A Snowflake Amidst the Clouds

Chapter Three: The Dance of Memories

The sun poured golden light through the large windows of The Grand Orchid, illuminating the lavish decorations that adorned the wedding venue. Ellie, armed with her camera, flitted from table to table, capturing the smiles and laughter of her friend Lola's wedding day. She was captivated by the romance unfolding around her, even as her heart raced with its own restless feelings.

"Lola, you're stunning!" Ellie exclaimed, snapping photos as her friend twirled in her white gown, a cascade of lace and tulle that soared around her. Lola's eyes sparkled with joy, and Ellie felt a twinge of warmth knowing she was part of this unforgettable day. That warmth, however, was quickly overshadowed by the void that lingered within her, a hollow echo of love lost.

From across the room, Ellie noticed Lola animatedly chatting with a group of guests. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses mingled in the air, but it was Lola's words that caught Ellie's attention.

"Seriously, Ellie! You should talk to my brother's friend" Lola teased, a playful grin on her face. "He's single and definitely worth a shot."

Ellie cringed internally, grateful that she was behind her camera lens, hiding the flush creeping up her cheeks. The last thing she wanted were more strings tied to her love life, especially after Jake. Her mind drifted back, unbidden, to sunlit days and whispered promises—a chapter she had thought was closed.

Flashback

Ellie remembered the first time she met Marvin, his charming smile lighting up the entire cafeteria in their high school. They had seemed so perfect together; laughter flowed easily between them, like old friends reconnecting. At first, it felt like a dream come true. She was pulled into the whirlwind of high school romance, filled with sweet exchanges and half-shared secrets. But in the quiet moments, Ellie often sensed something was off.

It was that fateful day in the school hallway when everything shattered. Ellie lurked near the lockers, her own books clutched to her chest, when she overheard Marvin's voice, laughing, with her friend Mia close by. "You know, I'm really just hanging out with Ellie to get closer to you," he had said, his voice a teasing whisper that felt like acid in her veins. "She doesn't even know, poor thing."

Ellie had been frozen in place, disbelief washing over her like a cold wave, drowning out the joyous chatter of her classmates. She had never felt more exposed, standing there as if stripped naked in a room full of people. The world around her blurred into a haze of color, her heart pounding as she turned and fled, each step deepening the wound in her chest.

End of Flashback

Ellie's thoughts shattered like glass upon hitting a solid body. She jolted and looked up, her heart throttling in her chest as her gaze met a pair of striking blue eyes. It was him. James—the pilot from the café, his presence all too familiar amidst the crowd. He flashed a warm, lopsided smile that made her stomach flutter, a jarring contrast to the darkness of her memories.

"Guess we keep bumping into each other," he said, tilting his head as if to get a better look at the emotions flitting across her face.

Ellie swallowed, suddenly feeling exposed. "Yeah, I guess so," she managed, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm a friend of the bride's brother," he replied with a casual charm. "I couldn't pass up a chance to enjoy a wedding, especially with good food and open dancing."

"Oh, right! Lola mentioned that," Ellie said, her cheeks flushing again. Part of her was captivated by the way he seemed so at ease, exuding confidence without pretense. Another part of her, born from bitter experience, recoiled at the thought of opening her heart.

Lola, noticing the two together, winked and then disappeared to tend to guests elsewhere, leaving them standing amidst a blur of celebration.

"Are you having fun?" James asked, lifting his camera to snap a candid image of Ellie, catching her off guard.

"Uh—sure! Just capturing moments," she said, holding her camera tightly. "What about you?"

"I was just thinking how beautiful weddings are. So filled with hope, you know?" His voice softened as he spoke, and Ellie found herself drawn into his earnest gaze.

Suddenly, Ellie was on high alert. Hope. The very notion felt like a double-edged sword—the promise of new beginnings and the risk of unhealed wounds. Jake had been a beacon of hope too, but that light had turned dark, leaving her battered and hesitant to trust again. Instead of answering him, she allowed silence to hang between them, filled with unspoken tension.

"Mind if I take a picture of you?" James asked, finally breaking the silence with an inviting smile, completely unaware of the turmoil that churned in her heart.

"Uh, okay," she said reluctantly, finding herself curious. In that moment, as she stood before him, she felt the urge to shed the burden of her past, if only for a brief second. As James lifted his camera, framing her in the viewfinder, Ellie forced a smile, and a tiny spark ignited within her—a tentative flicker of interest.

"Perfect!" he cheered, snapping the photo. "You've got a natural glow."

The sincerity in his voice warmed something in her that had long lain cold. Ellie's heart raced, both for the moment and for the memory of what just had been. Maybe there was a spark of something beautiful just waiting to be rekindled.

As the music began to swell, inviting couples to the dance floor, James looked at her intently. "Do you want to dance?"

Ellie blinked, taken aback, the past and present colliding in her mind. Her stomach twisted with indecision. Could she allow herself to enjoy this moment, risking yet another fall?

"I—" she started, but then noticed his hopeful expression and melted into a smile. "Okay. Just one dance."

As she took his hand, Ellie felt the past fade into the background, a distant murmur as thrilling as the music surrounding them. The dance floor lit up like a landscape of dreams, and for that fleeting moment, Ellie chose to believe again in the beauty of new beginnings, if only for a night.