Sarah finished singing, frowning at me as if I understood that she somehow made a mistake in her unbelievable performance. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to have such an amazing talent, to be able to bring music out of nowhere just by opening your mouth. I clapped and smiled, proud that my close friend was the center of
everyone's attention. The stadium full of thousands of fans began to suffocate me, so I found my way out into the corridors. I didn't want a soda or a pretzel, just a chance to hear my own thoughts for a few minutes. I wondered then if anyone ever became a smoker just to be able to "go for a smoke" when they needed a break from a large crowd. As I pondered this, and the ridiculous logic behind it, I found a cozy nook to rest in: a small area of wall where no one was standing and no vendors were vending. I cocked my head upwards and closed my eyes, unsure if I could just sneak out completely without Sarah noticing. She was done with her performance after all. I didn't need to hear everyone else; I had come to support her and I did.
Then I saw him.
He was walking by, tall, handsome, and smiling at me as he walked by. Something too familiar entered me as he walked by. Had I known him in college? High school? Did I have a date with him and not remember? All I knew was the feeling of connection. I was connected to this stranger and I couldn't just walk away.
"Do I know you? I mean, have we met before?" I tried not to sound crazy, and hoped my smile would soften the awkwardness of the moment.
"Uh, no I don't think so." His voice sounded like the voice you would want to hear when you have the flu and can't even get out of bed for a can to throw up in. He lingered, looking at me, possibly feeling something I felt.
"I, uh... I was going to go get some coffee. Would you want to join me?"
Too forward, he'll never agree to it. I looked down at my shoes and suddenly remembered that I didn't look too horrible tonight. My emerald green evening gown with the high waist was flattering to my not-so-thin figure. I had my hair styled into flowing curls earlier that day, and my cleavage wasn't too horrible either. I looked up at him expectantly.
"Yeah, I would like a break." He smiled and looked around at our options.
I wasn't ready to let this moment slip by, certainly not as one of us stood in line for a pretzel. I saw an exit door and asked if he wanted to go to the Starbucks across the street.
As we left the concert hall, it occurred to me that he might be here with someone else, and that I knew nothing about him other than the gut feeling of connectedness.
"Oh, there's also that pub next door. You have a preference?"
Let him make the decision. Then you're not the crazy one.
"I could really use a beer. You mind?" I suddenly saw in him a sadness and weariness that I had not noticed earlier. I shook my head and we crossed the street, trying not to let the cold wind get the best of us.
"Can you believe this weather? It's only November!" The small talk seemed superficial and fake as I thought about the feeling I was having, the feeling that we had talked about much more than this in some previous life.
We sat at the bar, where I saw him glancing at my dress, my cleavage, and my crossed legs. It felt natural, like I had tried to look good just for him. The way his black suit hung off his shoulders made me feel even more drawn to him as we ordered.
"I'll have whatever is on tap. Something dark."
"And for the lady?" The bartender must assume we're together.
Play along.
"Uh, how about a margarita, or do you even have tequila?"
"Sure. What flavor?"
"Pomegranate if you have it."
The bartender nodded and walked to the opposite end of the bar to enter our drinks in his computer.
"So tell me about yourself." I was so eager to know this man, every detail. I wanted to probe into his mind, his heart, his past, and maybe not scare him off in the process.
"Well, I study math in a PhD program. I like comic books, sci
fi, alternative music, indie movies." He probably would have gone on forever, but looked self-conscious and stopped. "Yeah, I'm a nerd."
He didn't look it. He looked handsome, respectable, kind. "The fact that you have such a creative and intelligent mind is just fascinating." I wanted to say more, but told myself not to scare him off. "And, uh, girlfriend? Wife?"
Appear confident. Don't regret that you said it. Maybe the emerald dress gave me more confidence, but I still wondered if I had crossed a line asking him these questions.
"Yeah, she dragged me hear tonight. I hate these kind of things, especially classical music. I'd much rather be at home, reading a book and enjoying the sound of the rain, except it's probably too cold for rain." My heart melted. He's perfect. And taken.
"So she's your wife?"
"No, no. We got engaged a while ago. It's not something I like to talk about."
"No, please, go ahead. I'm a good listener, I promise." I reached over and touched his hand to emphasize that I'm being sincere. But I suddenly felt an overpowering image of laying naked with him, us holding each other and kissing every inch of the other person's skin. The image was so vivid and quick, that I wondered where it came from. A movie?
Deja vu? I quickly pulled my hand away, embarrassed that I had felt this for another woman's fiance.
"Well, I wasn't ready to be engaged. She kind of convinced me to go on this trip to Europe, she had a ring for herself already, and she pulled it out under the Eiffel Tower. I feel ashamed that I even let her do any of it." The pain in his face was visible, even though I didn't know him well. I could see his unhappiness, and wondered why someone this amazing should ever have to be unhappy.
I touched the back of his head as a comforting gesture, then let my hand slide down his neck. "You deserve to be happy. Why are you with her if you don't want to marry her?"
"I get lonely." He looked at me and I swore I saw the passion that I was feeling for him.
"Tell me more about you. I don't want to talk about this any more."
I sat up strait and described that I was a researcher for a radical grassroots group that wanted to change laws regarding compulsory schooling. "Most of the families I work with either don't agree with schools' morality teachings, or they just simply don't believe kids should be forced into schooling."
"Wow. I've never heard of that. It sounds interesting."
"Yeah, it is. I like it a lot." I noticed that he wasn't interested in hearing more about my career, but just wanted to look into my eyes and memorize my features. Feeling self-conscious, I stood up to go to the restroom. He stood up too, standing inches from me. I could feel his breath on my neck as he leaned in toward me. I wasn't sure what he was doing. Was he breathing on my neck to turn me on?
Let it slide. It's working. My hair was moving around on my neck. He was smelling my hair. As his fingers brushed my neck, the shivers only lovers feel shook through my body. I felt his hand on my hip and silently agreed to let him do anything he wanted. I was his.
"You were getting up to dance right?" He smiled at me as he pulled me closer and started swaying to the music.
"Well, no, but it's nice. You're easy to be with." This time I smiled, wondering if this moment could last forever. I felt my body pressed against his and realized that he had slipped his arm around me.
He kissed my neck, sending feelings through me I hadn't know in years. I closed my eyes to picture what might happen if we
continue on this path. Then I pictured the girl waiting for him back at the arena. She'd be furious. And I'd be
the other woman.
"I can't... I just, I don't think I can do this when you're engaged."
He pulled away, sat back down at the bar, stared into his half-empty beer, then looked up at the ceiling as if he had some grand statement to make. "I know. You don't seem like the type to just ignore other people's feelings. Maybe that's why I like you so much."
He took a long drink of his beer, then took my hand and looked into my eyes. "Here's the thing. I like you a lot. I want to know you better. I want to know everything about you and I want to experience everything with you. Am I alone here? Do you feel it too?"
I looked out the dark pub windows, toward the arena.
Be honest. "Honestly? When you took my hand just now, I had visions of a future with you. You're amazing. I felt connected to you before we even spoke to each other. But I can't explore anything with you when I know you're engaged. I just don't do stuff like that."
"Then I'm not engaged. It's over, and I want your phone number."
I looked out the window again and saw snow falling. I wanted to walk through the snow with him, not alone anymore. I wanted to show him how the evergreen outside my apartment looks after it snows. I wanted to save him from this unhappiness that had trapped him. I wanted the chance to make him happy.
"Do you have a pen?"
b.b.