Okay, okay…so what if I DID take her hand before walking down the stairs? It wasn't like I planned it, it just sort of ended up there before I could do anything about it and Beckie didn't seem to mind, or at least for the moment and actually was smiling. Was I actually doing something right for once? Or was I just doing something stupid and she was just trying to cover for me? Either way, she wasn't letting go anytime soon, her fingers wrapped soft and comfortably around mine, enclosing my hands in a blissful prison from which there was no escape. It was almost like a dream, the lights, the opalescent floor, a wonderfully exquisite girl…my head was completely lost in it all while we touched down on the opalescent dance floor and the band struck up a waltz that seemed oddly familiar, yet escaped my rather pleasantly absent mind. Rebecca seemed to recognize it rather well however as she dragged me, literally I may add, onto the center of the neatly weaving couples and whirled me deeper into the fantasy that I had never thought possible. Of course, being the klutz that I was, the whole thing didn't go completely perfect and there were a couple toes injured in the process (namely that of my date plus a few unfortunate others passing by), but considering that I had never thought I would get the chance to dance with a girl (especially this girl!) it was somewhat expected. In the end though, it wasn't too hard to get the hang of it and soon we were gliding across the floor like there was no past, present or future, just the two of us together, knowing no fear or doubt amidst the chaos of thousands.                                                                    

About a song or two later, a very uninvited and unwelcome guest suddenly interrupted our perfect world: James Hartstein, resident nuisance and so-called friend of Beckie's who had somehow also managed to secure a date.                                                      

"Vincey, old boy, you actually came!" he squealed noticing the two of us.              

Crap…                                                                                                                                   

I gritted my teeth, "Nice to see you too James…"                                                            

He grinned manically at my ill-concealed irritation. "So tell me, how'd you end up here? You couldn't have possibly asked or…heaven forbid been asked by a girl, have you?'

Nooo…I blew all my money on a new suit and shoes so I could look at myself in the mirror and admire them…what do you think dumbass!?                                              

James bounced right past my stony silence and icy glare, proceeding to glance at Rebecca, finally realizing that I actually had a girl with me. Not any just any girl however, but the one that he had asked out several times and had also been rejected by several times. Of course, that was no reason to excuse what he said next.                         

"Ahhh…I see…so, Beckie, how much did he pay you to go out with him?"                  

Oh you son of a bitch…you asked for it now…                                                                     

I mentally prepared myself to smack the shit out of that cretin, but Beckie was a bit faster on the trigger, slapping him so hard that he collapsed on the floor in shock. Everyone in the huge hall turned to see what had caused such a sharp sound and even the band stopped playing the people gathered around to see what had happened as Rebecca angrily stalked off in the direction of the balcony, most likely to be alone. I decided to give her a few minutes alone, but for the time being it was time to get things straight. I hauled up James by the frills of his absolutely ridiculous looking Victorian style suit and put his face up to mine so he could hear my every venomous word.                                       

"Listen," I said in deadly tone, "If you EVER insult her again, I hope to god you were comfortable down on that marble because I will personally make sure the next thing you hit is concrete, and not just by getting slapped either…"

He nodded, the terror in his eyes was absolutely hilarious, but I tried hard not to laugh.

"Good," I murmured, dropping him back onto the floor an straightening my suit, "Now if you'll excuse me…"                                                                                                             

I walked through the gawking crowd to the massive double doors that led to the starlit balcony to see if Beckie was all right.

Little did I know what pleasant surprise fate held in store for me…