Marie was beyond anxious. The dress was all Nora’s doing. If she’d had her way? She’d be in scrubs or something black and simple. Maybe something with sleeves that didn’t show off the stars that crawled up her back. Something that was beyond low cut. Something that didn’t bustle out have ornate design to it. So much that the mask she’d gone with a simple black thing, pointed on the sides in satin and tied around the back of her head with a thick ribbon, just under her hair which was up in a twist. She was anxious, twisting her fingers together, looking around, not sure what to do with herself and wishing she could blend into the background, but couldn’t in this dress.
Rick hadn’t expected to do any dancing, which basically left him to scan the crowd of partygoers in search of conversation. It took him a while but when he saw her, he smiled. She looked beautiful in a dress that Rick could barely take his eyes off of, and she was alone. That part didn’t make sense to him so he tugged on the plain black suit jacket and started her way, adjusting his simple black mask as well. “Are you waiting for someone?”
Marie froze at the voice. She glanced at him, feeling her breath leave her body. No way. No way that was him. But the size was right, the shape was right. The body was right. Oh god, it might actually be him. She half opened her mouth to answer, but couldn’t and just wound up shaking her head. No definitely not waiting on anyone.
Rick stepped to her side, watching the crowd as he stood beside her. When she shook his head, he just smiled and held a hand out for her. “Well, good. Now I have someone to talk to. I’m Rick. Don’t really know anyone at this party. Not really my scene…”
He had a name. And just looking at his hand she knew it was him. It was him. She’d been watching him for so long and now he was speaking to her. For a moment she just stared at his hand then took it, nodding a little. “Not...mine either.” It was the best she could do, the words quiet and timid.
She was really cute. It was kind of silly how cute she was. Taking her hand, he shook it gently and smiled. “What’s your name?” He asked, happy to know that at least there was someone else here that didn’t feel like this was their scene either.
Marie felt her cheeks flush pink, just from that tiny little touch. She opened her mouth then couldn’t find the words, even though it was just her name and she had to pull her hand back, clasping it with her own. “Marie,” she told the ground rather than him. Why had she told him the truth? What if he spotted her again? Could she explain watching him? Probably not.