A Lover's Ball

The ballroom shimmered with twinkling white lights that made it look like the stars themselves were picked from the night sky and brought into the room. Paintings of cherubs playing harps were spread across the walls, filling the room with the idea of love. Soft strokes were played across the strings of violins, and the piano was plucked ever so softly. The men and women wore ballet slippers so when they danced it looked like they were barely touching the ground. Everyone's hands were gloved for even touching bare skin would be too close. Back and forth the couples played with each other. Sending smirks and winks to the person the most wished to kiss in the world. Even a glance would send someone's heartbeat into a flutter and their cheeks were the color of the wine party they drank only hours ago

It was a night of joy and pure pleasure. All except for Adam Baldwin the Second of his name. His father threw this ball in honor of his twenty-first birthday and he did not wish to be here. He stood off to the side, arms crossed. He wore a dapper black suit with long coat tails that almost reached down to his shoes which of course were brand new. Adam ran his fingers through his brown hair trying to get it to unslick and go to its normal messy style he prefers. He pulled on his bow tie, and as a servant walked back with a tray of drinks, he snatched a glass of champagne without saying a word, drinking it in one gulp. That was much better.

Adam Baldwin the Second of his name hated parties with every fiber of his being. The lights were too bright, the music too loud, and the people. The people with their obnoxious voices and shrill laughs. The giggles of the men and women whenever someone they pined after so much as gave them a wink. It was all so much. Adam longed to be away from all the pleasantry. He wished to be outside in the night sky where he could watch the stars. The lights in here were false, but out there they were real.

Adam heard the music pick up again. The smoothness of the strings turned into jaunty plucking, as the crowd of lovers formed a circle. All their backs now turned to him; he saw this as his moment of escape. He started to tip toe towards one of the many large golden doors, when he felt a hand grab him.

“Come on we need one more person!” The voice rang like a church bell in his ears. He tried to pull away, but the hold was too strong. He was pulled into the dancing circle and forced into his worst nightmare. The melody played as the lovers of the night clapped their hands, giggling with joy except for Adam. He groaned with every step he had to take, linking his arms with strangers, as they moved around the circle. He kept looking around trying to find the person who dragged him into this mess. The music picked up, faster, and faster and his feet could hardly stay with the music, he was off beat for a moment, but that was just enough. Adam Baldwin the Second of his name tripped on his own feet, knocking into the person in front of him, he then fell, and then the next person fell, until the lovers who were dancing all fell over onto the ballroom floor.

Adam’s vision was dark for a minute, his head pounding, when he felt a hand grip his wrist, and then a voice spoke up, the same voice that dragged him into the dance in the first place. “You caused quite the commotion Sir.” He felt himself being pulled up and standing on his own two feet. Adam was ready to tell this person off. To not touch him, and to leave him alone for the rest of the night. Then Adam opened his eyes and forgot everything he was going to say.

In front of him stood the most beautiful man he has ever seen in his twenty-one years of life. He had short black hair the color of raven’s feathers. His eyes were the color of the ocean and he wanted to dive right into them and feel all its warmth and comfort. He wore a white suit with no coat tails, and a pair of pink ballet slippers that seemed like they had seen their fair share of dancing. The man was still holding onto Adam’s wrist, hand gloved of course.

“Sir you have gone quite red are you alright?”

“What?” Adam said. He pulled away his hand from his and felt his cheeks which were warmer than normal. “I am fine.”

“Good I was worried about you when you took that fall. Well then everyone took a fall including me.” The man let out a laugh clutching his sides. The laugh annoyed Adam, but he also did not mind it. The laugh made his cheeks warmer in fact.

“May I ask why you pulled me into this ridiculous dance.” Adam straightened out his jacket so he could have an excuse not to look at this man.

“Ridiculous? I must disagree. The Slezak Polka is a wonderful dance that everyone should enjoy. And you were all by yourself in that corner brooding.”

“I was not brooding!” Adam crossed his arms causing the mysterious man to laugh once more. The laugh grew less annoying every time he heard it.

“If you say so Sir. I pulled you in because it looked like you could use some fun.”

“Dancing is not fun.” There was a silence between the two as the mysterious man's eyebrow raised at the statement.

“Well then you are no fun.” The mystery man did a polite bow and began to walk away. Adam froze in place for a moment, as he watched him walk away. Good he did not need him, he is fun, he can be fun. He’s fun when there are not a lot of people shouting, and dancing. If that man thinks that is fun, then he is wrong. Adam turned around ready to walk away too, but something stopped. His feet pulled him towards the man instead of away. His cheeks glowing a bright red. No, no, no do not talk to him. He clearly does not want to. But his legs kept moving, running after the man. His heart was pounding. No, his heart was not pounding. It was filled with flutters.

“Sir!” Adam called out then covering his mouth in shock from speaking. The man turned around the lights reflecting off his ocean eyes.

“Yes?”

Adam took his hands away from his mouth, his arms falling off to the side. “I am Adam Baldwin Second of my name, may I know what to call you by?”

The man smirked, and Adam’s stomach became filled with butterflies. A glance is enough to make him melt. The man took off one of his silk white gloves tossing it towards Adam. He caught it and caught a sniff of the cologne he wore. “My name is Alexander. It is a pleasure to meet you Adam, and I hope to see you soon.”

Adam would not say this out loud, but he hoped so too.