Here we go again with a little drabble that hit my brain with the force of a hammer…And then I told my close friend about it *cough* Firestorm1991 *cough* who used sly underhanded verbal techniques to persuade me into writing this for her.
So to Firestorm I hope you enjoy this as you recuperate from your knee surgery.
Hope the rest of you enjoy it!
"So, what are you waiting for freak," a girl spat "let's see you dance."
Johanna stood in the snow barefoot, her toes already beginning the dull throb from being subjected to the cold, and wrapped her arms around herself in the attempt at keeping warm. Before her stood her fellow classmates in the dancing class she was taking, and she had recently moved to Burgess from Russia with her family. Now she knew what cold felt like, and to her credit, this winter was nothing like the cold that she experienced in her home land, but when you have no jacket and were standing barefoot in six inches of snow, even the strongest people would feel cold. Why was she standing there to begin with?
Due to being from Russia, the home of ballet, Johanna had been trained under the masters since she was four. Now at the age of sixteen, this young lady was extremely proficient at dance, mostly ballet, and now that they were in the states, she was interested in broadening her horizons in the art of dance by learning different styles. Now she was taking classes in Burgess and effectively showing up every dancer in her class, something the other girls did not take too kindly to. So here she was, enduring what the girls called 'initiation' into their class, which was dancing in the snow barefoot without messing up her routine.
Jack sat on the other side of the field, his face an unhappy pout as he watched the cruelty taking place next to his lake. He knew these girls, and knew that they had stopped being believers at young ages due to their dedication to the world of dance, but he also knew their cruelty. These girls were the jealous types. And Jack had seen them, and even all of their mothers years previous, do this exact same routine to any girl more talented than they in the efforts of driving them out of the school for dance. To be honest, the sprite was sick of their shenanigans, and he wished that they would stop. But the winter child knew that humans couldn't withstand the cold the way he could, and to force a girl to dance barefoot in the snow was cruel, and extremely difficult to accomplish. If only someone could show them up.
Suddenly smirking the boy blew into his hands, ice arcing between his fingertips as he created something from his past only recently remembered, a violin. Tired of listening to the spoiled brats of the city pick on one poor girl, he struck up a doleful tune, not expecting the result. Johanna felt her ears prick at a sound, and slowly she turned to look around, and saw nothing save the snow covered field, but she was sure that she heard the sound of someone playing a violin. Soft and slow, she bit her lip as she listened to the music, the voices of the girls fading away as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back so to hear the music more fully. Suddenly her feet were no longer throbbing, the wind was not as cutting, and her body ceased its trembling. Raising her arms, eyes still closed, the girl arched her back and raised her leg in a graceful pose before beginning her dance.
Jack watched the girl in interest, the fact that her movements were matching his melody perfectly not unnoticed, and sped up the tempo changing the tune into an almost Russian dervish a smile lighting his face as she too sped up matching his tune. Bending low, she swung around to bend backwards, one hand rising to the sky. Jack hopped off his tree, and darted forward, his footsteps matching hers as he danced alongside her, never stopping his playing. Both their bodies swaying with the music, a winter spirit, and a young woman of Russia danced the emotions in their hearts as they connected in a moment of pure joy.
Jack didn't speak, still shocked that she could hear him playing the violin, and merely danced around her, his pale feet kicking up snow as he played his very soul on his instrument. Johanna could feel his presence, she didn't know what it was, but she knew she wasn't alone. Part of her thought back to the old tales told around the fireplace about winter spirits who guarded the hearts of the pure and the strong. She had never regarded herself as either, but maybe because of her raising, she had always held a small modicum of belief that such things existed. Maybe it was why she could hear the mysterious music playing around her.
Suddenly the girls heart gave a leap of joy as she realized that for the first time since she came to America and had to fight tooth and nail to gain her place in the dance class, she was having fun doing what she loved most, she was having fun dancing in the snow. Now her feet no longer throbbed but actually felt warm, and the wind no longer bit her mercilessly but caressed her with touches as soft as an angel's wing. Throwing her head back, and grinning in a smile full of joyful abandon, the girl took a running start and leapt into the air, flying a full six feet up doing a graceful split in midair only to land on point and draw one leg up in a smooth pirouette. Jack felt their hearts connect, and suddenly he felt his center flare in an immense burst of light, completely engulfing him in its intensity.
The wind blew around them, Jack's entire body glowing with a bright white light until he seemed almost transparent, and he sighed in pleasure at the strange change taking place. Johanna spun, dipped, swayed, and jumped, her smile growing brighter as the very air seemed to dance in time with her footsteps. A warm light enveloped her, snowflakes began to fall, swirling around her form serving to only enhance the beauty of her dance. The air around her frame shimmered, and the girls watching her were no longer sneering, but stood in shocked awe as the girl they had reviled now seemed to resemble an angel sent from heaven touching earth in a moment of worship, using her entire body to wordlessly convey the joy she found in dance. Each snowflake seemed to glimmer in a multicolored swirl of light, and the sun reflected of her pale skin as her hair flowed down her back in glowing blond waves.
Arcing her hand towards the winter sun, the girl felt a feeling of nostalgia overtake her, and tears sprung to her eyes as she realized it was because she felt at home. Like she was dancing in the forests of Russia, and she was not surrounded by spoiled selfish girls who did not understand the true value of what it meant to use your body as an expression, a wordless conversation that connected hearts and bid the soul to fly. Whirling around, Johanna felt her world slow down, almost as if time stood still, and she caught sight of a young boy in shimmering clothes. Snowy white hair capped an impish face with gleaming blue eyes. A violin made of ice sung under his experienced hands, and for just a moment, the two looked at each other each reveling in the moment that they shared, memorizing it and tucking it deep within their hearts.
Reaching out with her hand, Johanna stretched her slender fingers towards the shining boy, and he too reached towards her, and for a moment, their fingers intertwined. But as quickly as it happened, the spirit disappeared in a shower of snowflakes, his happy smile and exuberant music echoing in her mind and heart. She stood in the snow, her shoulders suddenly wracked by harsh trembling, and she came to the realization that her feet were numb with cold. Looking towards the girls, she saw them gazing at her with tearful eyes, each stepping towards her with hesitant and guilty strides.
"I…" the leader of the group began her green eyes overflowing with pain and tears "I'm-We- are so sorry, we were so selfish, and…wrong…and I'm…I'm just sorry."
"It's ok," Johanna laughed through her chattering teeth "if you had not, then I would not have beautiful experience of dancing with winter himself."
The girls smiled, and as one they descended upon the girl, dragging her towards her shoes and socks and coat. Each of them babbled apologies, and promises to be nicer in the future, and the girl just smiled through it all as she felt hope for a better beginning in this strange county swell up in her chest. Turning around, she searched for the pale face one more time, but her heart sank in disappointment when she could not find him.
But as she turned back towards the small town of Burgess, Johanna had a secret smile, because she knew she saw two sets of footprints in the snow.
I know…super short, but the idea hit me so hard, and I felt like being a little more artistic than fluffy or angsty. I hope you guys don't mind.
REVIEW pretty please!