Chapter 34: In which she gets a bad end to a good day.
"Any comments on dinner, Chef Tresscot?" Nathan raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Hmm..." I took a sip of my champagne, cherished the fizz as it went down my throat. Hey, it's not often that you get offered champagne on a surprise date, albeit it's one that had been a mean little trick by a dear friend.....you're so dead Tina! "I think I'll let it pass. The champagne made me forgiving."
Nathan mock gasped. "Even after I went through so much hardship to order your food!"
I laughed, almost snorting the Champagne out of my nose in the most unladylike way possible in the process. But it did manage to get Nate snorting with laughter. I glared. Such a gentleman, isn't he?
"That's what you get for using that sassy voice on me, missy." Nate commented.
An announcement on the mike interrupted us. "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your kind attention please!" Spoke a person in his mid 70's from the middle of the dance floor at the centre of the restaurant. He had silver hair and aged skin texture and was dressed in a black suit and pants with a white shirt underneath, but his bone structure told me he'd once been a very handsome, proud man. "Today, I'm here with my wife, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the day we first met, here in this very same restaurant."
As the old man gestured, we all turned to look at the fragile looking old lady wearing a steel coloured gown, her silver hair highlighted with some light brown, was cut short to her neck and she wore a shy smile as she blew a kiss to her husband. Her husband pretended to catch it in fisted hands and put his hand over his heart. Then he continued to speak as everyone in the restaurant continued to watch, mesmerized. "It was in this very same restaurant that I met her. She worked as a chef. On this day 50 years ago, I'd come to have lunch with my college friends. I ordered a stake, but instead of medium rare, I got a medium. Angered, I asked for the chef who had overcooked my stake, but ended up asking her out on a date instead."
We all laughed as his wife turned bright red, mouthing 'shhhh' to him. But he only grinned at her. "I have to say honey, you still don't know the difference between medium and medium rare," we laughed as his smile brightened and he continued on. "But I still love you just as much as I did back then, probably more...if possible."
It felt like intruding on a private moment. Even though all our eyes were on the old couple, they had eyes only for each other, like we didn't even exist in their little world. Even as he spoke to the audience, the words were meant for her and her alone.
As the man started walking towards her, the lady's smile could light up the whole town. He stopped and knelt down in front of her uneasily on old weathering bones and extended his hand to her. "So I ask you today, Johanna, on our 50th anniversary, will you dance with me?"
I couldn't help the huge stupid smile on my face as Johanna, shyly accepted his hand and helped him up and the old couple moved to the dance floor as You and Me by Lifehouse started to play.
They were a bit clumsy, a bit worn out, but they made it look beautiful. There was an aura of love surrounding the couple. Something that told me they had been through all of life's challenges together and come out even stronger.
For an instant it made me think of me and Nathan. Can we be like that someday? If I hadn't kept secrets from him that day...would we be here, right now? I mean, I know he wanted to propose to me...until I ruined everything...come to think of it, I still haven't asked him who gave him those photos!
Stupid! Stupid, Savannah! I mentally slapped myself. How could I be so stupid! My one mistake can ruin the entire plan, especially when we're so close.
I turned to ask Nathan but instead of asking, I found my breath leave me as his electrifying gaze met mine. And held me captive.
"Please, all the couples here, young or old, come, join us!" The old man encouraged, snapping us out of our trance, before he handed the mike over to an awaiting waiter and continued to slow dance with his wife.
"Shall we?" I was startled as a hand appeared in front of my face. Even more so when I noticed that it was Nathan who held that hand.
Wake up lonely with you by my side
One more night it doesn't feel
I had no idea what was going to happen two days later, so I took his hand and moved to the dance floor with him along with several other couples. Nathan turned me towards him and as soon as our eyes met, all I ever wanted to do was keep looking at those beautiful electric blue eyes. Drown in them until there was only me and him, no one else.
There are movies playing in your eyes
You dream of our fortunes
I wanted to live in the moment, for the past month, I'd been sad and depressed and it had affected everyone around me. Not anymore.
But you're wrong
I don't belong to you
I put my hands on his shoulder. Placed the other in his, intertwined our fingers. Stepped close.
The moon is the only friend I have outside
One more drink and I'll be healed
Nate placed his hands on my waist and pulled me closer. Chest to chest. There was hardly any space between us.
I told you the words and then knew it was a lie
I wish I could offer an appeal
We started to sway to the music slowly. Eyes still locked. The connection between us vibrant, alive.
You're wrong
I don't belong
You're wrong
I don't belong to you
Our rhythm accelerated with the beat, moving around in circles throughout the length of the dance floor. I was surprised I lasted this long. Nathan was a good dancer.
Right when the beat reached its crescendo and Nathan spun me out.
What I'd give for that…first night when you were mine
He spun me back in and dipped me, keeping a firm grip on my waist as I clutched his shoulders.
Tried with all that I have to keep you alive
I wasn't taught this way
With a thousand things to say
I was born with a broken heart
Pulling me up, he spun me again so that my back was to his chest. Then he took my weight on his hands and lifted me up, I jumped and laid my head on his shoulders and bend one leg back and the other forward as he spun with me.
What I'd give for that first night when you were mine
Thought you were mine
He put me down and we went back to slow dancing again as the beat slowed. Both of us breathing hard. We touched our foreheads together. I had never danced like this with anyone.
So I'll put this cigarette to bed
Pull some sheets from off your side
I put my arm around you safe in the night
Still dreaming of fortune
We lifted our heads at the same time and met each other halfway. His lips consuming mine in slow, lingering, passionate kiss.
But you're wrong
I don't belong
You're wrong
I don't belong
I don't belong
To you...
We broke apart at the sound of clapping and hoots from the crowd that surrounded us; several couples still on the dance floor; the elderly couple at the centre. Everyone was cheering us on. It was then that I noticed that most of the couples on the floor were married. The others probably thought we were too.
And that's when it started to feel suffocating.
Nathan escorted me back to our table, our hands still intertwined. It felt natural yet so wrong. I'd promised him that everything will be clear on Christmas Day. But will he still want to be with me after this is all over? Or has our time apart changed anything? It sure didn't feel like anything's changed right now. But Christmas was still a couple of days away.
I picked up my bag and overcoat as soon as we reached our table. The weather having chilled to 2 degrees outside.
"You're leaving?" Nathan couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice.
"Y-yeah," I stuttered, I had to get some distance between us. Fast. "It's getting late and I have to get a cab."
"Nikki's not available tonight?" He asked, hopeful.
"She's off duty, probably luring Lyric to her den...as if he needs luring into her pleasure cav-...umm...yeah..." Can I say something more awkward? Nathan so didn't need to know that.
"Come on. I'll give you a ride." Nathan took out his credit card and handed it over to the waiter.
"It's okay, I can find a-"
"Savannah." His no-nonsense voice shut me up. "I'll drive you home."
The ride home was silent, neither of us spoke. Neither of us wanted to ruin the moments of the evening. And no one spoke of the kiss either. It was better this way. Thankfully, Roan wasn’t driving today or he would have given me more of his disappointed looks like he had been doing this past month.
We reached sooner than I wanted, but that's life for you. So I got out without complaining and shut the door behind me.
"I'll see you tomorrow." I said, bending down to look at him through the passenger's side window.
"See you then." Nathan held my gaze. I nodded. I'll see him tomorrow. The day after was Christmas Eve....
I stepped aside as Nate pulled out of the driveway and drove off. I stared after his car for a few seconds and then went up to my floor of the apartment building. The night was getting colder and it was eerily quiet. If I'd know better I'd say it was the perfect time for kidnapping someone. Don't get any ideas psychopaths!
The lights on my floor seemed to be off for some reason. Did the fuse burn out? Geez, now it looks like a scene from a really bad horror movie! Well, at least there was enough light from the floors above to see the way.
I was nearly to my door when I heard another set of footsteps behind me.
Probably the worst thing to do, but fear had me frozen on the spot. Scratch that! This is a scene from a really bad horror movie!
"H-hello? A-a-anyone there?" My voice stuttered. Hey, I'm alone in a hallway with a possible rapist or serial killer, spare me some!
And then I heard his voice. “You have some explaining to do, Ms. Tresscot.”