Songs & Spells

One Touch

Carrying a broken heel in her hand, she crossed the street. In the crosswalk, a car running a red light zoomed past, splashing her with grimy water from a pothole. In shock, Evie stood in the middle of the street, the traffic lights illuminating her glittering dress. Now wet and covered in murky water, it was like the rotten cherry on top of the melted sundae.

As she continued across the street, a cool wind blew and rattled her bones. Shivering at midnight in the middle of the city, Evie had it. The entire day had been a series of unfortunate events. Here she was, blocks away from her hotel without a ride, without the brand ambassador deal she anticipated. That simple contract had been the sole reason for traveling out to Auroria, only for her to be rejected.

She closed her eyes for a moment in an attempt to think straight. Her mind sent her back in a daze to an entire three months ago at the last palace ball where she danced the entire night.

It had been the most perfect way to begin life after graduating with a degree in both fashion design and business. She had always loved royal galas. From the ballroom venue to the gorgeous gowns and all the dancing, it made Evie's heart race. Tracing her steps in her mind, she frowned, quite confused as to who she was dancing with in the memory.

Noticing the glint of glass on the man's face, an unconscious smile appeared.

Dancing with him had been like the old times. She never expected it to feel that great to be in his presence again. But she would never admit that she wanted to dance with him. To see his face. To be even say a few words.

Suddenly, she heard the screeching of a car pull up next to her and by surprise it was the exact person from her memory. She frowned as the car window rolled down.

"Evie?" He said, as the girl in the front seat moved back a bit so he could see outside the window.

"Yeah, what are you doing out here?" Evie asked, approaching the car. Doug shrugged, trying to hide the concern for her in his eyes.

"Visiting family. I think the better question is what are you doing out here?" He asked, clearly concerned for her disheveled appearance in the city this late.

"Just a branding event. I didn't get the contract I wanted, I broke my heel, my ride got cancelled, a car splashed me with mud and almost hit me" Evie explained with a small smile, finding a little humor in her misfortune. Doug chuckled.

"Sounds like quite a night. Do you have a new ride or can I give you one?" He asked her, suddenly. Surprise lit up in her eyes as she gladly agreed.

As strange as it was, the encounter felt familiar. It felt like how it used to.

"Sure. I'm staying at the Connoisseur Hotel. You know you're not supposed to give your ex a ride," Evie said playfully as she opened the back door and got in the car. She shut the door and buckled her seat belt.

"You know you're not supposed to ask your ex awkward questions" Doug replied, looking into the rear view mirror at Evie who smiled back.

Stopped at a red light, they stared at each other a little longer than normal, catching the attention of the forgotten passenger.

She cleared her throat and Doug looked to his left, Evie looking toward the girl. "This is one of the weirdest encounters I've ever seen from people who used to date each other. You guys clearly still feel some type of way about each other"

"Violet," Doug drew out. "Evie, this is my cousin"

"Hi" Evie said, receiving a nod from the blonde.

"You know, he's single if you're wondering" Violet commented, placing her head on the window and peering through to the streets.

Blushing red, Evie turned to stare at her glittery clutch and played with the clasp to ease her embarrassment.

"Yeah," she trailed off quietly, her voice blending into the silence within the vehicle.

Driving down the road, most of the lights were green as they passed through the town. With a left turn, they arrived at the glass hotel with a marble entrance, his green Subaru very much out of place. He parked in a space along the street and turned to his cousin who raised a brow and reluctantly sighed.

Evie had gotten used to her former boyfriend's ability to speak without words around his family and even had been excited to learn their nonverbal language. But that had all vanished after their separation.

"Can I escort you?" Doug asked abruptly before she was able to get out of the car. Evie turned to him with a smile.

"Sure. But I doubt you know my room number," she said. He shook his head and took his keys, leaving Violet in the car.

***

Going into the building, Doug followed Evie to the elevator where they waited silently as the elevator gradually came down.

"You really regret it, huh?" Evie asked Doug who turned to her with a sheepish grin.

"I know you don't feel the same way" Doug answered. "But I do regret it. Life isn't that great without you"

Just then, the elevator came down and the door opened. Stepping inside, Evie and Doug stood at opposite sides. Pulling her hair to the side of her shoulder, she looked to her former beau and smiled.

"I guess I could say the same thing about you" Evie commented as she pushed the button to the sixth floor. They rode up silently, Doug processing exactly what she meant.

"Wait—you actually miss me?" He questioned, getting a blush out of Evie. "Three months ago, I would never have guessed. You played the part so well"

"I mean I did get the lead role of both the fall and spring play senior year"

The tension between them eased with laughter. The elevator dinged and stopped on her floor. Stepping out of the elevator, their laughter lingered a little, leaving them with smiles on their faces.

"You were pretty dismissive of me at the gala, so I assumed you were over everything" Doug said as she led the way to her room. She stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned back to face him.

"I suppose you could call that acting" Evie admitted as she continued down the hallway. Stopping at her hotel door, she kept her head away from his eye contact. Unsure of what to do, she went with her heart, ignoring every message her brain was sending. She took his hand, and he took hers.

With just one touch, you take me there

Without your love, we go nowhere

With just one touch

The same feeling shot through their skin and straight to her heart, as it did at the gala months before. That's why she left his presence so abruptly. Dancing with him had only made things worse.

Yes, the both missed each other, missed being loved by the other but she needed confirmation that what she was feeling was true.

Wrapping her into a warm embrace, Evie threw away all of her doubts. She knew what that hug meant, having been the recipient of it multiple times in the past. It spoke the "I Love You" they didn't need to say.

With a simple touch, things turned in a 180. Silently, the both vowed to take things slow. Knowing the conversation that would come next, Evie's heart skipped a beat. She knew it had to happen, but it could definitely wait until tomorrow.

But for now, she didn't ever want to let go of the embrace that sent her heart into a frenzy.

A second chance, started by one touch gradually evolved into the commitment of a lifetime. 

***

AMKS12 requested to a oneshot about how Evie and Doug got back together again.  

They found a connection between the flashback where Devie broke up in Happily Everything After and we're not together in Dancing on My Own. 

In Happily Everything After there is a flashback to when they broke up for two years at university and in Dancing on My Own, they meet again as exes. So in One Touch, they reunite.