Chapter 3
The hunch Anastasia had been having turned out to be correct, a familiar still drowsy with sleep voice wafting over to her from her bed. "Sweetie, you're already up. How are you feeling today? I hope better.“
The younger woman nodded softly in response, turning around to face her friend. "I am feeling better, Dee. Thank you again for being there for me last night.
"Our conversations always help me and I must admit your embrace was most welcome, albeit unexpected.“
Dee smiled, her tone as gentle as always. "I'm relieved to hear you are feeling better today, sweetie. I'm always happy to help.
"That's what friends are for, after all. To help each other in good times and bad. You can always count on me.“
Anastasia smiled ever so softly herself, once more feeling grateful for her theater family.
Taking the current time into consideration, the blonde asked the brunette. "Are you hungry by the way? I could cook breakfast for us if you want to thank you for last night. It is the least I can do.“
Dee's eyes turned widened, stunned at her friend's suggestion.
She reassured the younger woman. "Sweetie, you don't owe me anything. I know that you don't have a lot of food yourself. You don't have to share what little you have with me.“
The younger woman frowned at her friend's words, her voice stern. "I want to share my food with you though, Dee. You know that I do not require much nutrition myself.
"Papa once again brought far too much food for me. He never listens to me when I tell him that I do not require a cabinet packed with food.“
Dee chuckled softly, telling her friend. "He's only concerned for your well-being, sweetie. It has nothing to do with him not listening to you.
"He's your father and as that he feels responsible for your health and happiness. He wants to grant you the best life possible, especially taking your past into consideration.
"He never wants you to have to starve and go to bed on an empty stomach again.“
Anastasia felt a knot forming at the back of her throat, nodding slowly in understanding, muttering. "Oh. That is actually very considerate of him. I did not think of it in that way before, to be honest.“
Dee smiled, her tone cheerful, wanting to lighten the glum mood. "If you do possess so much food that you feel you won't be able to eat it all by yourself I would like to take you up on that offer of having breakfast together, after all, if that offer still stands.“
The younger woman nodded happily, opening her cabinet to inspect its contents. "Of course, that offer still stands, Dee. It might be best if you inspect the contents of this cabinet together with me.
"I am afraid I am at a loss of what to cook since there are simply too many ingredients here.“
The older woman got up from her sitting position, walking the few steps over to the cabinet, joining her friend there, taking in the sheer endless amount of food housed in there, almost flowing over.
The dark eyes of the exotic beauty glazed over, sighing in content, the sight of food always managed to delight her and reminded her of her home country Greece, the memory bittersweet.
Pushing her memories to the side for the time being she asked her friend. "What do you usually eat for breakfast, sweetie? Or what does a typical Russian breakfast look like?“
Anastasia bit her bottom lip at the question, muttering embarrassingly. "I would not know what a typical Russian breakfast looks like, but I typically eat porridge for breakfast.“
Dee nodded, curious to try the breakfast her friend usually ate she told her. "I'd like to try that if you don't mind. Could you cook one for me as well?“
Anastasia was taken aback by the request but agreed. "If you would like to try it I can certainly make some for you as well. I am not certain if you'll like the taste, however, it is rather bland.“
Dee hummed, tapping her chin in thought. "Maybe you could top it off with something? How about you add fruits? I'm sure that would improve the taste.
"Have you ever tried that out before, sweetie?“
Anastasia shook her head no, never even having considered adding anything to the meal herself before, personally not minding the bland taste she'd grown accustomed to over the years.
She inspected the contents of her cabinet once again, finding strawberries in there, holding them up, and asking her friend curiously. "Do you think those would be sufficient as a 'topping', Dee?“
The older woman's eyes visibly started to sparkle at the sight of her favorite fruits, nodding enthusiastically. "Strawberries are perfect, sweetie! Let's use them for topping and do you perhaps have any sugar here too? You know I have quite the sweet tooth.“
Anastasia chuckled softly at the older woman's question, retrieving a so far unused bag of sugar from another cabinet. "Here you are. You are aware that sugar is very unhealthy, however. Are you?
"You as a medical professional should know better than to indulge in such things.“
Dee chuckled at her young friend's lecture, feeling like a schoolgirl all over again. "Yes, mom. I do know that sugar is bad for me, but it sure makes bland food taste better.
Also, sweets can help elevate your mood, you know? It is Scientifically proven, at least in small dosages.“
The blonde quirked her left brow, telling her friend in a teasing manner. "If that is what allows you to rest easy at night then suit yourself, Dee. To each their own, I guess.“
The two women started cooking together, Dee soon having gotten the drill, being a great cook herself. The uncanny scent of porridge started filling the small trailer of Anastasia, helping to ground her.
That was until a question suddenly wormed its way from her brain to her lips, her subconscious begging to be heard. "By the way. Have you ever felt like somebody's eyes were on you for the whole of one of your performances?
I am not referring to the regular feeling of the audience's eyes being fixed on you, but a specific pair of eyes that felt as if it was burning into you?“
The older woman was stumped at her friend's unusual question, shaking her head, answering with a question of her own. "Did you experience that sensation during last night's performance, sweetie?
"That does sound rather concerning if I may say so. Do you think it could have to do with the big black wolf?“
Anastasia considered this option for a moment before answering her. "No, that is impossible. It had nothing to do with that and yes, I did experience it during last night's performance and for the first time at that.
It was most unsettling, but, fortunately, I only came to realize it once I was back at my trailer already.“
Dee nodded pensively, humming, deep in thought.
Taking her friend's undeniably good looks into consideration she stated. "Maybe your feeling was right and you were being intensely watched by a member of last night's audience. Have you ever considered that, sweetie?“
Anastasia was stunned to hear her friend's words. Why would anyone watch her performance that intently? It was beyond her.
Suffice it to say Anastasia hadn't considered that possibility at all before, not deeming herself worthy of as much as a second glance.
The day had gone by rather quickly. During lunchtime, Pjotr had checked in on his daughter, stunned to find her in the company of Dee.
Knowing the older girl's preferences he sincerely hoped the older woman had not tried making a move on her. Surely, they had had that conversation before, but he could not help feeling concerned any less.
The bald man had informed the two young women of a meeting that was to be held for all members of their family in the evening.
Knowing her father only held such meetings when he had important announcements to make, Anastasia grew tense.
Hopefully, it was positive news for once. In her current state, she was not sure she would be able to take bad news on top of everything.
The hour of the meeting had soon arrived, the young woman's nerves merely contained thanks to her older friend's reassurance and calming presence. The two of them had spent the whole day together.
When the two friends arrived at Pjotr's trailer most of the other members of their theater family had already gathered around the bonfire, holding mugs filled with what Anastasia assumed to be Earl Grey tea, her father's favorite in their hands, wrapped in blankets to shield their bodies from the rather chilly May evening air.
Anastasia was unsure for a moment where she was supposed to sit until a familiar voice called out. "Nastya! Over here. Come sit next to me.“
A small smile formed on the blonde's face when her eyes met those of the youngest member of their family. Natascha, who came from Russia just like herself was like a little sister to the stoic young woman.
She walked over to her, taking a seat next to her. "Good evening, Natascha. It has been a while since we last talked. How do you enjoy Ireland so far?“
The young girl's face lit up with a wide smile, telling the older girl. "Yes, it has been a while. We should play chess again sometime.
"I love Ireland already! It's such a beautiful country. I love the landscapes.“
Anastasia nodded, smiling softly at the small girl's enthusiasm, her tone gentle. "I am pleased to hear you enjoy this country, Natascha. I concur. I miss our chess sessions.“
The meeting to Anastasia's dismay turned out to be her father announcing that they would be staying in Carbury for a while longer. Having been on the road for months with hardly any breaks and rest in between.
Although Anastasia had to agree to her father's explanation she couldn't help fear for their safety. Taking her odd appearance into consideration she deemed it best to stay inside her trailer for as much as possible, only leaving it when necessary.
Once back in the safety of her trailer she retrieved her journal from its hiding spot, adding to her entry from this morning.
May 17th, Carbury, Ireland
Papa has decided to stay in this town for a while longer, whatever that may mean. I feel rather unsure about staying in one place for too long, but his explanation convinced me.
Truthfully we have been on the road for a long time with hardly any break in between stops.
I have decided to stay inside my trailer for as much as possible, just to be on the safe side. Dee did not seem too happy with my decision, but I am not like her, or Natascha who has been begging me to go explore the town alongside her tomorrow.
Knowing that I can never refuse that girl anything I can already mentally see myself walking the streets of this foreign town together with her tomorrow.
целую и обнимаю анастасия Kisses and hugs, Anastasia
The day after the theater performance her younger sister ever the tease had provoked Kate incessantly, in the end, making her lose her cool which to their misfortune Gretchen Janeway had witnessed, keeping true to her threat from the night before she had to her daughters' dismay grounded them indefinitely.
The first day home had been decent enough for Kate. Her father who felt compassion for his eldest daughter's situation successfully managed to distract the young girl with farm work.
The moment Kate sank into her bed in exhaustion thanks to a day filled with hard physical labor she dozed off into oblivion.
Kate found herself sitting in what she recognized to be a theater. To her surprise, she was the sole audience. She couldn't for the life of her recall how she'd ended up here and what it was that she was about to see.
The curtains parted, to her shock, revealing a familiar tall figure in a suit, the low deep candor of his voice sending shivers down the whole of Kate's body.
His impossibly blue eyes were fixed on hers. "Good evening, Kate. I had been wondering when I would be able to see you again.“
Kate blinked in surprise at his words, the heat rushing to her cheeks, her voice audibly quivering. "Y-you have? I missed you, Nikolai, but this is wrong. Why am I even here?“
The young man left the stage, joining Kate in the audience, sitting down next to her, one hand caressing her arm. "Does this feel wrong, Kate?“
The young girl shook her head, gulping down in panic. What was going to happen next?
Mentally cursing her inexperience she looked expectantly at Nikolai who's face to her shock was now mere inches from her own until a familiar teasing voice could be heard, ruining the moment. "Katie and Nikolai sitting on a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g!“
Kate woke up in a cold sweat the next morning, embarrassment at her dream sending the heat to her cheeks.
'Oh, my. This is bad! This man probably doesn't even know I exist. Also, I am grounded and unable to meet him again for real...'
A groan left her lips, ruffling her hair in frustration she muttered under her breath. "Curse you, Phoebe!“