Chap.3 - Mr.Potato
~:Dance Class:~
"And lift and two and point and two and again!" The teacher, Levina calls out. She is a tall, angular lady with a painted on smile. She sways, as she walks down the rows of the dance students. I stand between a dark girl, and a girl with pale blonde hair. My leg points and lifts automatically.
The last few days have been hectic, with regular shoots and dance classes in between. On top of that, a tutor has begun to turn up to keep Naozumi and I up to date in classes. So far, I've been able to escape his clutches of death ^_^ Then there has been that strange Potato guy lurking in the shadows. I really do wonder how he gets himself into the restricted areas! That second encounters leaves my skin tingling just with the thought of it...some so much like Hayama.
"Sana Kurata, lift that leg!" Levina barks at me, her grey eyes sharp. She is a short-tempered lady in her mid-fifties. She insists that she used to be in the Royal American Ballet. Perhaps so, but she certainly could never have gotten the Nicest Person award!
The class ends soon, with me doing my secret Komawari twirl with a special flare as a grand finale. Silence greets me when I stop spinning. I look around, smiling, then falter uncertainly when I am only met with stony looks from the other girls. Levina glares at me,
"Class is over, Sana."
"But that was my Komawari twirl!" I protest, uncertain of why they were applauding as all my friends had at home.
"Oh stop showing off." The girl with the blonde hair said, annoyance in her voice. Her name was Anya, and is Russian.
Most of girls in the class are very good dancers, that is because Rei has gotten me into a class with that preps girls that make it into the Royal Ballet. Maybe that's why they walk around with their noses so high up! I slink away, and greet Rei at the door.
"They hated my spin!" I wail, while Rei gently guides me out the door. As I leave, I hear someone call my name.
"Sana! Sana!" I turn, and a petite redheaded girl approaches me. Her eyes are bright blue, and her smile is wide. She glances shyly at me, "I thought it was very good." She said so softly, it was barely audible.
"Huh?"
"Your..uhh..Komwatzi twirl. I liked it. Its cute." She smiled.
"Komawari Theater Troupe!" I help. "Yeah!" I grin. "Really?"
She nods enthusiastically, "Yeah! All those girls are just jealous. I think its so cool, you know, that you're a real actress and all."
"Yup, a real made for theatre movie called Heart Calls, starring Sana as Meika, Naozumi as Colin and Asako as my older sister!" I laugh, and do another twirl. "What's your name?" I think I like this girl, she's very nice.
"I'm Skylaar. But you can call me Skye."
"Skylaar? Hmm..." I brow creases and I think. Its such an odd name. "I like it!!" I jump up and grab her hands. "Your in my dance class?"
"Yup. I've been doing dance my entire life." Skye blushed. "I hope to make the Royal Company next year."
"I hope you do!" I smile. Rei comes up behind me, gently reminding me that I have a shoot to do. I push him forward, "This is Rei-kun, my manager!"
Skye smiles shyly at him.
We leave the building,
"Bye Skye!" I call out loudly. She waves, and smiles her little smile.
"Bye Sana Kurata."
~:Set of Heart Calls:~
"My name...is Meika." I say, uncertainty in my eyes. He looks at me, his pale eyes masked. I am sprawled on the floor, my books around me. The students in the school hover around. Time has stopped. He bends forward, and picks up the books for me.
"Meika, as beautiful a name as the person behind it." He whispers, just softly enough so the camera can hear.
I flush.
"I am Colin." He lifts my hand, and places a gently kiss on it. The viewers should be dying by the romance of it all by now.
"Cut! I need more of a starstruck." Roddenburg approaches, and repositions Naozumi closer to me. "See? Feel the love people." Make-up and wardrobe swarms in for touchups. I glance over at Naozumi, as a powder swab is rubbed on my face. He grins at me, catching my eye. Our kiss scene is coming up, the day looming closer. I don't know why I'm so nervous about it, Naozumi seems at ease. Perhaps it is because I've never done one before....That thought brings back the memory of Hayama's kiss. His lips on mine..
"Places people!" Roddy calls, and everyone resumes positions. I snap back to reality. The take begins again.
It is late when we are finally done. Roddy is a hard pleaser. It's luck that my room is just upstairs.
"Hey Sana. Sana!!" A voice calls. I turn wearily, tired from the day's shoots. Skylaar waves at me from behind the restricted access tape, trying to around the shoulder of a security guard. The guard looks at me warily, unsure if his job is on the line.
"You know this girl?" He asks, his voice is gruff. I look at Skye. Her bright red hair is loose around her head in waves of colour. I grin at her.
"Yeah I do, let her in!"
The guard looks uncertain.
"Well?" I demand, giving him a glare. He melts, and Skye slips in. The guard slips back in place, just as a torrent of Naozumi fans, who see an opening, rush forward. I grab Skye and pull her up to the Penthouse.
Her face is wide with wonder as we sit on the couch in the center room.
"Its so grand!" SHe breathes, staring around. Her bright blue eyes are shining. "Its so cool, Sana!"
"Thanks. So, what brings you here?"
Skye smiles shyly, "Well, I was just around after dance, and I decided to see how your movie was doing. I thought maybe we could hang out?" She glanced at me uncertainly, "Unless...you've got something else to do?"
"No!" I grin. Anything to take my mind off the upcoming scene with Naozumi, and my thoughts of Hayama. "Nothing at all."
She grins, "Great! So...how do you like it here?"
My smile fades, "I miss Tokyo."
"Really?" She looks at me, attentive, "What...what is it like there? I mean, its so far away. Like a whole other world."
I nod enthusiastically, "It is! This is like a whole new world.." I trail off. "Its very busy there, very..very clean. People are very...very busy." Skye giggles.
"I think I'd like to go there someday."
"Yeah, I think you would like it."
We smile at each other. She's all curled up, her small body easily fitting into the nook of the couch. She's really quite small, I can hardly tell that she's the same age as me. I like her, she's cute. I guess she sort of reminds me of me. Haha..odd. I always have girlfriends that remind me of me. Fuuka was like me, she looked like me. Skye..well, she's got this aura of energy around her. I guess that's why we click it off so well.
"Hey, how much of New York have you seen?" Skye says suddenly.
"Umm.." I look out the window, staring at the top of the skyscrapers. I've been in New York almost a month. Not much sightseeing considering that amount of time. "not much, actually."
"No? Oh my gosh! Your really missing out, there's so much to do in New York, this is like, the center of the world!" Skye smiles, "Come." She pulls me up. "I think you should see this new world your living in!"
We head out onto the busy street, using the back doors to escape the fans, although I doubt any of them would go crazy of me. Hmm..
The streets are humid, almost to the point of unbearability. People brush by, as if time is about to run out any second.
"Come on!" Skye pulls me along. We board a bus, then take a subway, then board another bus, until we stop in front of a huge metal-topped building.
"This is the Opera House." She rolls her eyes, looking happy, "The plays in here, are AMAZING."
"Really?" I look up, it is possibly the biggest building I've ever seen.
"Yup, here, come on! We can buy tickets for next week!!" Skye paused, and blushed slightly. "Maybe...uhh, Naozumi..could, uh.." She stammered, turning red.
I burst into laugher, she's too cute!
"You like Naozumi!" I jump in glee. But in this country, who doesnt? Our trip to the Opera House had brought to my attention more than a few magazines that contained Naozumi's face plastered to their front page. Skye was red,
"Ummm..uhh."
"Oh, its okay." I wrap and arm around her and we head towards the Opera House. "So..." I sidle up to her, Hehehe "You want me to set you up?" I whisper.
Skye flushes hotly.
"Ummm.."
"Hehehe come on, admit it!!"
"Sorta." Skye bites her lip and looks up at me uncertainly. "Think its okay?"
"Of course! You so pretty!" I hug her. Even though I've known her barely a week, I feel like I've known her forever. She's just so likeable.
"Oh, I'm not." Her red hair hides her face, as she ducks behind the bright mass. "He's so good-looking, Sana. I couldnt' believe it when I first saw him. He was like...a foreign prince!" Her eyes are shinign dreamily. I smile, how odd. In Japan Naozumi is the foreign prince. I had thought he'd the American here, but I guess he's too Japanese here, and too American there. Hmmm..Funny way of thinking about it.
"C'mon. Three tickets for one of next week's show?"
Skye nods, blushing behind her curtain of hair.
I buy the tickets, then we head out and find a quaint cafe where we sip tea and stare out the window and people bustle by.
Skye sighs happily, "Naozumi, I love that name."
I raise an eye at her, "Are you sure its just the name?"
She turns two shades of red, then quickly changes the subject.
"Do you mind, Sana?" She asks, her eyes concerned.
"Mind? Why should I mind?!"
"Well.." She seems hesitant to continue, "I thought, you know, at first...that well." She flushes, "Well I thought you and Naozumi were..you know, going out already!"
"Me and Naozumi!?"
"Well..your both actors, and Naozumi's never really denied it in interviews and stuff.." She trails off, looking at me oddly. "Are you okay, Sana?"
As she was talking, I had been stuffing my face with biscotti. It really is a wonderful food, that biscotti. But at her last comment, I froze. Never denied? Naozumi, surely he would tell the press...I mean, we aren't going out, and he wouldn't lie! No..but my heart races.
"What exactly...does he..say?" I said, putting down the biscotti slowly. Skye looks at me, her blue eyes wide.
"Well, he just...sort of, I don't know, avoids the question I guess."
"Avoids the question?"
"Yeah, like, he just goes onto something else. Have you never seen his interviews that he's done on Leno and ET and all those?"
I shake my head slowly,
"No..I just. Naozumi did all those before I came to America......"
"Sana?" Skye looks at me worriedly. I pull together a big smile. Jumping up, knocking a few chairs over, I raise my arm strongly.
"I'm fine, come on Skye! Let's go have some fun!" I pull her out of the cafe, determined on getting my mind of Naozumi, Mr.Potato and most of all, Hayama.
~:Classroom, Trailer of 'Heart Calls':~
Naozumi and I sit in the makeshift classroom, in one of the trailers on the set of the movie. We are expected to keep up with our studies. Our teacher, Mr.vanDetten is a small, shruken man with absolutely no spine. Its actually quite easy to skip out, hehe, this is actually the first class I've decided to stay for. Perhaps I should show Mr.vanDetten a bit of respect, afterall, I wouldn't want to be like how Hayama used to be. Used to be...
"S-sana Kurata?" Mr.vanDetten looks at me with his watery, spectacled grey eyes. "I'm-m glad you decided to show up today, your-your several lessons behind."
I smile, and wave my hand at him, "Oh that's okay!! I'm really quite intelligent." I cock my head to one side, and grin. "See, I can do all my times tables, and my division tables.." I start counting off the tables one by one with my fingers.
Mr.vanDetten pales,
"Oh oh oh ! Uh...uh that..that's okay! I believe you!" he stutters. He looks around, as if expecting a whole class to show up.
"Mr.vanDetten, you can begin class now." I say authorotatively.
"Hehhh.." Mr.vanDetten looks at me uncertainly. "W-well..umm.see..today class.."
I burst into laughter, and turn to Naozumi who is watching all of this somewhat amused.
"Class!? Its just two people!"
"Y-yes, it is. But today, see, we have another student joining us." Mr.vanDetten fisnishes.
"Another student?" This time, Naozumi perks up. I narrow my eyes in though, another student? I dont' recall another young child-actor to act in the movie....
"Ah..here he is now!" Mr.vanDetten smiles widely.
The door opens and shuts.
I stare.
He walks in, sullen, his eyes hooded and dark. He takes the seat in the cornor, farthest from everyone, closest to the door. His light blonde hair is long over his eyes, making him seem even more mysterious. Mr.Potato.
"You!!" I stand, suddenly angry. "You!!!" I stand in front of him, pointing with my index finger.
He looks at me, his eyes narrow.
"What do you want?" He asks.
I remember someone who used to be like that. Someone who was so bitter and angry at the world.
"You're so rude! I was just thanking you! And you just blew me off!"
"..about time someone did." He muttered.
"WHAT?!?!"
"...." He turned away.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?"
"I said, SHUT UP." He said, glaring at me. I narrow my eyes, and stamp my foot.
"Who do you think you are?" I remember a time when anger never helped. "Hmmm?" I get in his face. He looks away. "And why are you here? Why aren't you in normal school? Are you in the movie? Are you an actor? Who are you? ANSWER ME!!"
"......" His face is sullen and angry.
"Why are you so angry?" I ask at last, softer.
He sudden stands up, the chair scraping on the linoleum floor. He looks at me, his eyes expression less. My heart flutters when I remember someone else that looked like that. He gazes at me,
"My name is Esteven, you happy now?" He gazes at me, his eyes give off no warmth. "Good." He says softly. Turning, he leaves the trailer. I stare after him, what is wrong with that guy?
After a short class, with which Mr.vanDetten seemed to have two nervous breakdowns, Naozumi and I headed back up to the Penthouse.
"What's up with that guy, Sana?" Naozumi asks, as we head into the main room.
"Hmmm?" After Esteven left, I've been feeling...tired. It hurts, when there's that constant reminder of Hayama right there. But he's not Hayama. Perhaps I'm being stupid, imagining him to be somethign that he isn't. Yes, that's gotta be it. I'm trying to recreate Hayama in my own mind. I'll just stay away from him, yeah...that's waht I'll do.
"You know, Esteven Roddenburg. He's the director's son, you know."
"Roddy's son?"
"Yeah, they're from Los Angeles."
"Oh?"
"Hmmm...he reminds of..."
"....."
"Hayama." Naozumi finishes. I look away, not wanting Naozumi to see the pained expression on my face. This is ridiculous. I should be fine.
"Sana?"
"Yes?" I didn't realize I was clutching the pillow so hard. Naozumi slowly prys my fingers off it, and tilts my chin towards him.
"Sana, do you miss him?"
"Hmmm."
"Would you..." Naozumi leans closer, my gaze flickers out of his, anywhere but into those purple irises of colour. "...would you miss me, Sana?"
"Hmmm?" My eyes inadvertantly lock onto his. What does he want from me? I want to scream, but I'm frozen. I cannot stop these events, I have no control. I have nothing. Naozumi's eyes are so deep, so pale. My eyes close, and I visualize Hayama, so close. He smells good, smells like musk, leather and sweat. Its....
Naozumi's lips lock on mine. His lips are soft.
They taste salty. Salty and minty, an odd mingle of both.
Suddenly, I gasp, and draw back, my eyes wide.
"Naozumi!!" I gasp.
His eyes open, like opening the curtains to colour. His eyes really are so odd. I've never met anyone with eyes like his. He gazes right through me.
"Sana, don't you feel it?" He whispers, his breath on my ear.
I want to move away, I have to move away. But I'm locked in place.
"I feel it, Sana. I feel it between us." He leans closer, his hair right in my face. The silvery strands are so close. Why does he have to smell so good?
"I love you, Sana." Its so soft, his voice.
Everything works again. I jump up and move away as fast as I can. I stare at him, my eyes wide. My heart beats rapidly.
"No! Naozumi, no!" I want to cry. He approaches me, his eyes concerned.
"Sana! I..."
"No! Stay away!" I cannot think. Why is it so hard to think? My night was going good, everything was fine. "I...."
"Sana?" He steps closer.
"I..." He loves me. Naozumi loves me. He is adored by millions, yet he loves me. I want to cry. "I'm so sorry." I choke on the last words, then rush out of the Penthouse.
I don't know where I go. I just go.
I finally collapse, in an empty side room. I have no clue where I am. I only know that it is quiet, that it is empty. It is dark, a small room, filled with shadows. I'm surprised to find tears running down my face. Tears. Haha, why do I cry for reason? I never do that? I'm a happy person, I think happy thoughts........
I bury my head in my arms, and shift back into the small corner that I sit in. Its nice, a small nook, away from the world.
Suddenly, the lights flood on. My head snaps up, a protest on my lips.
He stands there, Esteven Roddenburg. He does look like his father, now that I notice it. They have the same bright green eyes. But he lacks the burliness that his father has, Esteven is slender, slender and tall. Like most in this country...
He looks at me, his eyes not registering anything, much less surprise. I look at him. It doesn't help that he looks so much like Hayama. I suddenly realize that I'd been crying, and what a mess I must look. I look away, starting to stand. Looking around, I realize suddenly that I'm in his room. It must be, for there are things littered about.
"I'm...I'm sorry for ...." I start to head towards the door. I'm in no mood to argue with him, to put up with his snide comments. It hurts too much, lately.
He stops me, a hand on my shoulder. I turn, and look up at him.
"Its alright." He says. His face is like a mask, a stone mask. I wonder, whats inside?
"Huh?"
"...." He looks away, a look of irritation crossing his face.
I straighten, and look him straight in the eye. "Esteven Roddenburg, you're the director's son."
"Yeah."
"I didn't know that."
"Oh."
He's not really much for words. I take a big breath, and wipe an arm across my face to clear the tears. I shake my hair out of my face. I smile at him, and he gazes uncertainly back at me.
"Is this your room?" I gesture around.
He nods. He heads toward the bed, and quickly flips the covers over something. Its his boxers. I catch a flash of them. I turn two shades of red, then burst into giggles. I poke him in the ribs,
"Hehehe that was your boxers! Hehehehe!" I blush, and alternate between blushing and giggling. Oh, and the occasional poke in his ribs.
He looks at me, annoyed.
"Oh shut up." He says.
I giggle once more, then straighten, sobering up.
He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. His eyes are like flashes of green. I sigh, and sit slightly on the edge of the bed. Its not made, and books litter the floor. I pick up one of the books off the ground. I'm just starting to examine the cover,
"You read a lot?"
He snatches the book out of my hand, and shoves it under the bed.
"No." He scowls.
I grin widely, and wave my hand.
"Its okay to read. My mama is an Aoki winning writer!"
He just scowls and looks away. Suddenly, I jump up.
"Hey! You don't even know who I am yet! I'm.."
"I know-I know who you are."
"You do?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
"Well, my father is the director.." He turns away, that bitter expression crossing his face once more. I look at him curiously. His father is Roddy, the director. If so, then why have I never seen them together? Its almost been month since shooting began, and I have never once thought that Roddy had a son. Not once.
"Why....why are you never on the set?"
"I'm not an actor." He replies. Is there something behind his voice?
"Oh..but your dad.."
"So?" He looks at me, his green eyes challenging.
"Oh..." I look away. I sigh, and bounce lightly on the bed. My eyes can't help but travel involuntarily back to his face. Esteven, what an odd name. "..why?" I can't help but ask.
"Huh?"
"Why..are you being nice now?"
"I'm not." He replies.
"Well.." I look around, "Your not kicking me out, when I came into your room. Your..not being rude. I think that qualifies as being nice."
He just looks at me as if I'd lost my head. I look at him,
"Why aren't you an actor? I mean, I'm sure your father would love to have an actor son."
A dark expression crosses Esteven's face. He scowls and turns away. I'm on a roll.
"I mean," I count off the reason mentally on my hand, "well, its a lot of fun. You just join a Theatre Group, like Komawari. Do you have a Komawari here in America? Hmm?" I look at him, then continue, "Or, if you get a really great manager, like Rei-kun, then you don't have to! You can just do tons and tons and tons of commercials, and be on the front of magazines with your father!!!" I jump, lights exploding behind me like fireworks.
"No." He says. My balloon pops and the light fades.
"Wha-?"
"I don't want to." He scowls again, and turns away. "Its stupid."
"STUPID?!?"
"Yeah." He looks at me, daring me to contradict him. I sigh,
"Perhaps a bit." I remember a time when I had longed to quit my job. Perhaps that was all acting was, my job. I imagined life without acting, without the constant commercials and movies and shoots. I imagined being free to do anything I wanted to, to spend entire days with Fuuka and Hayama. To just enjoy my life. Esteven notices my sobering expression, and I guess he thinks that he's upset me, for he says gruffly,
"Its cool if you like it."
"Hmm?"
"Hmph." He turns away. I smile slowly.
"Yeah, it is." I agree. He nods. Distantly, I can hear Naozumi and Rei calling me. I sort of dread facing Naozumi again. "I better go."
"Kay.." He doesn't turn from the window he's staring out of. "Sana?"
"Yes?" I stop at the door.
"Call me Ven."
"Ven," I smile, then nod enthusiastically. "Okay!!" As I turn to leave, I pause and remember a piece of advice I'd given to someone earlier in life. "Ven?"
"What?" The moment is over, and the annoyance is back in his voice.
"Try not to be the Lone wolf! Its bad for the health!" I grin at him, then jump up and dash off.
~:Penthouse:~
A few days later, Skye was up at the Penthouse with me. We stared at the TV, me flipping through the channels. Skye swore that nothing was good on, and that we should go find Naozumi. I pretended I didn't know where he was, and insisted on wanting to watch TV. In truth, I knew Naozumi was down taking a break from shooting some scenes that involved on his character. But I was reluctant to face him. I didnt' know what to think. And I sure as hell couldn't tell Skye what had happened. Her crush on Naozumi had deepened after she realized that he wasn't taken, and now spent almost all her time talking about him, and buying magazines with his picture on the cover. So, how could I tell her that her crush loved me?
"C'mon Sana, maybe Naozumi's done filming! Anyway, we have to ask him to go see that play at the Opera House tomorrow night. Remember?"
Oh yes, I hadn't remembered. The thought of spending an entire evening with Naozumi made me feel queasy. I hadn't spoken to him, except for short, brief words since that evening. I hadn't seen Ven either.
"Ohmhmm.." I flipped to another channel. "Lets just watch some TV."
"We've been watching for two hours, lets go out and do something!"
"I think Naozumi's busy."
"Still?"
"Uhmm..yeah." I hated lying, I'm not a good liar. I felt bad, Skye had become one of my good friends. She made dance class a lot easier, that was certain. I sighed, the guilt overwhelming me.
"Skye..Naozumi's on break right, now. Why don't you go down and invite him to the play?" I felt bad for shoving Skye at Naozumi, just because I didn't know how to deal with him. Her eyes widened, and a small flush grew on her pale cheeks.
"Really?!"
"Ummhmm."
"Come on, Sana! What're we waiting for?!" She grabbed my arm, practically dragging me across the floor. The thought of facing Naozumi made me blanch visibly.
"uhhh.."
"What's wrong? Come on!"
"No..uhh, I'm..why don't you go down. Here." I shoved the tickets at her. "You and Naozumi go." Skye looked at me oddly, I racked my brains. "uh..don't you wanna be alone with him?" I asked, then winked. The old me was back. I nudge her lightly, and giggled. "Oh come on, I'm giving ya the perfect setting for a first date!"
"Date! With Naozumi!" Skye turned two shades of red, then hid behind her curtain of red hair. "Oh Sana..I couldn't."
"I thought you liked him!" I demanded.
"I...I do. But.."
"What?"
"I...." She looked up, her bright blue eyes feverish. "I'm nervous." She said softly. She collapsed on the couch, suddenly not looking too great.
"Wha-?" I'm totally confused.
"Well..Sana. Before, you were there to break the ice. Now..what do I say to him?"
"Just be yourself."
"Ugh!" She threw her hands down dejectedly. "This is like my dream. He's so good-looking."
I frowned slightly,
"He's also a very nice person." I commented. Skye didn't seem to hear me. She gazed dreamily into space.
"Oh those purple eyes are amazing, and that smile, god!" She sighed.
"He's a very funny person."
"Oh those dimples!"
I frowned more deeply. Why was Skye only commenting on Naozumi's looks. He was so much more than that. He was deep, and caring, and funny. He was compassionate, and sensitive. With a start, I realized that I could conjure up a picture of Naozumi in my mind, his little smile whenever I said something funny. The little dimple that formed on his left cheek when he frowned in thought. And with a shock, I realized that I, as Hayama put it, didn't hate Naozumi. Perhaps.....
"Oh Sana! I'll go! Thankyou so much!" Skye jumped up, and danced around me. I was totally frozen. My mind felt numb. Skye zoomed out the door to find Naozumi. I stared after her. Yes, I thought resolutely, this was the right thing to do. Turning, I flipped through the channels. And there he was on TV again, always there. His bright eyes almost blue in the camera's hue. I groaned. Why did he have to be everywhere?
*Author's Note* Get what I'm trying to do? hehe, I like Naozumi, I think he's sort of under-appreciated. But yes, I too, think that fanfic that writes about alternate pairing SHOULD NOT touch Sana and Hayama. They're too perfect for each other!