a dance?

Fourteen - Valerio

Fourteen - Valerio

"JANEIRO, A HOT CHOCOLATE FOR JANEIRO!" The waiter calls, "Huh?" I turn. I wait for this person who's called Janeiro. Then, I realize that I am Janeiro. I mentally facepalm myself for the name and make a note to change the name when I come here again. I walk to collect my drink, "I am Janeiro," the waiter gives the hot chocolate to me. When I return, I see Jasmine smiling at me as a greeting, I blink once and she leaves out the door. My eyes follow Renee, who's standing there staring right at me. Her face looks like she can't believe I am actually here. I didn't expect her to be here, I am pretty sure she didn't either.

I sip a little bit of the hot chocolate, and it stings my tongue. Too early. I walk towards her, and she walks towards me. She's holding an iced tea and is walking like a powerful woman, that I almost forget what to say.

"Hey," I say first, "Hey," she trails off, not looking at my eyes. I wonder what's wrong, "Is everything okay?" I ask, it takes her a few seconds to respond. "Please don't be concerned, Valerio." It sounded like someone had splashed water at my face abruptly. Not to mention how stern her voice sounded. She's still looking down, so I can't tell if she means it or not. "If this is about last night," I began, then she covered her face in her palms. "Whoever gave you that idea, they're wrong," She said, her voice trying to stay stable. Something's definitely wrong.

"Look, I need to go, it's late and my family must be worried," She quickly says, gathering herself together and her iced tea. She walks past me without another glance, but I can't help but call her name. "Renee!"

She stops in her tracks, "How am I supposed to know what's wrong if you don't tell me, especially when you left last night?" I almost yell, she turns and walks back to me in a blink of an eye. "I didn't promise that I would wait for you or anything, and try not to act as you know me very well already. We only had a nice dance." She strikes in defense, whispering like I need to be calmed down. Which I partly am.

I just don't get it, where is this sudden outburst coming from? She starts to leave again, but I am not done yet. I grab her wrist as she turns to look at me. Finally. Her eyes feel like they don't want to do this, but her mouth does otherwise. "I just-" Before I could finish my sentence, she placed her hands on my shoulder and I tried to catch her eyes. "Please Valerio, leave me alone." She says, her voice failing her. Her eyes shake. I want to call her name again, so she can look at me, but I let her finish.

"You're just someone I can't have." She breathes out, covering her mouth and walking away like nothing ever happened.