Yael | Ongoing

Chapter 6: For Your Eyes Only

Sharon.
9:07 PM

There was nothing in the world that could have prepared me for how I felt in those few minutes. I always thought I knew what it meant, what it felt like to be free and uninhibited. As it turned out, I didn't have the slightest clue.

"My love must be a kind of blind lovveeeee..."

At a certain point, I could only hear the sound of the music as though it were fading away. I allowed myself to get lost in it so much that the sound of the piano playing and heavy thumps from the kick of the drum had to be going in perfect sync with my heartbeat. But I knew the music remained ever so loud because he still held me. His embrace... There was nothing I had to compare it with.

"I only have eyes forrrrrrr youuuuuuuu..."

"Sha bop, sha bop... Sha bop, sha bop..."

I permitted the words of the song to permeate my heart, my soul, my being. It rang in my head and resonated throughout my entire frame. It came almost as soon as it left and I found myself yearning for it. And then it would return and I'd let it take me again.

"Hey," I heard him say. I didn't look up because I placed my head ever so gently on his chest as we slow danced together. It was the sweetest voice I'd ever heard. He said it so gently and calmly that it was almost intoxicating.

The room was vast enough to contain at least twelve couples dancing together without any one bumping into another. I wrapped my hands even tighter around his neck and I could feel his on my waist. He didn't know how to at first, but he'd gotten used to it and it made me feel more comfortable overall. We shuffled our feet, dancing in rhythm to the song.

"Hey," I replied without looking up or opening my eyes. I wanted this moment to be perfect.

"Sha bop, sha bop..."

"This is crazy," he said, his voice maintaining that gentleness and calm.

"I know," I responded because I didn't know what else to say. My voice was a little shaky from all the emotion and I know he noticed it too.

"But I like it," he concluded. "I like this."

For the first time in minutes, I looked up at him trying to read his expression. He looked down and smiled. What is happening to me? What is this feeling that I can't seem to push away?

I placed my head back on his chest and felt his heartbeat. I hugged him tighter.

"Me too," I muttered under my breath as I closed my eyes slowly. "Me too."

"Sha bop, sha bop..."

Sam.
9:07 PM

This wasn't just anyone. This was Sharon. Sharon. I was mesmerized by a plethora of things; the light blue haze which enveloped the room, the feel of her hands around my neck, and her skin that came into contact with mine...

She was bewitching, irresistible. I moved my longing gaze to her face and watched her smile as we danced. Her eyes were closed so she didn't see me looking at her, appreciating her. And, I couldn't help it. I tightened my arms around her waist slowly yet firmly.

"Hey," I uttered. I couldn't come up with anything better to say but I felt the need to say something.

"Hey," she replied.

"This is crazy," I said, laughing reflexively. Because it was crazy. If it didn't happen to me, I would never believe it if someone said it had happened to them. There I was, at a party, with a girl I'd had a crush on since... Well, forever. I'd adored her from afar for so long, and I simply made my peace with it. That it would always be that way.

But here I was, in a room with her, slow dancing. We were dancing! And I wasn't nervous. I wasn't jittery or fidgeting like I was about to have a seizure. I was... calm.

"I know," she said, smiling again.

"But I like it," I immediately said.

And that's when she looked up. I couldn't read her face or what she was thinking but then I wasn't sure if I even wanted to. I was indeed enthralled in how everything was going but this was even further and deeper into the uncharted territory for me. I was in El Dorado, the city of lost treasure, but I couldn't see my way.

"I like this," I finished, not knowing what she would say but worried at the same time about it. I didn't want to ruin the moment with one of my one-word blunders.

She set her bead back on my chest and we continued to dance. All around us others held their plus-ones, locked in a sweet embrace, kissing and basking in the moment. It wasn't just us; everyone had found someone to be with at that moment. Even people who hadn't come to the party together. They held each other and just talked and laughed with one another, and sharing stories and experiences.

The air was toxic with the music and the mood of love. In one sense, it was beautiful to watch. In another sense, it was surreal. Like, something out of a Tom Hanks movie.

"Me too." A whisper.

I almost didn't hear it but I was sure I didn't imagine it. I looked at her again and when I did, I realized it was something I did a lot. It was all I'd done up until that night. Just looking, observing, admiring from a distance. But I wasn't at a distance any longer. I didn't need to hide and shy away when what I wanted to do was be close to her.

I didn't hear her the next time she spoke. But the movement of her lips told me all that I needed to know.

I rested my head atop hers and became at ease as we danced together in a circle.

"Me too."