The traffic lights alluded him. Staring blankly through the car window, his thoughts were flying as high as the birds soaring outside. Cars sped by the other lane, its drivers unmindful of the beautiful red evening sky. The clear weather of October complimented his feelings of anxiety, excitement, happiness and fear. He was going to see her in a few hours. All dressed and prepped up, the vertical lines on his long-sleeved violet polo made him thinner than usual. His stomach had, not butterflies, but dragonflies inside of it; the feeling of anxiety, flattery and nervousness hurt his insides. He tried imagining the scene, tried imagining her face again but it only made him more nervous and anxious. He sat silently in the backseat, while his bestfriend's dad and his bestfriend sat in the driver's and passenger's seat, respectively.
"You ready?" asked his bestfriend, looking from the rear view, grinning at him.
"Yeah, I guess so. Just nervous." He replied.
"Yeah, I guess so. Just nervous." He replied.
It didn't take long for them to get there. It was a grand place; a big country club with a luxurious and glamorous design. The streetlights were gleaming red, it accentuated the now dark night sky. The well-cut grass was bending to the mild wind, as if it was dancing to welcome them as they arrived. The building was spectacular, it was elegant and majestic. Strategically, but nicely placed palm trees swayed as the car drove by. It was truly, a place for the Uppercrust, a social class he clearly didn't belong to. Car stopped. He stepped off and sighed nervously. This was it.
They walk in, absorbing every bit of it. The hall was enormous, shining and bright. He felt like a farmer who was being toured around the city for the first time. Up the steps they go, walking along slowly and there they were; the party, the people, the stage, the lights, the glass frames, the silent chatter of guests. Them. Heart pounding wildly, his breathing is heavy. The debutante beautifully smiled and greeted them. She looked wonderful, pretty and stunning. She wore a beautiful violet balloon dress with a even more beautiful smile to boot. She was petite in frame, slim and her hair cut short. Really a sight to behold. But She wasn't Her.
He began to look around, looking for her face. And in turn, some people began to look at him, as if to say: "what is HE doing here?", "Who IS he?", "Is he even invited?", "What is the waiter doing sitting with the guests?", and so on and so forth. He felt embarrassed, ashamed and out of place. He sat quietly just watching from the sidelines when he saw a familiar face: it was another friend. He approached the guy, greeted him warmly and offered his hand, but the guy looked at him with displeasure and annoyance and refused the gesture, almost denying that he knew him in front of other people. In retaliation, he made it look like a joke, he just laughed it off and ignored it. It really hurt him. It was an insult to injury; he dug himself a bigger and deeper hole by embarrassing himself even more.
He sat there again. Trying to look okay. He watched the program from the table and just tried shut up until the program ended. The unpleasant looks and whispers were still there, but he just ignored it, trying to act as if he didn't hear them. Claps and Laughter were heard, as the speaker punched in a joke about the debutante. She was obviously loved by many, and was the princess of the family. The program ended and the party officially started as alcohol, food and dance music were served. The bright lights disappeared and the ballroom was turned into a big disco with hypnotizing neon lights. He stood at a corner of the room looking at the dancing guests, when he suddenly realized a girl approaching the place where he stood, approaching him.
The neon lights permitted him to see her face. She was beautiful. Her simple brown dress simply knocked him dead, her sexiness exuded right across the room. Her charm was unexplainable. His smile was automatic and honest the moment he set eyes on her. His heart began beating ten times faster than normal, he was going to have a cardiac arrest right there and then. She looked back at him with those beautiful eyes, smiled and spoke. But he could not hear her, the sound of the dance and heart beats filled up his ear. He motioned her that they go outside, out of the place. Alone. They went out of the room, and clarity finally came over him. They walked to an open, terrace-like wall, with the wind blowing nicely outside. The same pine tress and cut grass bended to the will of the wind, dancing under the moonlight.
They talked about Life, Love, and Emotions.
They talked about situations, circumstances and consequences.
They talked about Possibilities and Impossibilities.
They talked about Him and Her.
They talked about Them.
He finally admitted his feelings for her. He spoke in fragments as he tried to put in words what he really feels.
"I... Loved you, since.. I don't really know when exactly. When I met you three years ago, I never tried telling you because I know I won't stand a chance at you. Because I'm just this, I don't have a car, don't have that much to offer, I can only offer you myself and my heart. I... I'm trying to find the right words to tell you how i really feel, but I guess that 'I Love You' are the only words."
She looked at him, Smiling. "I hope our someday will come soon." She said.
A lot more were said that night, pleasant conversations, silly stories, revealed secrets, confessions and laughter. He nervously held her hand and She held his.
The night ended on that note. Cinderella's time has come and he must go.
They parted ways and parted hands. The day they meet again, no one knows.
Based On A True Story.
Have A Happy Christmas.
*REVISED 04/04/10*