AN: Well, it's done! Please forgive the typo's. I haven't proof read it yet. (too much of a schlep).
Chapter 17: Dr. Jekell and Mr... Ms Joanie.
Joanie placed the last of the dirty plates and eating utensils in the kitchen. Despite the glare from the cook she leaned against the table and waited for the last person to join her.
Dame Skyla was a step or two behind, smiling as she carried on a relaxed conversation with some of her students. Joanie smiled to herself as she decided with a childlike confidence that the woman was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Rubbing her nose on the gray jersey's sleeve she wandered over and joined the small group. Dame Skyla smiled at her warmly before returning her attention back to the students. They all placed down their loads and flowed out of the kitchen.
Dame Skyla glanced in the direction of the other woman in the kitchen as they left.
"Are you sure you don't need any help Sonya?" She queried but even before her sentence was done the woman had already waved her away.
"That's why there's a big dishwasher Dame Skyla." She said with a smile. "Go get dressed and enjoy your Christmas. I'll handle this."
Dame Skyla smiled and placed a hand on Joanie's shoulder. "Holler if you need some help anyway." She said. "You know where to get me."
Sonya Romano laughed. "If it's anywhere near my kitchen or your office, I'm throwing you off of the mountain." She stated. "Off with you now, and take that rag with you."
Dame Skyla smiled and shook her head. "Come on Joanie." She said softly, mildly pleased that Joanie hadn't taken any counter measures to get away from her touch.
The girl fell in step next her as they left the kitchen. She was silent until they were close to the dorms.
"Ma'am, I have a favor to ask." She said out of the blue.
Dame Skyla blinked and smiled. "Skyla or Dame Skyla." She said. "Sure love, what?"
Joanie touched her bottom lip with her tongue and took a quick breath.
"I would like to phone my father." She said all in a hurry. "It's Christmas…"
Surprised Dame Skyla couldn't help but blink before she smiled and graced Joanie with a nod. "Off course love." She said dismissively. "Do you want to do it now?"
Joanie shook her head and rubbed her brow with the back of her hand. "I would like to get dressed first and take a shower and so on, if you don't mind." She added quickly. "Which ever time would be convenient for you would work though."
Still surprised, and intrigued, Skyla nodded again.
"Anytime would work." She said. "Tell you what, I'm going to do the same then head for my office, I have to make a quick call myself. Then we can meet there?"
Joanie grinned relieved. "That's perfect. Thanks."
Dame Skyla was just finishing up as she appeared in the doorway. The woman, still hunched over the receiver, smiled at her and motioned for her to come in. "Will you call me back when you know?" She queried. "Thanks Helene… Merry Christmas to you too… Yes, I know… Thanks."
Joanie gave her a tentative smile and ambled over to the table as Skyla placed down the receiver. The woman's eyes were sparkling as she looked up.
"None of my friends have social lives." She stated. "Pleasure though, not work."
Not catching half of it, Joanie only nodded for good measure.
Dame Skyla studied her and stepped away from the telephone. "You can talk as long as you want." She said. "I'll come back in 10 or so…"
Joanie looked up sharply. "Five is all I need." She said quickly. "Don't stay away long."
Skyla raised an eyebrow and twisted her head to the side. "Okay…" She said slowly. "Five then, scream if you need me quicker." There was a reassuring tone in her voice that Joanie didn't particularly need to hear.
She began to turn a little solemn as she nodded. "Thanks." She said softly. "I'll holler…"
Skyla left the room.
Joanie bit her lip and cautiously picked up the receiver.
When Skyla came back to the room, Joanie was staring at the receiver. She blinked at the woman, sniffed and placed it back on the hook.
Her expression was distant as she met Skyla's gaze.
The woman blinked, her heart sinking. "You okay?" She asked softly and slowly approached the table.
Joanie sniffed and quickly moved away form the desk. "Yeah." She replied swiftly. "Fine."
Skyla frowned and opened her mouth to say something but Joanie cut her off.
"I'm fine really." She said. "I knew that…" She paused and smiled. "We all make mistakes Dame Skyla. I'm just hoping that this wasn't one of them."
There was something in her eyes that Skyla didn't like.
"Joanie, other people's mistakes aren't yours." She said. "Whatever your father or family did, you trying to rectify that isn't wrong."
A spark of compassion flashed in Joanie's brown depths.
"It's not that." She said softly, turning somber. "Thank you for the kind words anyway." She sighed, grimaced and glanced at the door. "All your words. And the lessons. It meant a lot to me, you understand? I'm very grateful. I a… will always remember this Christmas."
Skyla had crossed her arms in front of her chest as she looked down at the child.
"It's my hope," she began cautiously, "that you'll remember the time after Christmas as well. New Year's coming and I can guarantee you a party that will knock you off of your feet." She said the last with a grin.
Joanie didn't return it.
The petite girl looked up at Skyla, her eyes filled with inner tumult. She sniffed, tried to say something and cut herself off. Puzzled by her behavior Skyla watched as she closed her eyes and steel herself. When Joanie reopened her eyes the woman gave a start at the sudden stark emotions displayed on her face.
"I don't want to be knocked off of my feet." She snapped without warning.
Skyla blinked. "It's just an expression Joanie." She said blankly.
The youth blinked and rerouted her conversation. "I know that." She said in the same tone. "Are you saying that I'm stupid?"
Was she trying to pick a fight?
Skyla shook her head and approached the child. "No Joanie." She said softly. "You know that I will never say that. What's wrong?"
She got the feeling that she hadn't taken the bait. Joanie stared at her, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears, yet she balled her fists snapped up her chin.
"I'm here! That's what's wrong." She took a step away from Skyla and headed towards the door. "I hate it here, and I hate all of you!" When she went out the door she knocked into a glass vase filled with old water and dried flowers. It toppled and shattered on the ground before Skyla could reach it.
Too shocked to be upset Skyla rushed out the door only to run into Jade coming in.
"What happened?" The youth asked shocked as she grabbed Skyla's shoulders for support. "Joanie just ran past…" Quite suddenly she noticed the vase and blinked.
Skyla took her chance to move past Jade and lean over the railing to try and spot the fleeing child.
Joanie had jumped onto the banister of the stairs and slit down most of the way. When Skyla saw her she was already on the bottom floor, bolting for her life.
She was clutching her bag in her arms.
The woman turned around to find Jade already picking up the pieces of the shattered decoration.
"Leave that Jade." She said sharply, though her tone wasn't directed at the girl. "Would you please go after Joanie and find out what this is all about. You better hurry, she was running pretty fast."
Jade nodded and quickly sped off.
Shaking her head, wondering what had set her off this time Skyla began clearing up the mess that was left in the wake of Joanie's latest tirade. Today she decided, whether Joanie will take it well or not; she was going to have a good talking to the girl. This seesaw of emotions was unnecessary and uncalled for.
Jade hadn't returned by the time Skyla was clearing up the last of the soggy flowers and broken shards. All that was left was the damp patch and, as she was feeling now, Skyla decided to leave it. Her shock had passed and, with every passing moment, it spiraled towards irritation and anger. She had never thought that Joanie was the sort to be ungrateful, yet after this last show…
She glanced at the door and wondered where Jade was.
Gathering up the last of the mess Skyla threw it in the dustbin she had brought closer and stood up. She turned to leave the room but the telephone rang, calling her back. Shaking her head to herself Skyla hurried to the desk and picked up the receiver. She never got round to answering it.
A soft song started up in the back of her mind.
Queen Skyla ignored it.
Dame Skyla put down the phone and picked up the two new objects on her desk. Feeling her heart constrict she ran her fingers over her purse and opened it. She glanced inside, had a sinking sensation and put it down. She turned her attention to the last object and found herself staring back at her.
Skyla ran her fingers lightly over the surface of the drawing and turned it around.
A short message had scribbled on the back.
'I've just been dreaming about this since I arrived here. Merry Christmas, I'm so sorry.'
And that was that. It was still on the old lined paper from Joanie's older books.
Turning it around again Skyla sat down on her desk and spread the sheet in front of her. It was a picture of her, but not Dame Skyla – Queen Skyla. She traced her fingers down the highlights in her hair and then over the figures behind her.
If she had thought that her face was just a product of Joanie's imagination, she couldn't deny the images of Jade and Breeze in the background. She knew where Joanie's "dreams" had gotten their inspiration.
"Go to sleep little one. You're dreaming. Close your eyes, don't fight it now."
She had woken up on their return from the wingdom. She had thought that the girl wouldn't remember anything but…
Closing her eyes she realized that she couldn't ignore the song any longer.
She got up and ran to the music room.
Chapter 17: Dr. Jekell and Mr... Ms Joanie.
Joanie placed the last of the dirty plates and eating utensils in the kitchen. Despite the glare from the cook she leaned against the table and waited for the last person to join her.
Dame Skyla was a step or two behind, smiling as she carried on a relaxed conversation with some of her students. Joanie smiled to herself as she decided with a childlike confidence that the woman was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Rubbing her nose on the gray jersey's sleeve she wandered over and joined the small group. Dame Skyla smiled at her warmly before returning her attention back to the students. They all placed down their loads and flowed out of the kitchen.
Dame Skyla glanced in the direction of the other woman in the kitchen as they left.
"Are you sure you don't need any help Sonya?" She queried but even before her sentence was done the woman had already waved her away.
"That's why there's a big dishwasher Dame Skyla." She said with a smile. "Go get dressed and enjoy your Christmas. I'll handle this."
Dame Skyla smiled and placed a hand on Joanie's shoulder. "Holler if you need some help anyway." She said. "You know where to get me."
Sonya Romano laughed. "If it's anywhere near my kitchen or your office, I'm throwing you off of the mountain." She stated. "Off with you now, and take that rag with you."
Dame Skyla smiled and shook her head. "Come on Joanie." She said softly, mildly pleased that Joanie hadn't taken any counter measures to get away from her touch.
The girl fell in step next her as they left the kitchen. She was silent until they were close to the dorms.
"Ma'am, I have a favor to ask." She said out of the blue.
Dame Skyla blinked and smiled. "Skyla or Dame Skyla." She said. "Sure love, what?"
Joanie touched her bottom lip with her tongue and took a quick breath.
"I would like to phone my father." She said all in a hurry. "It's Christmas…"
Surprised Dame Skyla couldn't help but blink before she smiled and graced Joanie with a nod. "Off course love." She said dismissively. "Do you want to do it now?"
Joanie shook her head and rubbed her brow with the back of her hand. "I would like to get dressed first and take a shower and so on, if you don't mind." She added quickly. "Which ever time would be convenient for you would work though."
Still surprised, and intrigued, Skyla nodded again.
"Anytime would work." She said. "Tell you what, I'm going to do the same then head for my office, I have to make a quick call myself. Then we can meet there?"
Joanie grinned relieved. "That's perfect. Thanks."
Dame Skyla was just finishing up as she appeared in the doorway. The woman, still hunched over the receiver, smiled at her and motioned for her to come in. "Will you call me back when you know?" She queried. "Thanks Helene… Merry Christmas to you too… Yes, I know… Thanks."
Joanie gave her a tentative smile and ambled over to the table as Skyla placed down the receiver. The woman's eyes were sparkling as she looked up.
"None of my friends have social lives." She stated. "Pleasure though, not work."
Not catching half of it, Joanie only nodded for good measure.
Dame Skyla studied her and stepped away from the telephone. "You can talk as long as you want." She said. "I'll come back in 10 or so…"
Joanie looked up sharply. "Five is all I need." She said quickly. "Don't stay away long."
Skyla raised an eyebrow and twisted her head to the side. "Okay…" She said slowly. "Five then, scream if you need me quicker." There was a reassuring tone in her voice that Joanie didn't particularly need to hear.
She began to turn a little solemn as she nodded. "Thanks." She said softly. "I'll holler…"
Skyla left the room.
Joanie bit her lip and cautiously picked up the receiver.
When Skyla came back to the room, Joanie was staring at the receiver. She blinked at the woman, sniffed and placed it back on the hook.
Her expression was distant as she met Skyla's gaze.
The woman blinked, her heart sinking. "You okay?" She asked softly and slowly approached the table.
Joanie sniffed and quickly moved away form the desk. "Yeah." She replied swiftly. "Fine."
Skyla frowned and opened her mouth to say something but Joanie cut her off.
"I'm fine really." She said. "I knew that…" She paused and smiled. "We all make mistakes Dame Skyla. I'm just hoping that this wasn't one of them."
There was something in her eyes that Skyla didn't like.
"Joanie, other people's mistakes aren't yours." She said. "Whatever your father or family did, you trying to rectify that isn't wrong."
A spark of compassion flashed in Joanie's brown depths.
"It's not that." She said softly, turning somber. "Thank you for the kind words anyway." She sighed, grimaced and glanced at the door. "All your words. And the lessons. It meant a lot to me, you understand? I'm very grateful. I a… will always remember this Christmas."
Skyla had crossed her arms in front of her chest as she looked down at the child.
"It's my hope," she began cautiously, "that you'll remember the time after Christmas as well. New Year's coming and I can guarantee you a party that will knock you off of your feet." She said the last with a grin.
Joanie didn't return it.
The petite girl looked up at Skyla, her eyes filled with inner tumult. She sniffed, tried to say something and cut herself off. Puzzled by her behavior Skyla watched as she closed her eyes and steel herself. When Joanie reopened her eyes the woman gave a start at the sudden stark emotions displayed on her face.
"I don't want to be knocked off of my feet." She snapped without warning.
Skyla blinked. "It's just an expression Joanie." She said blankly.
The youth blinked and rerouted her conversation. "I know that." She said in the same tone. "Are you saying that I'm stupid?"
Was she trying to pick a fight?
Skyla shook her head and approached the child. "No Joanie." She said softly. "You know that I will never say that. What's wrong?"
She got the feeling that she hadn't taken the bait. Joanie stared at her, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears, yet she balled her fists snapped up her chin.
"I'm here! That's what's wrong." She took a step away from Skyla and headed towards the door. "I hate it here, and I hate all of you!" When she went out the door she knocked into a glass vase filled with old water and dried flowers. It toppled and shattered on the ground before Skyla could reach it.
Too shocked to be upset Skyla rushed out the door only to run into Jade coming in.
"What happened?" The youth asked shocked as she grabbed Skyla's shoulders for support. "Joanie just ran past…" Quite suddenly she noticed the vase and blinked.
Skyla took her chance to move past Jade and lean over the railing to try and spot the fleeing child.
Joanie had jumped onto the banister of the stairs and slit down most of the way. When Skyla saw her she was already on the bottom floor, bolting for her life.
She was clutching her bag in her arms.
The woman turned around to find Jade already picking up the pieces of the shattered decoration.
"Leave that Jade." She said sharply, though her tone wasn't directed at the girl. "Would you please go after Joanie and find out what this is all about. You better hurry, she was running pretty fast."
Jade nodded and quickly sped off.
Shaking her head, wondering what had set her off this time Skyla began clearing up the mess that was left in the wake of Joanie's latest tirade. Today she decided, whether Joanie will take it well or not; she was going to have a good talking to the girl. This seesaw of emotions was unnecessary and uncalled for.
Jade hadn't returned by the time Skyla was clearing up the last of the soggy flowers and broken shards. All that was left was the damp patch and, as she was feeling now, Skyla decided to leave it. Her shock had passed and, with every passing moment, it spiraled towards irritation and anger. She had never thought that Joanie was the sort to be ungrateful, yet after this last show…
She glanced at the door and wondered where Jade was.
Gathering up the last of the mess Skyla threw it in the dustbin she had brought closer and stood up. She turned to leave the room but the telephone rang, calling her back. Shaking her head to herself Skyla hurried to the desk and picked up the receiver. She never got round to answering it.
A soft song started up in the back of her mind.
Queen Skyla ignored it.
Dame Skyla put down the phone and picked up the two new objects on her desk. Feeling her heart constrict she ran her fingers over her purse and opened it. She glanced inside, had a sinking sensation and put it down. She turned her attention to the last object and found herself staring back at her.
Skyla ran her fingers lightly over the surface of the drawing and turned it around.
A short message had scribbled on the back.
'I've just been dreaming about this since I arrived here. Merry Christmas, I'm so sorry.'
And that was that. It was still on the old lined paper from Joanie's older books.
Turning it around again Skyla sat down on her desk and spread the sheet in front of her. It was a picture of her, but not Dame Skyla – Queen Skyla. She traced her fingers down the highlights in her hair and then over the figures behind her.
If she had thought that her face was just a product of Joanie's imagination, she couldn't deny the images of Jade and Breeze in the background. She knew where Joanie's "dreams" had gotten their inspiration.
"Go to sleep little one. You're dreaming. Close your eyes, don't fight it now."
She had woken up on their return from the wingdom. She had thought that the girl wouldn't remember anything but…
Closing her eyes she realized that she couldn't ignore the song any longer.
She got up and ran to the music room.