Formula Short Stories And Stuff

RA Enchanted 🎶

Inspired by Taylor Swift's "Enchanted"

Your eyes whispered, "Have we met?"
'Cross the room your silhouette
Starts to make its way to me
The playful conversation starts
Counter all your quick remarks
Like passing notes in secrecy
And it was enchanting to meet you
All I can say is, I was enchanted to meet you

I hated coming to these work events. Not because I hated my job but because I was always just a little out of place. I worked with the data back at the factory mostly and kept to myself. I liked being in my own little world.
     But here I was standing alone at the end of the season party, with my glass of water and an awkward smile on my face to try and bring as little attention to me as possible.
    Rene had come over to me earlier to thank me for the work I had done this season and make some small talk before he was swept away by some of the drivers to dance the Conga line. It made me smile how close the team was and how carefree everyone was in this moment.
     The season was stressful no doubt, but in the end we were all thankful to be together to celebrate the highs and the lows. I wouldn't miss this.
     I sipped my water and looked around the room. Beautiful eyes meet mine across the room and as shy as I feel in this moment I can't seem to look away. It's as if time itself had stopped and it was just us. He looks at me as if to ask if he knows me and I feel the urge to shake my head. Our own conversation. Our own language.
    He starts to walk towards me. I feel almost cemented in my place. All those times I had secretly glanced over his way, hoping our eyes would one day meet. All of it is happening now and I don't know if I'm ready. I've lived this scenario in my mind a million times but for it to be coming true scares me beyond belief. All those times he came in to look over data and my heart would stop. This is the moment leading up to it.
   He stopped in front of me. My heart stopped.
"Are you having fun? Could I get you a drink or something? A snack? A dance?" His smile bright and his hair golden.
"I'm alright thank you I have water. But you go have fun!" I smiled back up at him.
"I can't have fun without knowing you're having at least some fun. I know that this probably isn't your scene but you deserve to have a moment of fun. Plus we are gonna be spending so much time together now that I'm gonna work for Prema next year. I'll be in the data lab all the time next year"
"Oh this was just a temporary thing for me. Rene hired me for the season and then I would be done. But I'm really happy you're gonna work for Prema next year that's amazing Ralf! Really!"
"You're not going to work for Prema next year? Do you not want to?"
"No no it's nothing like that. Rene just hired me temporarily. I love the team I do!" I gave him a soft smile. Showing him I was okay.
  Yes I was sad to be leaving but this year had been amazing and something I would never forget.
"Oh that just won't be happening. Hold on."
He stepped away and walked up to Rene and Angelina who were being all cute in the corner and tapped their shoulders. I saw them all chat and then shake hands and smile.
Ralf looked over at me with two thumbs up and smiled.
He walked over and held his hand out for me to shake it. I slowly shook it back not knowing why we were shaking hands but then he said
"Welcome to the team Jenna"
"The team? Like for a job or driving. Ralf I've never driven a formula car. I barely drive my road car."
"No no Jenna like you work in data now. I asked Rene and he was completely on board. He was planning on giving you a full time position anyway but was swept up in the party. But now you are officially a Prema team member. Congrats! Also no you don't have to drive. I can pick you up everyday if you want. I know you walk. It's really really far isn't it?"
"Ralf you don't have to it's okay. Walking burns the calories of living in Italy. Carbs and all. And thank you that means a lot to me. I'm gonna have to extend my apartment contract"
"That you will. So now can we spend time together? Now can I come read data with you?"
"Sure, if you want to. Otherwise I can just email you the reports. No need for you to come down to my neck of the woods" I shrugged.
"Maybe I want to. Is that to hard to believe? I like spending time with you. I could have gotten the data from an engineer you emailed it to last year but I always preferred to get it from you."
  I almost audibly gasped. The guy I had been crushing on almost all year wanted to spend time with me?
   I must have been standing there wide eyed for a while because he poked me softly.
"Jen, I didn't mean to freak you out. I just like spending time with you. I know we don't talk a lot when we do see each other but I have been wanting to try for a while. I just get nervous and then I chicken out. If I'm being honest I was kind of enchanted when I met you. I couldn't talk at all."
   Speechless. I had no words. I took a sip of water, a deep breath.
"It didn't freak me out as much as it just surprised me. I thought I was the only one. I'm not like a spotlight person. I never was, that's why I like to stay in the data lab and keep to myself. You drivers are all the spotlight and I never thought I would even be noticed. I don't know if it's the party or the fact you came over to talk to me or this water but I guess I have nothing to lose saying this, I've been trying to talk to you all year. I've been so nervous and shy and when you would come in I didn't know how to act or anything so I kept quiet. I've kinda had a thing for you since I saw you. That's a lie, I know I've had a thing for you since I saw you. I just always thought I was background."
  He reaches over to place his hand on my cheek. It's warm and soft, exactly how I imagined it. He tilts my head so I'm looking right into his eyes. The world seems to stop spinning and my heart takes a break from beating.
"Jen you could never be background. You're far to beautiful."
I blush but for some reason I don't break our eye contact. The fear seems to subside for a moment. Maybe it's because he is being so bold and I'm caught up in the moment but I find the courage somewhere to lean up and kiss him.
Softly at first, I let our lips touch and I can taste every word he just said to me. All the sweet things and the fact he went over and initiated getting me a full time job here. I can feel his words and how they ring true, I smell flowers and his cologne and I am swept up into a moment of bliss. He doesn't hesitate to kiss me back, this is how I know he is being honest about what he says. He runs the tip of his tongue across my lip and bites softly. Unlike when you bite your own lip, this doesn't hurt, it only adds fire to the flames. He soothes the spot with his tongue again. For a moment I almost forget we are in the middle of a end of the year party for my job but when we kiss I hear nothing but our breathing and the beating of our hearts. I don't hear Robert Schwartzman singing terrible on the stage or Mick running around trying to get everyone to do the YMCA. I just feel Ralf's hands. I don't even feel my feet stinging in the god awful heels I decided to wear.
This moment is perfect and nothing could ruin it. Right as we pull away I hear a EWWW come from behind me. I turn to see Ralf's younger brother Paul standing there with a smushed look on his face and his tongue out.
"Eww Ralf that's so gross, this is a work party." Paul says before making fake gagging sounds.
"Oh shut up Paul, I've been waiting for this moment all year and you're not gonna ruin it." Ralf retorts smiling back at me.
Paul shakes his head one more time and mimics barfing before he walks away.
"You beat me to the kiss Jen but it won't be the last one." He reaches down to grab my hand and slide our fingers together.
"I would hope not." I smile back at him.
"Let's go somewhere quieter. I think I know a spot." I pull gently on his hand.
"You do?" He follows
"I've gotta go look at some data." I laugh as we make our way down the hall.
"Work? Right now?" Ralf huffs.
"No silly. It's a joke." I laugh pushing the door open to the data lab.
I sit on one of the desks and pull him so he's standing in between my legs.
"I've gotta collect some data for the future." I grin up at him pulling him closer to me.
"What kinda data?" He smirks
"Whatever kind you wanna give me" I wink right before closing the space between us