Fire Meets Ice

Chapter 13: First to Leave

Alexa spent half an hour putting on makeup and getting dressed for Anya and Oscar's anniversary party. This time she wore a fancy lace blue dress with a pearl necklace around her neck and black heels. She had on medium red lipstick and foundations that went perfectly well with her skin.

As she gazed into the mirror, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbled within her. I think I look good... I wonder what Marcus will say when he sees what I'm wearing, she mused to herself. 

"Alright, here I go," she whispered, taking a deep breath. With a sense of determination, she walked toward her apartment door and stepped out into the evening.

Upon arriving at their anniversary, she noticed the location was that of an elegant carved plaza standing in the center of Parade Square. Inside there was a banquet hall adorned with bows and ribbons everywhere on the intricate walls of the plaza. Each table was covered in white cloth with silverware, plates, and wine glasses. When Alexa entered inside, she was greeted by Anya and Oscar.

"Girl, you're here!" Anya rejoiced, rushing toward her with open arms. She enveloped Alexa in a warm hug. 

"Wow, your taste in dresses is getting better!" Anya added, stepping back to admire her friend. "I think I taught you well about what looks good for special occasions."

"Yes, you did," Alexa replied with a playful grin. "I don't want to show up to events looking like a housemaid anymore, haha."

Anya laughed, her eyes sparkling. "I told you before, tastes change. Some things you used to hate can become your favorites, and the opposite is true too."

"Since you're here, why don't you go have fun? Dance around!" Anya suggested. 

Oscar joined in, leaning against a table with a teasing smile. "Yeah, the banquet hasn't even started yet. We're still waiting for, like, 7 more guests. You should go smack some jerks and shake your booties in front of them if they dare call their girls names."

Anya playfully swatted Oscar on the chest, shaking her head. "Babe, don't make her go wild. Just let her enjoy herself however she wants." She added, "She ain't a 7 year old playing bullseye games at a carnival festival for primary school kids. Right, Alexa?"

Alexa stifled a laugh at Oscar's antics, shaking her head. "Right, Anya. I'm not a goose who lost her geese in a swamp."

12 minutes later, Marcus arrived. He wore a huge tuxedo with long pants that were the perfect length for his long pants. Before he greeted Oscar and Anya, he winked a bit at Alexa, sending a thrill down her spine. 

He looks even hotter in a tuxedo than in gym clothes, Alexa thought to herself, unable to suppress a smile. I want to feel the roughness of his torso so badly. I bet his body feels like a warrior's.

Oscar, ever the jokester, broke the moment. He grinned widely and did a fist shake with Marcus. "Look who arrived ahead of 3 more people! Looking suave there, eh? Did you get chased by a hundred prom girls getting starstruck by any hottie that walks by them or did you almost get run over by a truck?"

Marcus chuckled softly, almost laughing. "Negative. Negative. I had to clean my apartment because there was f**king dust everywhere, and the bathroom was starting to smell like a landfill thanks to some flies." He added, "Can't leave your home when you've got a mess in front of you and nothing sanitized, right?"

Oscar laughed, nodding in understanding. "No surprise you always triple-clean every week. Never once have I caught a whiff of you smelling like a sewer."

"And your problem is," Marcus shot back with a grin, "you never clean until there are molds sticking out like leeches."

"Hey, I can't change the way I am, bro. Cleaning just isn't my passion," Oscar replied with a mock sigh, rolling his eyes. 

Alexa just stood there listening to them talk while everyone else was either drinking or slow dancing together. Eventually, the banquet started. Everyone was served an equal portion of smoked duck breasts sitting on top of pistachios and pomegranates accompanied by small red cherries and sour potatoes. They had Chateau Talbot 2015 Vintage flavored red wine poured in their glass.

As she savored each bite, a smile crept across Alexa's face. This is good food, she mused to herself, delighted by the flavors dancing on her palate. Much tastier than anything I ate in Colorado.

Across the table, Marcus couldn't help but steal glances at her. His smirk grew as he watched her enjoy the meal, utterly absorbed in her plate. I couldn't help but keep my eyes on her, he thought, a sense of wonder washing over him. She's very beautiful, like the moon of a nocturnal serenade.

But as he studied her more closely, a curious thought flickered in his mind. She looks a bit different somehow... but I adore her in anything she wears.

Finally, Oscar stood up, the soft clink of his wine glass resonating as he tapped it gently with a spoon to capture everyone's attention.

"Your attention, please!" he called out, a smile lighting up his face.

Beside him, Anya rose from her seat, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Thank you, everyone, for joining us tonight to celebrate our 9th... 9TH anniversary!" 

"I can't begin to express how grateful and ecstatic I am to have Oscar as my boyfriend for all these years," Anya continued, with warmth and affection. 

Oscar beamed at her, the adoration evident in his eyes. "I feel the same way about you, Anya. You brighten my day and make me smile every time I see you."

As the room filled with laughter and clinking glasses, Oscar raised his glass high. "I really hope our relationship flourishes as the years pass. Together, we can make it last."

He paused, then declared with sincerity, "Here's a toast from us! Cheers!"

The guests echoed his sentiment, lifting their glasses and drinking in unison with Oscar and Anya.

When the music resumed, the atmosphere shifted as the spinning disco ball scattered colorful lights across the dance floor, and a DJ began to play upbeat tracks. Most of the guests rose from their seats, eager to join in the revelry. However, Marcus excused himself, heading towards the bathroom for a brief moment.

Oscar turned to Anya, his expression softening. "Sweetheart, want to slow dance with me?" He extended his hands toward her, an invitation filled with warmth.

"Of course, my dearest," Anya replied, her smile radiant as he helped her up from her seat. They moved gracefully to the center of the dance floor, embracing each other tenderly as they swayed to the music.

Their faces drew close, words of love flowing between them like a gentle melody.

"I will always cherish our sacred memories on every anniversary of ours, Anya," Oscar whispered into her ear.

"Me too, Oscar," Anya replied, her eyes glistening. "I never imagined we'd still be together to this day. It feels like we're high school sweethearts for life."

Oscar continued to pick Anya up and kissed her as they held hands together. Alexa was happy to see them in such a sincere and happy relationship. However, she suddenly felt sad. Recalling the painful memories of her breakups and never being emotionally satisfied by anyone romantically, her smile slowly began to fade away. While the two continued to kiss, she walked away without them noticing and headed out of the banquet hall. Seeing other happy couples was always her main weakness and what caused her to be sad in love. When she got outside, she called a taxi to pick her up.

"I can't be in there any longer..." she thought to herself, her emotions swirling. "Not when this feeling is hitting me all over again."

Back at the banquet hall, Marcus came out of the bathroom and he was going to ask Alexa to dance with him only to find out she was nowhere to be seen. He looked around, but there was no sight of her.

Where is Alexa?  he wondered, his heart sinking. I wanted to dance with her...

His thoughts turned anxious. Please don't tell me she left earlier than everyone else...