Timeless Love

Chapter 10

"Thank you everyone for coming out tonight," the performer said. "You guys are the best audience. Hope you enjoy the rest of your night!"
More screaming was roaring in the background.
Now what? The crowd quickly began pushing toward you. They were walking toward the exit sign on your left. You followed the crowd. Well, that was nice, right? Sure...? He said that he hoped you would have a great night. How were you supposed to do that? You didn't have anywhere to go. Remember?
You suddenly felt a pressure on your arm dragging you away from the crowd. You tried to pull away, but the grip got tighter and stronger. You finally stopped. The force dragged you into a dark room. You tried to take a look at the figure.
"Let go," you said trying to release the grip.
"I need to ask you something," a recognizable voice responded.
It was him.
"You again," you said shockingly.
"You sound surprised," he chuckled. "So... what did you think? Was it worth it?"
You paused for a moment.
"Sure," you responded softly.
"That's it," he laughed again.
"It was," you said after a brief period of thinking. "Great."
"Well," he said awkwardly. "I thought about you a lot while I was standing up there.
You were confused.
"Really," you asked.
"You were also standing right there," he laughed again.
You didn't say anything.
"So," he continued. "I didn't get to formally introduce myself... I'm Aaron."
"It's ok," you said.
That was random of him.
"Nice to meet you," you continued. "Again."
He chuckled.
"What did you want to ask me," you suddenly remembered what he said earlier.
"Oh," he remembered also. "I was just thinking... I don't have anyone to accompany me to this after party. So I was wondering... if you wanted to be my date."
"Date," you were shocked by that word. "I don't know."
"Come on," he said. "Just this one time. Then I don't have to bother you anymore."
You thought for a several seconds. It was a good thing that the noisy crowd didn't leave the two of you in an awkward silence. But the noise quickly began to fade.
"Maybe," you responded.
"Is that the only response you know," he asked.
Rude. You grimaced at him.
"Ok," he sighed. "How about this? You come with me and if I do anything to piss you off or something... you can kick me where no guy wants to be kicked."
You tried to hide a slight burst of laughter.
"Is that a smile I see," he flirted looking down at you. "Is that a yes?"
You couldn't hold back the smile anymore. You nodded. What else were you going to do?
He took your hand and led you outside the emergency exit in order to escape the rally of fan girls. You slipped into the slightly, chilly air of a mid-spring night. He began walking faster trying to get away from anyone in that crowd. You began panting as the chilly air entered your lungs.
"Where are you taking me," you said under your breath.
"You'll see," he said. "You'll love it. I promise."
Honestly, you were too tired from everything that happened tonight to even care about anything at this point. He turned you down to the corner. You approached a crosswalk, stopped for a minute. He pulled you and ran you down the busy street while several cars began honking at you. As you turned back onto the safe sidewalk, you approached a building.
"Right here," he said trying to catch his breath.
You looked up and saw the sign of the building: Neil Simon Theatre.
"You know what this place is," he asked you.
You were silent.
"My favorite place in the world," he said. "I spent a lot of time here. Not lately, though."
"Why not," you asked.
"Just," he started. "No work. I would die to be able to come back here. There are days... I just miss it."
You looked at him.
"I don't understand," you answered. "How could they not want you back here? I mean... I heard you tonight. You were... good."
"Well, thank you," he said with a wide smile on his face. "I've just been busy with other projects, TV and big screen, that there's just been no room in my schedule."
"Some day you will," you assured.
He looked down at you.
"Come on," he took your hand again and opened the door to let you two inside. You walked in. It was empty. You looked around.
"So," you said confused. "Where is everybody?"
"This is everybody," he laughed.
You stayed quiet. What is he trying to do? Is he onto something? You being in a theatre. Alone. With this guy you haven't even known for a day?
"I don't know," you said. "About this. I think I'm just gonna--"
"Wait," he interrupted. "One thing you have to see!"
"This is a trick," you accused him. "I know what this is. You want to--"
You didn't even bother to finish. You took a look at him.
"I'm sorry," you said.
Your eyes began to water. Why?
"I shouldn't be here," you finished.
You turned your back and walked toward the exit. Slowly. Would you change your mind before you opened that door?
You pushed the door open and looked into the night. Lights flickering, car horns honking... dangerous people out there. Suddenly, you heard a switch flip and the room turned brighter. Lights flashed onto the stage. You looked up at the chandelier where the bright light was coming from. You heard a screeching that was similar to that of a microphone. You covered your ears. He was on the stage. You heard a song start that sounded awfully familiar. Like a song he had just sang only a few hours ago... Because it was. He cleared his throat.
"When the rain is blowing on your face," he started singing. "And the whole world is on your case. I could offer you a warm embrace... to make you feel my love."
You heart started racing. You felt it skip a beat.
"When the evening shadows and stars appear," he continued. "And there is no one there to dry your tears. I could hold you for a million years... to make you feel my love."
He continued to watch you as the smile on his face grew longer. You bit your lip to avoid letting out a smile. You walked away from the exit and slowly down the hallway.
"I know you haven't made up your mind yet," he said obviously referring to you. "But I could never do you wrong. I've known it from the moment that we met... no doubt in my mind where you belong..."
You approached a seat at the end of the fourth to last row and sat down.
"I could make you happy, make your dreams come true. Nothing that I wouldn't do. Go to the ends of the Earth for you... to make you feel my love."
He took the microphone away from his mouth. He grinned at you and gave you that look. A look that you had seen before. From someone. But this one was different. Maybe this one was... real for a change.
He stood up and threw himself down from a far height between the tall stage and the floor.
He landed perfectly on his feet without any stumble. He walked toward you. You straightened your back and tried to lean your body closer to the next seat over. That was as far as you could go. He came up closer.
"You see now," he said looking down at you. He got down on one knee.
"As cliche as that probably sounded," he started again. "It was all true."
You said nothing. But you stared at him. Those pools of blue that were his eyes hit you like no other. You remember seeing eyes like that in your past. Except this one seemed... real.
"So," he continued. "This is important. I want you to think before you say no... Do you, who's name I do not know..."
Oh my god. You just realized that?
"Would you," he continued. "Ever want to see me again after tonight? You know. Like a... date?"
Your heart began racing. Time stood still. How were you supposed to know what to say? Did you? Would it be weird... to say yes? But wouldn't you regret it if you said no?
"I know you don't know me," Aaron said. "But if you wanted to give me one chance... I can make you happy... and treat you better than anyone else did."
He grabbed your hands and pulled you closer. And closer.
The lights in the theatre suddenly turned brighter. You squinted to relieve your eyes from the pain.
You opened them....
He was gone.
And there you were. Lying back in the soft surface that was your bed with the sun beaming on your eyes peaking through the sheer white curtains.
You buried your face back into your pillow. You couldn't believe what you had just dreamed. The first time you had met Aaron. You reached over and tried to feel for your fiancé. Nothing. This happening right now... was not a dream. You wished it was.
You finally picked yourself up and looked over at the empty sheets next to you. You the. Looked at the clock. 10:30 AM. Holy crap! How could you keep him waiting so long. The phone rang from downstairs. You hopped out of bed and ran downstairs toward the phone. You picked it up.
"Hello," you answered.
"Mrs. Tveit," a voice replied.
"Yes," you said.
"I apologize," the voice said reluctantly. "Did I wake you?"
You noticed the grogginess in your voice.
"No, not at all," you replied quickly.
"This is the receptionist over at the hospital," the voice said.
"Yes," you asked. What was she waiting for?
"We're going to need you to come down as soon as possible," she admitted.
"What's wrong," you asked nervously your voice slightly raised.
"We will discuss it when you get here," she said.
"You can't tell me now," you asked.
"Legally I'm not allowed to," she said. "So if you could just come down here when you can that would be--"
"I'll be there," you interrupted.
You hung up the phone without saying anything else. So... what now? As much as you wanted to go get ready, you couldn't help but stand there. Puzzled. Lost. Weak. Vulnerable. The man that saved your life, you hoped it wasn't too late to return the favor. You stood and then sprinted up the stairs to your room.