Take A Step (unrestricted) (on hold)

Five: The Ritual

Five: The Ritual

Daniel

            I was aware of the whispers and onlookers as I came off the stage with an odd grin on my face, possibly because I was greatly surprised when Sophie raised her hand to say she’d do it—be paired with me. I mean, I didn’t know everything about why she would sit out every year, but I feel as if it’s such an honor for her to let herself be with me. It’s the second time I’d seen her awake since the day I saved her, and she looked as breathtaking. She wore a slight smile as she watched me, and a few moments later we heard people dropping their attention from us and back to the new guy onstage.

            Everything happened almost an hour ago, now, the ritual had started and everyone was with their partners, and we were finally asked to go about into our own conversations.

            “Hi,” I said nervously.

            Sophie had her hair down just like the first time I saw her, and I saw her hands shake. I almost chuckled, but I thought that maybe she had enough reason to be nervous as I was.

            “So… you’re Daniel.” She nodded to herself, “God, remind me to hit myself for that later,” I chuckled at her.

            “Yes. I hope I’m not such a turnoff,” I said. She just stared at me like I was the world’s biggest idiot, “No, no, you’re not. What makes you think that?” she asked and for the first time, she let my eyes meet hers so blue I wanted to gaze into them forever. It was a strange attraction but it was good.

            “I don’t know it’s just that…” you’re pretty and I’m… a swimmer.

            “Just that what?” she insisted on asking, but it was a good thing I saw Jean and Jet coming toward us.

            They startled Sophie by attacking both her shoulders.

            “Hey guys!” Jean beamed.

            “The ritual started really great, huh?” Jet winked at me.

            Both Sophie and I just laughed at them. She playfully pushed her friends away.

            “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the other end.” She teased them.

            Jean and Jet just held hands and swooned jokingly, their stares trailing back and forth the two of us. Then they started giggling. Then they stopped. Huh? It was obvious Sophie and I didn’t get what was happening. Jean and Jet cleared their throats at the same time, finishing their fits off with slow chuckling.

            “Oh nothing, we got bored with our partners so we thought we’d visit you, especially after our friend’s big surprise,” Jean started. How well I’d guessed by now that Jet would finish her twin’s statement.

            “Yeah, and we also wanted to congratulate her for not backing out. She swore on our pinkies,” I was right. Jean and Jet then proceeded to twine their pinkies together and raised it to our faces to emphasize what they’d just said.

            “Okay, okay, girls, you can go back to your lines now,” A chubby woman came along and after she grinned at Sophie, I realized who she might’ve looked like when she was young... the twins.

            “Is that…?” my head slowly turned to Sophie, brows raised after I watched the two girls and the lady walk away. Sophie nodded at me, smiling softly.