Thread: [KylarStern & Tortoise] Dancing With Myself;;

He was still holding her hand when she replied with the customary pleased to see you too routine. The formality of her response and tone, reminded him that he still held her and immediately pulled his hand back with an embarrassed flush. Ah, how he wished that he wasn??t still so under her spell, even after all these years. But he was a goner, the moment he??d walked into that party all those years ago. And her ring reminded him of all that he had lost. She was betrothed to someone else. It had always been him, who??d helped her up just like now, every time she fell? literally and metaphorically. But in her hour of greatest need, it was another man who stood by her? his hand outstretched. But there wasn??t anything he could??ve done. They had grown so far away from each other and he hadn??t tried to bridge that gap? assuming that was what she wanted. And well? it would??ve looked pretty pathetic anyway. When she confirmed what he had guessed already, that she was a professor here and so casually added that she couldn??t dance? he knew she was faking the indifference. It also made him realize, that the years had made her stronger. She had refused to let herself be crushed by the cruel hand that fate had dealt. She was back on her feet, looking to turn her life around, when everyone expected her to be grieving. He couldn??t help but feel proud of her. He knew there was a reason he was so in love with her. ??A professor! Wow? I mean that??s great!? He was actually thinking that it was all pretty ironic. What with him running away all this time, just to get away from her. And here she was, doing the exact same thing he was? after all these years. He would never ever have wished this upon her in a million years, but he??d be less than human if he didn??t admit at least to himself, that he was secretly a little pleased. He had gone through hell without her. He hated himself, the moment the thought had entered his mind. He had no idea what she meant about figure skaters, but didn??t want to ask her to clarify. That would only bring up more talk about her inability to dance, and he didn??t want her talking about it just now. No matter how carefree and brave faced she tried to portray herself, he knew her? better than he cared to admit. She was devastated inside. Truth be told, he was too. He loved to watch her dance. The first time he ever laid eyes on her, she was dancing? and that was how he hoped he??d always remember her. ??I teach here as well. Some coincidence, huh?!? he said, explaining what he was doing here. So, they were going to be seeing a lot of each other, around the campus. He wasn??t sure how he felt about that. He was happy to see her, for sure? but knowing she was going to be married to someone else and that too pretty soon? She was going to put him through it all over again. To finally meet her once again, after all these years, only to watch her walk off into the sunset with some other guy and that too, with the light glinting off that diamond ring! How cruel are the games you play, Fate? ??Yeah sure? I have some time as well and was just going to head down to the deli to grab some lunch. You can join me if you like.? She was pushing his buttons, just like the old days. He didn??t think she was doing it on purpose, but he was still surprised that she could? even now. He was planning on walking it down, but he had noticed how she was favoring a leg, even though she tried hard to hide it. ??And my car??s right there? so what do you say??