Everything in Between

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

"Louis, I simply cannot do this. It's freaking impossible!" The last hour had consisted of Louis attempting to teach me how to dance. I'd forget the steps, or take too many and I always, always, ended up stepping on his toes.   

Louis chuckled. "Just take a breather, Cassie." 

I was pacing back and forth frantically waving my arms about, maybe being a smidge overdramatic.

"It's easy for you to say. You don't have to be an expert in dancing in the next 24 hours, and even if you did, you'd pick it up in no time! I look like some sort of, uh–" 

Louis smirked. "Some sort of what?"

"A gangly giraffe with two left feet! Louis, can we please just quit? I'll call Coleman, let him know I came down with some illness – you know something serious enough so that he won't come and check on me but not serious enough to be life threatening – and then you and me can just hang out and have like a movie marathon or something! Please, Louis, it'll be perfect!"

He shook his head. “Sorry, no can do, Cass. We started this and we’re going to finish it. Maybe if you took off your shoes it might be easier,” he said pointing to the incredibly dirty yellow converse that I hardly ever took off.

“No, I’ll be just fine.”

“Suit yourself,” he shrugged his shoulders and turned on the radio. “You somewhat have it down, I think you just need to dance to music.”

Rhythm of Love started to play by thePlain White T’s. Grabbing my hand and pulling me close against his chest, we began dancing again.

“For some strange reason I have a feeling we won’t be dancing to songs like this.”

“Relax, Cassie, and just go with it.”

As the song picked up pace, our dancing became good-natured and soon we both couldn’t stop laughing as he swung me back and forth.

“There you go! You finally have it!”  

Our laughter was loud and boisterous, and I couldn’t remember a time where I forgot everything around me and just focused on the moment. As the song was coming to the last few verses, and before I knew what was happening, I had tripped over my own two feet, only to be caught by Louis’ long, tan arms wrapping tight around my waist. He pulled me up into a stand but still kept me close. His eyes were hypnotic, and I found myself not being able to tear mine away from his.

Soon a new song started to replace the old one and without a break of gaze or change of movement, he softly spoke.

“Let’s do one more song.”

“I . . .”

“It’s now or never, Cassie.” As if my body had a mind of its own, I began swaying softly to the old U2 80’s hit.

See the stone set in your eyes

See the thorn twist in your side

I wait for you

Sleight of hand and twist of fate

On a bed of nails she makes me wait

And I wait without you

I can’t live with or without you

I can’t live with or without you

The July sun was starting to set and the orange glow coming from outside of the panoramic window spread across the room like a warm blanket. Louis’ gaze never left mine and if it was possible, we somehow moved our bodies even closer to each other, his cheek resting dangerously close to mine.