All for the Mirrorball

Chapter 22 - Next Level

Monday morning, Ilona and Olivia spent their last few hours in New York sightseeing and hunting for the best bagels before hopping on an afternoon flight to Burlington. By the time they landed, Ilona felt the familiar calm that came with being home - even with her election nerves humming quietly under the surface.

Ilona and Alan fell into an easy pattern, sending updates throughout the day and talking quietly into the night until their voices grew softer, the conversations punctuated by long pauses and yawns.

Without even meaning to, they fell asleep on facetime every night - neither of them willing to hang up first, as though hearing the other's steady breathing brought a small, necessary comfort.

Election Day felt particularly heavy, so Ilona tried to stay busy. By the time the evening rolled around, she was curled up on the couch watching her comfort movie, The Princess Diaries 2, for the millionth time. It was the kind of movie that felt like a warm hug - exactly what she needed as the news buzzed quietly in the background.

Alan:
I have a confession.

Ilona:
You're talking to a girl with an anxiety disorder here, Al.
Get to it.

Alan:
I watched both Princess Diaries movies the night you first brought it up.

Ilona:
You're kidding.

Alan:
I wish I were.
I was pining pretty hard.

Ilona:
Omg he listens AND he makes Chris Pine puns??

Alan:
The pun was actually an accident.

Ilona:
Hahah you should have just claimed it.
So what did you think?

Alan:
Well, I loved it.
But mainly because I knew you did... and it felt like an ironic parallel at the time - during the tango? Watching him wind her up... it felt like I was watching us in rehearsals all week.

She smiled at her phone, thinking back to everything she was fighting that week, knowing now that he was fighting just as hard.

Ilona:
So you're saying you knew the effect you were having the whole time?

Alan:
I... hoped.

Ilona:
You're cute (:
They're about to fall into the fountain.

Alan:
Go watch.
I'll call you later.

They still texted sporadically for the rest of the night, hearts racing with every buzz of their phones.

When they facetimed that night, it was equally as warm and reassuring as the first time. They started off with their election fears, which shrouded the day, but quickly moved on to themselves.

"Can I ask you a question?" Alan asked, his tone somewhat apprehensive.

"Um, sure..." Ilona said, already feeling nervous.

"When I see you tomorrow night... I'm going to kiss you again. Are you going to freak out on me again, or are we past that?"

She swallowed hard, her heart fluttering unabashedly. "I'm... we're past it."

He let out a shaky sigh of relief. "Thank God," he said, "I was a little worried."