#(checks their weather) LET ME INNNNN I WANNA GO BACK

[chialattea]

It’s my second day in a row bed bound because of migraines can I just (turns into a puddle of goo and evaporates)

[where-the-heartache-is]

Exordium.

“You have no idea how thankful I am to you today,” he speaks up as they’re standing next to each other, in front of the long table that was being set up for dinner. As she tossed around the vegetables in the large bowl, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and her ever-present smile got wider. “I really didn’t do much, just all that I could!” she replied, with a little shake of the head. “This party would’ve been a disaster if you didn’t take control at the last moment. You’re not supposed to be doing all this, you don’t work for me!” he exclaimed, his guilt and overwhelm clearly visible in his hasty response. A little laugh escaped her mouth along with a breath. “Well, technically…” she turned to the right and looked at him, still beaming like a kid. Their eyes locked for a few seconds, as the music playing in the back subdued for them, with each passing moment. “But tonight, I didn’t invite you as my colleague or client,” he divulged, in a rather hushed-down tone. “So what did you invite me as, then?” The question escaped her lips without a second thought, not that she held any regrets due to it. They maintained eye contact while he opened his mouth to say something only to close it again, before blinking twice and shifting his gaze. With a tight-lipped smile, she put her focus back on the salad mixing, as his silence prolonged.

The 10th floor terrace had the ideal setup for one of these winter nights. The chilly weather combined with the chitter-chatter of people, the smoke from the barbecue lingering in the air, some acoustic music running through the speakers and fairy lights that flickered softly made it all a stellar atmosphere. And amidst this gathering, in a corner where the table was set up, stood two people in all their tranquility – like they had their own seclusion even in a space with about 20 other people. The clear sky above acted both as a blanket that covered the cozy aura as well as a vast, enchanting portal for the open-air arrangement.

She decided to break the reticence with one of her teasing remarks. “I mean, given the amount of time I’ve spent at your office the past two months, running around to get those designs done…” “I’m sorry about that, we’re trying our best but…” he spoke up after at least a good minute, his remark led by a chuckle. “But my boss is a woman who just can’t make up her mind, I know. You don’t have to apologise for her indecisiveness,” she rolled her eyes and shook her head, causing him to chuckle once more. “I wouldn’t want to put it like that, given you guys are paying us a handsome amount for the campaign,” he tittered along. “And so, your years of experience prevail,” she gave him an acclaiming look, a smirk gracing her face. “You handle her better than most people I’ve seen with just two years in the sector! How do the days pass when you spend a good third of it with her?” he genuinely asked, all ready to commend however she’d answer the query. A laugh began off her answer. “Most days are okay. Some days, though… Some hectic days like today, I usually find some way or the other to rewind. Depends on the situation,” a shrug followed. “Depends on the situation? For example?” his curiosity held the better of him. “Yeah! As innnnn… Say, right now, you ask me to rewind. Right here. You know what I’d do?” her eyebrows shoot up with her quiz. “What?” he asked, his eager eyes now twinkling. “I’d…” she closed her eyes and let out a deep breath before continuing. “I’d put all this away, all the thoughts and worries away – And with the smell of this burning coal from the barbecue taking up all my senses, I’d play a song. A breezy song. And then I’d dance. Sway and spin away, in a waltz all-too-unknown.” The cool wind blew her hair back and exposed the half of her face he could see from the side. Eyes shut close, the smile beaming all over her face – He gazed on in awe of how someone could speak so lustrously about something so simple, and look so blissfully pure while doing so. “A breezy song?” he felt something in the back of his head warning him about too many questions, but he just couldn’t help it. She opened her eyes and looked at him, causing him to snap out of the puzzling euphoria he was lost in. “A breezy song. You know, a song that feels the same way in my heart like this cold wind feels against my skin. One that fits this weather, sends shivers down my spine but makes me feel more alive than I ever have. Just, plain, breezy,” she shrugs again, with a child-like grin making the corners of her eyes crinkle. “Is my playlist not… Breezy? All acoustic songs on it, you know!” he suddenly feels the need to defend something she wasn’t even questioning. She laughed at his enquiry, with her brows shooting up in surprise. “Breezy doesn’t necessarily mean acoustic! If I had to name a breezy song, I’d saaay… Maaaybe… Yeah! Perfect! Perfect by Ed Sheeran. Soft, calming, breezy… but not all acoustic!” “Hmm… Okay, okay,” he acknowledged with a slight nodding of the head. “I’ll just go check up on everyone and get back to helping you, yeah?” “Sure, go on!” she reassuringly smiled, as she continued finishing off the setup.

Swaying her head to the acoustic songs all playing one after another, she found herself looking around for him every now and then. A little soothing feeling ran through her whenever she spotted him in the crowd, walking around like not a thing in the world could catch him off guard, even with all these eyes in the room on him. He made a few rounds around the place before walking back up to her, as she finally stepped back from the table with all the food ready to be served. “That last batch’s gonna take a few more minutes to be done,” he informed her, just as he does whenever she’s in the office asking for an update. “Let’s just be glad my boss isn’t here to question every possible step that could’ve led to this slight change of schedule,” she joked, for once something being postponed by a few minutes didn’t lead to at least 3 chaotic phone calls for both of them.   Just as they both finish off laughing at her remark, he comments quickly – “Until then, we do need some proper entertainment.” “Mhmm, we do, we do,” she agreed instantly. “Wanna rewind?” he asked. “Oh, I’d love to!” she blurted out. “Let’s dance then, shall we?” he put out his hand, with a glare of intent. She laughed for a few seconds before realizing he probably wasn’t mocking whatever she said earlier. “Oh. What?” she cross-questioned when she noticed the faint look on his face had stayed on. “Let’s dance. I even have your breezy song on my playlist,” he tried convincing her once again, still a gentle look all over his face. “I… But… You… Dance?” she tried to get her words together, but she couldn’t remember the last time she had so many questions but didn’t know how to put them out. “What?” he asked, with a confused laugh. “You… You just don’t, y’know, seem like the kind… I mean, like, there’s people from work here, and some are even your good friends… And I just… Wouldn’t think you’d be one to be dancing in front of them. I mean. I don’t mean it in an insulting way… I just,” she put up her hands in front and shrugged thrice, desperately hoping he’d understand what she was trying to say. And as always, he did. He couldn’t help but laugh at her scattered words. “If I had to be formal with everyone here, I’d call them downstairs in the conference room and discuss work, not up here on the terrace, where I’ve assured them all to be having a good time,” he gave a winning smile, like he knew she wouldn’t be able to question anything more about it. “But… Are you sure?” she asked once again, still not being able to make herself believe that he’d be displaying this side of himself in front of the ones he never misreads a word in front of, and he’d be displaying it with her. “If you don’t wanna dance with me, that’s a different case,” he pressed his lips together and shrugged. “No, no,” she instantly upheld her wish to say yes to the dance. She no longer found it in herself to question any longer, even though that query still remained in her head. As she put her hand in his, she finally adds, “I mean. I’d… love to.”

Shooting his assistant in the corner a look, he clutches her hand and pulls her through, taking her to almost the center of the place with him. The fairy lights twinkled just as the stars above did, while all eyes fell on them. As Ed Sheeran’s voice floated through the air, he put his arm around her waist while she put her hand on his shoulder, their other hand still tightly wrapped in the others’. Moving from left to right and back again, everything else felt blurred out with every step they took. The smell of the burning coal invading their senses, the chilly air still sometimes making some of her hair fall on her face before being blown back in place, the music drowning out even the loudest voices in their heads. He slowly closed his eyes and mouthed along, leaving her feeling more astonished than ever – A side to him she could always sense was there, but never thought he’d flash in front of people, and definitely not with her in his arms. Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms… he sang along the chorus, his eyes still shut. She gawked on at him in fascination, a feeling swirled up inside her, a feeling she had no name for, no explanation for. He opens his eyes and catches her peering captivatingly, being caught off guard, himself. He’d always been used to catching eyes, but never in such a spellbinding way. You look perrrfect tonight… he mouths along, as he twirls her and brings her back into his arms. A rush of blood makes its way to her cheeks, leaving her flushed. She couldn’t help but ask, in a whisper ever-so-soft – “I’m sure you have your own idea of rewinding. Why take my route today, then?” He chuckled, knowing this was coming any moment, though he expected her to wait until the song ended. “Well, I already answered that question earlier.” “Huh?” her brows slightly furrowed, as she tried tracing back to when he did. “I told you. You’re not here as my colleague or client tonight,” he answered, slightly cocking his head to his right as he shook it. A little shrug came with his remark, the corners of his mouth slid upwards. She tried responding but knew there wasn’t a way for her to put a finger on it now, their speechlessness mumbling an open secret to both of their ears. She opened her mouth only to close it again, and let the silence between them paint rays of sunshine all over her face, leaving her beaming once more. His smirk was still present as he twirled and pulled her back in once again as the song neared its end. I don’t deserve this, you look perfect tonight… the last bits of music played as they stood sharing a gaze and an enchanted smile, their spark burning up the atmosphere without any effort from either.