A New Era-Chapter 3

The doorbell rang just as she stepped out of the shower, causing her to jump and almost slip on the wet tiles. Doubting that Tuomas was back yet, Anette quickly put her hair up in a towel, threw her pajamas and robe back on, and went downstairs. She was only a few feet away from the door when the bell rang again, and someone started knocking.

“Hello? Tuomas? You knew I was coming, why aren’t you answering your door?”

She recognized the voice right away, and pulled the curtain back slightly, peering out at him. “Who’s there?” she asked, half jokingly.

The man on the other side of the door laughed. “Oh, Anette, I forgot you were here. What do you mean who’s there, it’s me, Marco!” He knocked a bit more lightly on the door this time. “Are you going to let me in, or were you planning on making me freeze to death out here? Now I know you’re not from Finland, but…”

She opened the door and waved him inside, shivering from the cold wind that blew in with him. He pushed the door closed tightly behind him, and then turned to look at her. She felt suddenly self-conscious, and pulled her robe around her, smiling nervously.

"I guess I must be a bit early, if Tuomas isn’t even awake yet. I didn’t mean to interrupt your shower, either, sorry about that.” He looked around the entry way, and then called up the stairs, “Hey! Tuomas! Get your lazy arse out of bed, already! We’ve got work to do!”

Anette laughed softly. “He’s not in bed, he went out. He said he’d be back in time, although I have no idea in time for what, exactly. And don’t worry about the shower, I was just getting out. Though you didn’t really give me time to get properly dressed…”

Marco made a face and shook his head. “You girls can’t get ready properly no matter how much time we give you. But don’t feel like you have to stay down here to entertain me. This place is like a second home to me, I can make myself comfortable until Tuomas gets back from wherever it is that he went.” He moved past her towards the kitchen, calling back over his shoulder, “I’m sure he’s got a few beers in here somewhere…”

Anette was about to open her mouth and say something when the door swung open, Tuomas sliding inside, laughing and carrying a small paper bag.

“Stay out of my fridge, Marco. You don’t need to start drinking already, it’s not even 9am! Besides, you won’t find what you’re looking for in there, anyway.” He was grinning, and Anette couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re such an old man, Tuomas,” Marco muttered, turning around and looking at the two of them. “If you must know, I’m still half drunk from last night, I was only looking for a little “hair of the dog” so to speak…”

Tuomas rolled his eyes, and turned to Anette. “Are you planning to go to the airport in your pajamas?”

She thought her face was going to ignite right then and there, and simply shook her head. Why did he have to tease her so much? What was it about him that made her toss aside all rational thought? She sighed silently.

“I’ll keep this fool entertained while you finish getting ready, but try not to take too long, we still have to pick up Emppu and Jukka, the airport is an hour away, and the flight leaves in three hours.”

Anette nodded, and turned around, running up the stairs before she made a total fool out of herself. She knew that she had to keep her composure when the rest of the band was around; neither one of them was ready for the questions, the stares, the judgments…

But damn does he make it hard, having to act all adorable like he does! she thought as she dried her hair and put her makeup on as best she could with her hands shaking. She pulled on a denim skirt, a black, half sleeved shirt, and black tights, then laced up her boots and took one last look in the mirror. Though not entirely satisfied, she decided it was the best she could do, and threw everything back into her bag. She took a deep breath, and quietly walked down the stairs, glancing back over her shoulder. She didn’t know when she’d be here again, and she wanted to burn everything into her memory, just in case.

Just breathe, Anette. In and out, you’ve been doing it for years. Calm, cool, and collected. Believe it; be it.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, feeling slightly dizzy. She suddenly regretted not finishing her breakfast and her coffee, but there was nothing she could do about that now. Taking a deep breath, she walked towards the kitchen and set her bag down in the doorway. Marco and Tuomas were sitting at the table, Marco with a beer in his hand, and she couldn’t help but laugh a bit.

“I thought you said no drinking this early in the morning?” she said, walking up behind Marco and taking the beer from his hand.

“Hey now! That’s not a very good way to start out with me, missy! Give it back!”

Anette took a small sip, scrunched up her face in mock horror, and handed it back to him. “That’s disgusting, Marco, how can you drink that stuff?”

“He’s got a stomach of steel, that man, and a tongue that’s basically pickled. I guarantee he doesn’t taste it at all,” Tuomas said, laughing. “You’re quick,” he added, eyeing her up and down.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and it was all she could do to stand still and not twirl around to show off for him. “Yeah, well, share a bathroom with a couple of sisters, you learn to get ready as fast as possible,” she replied. Her eyes met with his, locked there for a few seconds, and she forced herself to look away.

Marco cleared his throat, making Anette jump and Tuomas fly up out of his chair. “Alright, kids, shall we go? I’m sure Jukka and Emppu are anxiously awaiting our arrival.”

Tuomas nodded, and Marco went outside to start the car. Anette moving to the doorway to pick up her bag, but Tuomas grabbed her arm, holding her back.

“Anette…you look stunning,” he whispered, kissing her gently on the cheek.

“Tuomas…” was all she could say, turning her face so that their lips brushed gently together. “How are we going to keep this from them? I can’t even look at you without blushing like a schoolgirl…”

He pulled her into a tight embrace and then let go, bending down to pick up her bag. “It won’t have to be a secret from them for long. They’re good guys, we can trust them. Let’s just get to London, and get through the recording, alright? Maybe we can do this in two weeks instead of three, and then you can stay here with me the last week…”

She smiled. “I’ll try my best,” she said. “Hey, what did you have to go out for?”

“Oh, right. I got you something.” He picked the bag up from the kitchen table and handed it to her. “I thought it might come in handy when you’re trying to figure out what the hell we’re all saying.”

Anette unrolled the top of the bag and reached inside, pulling out an English/Finnish and a Swedish/Finnish dictionary. “Oh, Tuomas! It’s perfect!” She threw her arms around his neck and moved in to kiss him, but they were interrupted by Marco coming back through the front door. She let go and backed away quickly, praying that he hadn’t seen anything.

“Your chariot awaits. Emppu and Jukka just got here, I guess they got sick of waiting for us, so we can go straight to the airport.” He eyed the pair of them, and smiled. “Ladies first.”

“Speak for yourself, Marco,” said Tuomas, winking at Anette.

Marco carried Tuomas’s bags since he had Anette’s, and they hurried out the door, Tuomas pausing only long enough to turn the key in the lock. Anette tested the door and nodded, confirming that it was secure. They practically ran to the car, which was actually more of a minivan. The side door slid open, and Emppu’s face appeared.

“Anette, it’s so good to see you again! Get in here, you must be freezing in those tights!” he said, offering her his hand.

She grabbed it and hauled herself into the van, squeezing past him to sit behind the passenger seat. Jukka turned around from the front and smiled at her.

“Hello again. Glad to see you made it in one piece.”

She smiled back, settling into her seat as Marco climbed into the driver’s side and Tuomas took the seat next to her.


“Are you ready for this?” he asked her, squeezing her shoulder lightly.

“As ready as I’m ever going to be,” Anette replied, nodding and leaning into him just a bit.

“Then onward, to the airport!” he said.

“You’re awfully enthusiastic this morning, Tuomas,” Emppu said, eyeing the pair of them.

“He just wants to hear someone besides me sing his songs,” Marco interjected, turning the key in the ignition.

“Yeah, but who can blame him there?” Jukka replied.

Anette sat back, staring out the window. She didn’t know what she had expected, but this was beyond even her wildest dreams. Listening to the guys banter back and forth, she relaxed a bit, still leaning softly on Tuomas’s shoulder, and closed her eyes. The adventure was only beginning, and she was already exhausted. She felt Tuomas’s hand brush against her cheek, and then nodded off, dreaming of what was yet to come.