Ville.”

Mige stuck his hand out at me and said, with a cheeky grin “I'm Mige, the heat-throb of HIM.”

I giggled quietly and Ville rolled his eyes.

“You wish,” he said, giving Mige a friendly shove.

I shook Mige's hand with my much smaller, trembling one and managed a feeble “Nice to meet you both.”

Jyrki jumped in at that point, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and explaining with a cheeky smile “She's very shy. I don't think she's realised what she's getting into by hanging out with us,”

I laughed, but I couldn't help but think he might be right.

“Jyrki!” Timo called out, motioning Jyrki over to the rest of the band.

“Ah, band stuff,” he said “I'll be back soon.” He squeezed my arm reassuringly before he left.

“Be nice,” he warned Mige, who feigned shock. [See Authors Note!!!]

“I always am!”

Ville let out a quiet snort at that and I giggled.

“You speak Finnish?” he asked, surprised.

“Not very well. I can understand quite a lot though,” I answered shyly.

Ville motioned to the empty couch behind us. “Why are we still standing?”

I smiled and sat down and Ville sat next to me.

“Right, beer time,” Mige declared, clapping his hands together, “Estelle, what are you drinking?”

“Oh, no. I'm okay, thank you,” I declined politely, still holding the drink that Jussi had given me.

“Suit yourself,” he said before wandering off.

Ville and I sat in silence for a moment until I think he realised that there was no way I would be the one who would initiate conversation.

“So, how do you know Jyrki?” he asked, settling back into the couch.

“Um, it's kind of a weird story I guess. We actually only met yesterday at a coffee shop and then I ran into him again earlier today. Well, I ran to Jussi. Like actually ran into him. I spilt my coffee all over him. It was horrible,” I rambled, my hands fidgeting in my lap. Why is it that when I was most nervous I became a mess of word-vomit?

Ville laughed and I couldn't help but smile. He had such a dorky laugh and it was completely infectious. “Was he mad?”

“No... I don't think he even really noticed. He just took his shirt off and then Jyrki came out,” I said with a smile.

“No, he's a bit ADD at times. I'm not sure he even knows how to be mad,” Ville explained, shaking his head, “He's worse when he's drumming. He has so much energy it's just crazy,”

I grinned a little at that. “So I hear, I can't wait to see for myself.”

“So you're a fan then?” he asked.

I nodded, blushing slightly as I realised that I was fangirling just a little bit. Ville didn't seem overly concerned by it, but I figured he was probably used to strange little fans.

“How long are you in Finland for?” he asked, not giving up on me just yet, apparently.

“Until just after Ruisrock, then my friend and I are going on to Sweden.”

“You're travelling with a friend?” he asked, interested. I thought he was probably wondering if she was more socially capable than me. She is, of course.

“Yeah, my best friend Dani... she's in France at the moment though. She met a guy and decided to stay behind. I think she's even thinking about moving there if it works out. She loves Paris,” I said with a smile.

“Sounds romantic,” Ville said.

“Yeah, that's Dani all over.”

“So she's off being wooed by a Frenchman and you're here being romanced by a Finn,” he said with a lopsided grin. “I think you got the raw end of the deal.”

I frowned, not quite getting what he meant and then I realised he thought that Jyrki and I were a thing.

“Oh! No.. I'm not with Jyrki or seeing him or slee-” I cut myself off, blushing furiously. “We're just friends. Well, I'm just a weird girl he keeps seeing everywhere. Oh, God. I'm not a stalker or anything though. I just...” I trailed off “To be honest, I think he just feels sorry for me.”

Ville laughed and patted me on the arm, giving me instant goosebumps. “Sorry, love. I didn't mean to assume and I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. I'm sure that's not the case though.”

I shook my head. “It's okay, it doesn't take much.”

He smiled. “Well, I'm glad we've got that sorted out. To be honest, I was worried. You seem too nice for Jyrki, I'm not sure he deserves someone like you.”

I blushed once again. The thought of someone like him not deserving someone like me was absurd.

Thankfully, Jussi and Jyrki both appeared at that moment saving me from having to respond to that.

“Pikkuinen, you're not drinking fast enough!” Jussi declared.

I frowned at his apparent new nickname for me.

“I'm not little,” I protested with very little conviction.

All three of the guys laughed.

“Yes, you are!” Jyrki replied, still chuckling “You're tiny. Those heels don't fool us!”

I bit my lip, feeling a little uncomfortable. I didn't like being so little. It was just another reason for people to look at me.

“Don't worry,” Ville said “It makes you much cuter because we're not used to people being so little.”

Come to think of it, everyone in Finland seemed very tall, graceful and beautiful. I definitely looked like an outsider.

I shook my head. “I do feel a little out of place.”

Jussi sat down next to me and began playing with my hair. “You have pretty hair.”

“Th-thank you?” I stammered, not really sure how to respond to that. I don't do so well with complements. I also hated my hair. Not very many people have naturally red hair, again making me stand out.

Jyrki rolled his eyes and gave Jussi a light swat with his hand.

“Leave her alone.”

Jussi smirked at Jyrki. “Threatened” he asked.

“No, it's not like that, Jussi. She's a friend and nothing more,” Jyrki replied with a glare.

“Then why are you being so protective?” Jussi questioned the older man, further.

“Because she's so shy. I don't want you to toy with her. She seems like a really nice girl.”

Jussi nodded. “Yeah, I know. I was just teasing.”

I looked down at my lap. They were obviously oblivious to the fact that I did know a bit of Finnish. In actual fact, I understood quite a lot.

Ville raised an eyebrow at me with a smile, knowing that I understood every word.

I was shocked by Jyrki's protective nature. Especially when he thought I hadn't been able to understand him. I knew Jussi wasn't really being offensive though, he'd been nothing but lovely since I'd met him. And I'd given him a few reasons not to be.

“Well, then.” Jyrki said after a few moments of somewhat awkward silence. “It's show time.”

I glanced at my watch. It was indeed 6:50 and the Eyes were due to start playing in 10 minutes.

Jussi stood and ripped his shirt off for the second time since I had met him. He threw it to me and I caught it awkwardly. Unsure of what to do I folded it and sat it next to me on the couch.

“You know, that's probably the first time that shirt's ever been folded,” Ville said to me, gesturing at it.

I laughed. “Why doesn't that surprise me?”

Jussi pretended to be offended and nudged me gently. “Mind your manners, Pikkuinen!”

I giggled and caught Jyrki with a rare, wide grin on his face. I raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged.

“Come on, Jussi. Can't keep them waiting,” he said, pushing the hyperactive drummer towards the door.

Ville turned to me and spoke. “Well, let's go watch then.”

I was so excited by that thought that I stood up too quickly and tripped on my own feet.

Blushing furiously I caught myself from falling by holding Ville's arm. I dropped it as soon as I was upright and muttered “Sorry.”

He grinned at me and offered me his arm again. “I don't trust you to make it out there on your own.”

I shook my head with a slight laugh and linked my arm through his, the pterodactyls in my stomach starting up again as we made our way out into the bar.
♠ ♠ ♠
Please note: Conversations in italics are actually being spoken in Finnish. I decided this was the safest way to do it, rather than attempt to clumsily translate things online. Some basics will be written in the actual Finnish, but not the more complex bits. If you think it would be better for me to use actual Finnish, let me know and I'll give it a go.

Pikkuinen = Little One

As always, thank you for the comments! I wasn't going to post today, but I whipped this up and thought I might as well post it while Uni's not too busy. I feel it's a little bit rubbish though, so let me know what you think. It's important because it clarifies Jyrki and Estelle's relationship though. Next chap will be the show and what happens afterwards. Remember, comments = happy me & happy me = better chapters.