Learning to Love Christmas

Chapter 20

XX: So Close (aka The Winter Ball Part 2)

December 23, 2013

All I managed to say was, “You came.”

I was shocked. I was convinced he wasn’t coming. Carol and I will lose the bet with Gavin and that he’d cockily parade around like he won an Oscar. I told myself that he had another thing going on tonight that was more important than the dance or something. That I would have fun until I got home and realize he didn’t bother to show up or at least called to tell me he wasn’t going to come.

But here he was, holding me in his arms because stupid little me was ever the klutz. And it certainly wasn’t a day dream.

I pushed off of his hold and stood up. Oliver was really there. He was even wearing a tux. His hair was styled in its usual look, like he just rolled out of bed, put on the tux and went to the ball. He was wearing a baby blue tie around the collar of a white dress shirt that made his blue eyes seem bluer. In other words, he looked like a Greek god. And he didn’t need Carol’s magical fairy godmother powers to do so.

My heart stopped when I noticed the tie he was wearing matched the shade my dress was in. Is it possible that he wore that to match mine or was it all just a coincidence? It was probably the latter, but it still makes me wonder.

I snapped out of my thoughts and managed to say something I would normally say before I realized that I liked him. “You clean up well.”

Oliver’s lips curled into a smirk. “I know. I look good in a tux.”

I rolled my eyes at him but I couldn’t help but smile. “Anyway, I should take you to Gavin so I could rub it in his face and get my ice cream. Carol will be thrilled.”

“I’d love to see Carol gloat and all.” He paused. His eyes twinkled under the light of the disco ball. “But, first, I think you owe me a dance.”

As if on cue, I heard Adam cough to get everyone’s attention. “Now everyone, I’d like to ask each guy to invite their date to dance to this next song. Trust me. You’ll thank me later.” He said with a wink.

I would roll my eyes at that if I wasn’t concentrating on trying to control my erratic heartbeat.

“Shall we?” Oliver held out his hand to me. I just nodded, too dazed to speak. He took my hand in his and led me to the dance floor. I could feel my pulse run a million miles a minute. I gave myself a mental slap for how much of an idiot I must look right now.

“Would you stop acting like such a girl?” My conscience hissed at me. “Act normal!”

With that, I started breathing normally again. I put one hand on Oliver’s shoulder while he put one on my waist. He took my other hand and held it up, ready to dance the waltz. Couples were gathering around us and I could swear I saw a flash of Carol’s black hair and Gavin’s gold tie. But they all seemed so far away right now.

“You’re in my arms, and all the world is calm. The music playing on for only two. So close together. And when I’m with you. So close to feeling alive.” Adam sang beautifully. It wasn’t his type of song but he surprisingly sung it well. The rest of the band was off stage. A piano was set up and I could see Reyna on the keys. A backing track was playing while she played the piano part. It was just her and Adam.

“Sorry I was late.” Oliver said after a moment of comfortable silence. “Kelsey didn’t let me go unless she took a billion photos. First time going to the Winter Ball and all that.” He said with a shake of his head.

“It’s okay.” I said with an amused grin. “I didn’t think you’d come anyway.”

I took a step back when Oliver took a step forward and we moved in a circle like everyone else was doing. He was a good dancer which was good because I had no clue as to what I was doing. I think I he told me his parents forced him to do ballroom dancing lessons a few years ago.