When We Fell In Love

Chapter 15: New Year's Eve - Part 2

The heat of dozens of bodies moving to the rhythm of the music was a strange mix of suffocating and addictive. Dorcas loved to dance, loved to have fun, especially when surrounded by her best friends. James was spinning Lily and Mary around, a strange trio that somehow worked; Sirius was standing so close to Remus it even surprised Dorcas, while Remus was stiff as a board, swaying slightly on his feet and focused on his surroundings. Dorcas noticed Louis, a little off to the side of their group, laughing heartily and dancing ridiculously with his friends, now joined by Harry and Niall. She watched Louis and Harry exchange longing looks, full of tension and affection, and thought that something must have happened between them.

Between her and Marlene, however, things seemed to be going up and down like a rollercoaster. They had not spoken about the kiss since it happened, but they had gained a new level of intimacy. Dorcas tried in every way to show her affection physically: hugging Marlene, touching her arm, caressing her, and in return she did not seem to mind. However, she did not want to risk ruining everything again and would do anything to keep Marlene as close as possible.

At that moment, the speakers were blasting Love Will Keep Us Together at full volume. Marlene had her hands resting on Dorcas' ribs as they moved together, singing off-key and getting almost every word wrong.

'Cause I really love you, stop (stop)

I'll be thinking of you

Look in my heart and let love keep us together

The room around them disappeared, leaving just the two of them at the centre of the universe. Dorcas hummed the words while looking straight into Marlene's eyes, who did not even blink, afraid of missing a single moment of that magic.

When the others turn you off

Who'll be turning you on?

I will, I will, I will

I will be there to share forever

Dorcas rested her head on Marlene's shoulder, hugging her as tightly as she could. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure Marlene could feel it too. They swayed, now indifferent to the rhythm of the music.

"Dorcas..." Marlene's lips were so close to her ear, and the vibration of her voice sent shivers all over Dorcas' body.

"Yes, Mar?" No one could hear them, no one could interrupt them. The outside world did not even exist, only them, their hearts, and their bodies.

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" Dorcas lifted her head and stared intensely at her. They stopped swaying, standing still in the middle of the cosmos.

"Marlene, are you sure?"

"More than sure." Marlene was glowing, ethereal, proud, powerful, and beautiful.

"Of course, I'll be your girlfriend." Dorcas leaned forward, ready to kiss her breathless.

"Dorcas, we can't do this here," Marlene said, bringing them back to reality. The music started to play again in their ears, and Dorcas became acutely aware of the suffocating presence of the crowd around them. No one was paying them any attention, no one had noticed the shift in their world.

"Come with me." Dorcas took her hand and began making her way through the crowd, heading toward the first women's bathroom she could find.

They locked themselves in one of the stalls, Dorcas' body pressing Marlene's against the door.

"Now we can do whatever we want. And I really, really want to kiss you. I've wanted to since that first kiss in front of the Fat Lady. I've wanted it for so much longer, for months and months." Marlene was speechless, pliable under Dorcas' delicate touch. She took her face in her hands and started to worship every part of her with kisses: her forehead, her temples, her eyelids, the tip of her nose, the corner of her mouth. Then she stopped, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of insecurity.