Feelings of the Phantom
Layla brought Sora's dinner to bedroom. She made some simple vegetable soup.
"Are you eating now too?", Sora asked.
"Yes. I was going to eat in the dining room", Layla replies, her hand on the doorknob to the room.
Sora stares at her soup. "W-w-would you eat with m-me? You don't h-have to, but…but I…", Sora stutters.
"Of course." Sora gives Layla a dazzling smile that makes Layla's heart skip a beat. She leaves the room and returns with a small stand and her bowl of soup. She sets up on the edge of Sora's bed. Sora begins digging in.
"Delicious…", Sora gushes.
Layla has a soft smile. "I'm glad you think so. I've worked hard on improving."
While eating, they both talked about how they are doing. Sora talked about the experience of Sarah cutting and dying her hair. It was one of the scariest experiences of her life, right in line with falling off the trapeze. They talked about Macquarie and how she was faring on Broadway. Suddenly Sora yawns.
"It's late. You must be tired and you need your rest to heal quickly." Layla takes Sora's soup bowl and picks up the stand. "Goodnight Sora. See you in the morning."
"Goodnight Layla." Layla turns off the room light and leaves the door cracked open. Once Layla is gone, Sora quickly falls to sleep.
In the middle of night, blankets are ruffled furiously as a body twist and turns in their sleep. Jolting from her restless sleep, Sora shoots up in bed and grabs her side. I really need to stop doing that. Sora goes to rub the sleep from her eyes and feels how wet her cheeks are. That dream again…Sora looks at the clock. Ughhhh…four in the morning…seriously…I don't really feel safe going to sleep now. I don't want to see that dream again so soon. After an hour passes of Sora just staring at the ceiling, the inevitable happens. Of course I have to pee now. I don't want to bother Layla though. Since there is bathroom in this room, maybe I can make it on my own. Sora forces herself to sit up. She swings her legs over the edge and prepares to stand.
"What are you doing?"
Sora jumps. "Fool. I'm going to the bathroom", she whispers.
"By yourself? Shouldn't you call Layla?"
"It's too early in the morning. I don't want to bother her."
"I don't think this is a good idea. You're still badly hurt", Fool advises.
"I'll be fine. It's the bathroom." Sora forces herself to her feet. She sucks in her breath and grabs the night stand to hold herself up. Sora pushes off the nightstand and reaches for the dresser. She successfully grabs the dresser and begins inching her way to the bathroom. Finally she reaches the bathroom out of breath. After she uses it, she opens the door and stares down the trek back to the bed.
Her body hurts more than when she first got up. Moving from sitting to standing twice has already taken its toll. She reaches for the dresser and begins inching her way back, dragging her feet. She looks at the reach between the dresser and nightstand. I don't remember it being that far. Sora takes a step and reaches her arm down to the stand. Since she's reaching downwards, when she extends her arm, it pulls on her side, and she retracts her hand, causing her to continue to fall forward. She prepares for the impact with the ground, wrapping one arm around her side to deflect at least a little bit of the impact and the other hand goes to her hand, to stifle her pained scream, but she doesn't feel any pain. She actually feels softness and warmth. She opens her eyes, confused. What?
"Ow…" Sora looks up.
"Layla…?"
"Good morning Sora", saysLay lying underneath her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Fool woke me." Sora sighs. "He said there was some crazy injured woman walking around." Sora gives a little chuckle. Layla sits up and positions Sora on her lap, an arm wrapped around Sora's back for support. "Why didn't you call me?"
"At this time! I didn't want to bother you."
Layla pats Sora's head. "You wouldn't bother me. You would do the exact same for me. When you're hurt, it's okay to be spoiled." Layla looks at Sora and smiles, but then notices the tear tracks on her face and frowns.
"What?"
"You were crying", Layla states.
"Ah…um…."
"Were you in pain?"
"No, it's not that…", Sora mumbles.
"It was the dream again." Sora looks down and nods. "Tell me about it. Maybe it will help."
"But…I…it's…" Layla waits patiently. Sora sighs. I wish I wasn't hurt so I could run and jump out the window. "It's the Phantom of the Opera, except we are actually the characters. There's only darkness and us. No up or down, just black. I see you in the darkness and run to you. Yuri appears at your side. Some things are said…In the end, you walk away with Yuri. I try to run after you, but I start falling. The last thing I see the Phantom's mask falling towards my face." Sora sniffs and tears up after recalling the dream.
Layla pulls Sora closer to her. "I would never leave you behind Sora. We're partners. You're not losing me again. I'm here to stay." Layla not understanding the deeper meaning behind the dream sends Sora over the edge. She starts bawling.
"It's not the same! I need something stronger than partnership!"
"Stronger?"
"I need more. It hurts to play the Phantom. It hurts so much." Sora's hands grip the front of Layla's pajamas. "The feelings inside…they hurt…These wounds are nothing compared to every time I perform or have that dream. My heart aches."
"Sora?"
"I would be fine if I performed with anyone else…but it's you…You told me take the feelings I already had and amplify. I thought, ' simple'. Layla's my partner. My feelings should come out easily since they already exist."
"Sora?"
"They did. I was able to act easily, but I couldn't control myself when I did. My subconscious took over." Sora grabs Layla's shoulders and forces her on her back on the floor. She looks deep into Layla's wide eyes. "I could do what I wanted. It was magical, yet agonizing. The performance, the dream. I never seem to be able to get the girl." Tears pour down Sora's face and lands on Layla's. "Why can't I have you? You say we're equals, but I never seem to be able to touch you. I'll work harder. I promise. I'll protect you time and time again." Sora leans down to rest on her elbows, her face inches from Layla's, their breaths blending. "Just give me a chance. Please…", Sora begs. "I love you, Layla."
Sora brings her lips tenderly down upon Layla's. Layla's eyes almost pop out of her head. Sora stays unmoving above her. Sora loves me…She returns my feelings…I'm not alone…Tears come to Layla's eyes. She responds to the kiss, taking Sora's bottom lip and sucking it gently. Her arms wrap around Sora's lower back. Sora moans into the kiss, brushing her tongue across Layla's lips. Layla's opens to her. Their meet and begin a dance of their own. Layla's hands unconsciously move up Sora's back, wanting to pull her closer. When Layla presses down, Sora's head jolts up.
"Ah!" She catches her breath."
"Oh Sora, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
"Yeah…I'm fine." Sora smiles at Layla, and then remembers what they were just doing and looks away and blushes. Layla smiles and presses a hand to Sora's face, turning her eyes back on her. She leans up and places a quick kiss on Sora's lips.
"I love you." Sora's eyes widen and she starts crying silently. She collapses on Layla and hugs her tightly. Layla reciprocates the hug.
"I'm so happy."
"Me too Sora. Me too."
Unbeknownst to the girls, a small figure is positioned on the dresser not too far from them. Who knew Sora had it in her? This is way better than the movies. I should probably never tell Sora about watching this. She would murder me…Seriously.