Until The Clock Stikes (NACS Remake)

Chapter 2

I am six years old and I am running. Music and laughter is cut off as the steeple doors close, I don't wanna be here. My father calls after me but I am swallowed by forest before he can get to me. I keep running until I find a quiet place far enough away, the flowers are all closed and the bench is covered in vines. I stand in an opening, a small cottage is set in the middle of it. My heart beat slows, and then I am sleepy. I remember a woman singing to me, her words are hushed and tickle my face.
"Call on me when you are sad, ma chere." She says. "If you cannot just repeat these words and you will remember peace."
"
"Et mon coeur continue." I whisper to myself.
Gold, everything is gold. The floor and ceiling mirror the room like an opaque lake, pure.
Music is thick around me, almost palpable, it floats around me. It's funny how alone you can feel though, in a room full of people.
"Hi." A deep voice timbers behind me, it's familiar.
"You should work on the whole sneaking up on people thing." I say as I turn to face mystery guy.
Only- there's something off. If he's confused or thrown off by my banter he doesn't let me know.
"Ah yes well. I don't usually make it a habit of going to these sorts of events." He talks with his hands awkwardly, he's smiling wanly at me.
"Yeah." I answer back lamely, because it is then I think maybe it's someone else, what was mystery guy wearing? Other than a black mask I am drawing a blank.
A new song starts up as we stand awkwardly.
He claps his hands together as if he's thought of something that could change the entire world, and then with a big burst of excitement he turns to me. "Dance with me."
Before I can respond, my hands are grasped in his and we are moving smoothly across the crowded dance floor.
The glittering statues and overwhelming scents of flowers swirl together as I finally decide this guy isn't mystery guy.
His eyes are well lit and undoubtedly brown.
"What's your name?" I ask before I can stop myself.
His mannerisms are something else to watch, he tilts his head and smiles again, displaying dimples.
"Isn't that the best part?" He asks but only pauses for a second to spin me. "I am not myself tonight. I am everything and nothing."
I roll my eyes at his drama.
"Well then tell me vast nothingness. Is there something I can at least call you for the night?"
He thinks it out and I can almost see the wheels turning.
"Jay." He says finally. The song has changed but we are still locked in a slow circle.
"I don't care so much about identity secrets and masks. You can call me Mia." I respond.
His face is angular like mystery boys, and his voice has the same sort of timber but as I really look at him, even with a mask he is different somehow. His eyes are dark and speckled with flecks of gold.
"Mia." The way he says it makes my stomach feel funny, and then he's cursing.
"Damn. Looks like I'm losing my partner." He says and then he's gone and replaced with someone else.
The music is fast paced and booming, our hands are laced and raised, circling each other and then switching hands. Everyone is in a huge circle and I still can't see Jay, my head swivels around, not paying attention to my partners.
"Is there something interesting over there?" Timber, deeper than Jays but definitely familiar.
Mystery boy has locked arms with me, his eyes are bright against the mask and hold an arrogance.
"Light suits you way better than costume room candles." I respond, ignoring his question.
He smiles, it opens his whole face up.
"I'll have to keep that in mind for next time."  He says, and we are switching arms. Mystery boy smiles wanly at me, eyes behind the mask crinkle.
"This better not turn into a habit." I respond playfully and he twirls me around, pulling me toward the edge of the crowd, his  hand is on my waist. And he draws me closer to him, stubble lightly speckles his jawline and then he's whispering, his breath dances across my cheeks.
"Running into you is a habit I'd gladly indulge." His voice is low, private.
"Well then that settles it, I must know your name." I reply, my head tilts as I grin at him.
Another spin and it occurs to me that we aren't being very graceful, our bodies are too close to dance to the music and we are more absorbed in our banter than our foot work. He is silent, watching me. A breath, a pause. He shakes his head.
"Not yet." He says and he spins me again. But when I spin back, he is gone.
"Who was that?"
I nearly jump ten feet in the air, whirling around.
"Lucy?" I ask.
She makes a sound that is somewhere between and scoff and a snort.
"No shit, Sherlock."
She starts steering me toward the closest waiter passing around drinks.
The music has quieted immensely and now the ballroom swells with chatter. The lights flash indicating an announcement.
"Ladies and Gentlemen if you please, it is now time to gravitate into the banquet hall where dinner will be served."
With a flourish all the servants open a pair of doors to the left of the ballroom.
"While entering the banquet hall, you will be handed a table number, this is your assigned table for the entirety of your visit." I can finally see the man speaking, He is tall and handsome with striking blue eyes. As Lucy and I draw closer to the exit I notice that his age is only given away by his laugh lines. I am caught up in the crowd and we are filed into the cavernous hall, Lucy loses me as people pile in and I am alone again.
The mess is just as large as the ballroom and I am handed a ticket. Table 18, fortunately there are hanging number signs to help us to our designated spot.
"Please tell me you got table 18." Jay calls.
I turn and smile at him. "How'd you know it was me?"
He rolls his warm eyes theatrically.
"Well for starters, you didn't change your dress since we danced." He says.
I ignore the jab, feeling a bit stupid. "Yes, actually. I am table 18."
He licks his lips and smiles.
"Then come on darling, days a wasting."