The gentlemen bowed to the ladies and then every other male turned around on the dance floor, myself excluded for it wasn't my turn. They came to the middle of the line where their partners waited, took their hands for the briefest of seconds, took two steps and let them go before falling back into place in the line.
Then it was my turn. I stepped around, came back to the middle and took Rebecca's hand. My world stopped and I had to force my feet to move to the music. She looked up at me, and batted her eyes. I wanted to hold on to her hand forever, but we made to where we started and I had to begrudgingly let her go.
The next part of the dance involved us pairing up with another couple. Rebecca moved to the center of the circle and, without touching, mind you, stepped around and then back again. Watching her dance with another man, even for the briefest of moments, made me sick to my stomach. I knew it was how the dance went, I knew that, but actually seeing it. I didn't like it and I wanted her back with me as soon as possible.
As for Rebecca, she didn't smile at the man like she did me. She only gave him the polite expression she gave Simon. It reconfirmed for me how she truly felt for me and the connection I knew we had.
Once Rebecca and the other man were finished taking their steps, it was my turn with a lovely brunette who was the other man's partner. We stepped into the circle, did our steps, and backed out again. The brunette was beautiful in her own right, though I have always preferred blondes. She was appealing enough, but my heart didn't flutter like it did with Rebecca. I took that as a good sign.
Then all four of us in our little group joined hands and walked around in a circle. My hand clasped Rebecca's and all was right in the world again.
Rebecca and I let go as the other couple danced between us and we again formed into two lines.
Though gloved, my hand felt so empty, so cold without Rebecca's in it. I had never noticed it before, but it was a cruel dance, touching then not touching, being together then not. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair, but I reasoned, holding her hand even during the briefest intervals, beat not being able to hold it at all.
Again, it was my turn to step around just as I had at the start. Rebecca did the same and we met back in the beginning, her hand warming mine once more. Just like that, we were released and back into our lines.
We grouped again, stepped back into the center, and danced without touching, which was more difficult than you can imagine. She had her hands clamped behind her back as did I, which was probably a good thing, come to think about it. I couldn't help it, I smirked, and I knew my eyes lit up when I watched her. Her cheeks pinked and she did the same.
Again, the group held hands and danced in a four square. This time we were opposite each other. I looked into her eyes and she into mine. If I had never known her, if I hadn't had a meal with her, if I had just met her, I would have fallen in love with her at that moment. I've already called her an angel once, but she truly was. I had to tilt my head down to see her fully, for the top of her head only came to my shoulder, but she held her own like she was much taller. In that moment, she was my whole world — everything I wanted. And I would have gladly given her everything to make her happy.
The four of us let our hands go and went back into our lines. Due to our positions, Rebecca and I were first to travel down the row. We stepped together, shoulder to shoulder. I took one of her hands in mine and placed my other hand on the small of her back. The feelings that flowed through me when my fingers touched such a normally off limit place I can never describe to you. At first, I tried to only let my fingers lightly touch her because I didn't want to offend her, but with each step we took, more of my hand pressed into her back. Before we had turned, the whole of my hand touched her and I felt myself shiver. What that woman did to me was nothing short of magical.
We took our turn down the row and turned back to where we began. I knew it was coming. I expected it, but that doesn't mean I wanted it to happen. Just as it always did in this dance, another man fell in step with us took the lady's other hand and placed his hand on the small of her back as well to guide her back down the row.
It didn't matter who the other person was, I knew I would want to hurt him. This was our moment and I didn't want someone else coming in to ruin it. I didn't slide my hand over to give him any room and for the longest of time, I didn't look his direction. The three of us danced back down the line of people just like we were supposed to, but my joviality had soured thanks to this intruder.
And then I saw him in the mirror over the fireplace at the far end of the hallway.