Falling for the Matchmaker [ Chaennie ]

Chapter 12 : Roseanne

Roseanne

Sitting next to Jennie is like sitting next to a ray of light. She's thoroughly absorbed in the music, her face a mix of concentration and delight. I couldn't find a play for us to go to. There wasn't anything until the weekend. I didn't mean to make it sound like I go all the time and actually know the schedules of places around the city. I don't. I might have done one better. I found us a symphony to go to. It's a mix of classical music, which I wasn't sure would really be to Jennie's taste, but when is something like this really not to someone's taste. It's one thing to listen to music on a phone or the radio or whatever. It's a completely different experience in person. The music really comes alive and even the most devout hater is often surprised. Jennie is enraptured by the music and I'm enraptured by her. I guess that makes us a good pair.

I can't believe that I'm here. In public. Not just sitting next to a beautiful, alluring woman, but holding her hand. I'm not just thrilled by the fact that this is out in the open. That I can be proud to sit here and be who I am. That this is the first date I've been on in my entire life that I truly, to the bottom of my soul, wanted to go on. I feel more than just free. I get all shivery at the music, but also whenever I turn and watch the expressions on Jennie's face. She can be hard to read, but not right now. Right now, she's perfectly open. I love the joy there. She really is as vibrant as the sun, as beautiful, mysterious, and ever changing as a beam of light. I feel so many things all at once. I've felt them ever since the night at my house. We drank our tea in almost silence, then Jennie said she had to go. I didn't press her. She didn't initiate anything else. I wanted to kiss her again. I longed for it so badly that my whole body hurt with trying to contain it, but I didn't want to hurt her, so I kept that to myself. I'm not sure if I would have hurt her or scared her off. She did give me a quick hug as she walked out the door. By quick, I mean that I still took time to inhale her soft scent. It stayed with me for hours after she left. I had to sit down and think about it, but I decided it was fear that made her stop. I don't know how far we would have taken things. My entire body was still buzzing and lit up from just that brief touch of her skin. There was something, something I don't know if Jennie would talk about if I asked her. Old wounds from the past. I think someone hurt her. I'm scared that if I bring it up, she really will decide that she can't do this. I would fight for her, but there's only so much fighting one person can do.

I was insanely excited about this date. I had to wait three nights, but we're here. Jennie let me pick her up from her apartment. When I spotted her, she did more than take my breath away. I wasn't sure that I'd ever catch it properly again. I take a chance and clasp her hand a little harder. She squeezes back reassuringly, or maybe it's subconscious since her attention is still glued to the stage. We're only five rows away. We get to see everything up close. It's much different than sitting way in the back or even in one of the balconies. Our hands are resting in her lap, over the hard plastic armrest between the seats. It's been cutting into my arm for the past half hour. Jennie is wearing a tight black bodycon dress with black tights and black flats. She has a dainty gold chain at her throat and gold studs in her ears. Her hair is down in a fancy fishtail braid that I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to do. It's loose, with strands of hair escaping with every single movement, but they frame her face nicely and trail down her neck. She's so beautiful that it's distracting. I caught a couple guys look in our direction when we walked in and even after we sat down. I caught a couple women stink eying us too, but most of them were with the guys who were looking. Jennie didn't notice any of the looks or stares. She was too excited about the stage, the auditorium, and the musicians with their instruments when they came on. Even the empty chairs set up on stage thrilled Jennie. That thrilled me in return.

I dressed up too, but for me dressing up isn't putting on a dress. I just don't like them. I never did feel comfortable in them. I chose black leggings, but they're fancy because they have this nice sheen to them, and a black sheer blouse with a black cami underneath. I did wear my favorite knee-high black boots to further dress it up. I'm pretty simple when it comes to everything. I hate jewelry. Everything feels cloying and gets caught in things or snags on stuff. I just never could get used to it. My mom isn't very fancy either. She hardly wears any jewellery besides her favorite earrings and her wedding rings. I'm glad that they've never got me anything other than earrings as a gift, because I'd feel terrible about never wearing them and I hate being obligated to do something like that.

"This is so incredible," Jennie whispers in my ear between songs. She applauds and I clap along with the rest of the auditorium. It's one of those polite claps that sounds like gentle rain. How do people get subtly trained into doing this? How do they know what is just the right amount of clapping?

"I'm glad you like it," I whisper back. When I lean in, I inhale deeply beside Jennie's ear. She doesn't smell like fruit tonight. It's some kind of flower, but so delicate and understated that I can't guess what it is. Jasmine? That's another thing I never bother with. Perfume. I did go to a perfumery and got them to make me something custom. It's basically an essential oil that I dab on and it lasts for a few hours. It doesn't have that strong, chemical or alcohol scent that the store perfumes sometimes do. For special occasions, I bring out the tiny bottle of vanilla scented oil. I only ever dab it on at my wrists and behind my ears.

Jennie's hand shifts in mine. I think she's going to pull it away, and I freeze. The next piece of music starts, merry and jaunty. Jennie's finger strokes my palm before she clasps my hand again. It was the tiniest of movements, but it makes my stomach feel pinched and my chest tight. It makes everything burn and throb. It makes me feel shivery and thrilled. This whole night is our night. Our night together. For me, that is incredibly monumental. It's incredibly special. It's a huge deal. I have a right to be insanely excited. Is it wrong to be proud that the most attractive woman in the entire place tonight is mine? I know what they say about pride, but I am proud. And happy. I'm so freaking happy that Jennie agreed to come to this with me tonight. That I'm sitting next to her. That for now, she's not thinking about whatever happened to her in the past. She's enjoying herself. She's on a date. With me. I'm on a date. With her. In public. I don't have to think of an excuse after. I don't have to pep-talk myself into staying. I didn't have to fight down my rising panic at having to fake yet another night of my life. I'm just me. Sitting with her. I think this might be the most amazing night of my entire life so far.