Barely There

Chapter 11 - Magic Rhythm

Ring.

Ring.

RING.

"CALEB WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"Don't tell me you're gonna bail again? Leda, the party started two hours ago."

She groaned in annoyance.

"I'm getting ready!"

"How long does it take you to-... Oh my god. You're waiting till everyone gets drunk to get here aren't you?"

Her hand froze in mid air and she held her breath, trying to remain silent.

"Leda-."

"Look I'm almost done and the more you talk, the longer this will take."

"Fine, hurry up."

"B-"

He hung up in lightning speed making her stare at her phone in disbelief before rolling her eyes.

The brunette adjusted the red satin dress one last time and moved her hair over her shoulder, exposing sparkling diamonds on her earlobes.

Her sun-tanned legs moved gracefully in the red bottomed heels as she walked towards the door, electronic music thumping from behind the faded wood. She opened the door carefully, stepping into the littered hallway.

"Leda!"

The shrill voice startled her and she muttered swears under her breath as the old woman approached.

"Now what are you wearing? You know what? I think you're a sweet girl, but I absolutely, and I mean absolutely cannot have you wearing that provocative dress under the watchful eyes of God. That is disgraceful and a shame. You are wasting your potential just to dress like a prostitute like the rest of them. Oh what would God say..."

Her wrinkled hands moved animatedly as she croaked out the rest of her jumbled speech, her words blending together in an array of nonsense. Leda's patience started to waver as she shifted restlessly on her tired feet.

"...now I don't know if you go to church but I really do think now is the right time to start going. Leda I can-"

"I'm going to get going now"

She pushed the woman softly out of her way and moved forward a step before being pushed back by a bony hand.

"Leda, I am not done talking I-"

"Well, I'm done listening."

"HOW DARE YOU-"

The annoying voice faded out as the girl focused on her view ahead. The door to Caleb's flat was open. Purple light flowed out of the inside, illuminating the dim hallway. She slowly walked into his apartment, the smell of alcohol burning her nose the closer she moved. Nobody paid the brunette any attention as she walked in and she silently thanked the liquor for that. The inside was as crammed as it looked, forcing Leda to push her way through as she muttered apologies. She looked for Caleb, not finding him anywhere around her and regretfully wished she had shown up earlier so she could have found him. The anxious girl moved towards an empty corner and took out her phone for distraction. People danced intimately around her, while a drunk couple made out nearby, forcing her deeper into the dark corner.

Leda looked around for an escape from the awkwardness and found his eyes through the sea of people. He stared at her from across the room, his blue eyes slightly squinting to focus on her figure. He moved towards her then, pushing through the crowd the same way she had. He finally reached her and the girl truly realized the small size of the corner she stood in. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, and even felt his breath fan softly on her ear when the drunk couple squeezed past them, pushing him closer.