Chapter 13
We finally reached the club that was located downstairs in our hotel. It was already hopping when wee arrived. It was hot enough with the air-condition broken, but the club was at least twenty degrees hotter. Manual fans were placed strategically throughout the place, but didn't seem to be doing much good. It was packed and extremely loud as we entered. Strobe lights danced and green lasers kept the beat to the music. Also smoke machines made the air thick. The four of us kept together and found a tiny circular booth just off the dance floor. We seated ourselves and a waiter came to take our drink order. We just asked for a pitcher of water with lemons and four glasses. Nobody needed to be drinking when there was wrestling practice and rehearsal the next morning. I was glad no one would be drinking, we didn't need it.
"Maria, would you like to dance?" Jeff asked, loudly.
"I can't dance." I shouted back.
"No excuse, I'll teach ya." He pulled me out of my seat and drug me to the crowded dance floor.
"Just move your body to the beat." He said, starting groove to the music.
I followed his lead and we danced. I couldn't believe how much fun it was, I didn't feel stupid with Jeff, I felt free, like I could dance to anything.
"Yeah, you can't dance, my ass, you're really good." Jeff said coming up behind me, moving with my body and hands.
"Thanks, not to bad yourself ." I said smiling. After awhile, I looked back at our table, Amy and Matt were coming out to join us.
Matt and Amy got really into it and were perfect dance partners. Then finally a slow song came on, Jeff and I headed back to the table for a little break and something to drink. We stood at the table pouring water into our glasses and gulping it down. We were both sweaty, glistening with the summer heat. As I sipped my water, I looked out onto the dance floor and watched Amy and Matt slow dance. The lasers and lights stopped and a huge disco ball came down from the ceiling, twirling, making a spotted pattern across the walls. More smoke filled the room, giving it an errie feel. The song that came through the speakers was "Crazy For You" by Madonna. I watched them with eagle eyes, dancing through the smoky air. The lyrics came through the speakers, and I couldn't believe how close they were to what I was actually doing...("I see you through the smoky air, can't ya feel the weight of my stare. You're so close but still a world away. What I'm dying to say is that I'm crazy for you, touch me once and you know its true....") Jeff caught me staring.
"Maria, why don't you go ask to cut in?" He asked gently.
"Naw, I couldn’t do that, they look so good together." I said, sadly.
"Just go, if I know my brother, the only thing he's thinking about right now is you coming out to dance with him." Jeff said, practically pushing me out on the dance floor.
I nodded and took a deep breath pushing past the people to where Amy and Matt were dancing.("...trying hard to control my heart, I walk over to where you are...) Matt was facing me as I approached. His eyes burned with passion as he locked his gaze with mine, a secret connection between us, I knew. I tapped them both on the shoulder; they broke apart and looked over at me.
"Amy, do you mind if I cut in?" I asked, starting to sweat more at my nervousness.
"Sure." She smiled a sly smile and raised her eyebrows at me.
"Matt, be nice." She said with a stern tone in her voice.
"Fine, come on, let's dance." He rolled his eyes at her, then looked down at me.
His expression grew softer and he wrapped his arms tightly around me. ("...eye to eye, we need no words at all, slowly now we begin to move, every breath I'm deeper into you" ...) I rested my head on his warm shoulder. My heart started to race as my body rested against his. Through is see-through shirt, I could smell his Tommy Hilfiger cologne. I closed my eyes as we whirled around under the disco ball. His tall form then laid his head gently on my shoulder. It felt as if we had become almost one person, dancing so close. I tried to tell myself not to like him, not to fall in love with his soulful eyes, not to like being held by his inviting grasp, but I couldn't help it, the barrier I was keeping up between the two of us was rapidly diminishing. ("...Soon we two are standing still in time If you read my mind, you'll see It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you and you know it's true I'm crazy, crazy for you....")
"Do you think they'll finally kiss?" Jeff leaned over to ask Amy.
"I don't know, I think we're trying to rush them together, but I don't think they are ready for it." She replied, from where they sat back at our booth.
"They look pretty close to me, I think they'll surrender to their stubborn-ness and finally admit their feelings for each other." Jeff said, intently watching our every move.
"But what if they really don't have 'those kinds of feelings' then we're going to feel stupid for trying to get them together." Amy said.
"Believe me, I know my brother, and he's been acting weird lately, and I know it's because of Maria, he only acts this way when he likes someone." Jeff reassured her.
"Anyway, there's another slow song coming on, lets go dance." Jeff said, pulling Amy out of the booth. "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" by Air Supply, was the next song that came on.
I listened to the words as they came over the loudspeakers, (...And I know the night is fading ,and I know the time's gonna fly ,and I'm never gonna tell you everything I've gotta tell you but I know I've gotta give it a try...) they were beautiful, and I was glad I was dancing with Matt, it was romantic as we swayed to the intense symphony of music.(..making love out of nothing at all ,out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all...) It was wonderful. I was loosing myself to him. I couldn't do it, I couldn't let myself fall in love and then get hurt by it. I did it with everyone, staying at a point where they were my friends, but never letting them get too close to me. These thoughts were racing through my mind as I melted into him. Matt then loosened his grip a little bit and pulled back to look into my eyes.
"You know, Maria, I just wanted to say, that I don't hate you. I don't understand why we argue all the time, because I do like you, I just wish you would open up more towards me, I don't know what your hiding." Matt said softly to me.
"I know that I sort of clam up around you, but I don't hate you either, more then anything I want to be close to you." I replied gazing hypnotically into his warm chocolate colored eyes.
He smiled at my response, "you have beautiful eyes." He reached up and pushed a strand of hair out of my face. I smiled and blushed, lowering my head a bit. I then looked back up at him and saw that he was still gazing at me. The hand that had pushed the hair out of my face rested lightly on the side my cheek. Matt and I moved closer. I put my arms tighter around his neck, touching it lightly with my finger tips. Matt now had let go of my waist and had cupped my chin with both of his large hands. I closed my eyes waiting with anticipation, then opened them again. We hesitantly moved towards each other. Suddenly the moment was over as the electricity went out. We were left standing in the dark, as screams came from the other guests.
"Everyone, can I have your attention, we are going to have to close the club at this time, there has been a power surge and a fuse has been blown from operating everything from the fans to the lights and lasers. We will reopen again soon, please gather your things and move to the exits." A voice shouted over the quiet crowd.
A sigh ran through the crowd along with some saying, "aww..."
"Well, I guess that kills tonight." I heard Matt say, but couldn't see him because of the darkness.
We fumbled through the darkness to Jeff and Amy. Not much was said between us as we headed to the lobby where we said our good-byes to Amy, as she left for her own hotel. Matt, Jeff and I then trudged back up the stairs, avoiding eye contact with one another and silently entered our separate rooms to get some sleep. The night had been great until the moment it was killed, after that there was some slight tension between the four of us, not of anger but of uneasiness, as we all knew what each other was thinking.
Chapter 14
Chapter 12