A Lovely Nightmare: Chapter 9

A Lovely Nightmare

- - -

Chapter 9

The day of the dance was nearing, and Riko was more nervous day by day. Janice dragged him out to go dress shopping, which was awkward. She pulled him into the dressing room with her, where she undressed, and had him help her put the dresses on. He looked away every time, but when she pulled him to help her tie the back. Just the sight of her butt was enough to make him nervous. When she asked him if he was going to try any on, he lied and said he already had one. Least, he hoped Tia already had one.

The day before the dance, he found himself squirming in his bed. Would they be able to pull it off? Would he be caught? He rolled over and laid against Dustin, who groaned lightly n his sleep, and wrapped his arms around him. There was a brief moment of silence, before he sighed and opened his eyes, “You okay?” he mumbled.

“We will be alright tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah,” he moved so he was facing him, but still had his arms around him, “Tia's good, I don't think there's anything to worry about.”

“I'd rather wear a tux,” he grumbled, nuzzling his face in his bare chest.

“I dunno... I wouldn't be getting a view of your curves that way,” Dustin joked, leaning down and kissing his head, “Don't worry. You'll be fine. And if you want, we can leave after a few dances.”

Riko nodded, kissing his chest lightly, before looking up, smiling as Dustin leaned down, kissing him sweetly, “Get some sleep, Riko,” he whispered. The smaller teen nodded again, and rested his head against his arm, closing his eyes and allowing himself to relax, clearing his mind.

- - -

Riko sighed, straightening out his vest and pulling up at his hair. Ji Hwan pulled up next to him, fixing his hair, and looking to him through the mirror, “I can't wait to see you in a dress,” he joked, the other groaning and turning away. “Kidding, Kidding,” he stated, laughing as the singer flopped back in a chair.

He really wished Dustin could be there with them, but he knew someone that wasn't informed of the situation would come in and compromise their whole plan. The plan was: after the show, while everyone was leaving, he'd sneak to a classroom that Dustin and Tia were waiting in, get in disguise, then go on the dance floor with his date, mingle a bit, then get the hell out. He'd never been to a dance in his lifetime, and quite honestly, he'd never danced other than routine dance required for music videos. He was nervous he was going to fall, trip, or even step on Dustin's feet.

“Are you guys ready?” Janice asked, walking in, her hair in wavy curls, the blue dress they picked out clung to her skin. Ji Hwan nodded, bopping Seo Chul on the head to wake him up, and headed out with the other two. The girl took Riko's arm on his way out and smiled, “I haven't seen Alice. Is she okay?”

“She should be. She's with her boyfriend, about all I know,” he answered.

“Oh, right. Dustin... Have you met him?”

“A few times,” he smirked.

“You don't think... He'd take advantage of her, would he? I mean it's prom... and-”

“Look, Janice. I don't think there's anything to worry about. Dustin's a good guy.”

“You're right... Oh, sorry. I'm keeping you from the concert,” she let go of his arm and grinned, “Goodluck!”

He smiled, politely and headed towards the dance location, and to the backstage with the rest of Subtle Waves. His nerves for the next part of their plan was soon forgotten. He was back in his element, singing and playing the keyboard. They had to stick to their English songs, so that the crowd could all understand the words, which allowed them to sing a total of seven before they had to end it. The curtains closed, the crowd of highschoolers still cheering as they began to pack up their equipment.

“I still haven't found her... And she isn't answering her phone.”

Riko ran a hand through his hair, and folded down his keyboard, “Don't you have a date to attend to?”

“Ryan and I broke up last night,” she stated, pulling at her hair slightly. Riko wanted to say he was sorry, but held his tongue as he packed the keyboard in it's case.

“Riko...” Dustin ran over and bent down, “We have a problem.”

“Dustin! Where's Alice?” Janice demanded.

Dustin glared up at her then looked back down, leaning over and whispering in his ear, his hands cupped over his lips, “Alice is awake. She's pissed. It's all over the news.”

“What?” Riko stood suddenly, his eyes wide, “You're joking.”

“I wish I was. You have to hurry. She's demanding to talk to you.”

“Aigoo...” he sighed, and looked to Janice slowly, who was staring at them confused, “I guess. Since it's all over the News... I suppose I will apologize now.”

“What are you talking about? What's over the news? Is Alice okay?”

“You'll find out soon enough,” Dustin snapped, grabbing Riko's hand and pulling him off the stage.

“Chul, can you get my keyboard?” Riko called out.

“Yeah sure,” he nodded, smiling, and just figuring they were off to change him into Alice.

“What exactly happened?” Riko asked, barely keeping up with his taller boyfriend.

“Tia said that a nurse that was not tipped off of what was happening found her. She recognized her name and asked one of the doctors. The doctor was talking with a patient, who happened to be Lewis.”

“Oh god...”

“Lewis, of course, demanded to know why his classmate was in the hospital. The doctor explained there was a accident a few months ago. Lewis freaked out, claiming he was lying, that Alice had been here at school, that it was impossible...”

“And now the press is involved.”

“And since you both are twins, they put two and two together,” Dustin got in the driver seat of his car, Riko slipping in the passenger side.

Riko pulled out his phone, flipping to the news websites and groaned, “First thing on the news feed... Rock Star gone Transvestite. Great.”

“Everything's going to be alright,” he reached out, taking his hand as they stopped at a red light.

“I should have said no. Why did I agree,” he covered his face with his free hand, clinging to the hand that held his with the other.

“Hey. Don't say that. If you said no we would have never met.” Riko nodded, but kept his hand over his face, trying hard to calm himself down, and not freak out anymore than he already was.

- - -

A kleenex box flew past Riko's head as soon as he entered the hospital room. He blinked and looked to his sister, who was standing next to her bed, glaring at him with hateful eyes. “You stupid idiot! How dare you pose as me!”

“Alice, calm down, you just woke up,” their mother cooed, putting her hand to her shoulder.

“No! I will not calm down! What were you thinking? That I'd forgive you for everything you've done to me? That I'd bow down and worship you like everyone else does?!” she grabbed a empty pitcher, and chucked it at him, which Dustin caught just before it hit his head.

“I didn't expect you to do anything,” Riko mumbled, looking away, “I did this for you.”

“For me? What? So you could claim you did this for me and gain more publicity? Is that it?”

“No! I only did this to help you!”

“What good is this doing to me? Now everyone will see me as the girl who let her brother go to school for her. The girl who rode her brother's coat tails into school, and into a career. Do you think I want that? Do you?!”

“No! If I hadn't gone you would have been kicked out of Mavric's! I didn't want that! I saw how hard you were trying. I didn't want you to lose that!”

“Liar!” she marched forward and slapped him twice, reaching back to slap him again, but was blocked by Dustin grabbing her arm, “Let me go! Riko, now you have a bodyguard? How sick-”

“He's my boyfriend,” Riko mumbled, looking down.

“What?” Alice stared, then looked to Dustin, who nodded.

“Boyfriend?” Riko's mother staggered forward, “No son of mine...” she huffed and furrowed her brows.

“So it's okay for me to cross-dress and pose as my sister, but it's not alright for me to have a boyfriend?” Riko growled, looking back at his mother, “I've had it. I'm done. You're fired,” he pointed at his father, “You aren't my manager anymore. And you,” he looked to Alice, “Forget it,” he turned and left, trying hard not to turn around and yell. He couldn't handle it anymore. After everything he had done, everything he had sacrificed since her accident... After sacrificing his childhood to become famous he resulted in having to walk away from his own family.

Dustin stood still, knowing fully well he should follow his boyfriend, but willed himself to stay. “I thought you rode on his coat tails too,” he whispered, looking to Alice, who flinched, “But after I met him. Got to know him, realized how much he cared about you, and wanted to protect you... He made me realize how much you weren't. I do not know anyone who would cross-dress and pose as their sister, or brother, and sacrifice to the point where they'd risk their career like Riko has to you. If I was any member of your family right now, I'd feel terrible to know that I probably lost him forever.”

He turned, starting out, but was stopped by Alice grabbing his arm. He looked back, and saw tears falling from her eyes, “I don't want to lose him...” she whispered, “I'm just so... so angry.”

“I would imagine that you both have that in common right now.”

- - -

Riko stared at the screen at the airport. His phone was off, and all he had was a backpack with the charger, his small traveling laptop, two changes of clothes, his passport and his wallet inside. He had a plane ticket in his hand, which was shaking. He sent a single mass text to his band members, Janice, and Tia that said “Sorry about everything.” then a single text to Dustin that said, “I will be back eventually. I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly, I just cannot stay here right now. I love you.”.

He was feeling lousy for suddenly leaving like he was, but he knew that he couldn't deal with his parents, or his sister anymore. His parents were the ones to get him into this mess, they could deal with the aftermath that he should have known would be there. He boarded the plane, and sat down, his hood on so he could pretend to be asleep while the late passengers were entering. He bought the seat next to him, and the window seat, paying extra to a couple who were willing to take the next flight for a couple hundred dollars, and him paying the flight for both of them.

By the time the plane took off, he was on his laptop again, using the complimentary internet wifi that came with first class. He cringed at the news, with all the rumors and unofficial statements. They even tried to talk to Janice, who was quoted to say “Alice and Riko are both my friends. I am not talking to any of you.” Least he could thank her later for being a loyal friend at any rate... There were camera phone pictures from their concert taken by random students, and news circulating that he was unable to be located and that his sister had been in a coma for several months.

He closed it, and covered his face with his hands, letting out a deep sigh before hiding his head in his arms on the tray table. How long was he going to stay in South Korea? He'd eventually have to talk to someone from the States to let them know where he was, but when and what was he going to say? His eyelids felt heavy. He fought sleep for a moment, trying to think clearly, then finally giving in, unable to fight it.