Echoes Of The Unseen

EOTU -SIETE

The night was alive with shimmering lights, soft music, and the clink of champagne glasses, filling the ballroom with a sense of glamour. Reverie and Noah swayed in sync, their movements graceful, but neither of them touched a drink. They didn’t need to. They were content with just being in each other’s company. Across the room, laughter echoed, but one voice stood out -the loud, tipsy giggle of Danielle. She had drunk far too much, her attempts to stand steady were futile.

“Looks like Danielle’s out of it again,” Noah chuckled softly, glancing at Reverie.

Reverie smiled, watching as Theodore swooped in, catching Danielle just before she could collapse to the floor. “There he goes. Theodore to the rescue, as always,” she said, amused.

“Looks like we’re down two friends,” Noah added, noticing as Theodore carried Danielle out of the room. The two of them exchanged glances, knowing it meant it would just be the two of them for the rest of the night.

But even with their friends gone, the party continued in full swing. Just then, the music came to a soft halt. The emcee stepped up, a smile broad across his face. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to announce our Prom King and Queen!”

The ballroom’s atmosphere shifted as whispers spread and excitement built. Reverie and Noah slipped out into the hallway, standing at the edge of the doorway where they could watch the announcement but remain in the shadows.

“And the winners are…” A dramatic pause followed. “Aries Celestino and Vivienne Rosalinda!”

The crowd erupted into cheers, and all eyes turned to the stage where Aries and Vivienne ascended hand in hand, on of them -Vivienne grinning ear to ear as they were crowned. The spotlight followed them as they accepted their sashes, reading "Prom King" and "Prom Queen," their faces illuminated with pride and warmth.

Noah’s gaze flickered to Reverie, noticing her silence. She hadn’t moved since the announcement. “Erie?” he asked softly, but her eyes were locked on the stage, specifically on Aries.

Her first love.

Seeing him up there with Vivienne -the girl who always had a hold on his heart- struck her harder than she had expected. The crowd's applause seemed distant, muffled, as her thoughts spiraled. Aries was smiling, looking happier than she had seen him in a long time. And now, he was back with Vivienne, his ex. A girl he had never fully let go of.

Reverie’s chest tightened. All the memories, the unspoken words, the feelings she had buried, surfaced all at once. But she couldn’t show any of it. Her face remained blank, expressionless, as if she were just another spectator at the prom.

But Noah knew better. He saw the way her hands clenched into fists, the way her shoulders tensed slightly. He stepped closer to her, his voice quiet, concerned. “Hey… do you want to get out of here?”

She turned to him, her eyes meeting his, and for a brief moment, she was grateful. Grateful that he noticed without her having to say a word. She nodded.

“Let’s go.” He gently took her by the hand and led her out of the ballroom, the sounds of celebration fading behind them as they stepped into the cool night air.

Noah gently led Reverie out of the hall, the cool night air hitting them as they stepped outside. The rain was falling lightly, pattering against the pavement. Noah pulled his jacket over her head, shielding her from the droplets as they made their way through the parking lot.

“You don’t have to-”

“Shh, it’s fine,” he interrupted gently. “I’m already soaked.” He smiled down at her, trying to bring back some lightness to the moment, but his voice was softer than usual, as if he knew she needed a bit of space.

His car was parked a little further away from the entrance, a sleek black sedan waiting for them under a dim streetlight. Reverie remained quiet, her mind still clouded with thoughts of the prom king and queen inside, but Noah didn’t push her to talk. He understood her silence, and that was enough for now.

As they approached his car, Noah hurried ahead, unlocking it and opening the passenger door for her. “Here, get in. I’ll handle the rain,” he said with a soft smile.

Reverie slipped inside, the soft leather of the seat cool against her skin. She watched as Noah jogged around the front of the car, getting soaked in the process. By the time he slid into the driver’s seat, water dripped from his hair onto his face, but he didn’t seem to care.

“Are you okay?” she asked quietly, noticing how wet he’d gotten.

Noah shrugged, turning the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and the sound of the rain intensified as it hit the windshield. “I’ve been through worse,” he said with a chuckle, glancing at her. “You’re more important than staying dry.”

Reverie didn’t know how to respond to that. She simply looked out the window, watching the rain blur the world outside as Noah pulled out of the parking lot.

The car ride was quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic beat of the rain against the glass. The streetlights passed by in a blur, their soft glow illuminating the inside of the car in fleeting moments. Reverie leaned her head against the window, her breath fogging up the glass as her thoughts swirled.

Noah stole a glance at her every now and then, concern etched across his face. He didn’t know exactly what to say, but he wanted to be there for her, even if it was just in silence.

When they reached her house, Noah pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. He turned to Reverie, his voice gentle. "I’ll walk you to the door."

She nodded, grateful, and the two of them stepped out of the car. The rain had gotten heavier, but once again, Noah draped his jacket over her head, shielding her from the downpour as he walked her up to the porch. Despite being soaked through, he smiled, as if her comfort was all that mattered.

They walked in silence for a bit until they reached her house door. Reverie stopped at the doorstep, turning to Noah. "Thank you… for tonight."

Noah's eyes were warm, his voice steady but soft. "You don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad you’re okay."

But she wasn’t, not entirely, and Noah knew that too. His hand reached out, brushing a few strands of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for just a second longer than necessary. "Don’t waste your time on people who can’t see your worth, Erie. You deserve better than that."

Her breath caught slightly at his words, but she didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. The rain began to pour harder, but Noah still stood there, jacket above her, b gets worse," he said softly. "I’ll be fine."

Reverie hesitated, looking at him. He was soaked, his hair plastered to his forehead, but still, he smiled gently at her, as if nothing in the world mattered more than making sure she was alright.

“Goodnight, Erie. Sleep well,” he whispered, before turning and walking away, disappearing into the downpour.

She stood there for a long moment, watching him vanish into the rain, the sound of thunder in the distance mirroring the quiet storm that raged within her heart.

- 26MARCH2004