Disclaimer: I don't own Kaleido Star
Broken Promise
Chapter 12
Warning: Some conversations in this chapter might be confusing, so read carefully (:
Leon bent beside me; automatically, I threw my arms around his neck. He carried me all the way to his hotel room. I never stopped crying or shivering.
I felt like the worst human being.
If only I could do things over again…
- You didn't cry that time. And after what happened, I got to think you never cared – he said.
I looked at him, still weeping and unable to speak. I held him close to me, looking for warmness. I thought he would reject me, after all. But he didn't.
- Rogue, I must know what happened. Please, let me know – he begged.
- I'm so sorry…
I cried harder and harder, hiding my face in his chest. He held me tight.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…
I woke up. I didn't notice when I fell asleep or how much time went by. I was on the bed; Leon was sitting by my side. My eyes were swollen, my whole body hurt, I had a knot on my throat.
- Do you feel better? – he said as he handed a glass of water.
I nodded.
- Can we talk now?
I shook my head.
- I see… - he sighed – You can stay here if you want to, since is past midnight…or should I take you to your hotel?
I got out of the bed, I was about to fall but I recovered my balance.
- Are you sure?
I nodded.
- Okay, let's go.
My hotel was not far away, we went walking. He held my hand the entire time. I was walking so slowly, but he didn't hurry me. He was very composed, unlike me.
- Let me know when you are ready to talk – he said.
I nodded.
When he left, I sat motionless. Many things weren't clear; I couldn't talk with him until they were clear. I took my phone and called.
Silence
- Dear? - he said.
Silence
- Rogue?
Silence
- What's the matter? Are you okay? - he asked worried.
- YOU ARE A F*CKING LIAR! How could you that to me?
- What are you saying?
- Tell me what happened! I want the truth!
- Don't tell me that… - he sighed – I got worried when you told me you were in France…
- You knew what could happen, right? Well, it happened my dear Jack!
- Rogue, will you ever forgive me?
- Depending on what you have to say.
- I get it…I'll tell you what I know…
He told me the story, but I needed the other side.
- And that's all…I hope you can forgive me… - he said.
I hung the phone, I felt betrayed. I couldn't believe how things happened. If I didn't visit France, I could have never known the truth…it was destiny. It was my chance to fix my mistakes…my unaware mistakes.
The next day, I asked for the address. Fortunately, it wasn't far-off. I couldn't get there by foot, but the bus was fair enough.
I knocked the door.
- Rogue? It's been a long time, isn't it? How are you? How did you know where I moved? I never thought you would come back!
- You should have said "I hoped you never came back" - I said coldly.
- Why are you saying that?
- We need to talk.
- Come in…
We sat down on the living room. She was in front of me, nervous.
- What do you want to talk about? Do you want some coffee? – she asked.
- WHY?
She was startled.
- Was it really necessary? Why? You lied to me atrociously – I said.
- Rogue did you…
- Why?! – I insisted.
- I didn't want to see you suffer and also I never…
- I'm suffering! Right now I'm suffering so much, if not worse – I said with tears falling through my cheeks.
- I thought that it was the best for you!
- The best? How?
- I…
- Tell me the truth; otherwise I'll never forgive you.
- Rogue…that day I…
When she finished, she began to cry.
- Aunt, I can't agree with your ideas, but you might had good intentions…I guess – I sighed – Now, you have hurt me more…
- I'm so sorry Rogue.
I left the house. The puzzle was complete; I was ready to talk with Leon. Suddenly, my phone ringed.
- Rogue! Where are you?- asked May.
- I'm on my way to my hotel.
- Why? You should be here already!
- Huh? – I was clueless.
- Rogue! What's wrong with you? Today is the Festival!
I forgot the Festival, the shock from the last night kept all my attention.
- Oh, yes…I'm sorry…I'll be there.
I hung and changed my route to the Festival. The cruel Festival.
I wanted to talk to Leon, but it wasn't the time now. The performers were preparing behind the scenes.
In the audience, I spotted Sarah, Mia, Anna and Rosetta. They seemed glad to see me.
- Rogue! You are here! You'll come back with us right? – said Mia.
- You can't leave us! – cried Anna.
- Girls, I'm sorry…I'm not going back to Kaleido Stage.
They all made a sad face and asked no more.
- Are you okay? - asked Rosetta.
- Why? – I asked. Then, I remembered my horrible swollen eyes, and my probably gloomy aura.
- You look really sad… - she answered.
- Don't worry! I'm fine – I said with the best smile I could make.
The show started. All the performers were splendid, they were really talented. I was so overwhelmed by what I had in front of my eyes; I was able to focus on the Festival. But, my body didn't feel the same way. My legs were trembling.
- Are you nervous? Don't worry! They will do it right – said Sarah.
Sarah, you have no idea. You have NO IDEA.
- Uhm yeah, you are right – I mumbled.
It was May and Leon's turn. For me, it was the first time seeing the "Demon's Spiral", it was a breathtaking technique. The audience was left speechless. Then, the applauses filled the whole place.
The next performers failed their technique. The girl did something wrong and she was falling to ground. Then, her partner reached her to cushion the impact. The lights went out as they fell.
The last performers were Sora and Yuri. They were doing it fine, but Sora stopped before ending. I knew about that technique, she mastered it…so I wasn't sure why she didn't end it.
We were surprised at what happened.
Finally, it was the time to announce the winners. The expected winners: May and Leon. May looked very happy when Layla handed her the trophy. Leon was unaltered, but I thought he might have felt satisfied at least.
After that, the only thing I wanted was to converse with Leon. I searched for him all over the place. When I finally found him, I approached slowly.
- Congratulations – I said.
- Thanks… - he said. He seemed to be waiting for something.
- I…
Out of the blue, May got there and took away Leon.
- May, congratulations – I said mechanically.
- Thank you! But, we have an interview! – she said as they left.
This can't be real!
Consequently, I made several attempts to contact Leon, but it seemed impossible. It was ironic how things changed. Before, I ran and hid to avoid crossing words with him. At that moment, I was longing for it.
The Kaleido Stage members returned to America immediately after the Festival. I couldn't even say good-bye to them.
After a couple of days, I figured I couldn't stay in the hotel forever and had few options. I could stay with my aunt some days, but that was meaningless. Also, I could visit my brothers in New York…but, again it was pointless. The best option was to return to Iowa and to continue a normal life.
But, how can I continue a "normal life"?
The phone ringed. I thought it was Leon, but I was wrong.
- Rogue! Why you are not here?
- May, I was fired.
- I don't care! You should be here. Are you still on France?
- Why? I was fired, there nothing for me there. Yes, I'm here.
- But…come back!
- Is not something for you to decide.
- Can I help somehow?
- I don't think so.
- …. – she sighed- By the way…Leon has been asking for you all the time.
- Really?
- I told him that I didn't know if you were coming back or where you were. He insisted so much that I had to call you. I didn't give him your number, because…I know you hate him…and then you were going to be mad at me.
I laughed.
- What? Then, what are you going to do? – she asked.
- I'm going back.
- For real?
- I'm not working again in Kaleido Stage…but, I'll be there.
- You should try to get your job back…
- I don't think that's possible…
- Well…we will see you soon, right?
- That's right.
After I hung with May, I called the girls.
- It's me.
- Rogue! What's up? How was France? – asked Danna.
- I'm still here…
- What? You are not coming back?
- About that…can I ask you a favor?
- Anything!
Author's notes:
I'm such a meanie! Hahahah This chapter has a lot mystery in some conversations, because I concluded that it wasn't the time yet to reveal the past. Mainly because I'm following the events of the original series...and it would have ruined it haha
cami (neko-rin): I didn't take any bath, just in case hahaha just kidding. By the way, I'm sorry if this chapter was more confusing than the last one! But it was for the sake of the mystery! haha