Pain and Love Comes in Many Forms

Chapter Twenty Six

I held the punch in my hands, the glass frosting over, waiting for Jack to get away from the girls that roped him into a conversation.

Heather and Ian were dancing together, laughing at some jokes they seemed to exchange. More couples like them were on the dance floor.

I wish I was more like them. A lot of the couples wore beautiful rings and wedding bands.

I knew marriage wasn't needed to be in love, I knew I didn't have to rush things, but I felt so... worried?

I felt behind, wanting nothing kore but to be able to declare Jack as mine, and have proof through such a thing.

I wanted to be at an alter, smiling, laughing, reading vows.

I yearned for it.

Is that so horrible to want something that badly, with everything I'd been through.

I noticed Jack finally break away from the girls, heading over to me.

"Have fun talking?" I asked jokingly.

"Not really. They're suffocating. I guess I never realized how hard people hit on me." He sighed in annoyance.

I smiled, "You weren't aware of feelings when we were teenagers. Now, when you have made yourself aware to one persons feelings, you start noticing others feelings as well."

"I guess," he said as he shrugged. "You're the only person I care about though."

"Good to know." He saw I was uneasy.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

"No, nothing's wrong, I just..." I let out a heavy sigh, "I can't help but feel envious of other people. I know we shouldn't rush things and throw ourselves into marriage, but seeing others.... I just can't help wanting it."

I looked at Jack as an emotion I couldn't read flickered through his eyes, him smiling as soon as it left, "hey, I understand. Sometimes I get like that too." He put his hands around mine, both of us now holding my cup of punch. "How can I not? So many people love you, and I know a lot of them would rush after you if I'm too slow, but, right now, we don't need to rush."

"I know. I'm probably going to feel like this for awhile. I'm twenty seven for gods sake. I just feel as though I should be married by now."

"There are plenty of people older than you here who aren't married, don't worry about it. Society can go screw itself."

I laughed, smiling at his way with words. "You're right. Thanks for the pep talk." He took his hands off mine, moving closer to press a kiss to the top of my head, then ruffling my hair.

"It's what i do. Let's get to the dance floor," he suggested.

"You know full well that I don't dance."

"Oh, but I thought you knew quite a few?"

"Not slow dancing!" I exclaimed, "I know tango and that sort of stuff, but nothing else."

"Exactly. Let's get to the dance floor."

"Don't tell me-"

"You already know the answer. Come on." He held out his hand.

I smiled, finishing my drink, tossing it in the trash, taking his hand as the slow song came to an end.

Heather doesn't know I can dance at all, since it was something a did in my spare time, learnings at home. I had an instructor at one point, but I cut things off when he confessed and it just didn't work out. Then I learned on my own. I stopped learning when Jack moved in, but I'd practice every now and then and I'm guessing Jack caught me.