Love from the Future.
Chapter 16
Once Upon a Dream
Erik tried to be a gentleman and guide Sophie to the boat by leading her gently by the elbow. She had retaliated and yanked her arm out of his hand so fast, you'd think there was a shootout and she was reaching for her guns. Erik rowed, she sat with her arms crossed staring at him; silently daring for him to upset her. "Are you going to talk?" she finally asked, sick of the silence and tense mood between them.
"Not if you're going to be acting like a spoiled child."
"Spoiled Child. Oh that's rich Erik. Look, you dragged me down here, so you damn well better have something to say."
"What did I tell you about that mouth?"
Sophie glared at him. It was bad enough he pretty much rejected her, but now to sit and lecture her; acting like he was so right for acting like he did. He was going to say something, and right now. She sighed and put her head down.
"Seriously, what do you want? Ever since we met it's been all about how to fix me, or what I'm doing wrong, or changing me around. I gave everything to you. You had free reign over me, but now as I'm sure you can see, I have nothing else to give." she stood up and spun around as if this would prove her point. Her clothes, for one, were indeed different.
"I.. We.. You.."
"This is a good start."
"Will you kindly be quiet and let me finish my sentence! Now, as I remember it correctly you said I didn't have to say anything back until I felt ready. You are upset with me over nothing."
"Nothing my butt. Now stop the boat right now. I'm going back and I never want to see or hear from you again." Sophie didn't even wait for the boat to stop. She stood straight on the edge and dove right in, swimming in a mad dash to get back to the safety of her room. When she arrived, to her joy, Kaitlyn was nowhere to be found. She threw a blanket over the mirror, then put a stool against it so if he were to come in, he'd trip and she would know. Collapsing on the bed, she grabbed a pillow, curled up into a ball, and prayed for sleep.
Meanwhile, Erik had returned to his lair beneath the Opera house, where he had taken to smashing everything he could get his hands on. He considered lighting the place on fire, but thought better of it. That didn't get him anywhere before, and it wouldn't get him anywhere now. That girl was a spoiled Princess, that's all there was to it. Everything had to be her way, fitting for her, suited to her, she couldn't bow down and agree to anyone else's ideas.
Oh yes she did you fool! his breaking heart screamed to him. You just couldn't tell. Now you've really gone and done it. What are you going to do about it?
He didn't know. He was never good at apologizing to people; the occasion never came up. He wished for a friend, one friend if only for a moment. He needed help.
My Dear Tania,
Before I start, I am quite aware of my using your "given" name opposed to our alias. I believe Tania is who you really are; you're life force and the fire inside you. "Sophie" is just a mask, hiding your true identity along with your feelings. While we're separated fighting, please know that even though you are angry at me, I'm sitting here wishing that you were the one I could talk to about this fight. Please let me try my hardest to explain.. You see, your kind words, your love and trust, well all this is very new to me. Growing up, I was an orphan under my own roof. Nobody was concerned if I lived or died. After a lifetime of such pain, it's very hard to come in contact with love and feel it's pure; that there is no ulterior motive beyond the kind words and loving eyes. Please forgive me for not returning or acknowledging your love. Believe me when I say you did nothing wrong, I just can't get past the hurt and the pain.
Always,
Erik.
He studied it for a minute, making sure it was everything he wanted to say. Of course some things he would never tell another living soul and take with him to his grave, but he felt he could tell the basics. After all, he knew a few things about her did he not? His next challenge was how to make sure she received it. If he put it in paper form and left it for her, well she'd probably throw it away. If he enlisted Madam. Giry to deliver it, ah same thing. Once she figured it was from him, straight in the fireplace. He finally decided to give it to her in her dreams. Not as romantic or as personal as he would have liked, but it would have to do. At least until she decided to talk to him again. He looked up at the clock. 10:15. Two hours had passed since their latest fight, plenty of time for her to have forgiven him.
He sat down to relax and concentrate into entering her dreams. He watched as she danced with a young man with brown hair. He was in uniform. Come to think of it, all the men were in uniform. He listened in and discovered they were in love and the boy wanted her to travel with him to Hawaii, so she would be there if he needed her.(Bonus points if you can guess which movie this is. First one to answer gets a cameo in later chapters. Either you write, or I write. Ready... GO!) He guided her away and they were on a rooftop at sunset. She wasn't screaming at him, because well, this was a dream and in dreams there is no ill will. She stared out over the city below and took a deep breath, drinking it all in. Erik stood behind her, thoughts flowing through his brain, but at the same time impossible to say. He was feeling the thoughts where no words seem powerful enough; seem special enough. He sat down with her ready to apologize. This was it, if this didn't work he was done. No more hope. He began to explain about his past with his mother, the only love of his dog, the hate of the village locals, the headliner in the traveling circus, and the pain of Luciana's tragic death. Sophie sat silently throughout the whole story never breaking her eye contact. At some points, her eyes would fill with tears and others just left her flinching as if she could feel his very pain.
When he finally finished, she sat, unable to speak. Without warning, she jumped up and once again hugged him as tight as she could. Maybe the harder she hugged him, the more his torn and broken heart would heal. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Oh God I'm sorry." she sobbed over and over. "I was an ass, I was showing off trying to act all tough and cool but I'm sorryy."
Erik hugged her back tight with a smile. "Must I remind you again to watch your mouth young lady? what am I going to do with you?"
"Well, first you can bring me back to my other dream so I can tell Danny goodbye. I don't want him to think I up and left him. Then, can we finally sleep for real, tomorrow is a big day." Sophie took off out of his arms and sprinted across the roof waiting for him to follow.
"Wait just a minute. Who's Danny?"
"Never mind Erik.. Never mind."
