Elaina stood on the outskirts of the dancers watching her friends and acquaintances move to the music in a way she felt was much more graceful than her own awkward moves. She had tired from the quick pace of the music but the beat still held her captive. So she was standing on the edges, swaying and humming.
Elaina looked out over the crowd of faces at the ball. She saw Isabella, her little friend who always looked out for her; Tanner and Yasmine, the most engaging couple she had ever known; Nancy, dancing next to Eddie, a young man she had pointed out to Elaina earlier; and Nate Lewis, the handsome young man she had scarcely been able to take her thoughts and eyes away from all evening. Nate made eye contact from across the room and grinned. Her heart skipped a beat and her breath left her as she smiled back and laughed. He had caught her looking. He continued dancing with his friends and she continued her perusal of faces. Elaina's thoughts began to stray and she didn't notice the changing of songs.
A voice interrupted her musings; her vision returned to the present to see none other than Nate standing before her.
"My stars, he's so handsome in his dancing clothes," she thought.
"Would you like to dance?" he inquired.
Would she? Yes! Of course! Her spirits skyrocketed and she wasn't tired anymore. "Yes," she quietly replied with a sweet smile.
They started to walk closer to the other dancers. Then she began to worry; she had never danced with a young man before. She had danced with her sister many times, but Hannah, being littler, never knew all the dance dance moves she did. So Elaina always found herself leading and never following.
"Nate, I don't know how to dance.."
He laughed and smiled reassuringly, "You can do it."
He lifted his hands and held them out for her to step into. She found that she didn't know what to do, how close would be seemly to dance with a man. So she lifted her hands as well and held them out towards him. Nate smiled again, eyes twinkling, as he took both her hands in his. He placed her left hand on his shoulder and his right hand on her waist so lightly that she couldn't remember feeling it. His shoulder was warm and slightly damp from hours of dancing, but she didn't mind; it was nice for some reason.
Then, they started dancing. Step forwards, feet together. Step backwards, feet together. Back and forth, around and around. Elaina later remembered the stories young men stepping on the toes of young ladies at dances. But not once did Nate step on her little feet.
"Can you spin?" Nate inquired.
"I think so!" she replied.
He stepped backwards, holding out one hand, and she spun around, her dress swirling around her like a dark green cloud. Then they came back together. They did several more interesting steps Nate must have seen her do earlier while dancing with Nancy, for he didn't ask if she knew them, he just indicated with his movements what he planned to do next and Elaina recognized it.
Nate spun her a couple more times before the song ended.
Elaina felt so happy and full of joy, that she thought she could've kissed him on the cheek, right then and there. But she didn't give way to impulse tonight.
"Thank you for the dance, kind sir," Elaina said blithely, "You're the only one I have enjoyed dancing with all evening."
Nate laughed, "and I do believe that you are the most beautiful lady I have danced with all evening."
Then a strange look came into his eyes; a sort of seriousness that worried Elaina until she saw mischief also dancing there. While she wondered, Nate leaned forward, and so quickly that she almost missed the feeling, he kissed her cheek. Then he pulled back and moved away to dance with some other friends.
Elaina stood there for a moment, dazed, before she shook herself and moved off the dance floor, back to the sidelines. She wondered for a moment if anyone had seen, then realized that she didn't care if they had. She found herself a seat and sat down. The music no longer had any reign over her. She was in another place; in the world of moments before.
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