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 Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:06 pm
Ra jumped as he was tapped on the shoulder. Removing his headphones he read the the whiteboard. It took several seconds for the words to sink in.
"s**t." He muttered under his breath jumping up. "Uh, thanks Scarlett." He said smiling and throwing his headphones on the bed and following her out to the phone. Picking up the reciever he stared at like it might bite him and took a deep breath.
"Hello Mama." He said switching to Farsi. "How are you?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:20 pm
Scarlett was surprised that he handled the news better than she did. She followed him out of his half, and went into hers. As she passed through her curtain, she tied it back. It was her signal to let Ra know he was welcomed to come in and talk. Not wanting to crowd him, she plugged in her wireless headphones and resumed her practice drills. Normally, she wouldn't dance with her curtain open, but she wanted to be there in case her roommate needed to chat afterwards. "All we are is dust in the wind..." Scarlett clutched the barre tightly. She was having difficultly focusing due to her worrying about Ra. She hoped he could successfully fib to his mother, so he wouldn't get yanked back to England by the hair. Having Rashne here was comforting to her, and though he probably didn't think of her at all, Scarlett saw him as an older brother. White knuckling the barre, she extended her left hand over her head, and reclined back.
'Focus, for crying outloud!' she thought, slamming her eyes shut. 'Before you get distracted and injure yourself!'
The music began drawing her in, and the room faded from view. Scarlett pictured only a stage in an empty theatre. A single spotlight following her as she danced.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:38 pm
Ra faced the wall and rolled his eyes. He was going to get it now, with Scarlet answering the phone. Good thing he was adept to lying to his parents."I'm well." His mother's efficient tones said, a slight hint of innuendo beind her answer. "Entertaining girls in your room are you now?" He voice was more teasing than accusing. Something Ra always failed to observe.
"No." He said slightly nervously. "I finally got moved into a permenant room...that was my room mates girlfriend."
"Oh, well that's good. What's your room mate like? What's his name?" Ra could tell her attention was only half on the conversation, he could hear the tapping of her fingers on a keyboard. He probably could have told her everything and she would just make agreeing sounds.
"Uh, he's nice. We get on pretty well. His names..." Ra paused for a moment. He had to think of something quickly so his mother didn't think he had either forgotten his room mate's name or didn't know it. "Steve, his name is Steve."
"Well that's good dear. So how are you settling in? Anything exciting happening?"
Ra wanted to laugh. He'd been on an emotional rollercoaster, come out the other side and witnessed the dorm party from hell. "Nothing much really." He shrugged. "Uh, there's going to be a dance or something soon."
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:06 pm
She danced in her imagination. Slowly the lights above the stage became a brilliant flurry of colored lights. The empty seats began filling one by one. The music grew stronger, as the orchestra, too, materialized before her.
Yet on center stage, she accompanied by one other.
Her simple black leotard, pale pink tights, and matching wrap skirt where gone. She wore an elegant, longer tutu of deep browns with golden trim. The perimeter of the stage was full of people and candy props. The music was not as elegant as those of The Sugar Plum Fairy or the Dew Drop Fairy, but Scarlett didn't care about that. She was born to play this role.
Spinning, leaping, and dancing, Scarlett performed for them with her partnet. Her dream role, The Nutcracker's 'Hot Chocolate'.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:30 pm
His mother's attention seemed to return at the mention of a dance.
"A dance. Well that will be exciting do you have anyone in mind to ask."
Ra's mouth dropped open. "What?" He said stupidly. "Ask someone?" He honestly hadn't thought of that. His mother was the last person he expected to enquire about it.
"Well, yes Rashne. Unless you plan on dancing by yourself." She sighed.
"Dancing?" He hadn't contemplated that he would have to dance, let alone with someone. "Are you sure?"
"Well dear, yes. I know it may seem hard to believe but your father and I do have to attend such occasions. A dance usually implies there will be dancing."
"Yes I got that." He muttered. "I just didn't really think about it."
"So do you have someone to ask?" She pryed.
Ra thought of Chii and smiled. "yeah." He said rolling his eyes to the ceiling as soon as he had. This had to be the oddest conversation he had ever had with his mother.
"Excellent. Well I'm going to Singapore next weekend."
"Singapore?" He asked.
"Yes to give a lecture...I told you last week. Do you ever listen to a word I say Ra-ne?...don't answer that." She paused and seemed to be searching for something. Out of the corner of his eye Ra watched Scarlett dance. He didn't know anything about ballett but she certainly looked as though she was good at it.
"Anyway..." His mother continued having located whatever she was looking for. "I'll pop into Raj's, the tailor. I have your measurements from your school uniform. I'll get Tariq to make you something fun...dark blue? hmm or maybe a brown colour. I'd rather not black."
Ra listened to her ramble, anger taking over slightly. "MUM! i'm NOT wearing traditional stuff. I'll look like a total freak!" He shouted in English.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:41 pm
Scarlett mind raced with all the different version's of Chocolate's costumes she had seen. As she danced her costume rotates through all the images she remebered. Some where traditional tutus with browns and golds, others were more Flamenco in design with brilliant reds and black. Her shoes also changed between pointe and zapatos. The audience cheered with thunderous applause as she finished.
But her dream was torn open by a screaming voice. It was her roommate, still on the phone with his mother. Rashne's voice tore through her dream, snapping her back to reality.
Turning to face the doorway, Scarlett looked at Ra with a surprised and puzzled look on her face. Her heart was beating heavily because he startled her. Not wanting to interrupt him, she continued her leg work and arm positionings.
"Ay Dios Mio," she sighed. "It was just a dream after all."
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:54 pm
"Rashne Feroze Kusani. Do not shout at me. Did I teach you no manners." She replied also switching to English. Ra didn't like it when she used English. It was her business language. One she was used to using when arguing in debates and talking to politicians. "A freak!?" She continued. "I brought you up to respect your culture NOT insult it. Besides I was thinking something more along the lines of Pakistan's fashion. Shorter jacket...and I won't insist you wear a [find name of cap]."
Ra sighed. "Fine." He muttered knowing it was pointless to argue.
"Right...sorry the conversation had to end like this." She said switching back into Farsi. "I have to go and teach a class. Now you are looking after yourself!?"
"Yes mama" He sighed.
"and taking your medication."
"yes."
"Well then, take care and I will speak to you next week." She said softer. "Bye love."
"Bye mama." He sighed placing the phone down and turning back to the room.
"sorry about that." He said to Scarlett. "Want some tea?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:43 pm
"Don't worry about it, Ra," Scarlett smiled, motioning to the table in her room. "Go have a seat. Let me take care of it"
She set two mugs on a tray, along with sugar and milk. Filling the kettle up with water, Scarlett plugged it in before returning with the tray. Opening a drawer underneath the window, she took out two place mats. Despite her walking lightly, the wood blocks in her pointe shoes clicked on the wooden floor. Taking a black and white track suit out of her closet, she slipped it on over her dance wear.
"I hope I didn't startle you earlier," she said trying to smile. "I thought it was my mom on the phone. She didn't seem too pleased to hear my voice on the other end, I take it."
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:28 pm
Ra grinned and sat down.
"Nah...well obviously I didn't tell her you were my room mate. I don't think she would have been too amused about that." He winced. "I said you were my roommate Steve's girlfriend...sorry."
Ra fiddled with the tie on his hoodie. "It was a bit of a surreal conversation actually. I mentioned the dance and she seemed eager for me to go...and go with someone...and she's going to get me a suit...kind of. That's why I yelled."
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:35 pm
"No problem, if the tables turned, and you answered the phone when my mom calls," Scarlett started, taking a moment to think. "I'll tell her your my roommate's boyfriend, Steve."
Scarlett was impressed. He had handled the situation with quicker thinking that she would have had in his place. Scarlett told Ra that she didn't mind the interruption, and that she was relieved it wasn't anything too serious.
"Moms are funny like that. She means well. They all do. What do you mean a 'suit... kind of' ?" Scarlett thought as a mischievous smile crept across her face. "Are you going to ask Chii to the dance, Ra?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:52 pm
"Heh." He laughed. "Steve and Steve. My mum calls a lot, you'll get used to her.She's pretty over protective though which is why I'm glad she sends me to boarding school."
Ra sighed. "She wants me to wear traditional formal wear. Something that complies with the Islamic dress code. A bit like a tunic over trousers, not fitted. Just because she takes pride in religion it aparently means I should."
He stared off at the wall, he wasn't particularly up for a discussion about his beliefs...or lack of.
"And to answer your question." He said grinning back. "Yes I was planning on asking Chii. Though I may need to bribe you for some dance pointers...not sure I can dance and I wouldn't want to embarrass her.
How long have you been doing ballett by the way?" He asked, trying to move the conversation away from him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:09 am
"I've never been to a boarding school," Scarlett said, checking on the kettle. "Not only is this my first time at one, but with a male roommate! I need a name for my 'roommate'. I think my parents will be concerned if I tell them 'Her name is Steve.'"
Scarlett gave a hearty laugh, bringing the kettle in with a box of the comfort tea.
"Religion's a tricky thing, Ra," Scarlett said opening the tea bags and pouring the hot water over them. "I was raised Catholic, but about a year ago, I just stopped believing in God. My parents' don't know though."
"Traditional wear? It can't be as bad as some of the things I've had to wear," Scarlett said passing a photo to him. "That's actually one of the ones I like. I don't get to wear it often though."
Then Scarlett heard the magical words. Rashne wanted to learn how to dance. Not only that, he wanted to do it to impress Chiitra. The smile on her face looked like Christmas came a second time for her. It was so romantic.
"Absolutely, but I am warning you," She said passing a mug to him. "I can be a bit strict when it comes to dance. You'll also have to trust me, and not question some of my methods of instruction."
Scarlett went on to tell him that she studied ballet for twelve years, with Flamenco trailing behind at ten years, and ballroom dancing at eight years. She hoped she wasn't boring him with her chatter about which dances would be most useful at the upcoming event.
"The problem is we have a limited time frame," Scarlett said. "I just hope I can balance teaching and working on the dance committee."
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:24 am
"Religions is tricky." He agreed. "It's trickier when you come from a religious state. I admire my mother for keeping her beliefs after all that she has seen. I guess I'm just not a strong as her."
Ra took the picture and smiled. "I've worn worse." He smirked handing it back. "Thankfully there is no photographic evidence of it."
Taking a sip of his tea he listened to her talk about dancing, and different kinds of dances. He felt like his head was going to explode.
"Woah Scarlett hang on." He laughed holding a hand up in mock defence. "I just need to know the basics. I've never been to a dance before, I'm assuming it won't be all old fashioned. I just need to know enough so I don't step on toes or anything." He took another sip of tea and tried to block the mental nightmares of messing up.
"You are going to go to the commitee meeting?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:09 am
"You're strong, Ra," Scarlett smiled. "Just in your own ways. You're not your mother."
"Well, it depends on what you want to learn," Scarlett said, leaning back against the side of her bed. "A lot of the modern dance-- like people do in clubs or dance halls can be a bit... intense."
She felt her cheeks flush a bit. She knew plenty about structured, formal dancing but very little about casual, club dancing. All the dances hosted by her school in conjunction with the Boys' Academy, were all formal balls with no improper dancing. As she explained this to Rashne, Scarlett worried that he might laugh at her.
"I was never taugh to dance like that, but, I know some smooth, yet clean moves." Scarlett said, trying to cover her embarassed smile. "As for the meeting, I have to be there. I promised Eri that I'd be his assistant."
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:20 am
((I now have Electric 6's 'Improper dancing' in my head...."you better phone the chief of police"...lol))
Ra did laugh at her mention of improper dancing but not at her, more just the thought of it. He shook his head. He couldn't believe that's what she thought he was implying.
"I've been to clubs before...quite a bit, but I don't think that techno, rave, metal type clubs were the ones you had in mind. I just need to know the basics of the pescribed stuff...in case we have to dance formally. I think I can handle the freestyle stuff." He joked.
"So who's this Eri guy then?" He asked interested as he too was going to attend the meeting.
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