The moment your best friend called to tell you she had just gotten engaged, you knew a big wedding was coming up. From a very young age, she had already planed her famous ‘magical dream wedding’. And when she first met her soon-to-be husband she knew she had finally met her prince.
It didn’t surprise you to find out that it wasn’t going to be a typical wedding. Your best friend had always mentioned how much she would love to have a themed one. And what theme it was, you might ask? The theme they had chosen, because of an inner joke between the couple, was: Beauty and the Beast.
The only request the bride had made, was that the groomsmen and bridesmaids joined their first dance as Mr. & Mrs. in a choreographed ball dance. And as much as you had tried to convince her that it was a special moment during the night for them to enjoy alone, she didn’t bulge. Their intention was to drag the attention away from them and into the show. The chosen song, none other than ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
“Alright guys, is everyone here already?” The choreographer asked the engaged couple. Each of them counting their parties.
“From what I can see…” Your friend said but her fiancé interrupted before she could finish.
“No! Chris hasn’t arrived yet. Can we wait another minute?” He asked.
“That won’t be necessary.” Your best friend said watching the door quickly open. All eyes turned in said direction to find the man himself walking in with an apologetic look on his face.
“Sorry I’m late.” He apologized feeling a little awkward with all eyes set on him.
“It’s alright dude. I’m glad you could make it.” Your best friend’s fiancé and his close friend told him.
“Ok, now that everyone has arrived why don’t we begin our rehearsal?” The choreographer proposed and the couple agreed. “Good. I’m gonna need you guys to split your dancers into pairs.” He requested, and everybody started arguing about who was going to dance with whom. That clearly wasn’t going to be an easy task.
One by one, they started giving each of their friends a partner to dance with. And, as expected, the single ladies discussed which one of them was going to be paired with Chris.
“Y/N?” Your best friend called out to you.
“Yes?” You said walking towards the couple.
“Is it okay if we pair you with Chris?” She asked almost in a whisper. “I know you’re one of the few who won’t freak out about it.” She added with a nervous chuckle.
“He’s quite the dancer.” His friend told you, trying to convince you to take him. Not that you were going to decline such offer. It was Chris effin’ Evans after all. Of course you were freaking out. You only were doing it on the inside.
“Sure. No problem.” You replied like it was no big deal.
“Great!” They said at unison.
“Chris!” Your best friend’s fiancé called out his childhood friend, and with a few long strides he was standing right beside you.
“Y/N, this is Chris. Chris, this is Y/N.” Your best friend introduced you. “She’ll be your dance partner for the wedding.” She told him, and he nodded. A bright smile on his face as he offered you his hand to shake.
“Nice meeting you Y/N.” He told you. The way your name rolled out of his lips making your stomach flip. This was going to be an interesting series of events.
Once everybody had their partners assigned, the choreographer made you form a circle around the future groom and bride. Standing beside them, he gave a few directions on what steps to do, and in which direction to move.
“First, we’re gonna let the just married couple have a moment alone swinging to the music.” He explained. “Once the song get’s to the chorus you all will join them, in the positions I just marked. That’s when the choreography really starts. Alright, let’s take it from the top.” The choreographer indicated, putting the record on.
Standing on the side, you watched the couple swing as ordered. It was hard not to smile at the image in front of you. It was clear to see that they were deeply in love. When the moment arrived, you felt Chris’ hand on your lower back guiding you a few steps forward as the other man had previously mentioned. One of your hands met his free one, while the other softly rested on his shoulder.
“And five, six, seven, eight…” The choreographer indicated, but as soon as your eyes met with Chris’ you couldn’t hear him anymore. His eyes were locked in yours too, which told you, you weren’t the only one feeling the electricity flow from one body to the other in an endless cycle.
Grateful there was a turn on the choreography, you used the moment to focus back on what you were doing. You were supposed to be the one who wouldn’t freak out! But his eyes, oh his eyes… you could get lost in them. In the different shades of blue within. In the sparkle you found in them each time you looked. The kind smile on his face. Or his intoxicating perfume enveloping you with every turn, only making it harder for you not to fall.
“Aand turn.” The choreographer said once again. This time Chris bringing you closer to his body.
‘It’s just a choreography’, you told yourself, trying to resist the urge to close the distance between your lips and closing your eyes instead. Enjoying as the music died down.
Turning you around for the last time, the song and choreography came to an end.
“You guys were perfect!” The man congratulated the couple. “The rest of you, not bad for a first time.” He said. “But maybe you could try and do something like what Y/N and Chris were doing?” He added making both of you blush and awkwardly step away from each other. “That’s the kind of energy we’re aiming towards.”
The smile on your friend’s face said all you needed to know. They has shamelessly set you both up. And everyone could see it working, even if you were determined to deny it.
‘It’s just a choreography. And he’s an actor. We just put a great performance out there. Nothing more, nothing less.’, you kept repeating in your head. ‘Nothing more…’
