I did exactly what Andrey had told me and I DID feel better. I felt normal again. The death of my brothers still hurt but it didn't hurt like before. Of course I would always miss them but now I was able to come to a level where it was alright. I would see them one day again and I shouldn't be wasting my life. If they were alive they wouldn't want it. (Yes this was most of Andrey's thinking but it rubbed off on me.)
It was winter now. January to be specific. The Nutcracker was over and it was freezing cold outside. I was convinced anyone living in Sibera was dead it was so cold!. It was 1915 and I had hopes that this new year would bring peace to Russia. It didn't though. There was constantly talk of revolution and I was fearing that it was actually going to happen.
Worry constantly lined Andrey's face. I wanted to help but couldn't. The winter ball had been held off until January 5th.That was another worrying thing. Why was the ball held off? It never was. I tried to think about helping Katya get ready for the ball again this year but it was useless. My mind kept going back to the outside world.
"Annika stop thinking." Katya said to me, We were eating dinner at her house and would spend the night. Madame Markova had allowed it since there was no ballet's coming up yet.
"How can I do that Katya?" I said with a teasing smile.
It was strange at this table. Here you had to wear a nice dress for supper and it had to be different then the one you wore in the morning! In the ballet we pretty much just wore our leotards and sometimes wrap skirts. Of course when we went out we wore dresses but you couldn't strech with a dress!.
"You will figure out a way." Katya said with a smile.
Igorek broke the current silence by speaking.
"So are you girls excited about the ball?" He said sitting at the head of the table.
"Well Katya should be! She is going but I'm not." Yes I WAS a bit dissipointed but there had to be a reason Andrey hadn't asked me yet.
"Ah I see." Was all both Igorek and Katya said.
A bit uncomfortable I excused myself and went to bed early. Well everyone know's I wasn't actually SLEEPING. My room at Katya's had such nice wood floors that I had to grab my shoes and leotard and dance for a minute....just a minute. I went through my things Katya had bought for when Alisa and I were there and...ah found it! A straight black leotard and a pair of pointe shoes.
It couldn't have been more then 15 minutes because I had just finished streching when there was a tap on my window. One tap and then two then a third this time harder. I was ready to yell at some little boy when I looked out to see Andrey down below.
"What are you doing?" I asked just above a whisper. He couldn't hear me though so I gestured for him to go around to the servants door then come up so he didn't disturb the others. Soon after my bedroom door crept open silently.
"What in the world are you doing here?! Is everything okay? Is everyone back at the ballet okay? Did something happen??" I struggled to keep my voice level and at a whisper.
"Yes,yes everything is fine." He said with a chuckle.
"Oh you!" I hit him with on of my pillows.
"So why are you here?" I asked.
"Wow what a greeting." He said laughing.
"I am here because I wanted to ask you something but when I got to the ballet they said you had already left. I had to ask you today though so I rode out here."
"Oh!" I leaned forward and hugged him. How sweet!
"Annika will you go to the winter ball with me." Now he looked so serious almost scared.
I laughed. "Of course I will! I thought you would never ask!"
"Oh good." He breathed almost relieved.
"You might want to go now before Igorek comes in here. I know he is right outside the door." I laughed when I saw Igorek's huge shadow acompined by Katya's smaller shawdow.
"Yeah your right." He went near to the window and kissed me once before jumping out.
"Andrey!!" I was shocked how he had just jumped out. What if he was dead?! What a foolish move!
"Andrey?!"
"Shhh! I am down here. Go to sleep Annika."
I sighed. "Oh that boy!" Then laughed as I still saw two sets of shawdows outside.
"I can see you. Now you can come in here and I will tell you what he said. Or do you already know?" My door opened and revealed Igorek and Katya just as I thought. They looked like two children caught with their hands in teh cookie jar.
"No we heard. Oh it's lovely Annika! Your first winter ball! Oh you will love it! You are lucky Andrey is the doctors son or you wouldn't have been able to go unless someone of importance asked you but never mind that. Oh Igorek we HAVE to get her a dress...oh and shoes! Maybe some new jewels....the poor dear has none!" All this believe it or not was said in one breath.
"Of course dear whatever you need." Igorek said simply bending down to kiss Katya on the head.
"Lovely! We will start tomorrow!" Katya rushed down the hallway to bed leaving her husband behind laughing loveingly.
"You are in for it my dear sister."
"Yes I know. That's alright though." Igorek went to bed and so did I. Well not right away. I just sat there awake for hours brewing in my happiness.
I couldn't wait to dance in his arms. Be brought as his guest. Andrey and Annika. I liked the ring of it. I hugged my pillow and fell asleep. Thoughts of the ball filling my dreams.
Looking back now this day was still one of the happiest of my life. How crazy my life was during that time! Like the wind. Unpredictable. One day it's ripping off your roof the next it's so gentle and sweet it barely lifts your hair. That was exactly what my life was like.
Hey everyone! Thanks for reading! I hope you like this chapter :) Thank you for all the wonderful comments and votes!
Giselle
