Lightship Chronicles Chapter 3 : The Fruity Dance

by Florin Nicoara

spot. She walks back, grabs his wrist and nudges him, but his gaze is locked and seems to have him glued to the spot. Nayaa finally follows Andee's eye line and sees the sight that has got him mesmerized. She looks at his face, and than back at the girl. She snaps her eyes back to Andee with a frown and then dismissively tosses his wrist out of her hand. Then with an aggressively angry twist she turns away and walks off.

  Andee stands in a trance as the crowd in front of him parts like the red sea giving the blonde moon fairy a clear path to him. She walks gently and steps up just inches from Andee's face.

  "Very impressive. You and your girlfriend are amazing dancers." She speaks with a tone as sweet as honey.

  "Uh-her, no, no she's not my girlfriend."

  "Oh." She pauses a moment widening her beautiful smile. "Your dancing was incredible, what do you call it?"

  Nayaa suddenly walks up behind Andee and answers for him. "It's called the fruity dance. He's a bit fruity. Look at him." And gives the blonde a fake exaggerated smile.

  "Go away." Andee snaps. Nayaa rolls her eyes and keeps walking past him and the Bitani girl, looking her up and down with disdain clearly written on her face.

  "Don't mind her, she's a bit crazy. She's been torturing me since we were kids."

  "I see. I really like your dance. The fruity dance?" The Bitani girl asks innocently. Andee laughs nervously.

  "Maybe Nayaa's version. I'd prefer to call it the Ghimpour... ah-hmm." And Andee is stuck. He was trying to say something smart, but stumbles.

  "The Ghimpour. That's interesting. Does that mean something?"

  "Ah, it's a sport. I'm kind-of a champion in it. I'm pretty good I guess."

  "Is that why you were able to rescue that pilot... with such amazing skill?"

  "You heard about that?" Andee asks dumbfounded. She shakes her head up and down. "Wait. How do you know it was me?"

  "I saw you."

  "You did? How?" Clearly shocked and perplexed.

  "Everyone saw it. It's all over the vidroms. You're a hero. Every Bitani knows who you are, and what you did."

  Andee looks staggered. He looks around at all the people in the club, but they are all focused on their own fun.

  "You OK?" She asks him with a sweet tone.

  "I'm not sure. I was recorded? How? I didn't see any..." But his words fade.

  "Recorders are everywhere on the circuit so we can see every angle of the race. Don't worry it's a good thing. To the Bitani you're a hero. Maybe one day you'll be a pilot. You'll have most of the city cheering for you."

  Andee looks at her completely thunderstruck. Her words express a concept he can not even fathom let alone contemplate. In any other moment the reveal, and idea of her words, would have consumed his attention and been priority, but he feels like mush in the presence of this girl. His confusion over what she said will have to be dealt with later. He makes a mental note of her words and focuses back in the moment.

  "How about we forget the race and dance. Can you show me some moves?"

  "Yeah, ah-sure, of course." Andee answers nearly shaking struggling to turn his thoughts away from the shattering meaning of her previous statement, and focus on her.

  He steps up to the beautiful blonde and asks to see her style than tries to incorporate her moves into his acrobatics. Some combinations work, some don't. As the experiment continues they succeed more and more, but sometimes stumble, which makes them both laugh. They seem to be having a good time.

  Gono is leaning on the rail and catches sight of Andee. He watches his buddy dancing with his new Bitani friend. Gono looks completely awestruck seeing his Carpati friend dancing with a beautiful Bitani girl, and does not notice Nayaa walk up next to him. She leans on the rail with her left shoulder rubbing against his right. It takes him quite a long time before he looks over to see who's arm is rubbing against his own. When he does, he overreacts and snatches away startled.

  "Oh hey. I didn't see you." Pulling away from Nayaa.

  "Yeah, its just me." She answers deflated.

  "Uh..." Gono seem confused for a moment, but then blurts out. "Look, that's Andee dancing with a Bitani girl. Isn't that amazing?"

  "Yeah whatever." Nayaa rolls her eyes looking away.

  Gono looks nervous, a bit confused. Doesn't know what to say. He is afraid to make eye contact with her. He keeps his eyes locked on Andee and the Bitani girl. After a long pause he speaks up.

  "Well, she can't really dance, not like you." Gono speaks but without looking at Nayaa. "You were amazing. They way you move, and... the... the way you look when ah... you do... ah-mmm... I don't know why Andee..."

  "She's blonde and probably older then him. That's all it takes." Nayaa cuts him off than bolts off in a fit.

  "Ah yeah... wait-what?" Gono blurts still looking at Andee and the blonde not noticing Nayaa leaving. "I'm sorry, what did you..." he asks turning his head to where Nayaa used to be, but she is no longer there. He quickly turns back and sees her disappear into the crowd. "Damn." Shaking his head disappointed with himself.

  Andee and the Bitani girl are now just dancing. No more lessons. He seems more nervous now. His movements are very restrained. The girl is more aggressive. She teases him rubbing her chest and stomach against his. Not knowing how to react Andee jumps back and starts doing some of his acrobatics forcing him to pull even further away from her. Almost immediately everyone stops dancing forming a circle around him. After a couple of minutes he stops. He invites the blonde to join him. He twirls and spins her. She laughs and the crowd cheers, even the 3D animated characters start clapping.

  Outside, Nayaa is quickly hopping from crevice to crevice up to the top of dome rock. She takes a seat on a protruding edge looking down into the open air club. The ceiling of transparent animated shapes paints the people below in color. She brings her knees up to her chest, wraps her arms around them, and rests her chin on top. Andee and the Bitani girl are no longer visible on the dance floor. It is again full of people and animated light characters dancing.

  Suddenly two animated characters grow in size. They expand into giants over the entire club. They are so big their eye line is almost as high as Nayaa's. They begin to dance, but also hug, kiss, and flirt.

  Andee and the Bitani girl are off to the side talking, but they both stop to look at the giant display. Looking up, Andee notices something on dome rock. The light from the giant holograms lights up a person sitting up top. Andee squints and realizes it's Nayaa. He looks over into the face of his beautiful friend. He seems to hesitate for a moment, but then speaks up.

  "Hey, it was really nice to meet you, but ah... I think I have to go."

  "Oh, so soon? The party doesn't end till sunrise."

  "Yeah, but... I'm sorry I do have to go. Uh... I... well, I guess I'll have to go."

  "Ok. I'm here almost every other weekend. Come see me again. My name is Silestra."

  "Yes I will, definitely. Definitely. I'm Andee."

  Silestra smiles and shakes her head in agreement. "I know." And winks at him. Andee nervously shakes his head in response and scoots off. The blonde sees him away with a beautiful inviting smile.

  Nayaa watches the giant 3D anime mimic movements of the dancers, including some of her own. She then looks to the circular path in front of the club where the lightships are parked. Her hand reaches to her neck and pulls out a necklace. She twirls a little medallion between her fingers while still looking down at the circular driveway. It is beautifully carved into the natural stone to accommodate the Bitani ships. After a minute or so she lifts up the medallion. Her eyes are distant and remain that way as she pulls them away from the ships and locks them on the medallion. It's a split circle, from top to bottom, with two back to back L's in the center. She looks at it and twirls it in her hand. A moment later she feels someone behind her. She looks over quite casually.

  "Hey." Andee gently announces his presence as she turns, but once she sees him she looks back to her medallion, and than past it to the
light dancers, ignoring him. He steps up, squats down, and watches the dancers with her. He turns his gaze to her left hand which is still twirling the medallion.

  "That's you mom's necklace, no?" He asks gently. She looks at him with a serious and cold glare. Andee humbled looks back down at the party. Nayaa turns her gaze back to the driveway where she witnessed the fight between the Bitani girl and her parents. Andee watches the giant 3D anime for a while before looking back to Nayaa. Tears are flowing down her cheeks. Andee looks confused. He leans in a bit. It is! Those are tears on Nayaa's face. Andee seems both shocked and concerned. He scoots closer and seats next to her.

  "Hey, what's happening? What's wrong?"

  Nayaa gently turns away.

  "I haven't seen you cry in years." He gives her a moment, but she's still looking away quietly rubbing her eyes.. "If I did something, I'm sorry."

  Nayaa suddenly breaks out into a full sob. She struggles to control it, to swallow the knot in her throat, but can't stop. The tears flow, and the sobs force themselves from her chest. Andee reaches out with one arm and places it on her shoulders, gently pulling her in. She meekly resists at first, but Andee pulls her in close. She lets go and leans into Andee's chest. She starts crying, seriously crying in Andee's arms. He is petting her hair on her upper back. He seems bewildered and confused but more than anything concerned.

  "Hey, whatever I did, I'm sorry." He speaks softly. "I'm sorry for being disrespectful to