Standing there.
Originally Posted by Authors note
Initially I made this as a blog post. I was a little hesitant posting it here and giving it more exposure but here goes nothing. At least I'll get a little more feedback here I guess
Cheers,
Brew
Standing there There he stood, simply standing there enjoying the rhythm of the music and looking at the people dancing to it when she passed him while dancing. He stared at her frozen in the moment as her golden hairs captivated him. He wanted to approach her but stood frozen in his place. He stared at her wishing he could do more but there he stood. She looked at him and smiled at him, he was baffled but smiled back and so she came closer to him... Smiling wider with each step. He was shy but smiled back before averting his gaze. Looking for a familiar face but was drawn back to her. She smiled and blushed before looking away... She came closer ever still until she was next to him. He stood against the wall with his back and she stood next to him facing the wall with her face. He looked at her strait in the eye, he may have been significantly taller then here but it was as if he was on her level. She looked up and smiled before saying, “You’re cute”. All he did was smile stupidly. They both picked up the rhythm and enjoyed the music while gazing at each other’s eyes. After a few moments had passed she stood on her toes and places her hand on his face again saying “You’re cute!” he stood frozen again and did not respond as her tender hand left his cheeks as she turned away and walked off. He just stood there, happy to have had this moment after many personal setbacks but angry he did not do more.
Having lost her in the crowd he turned to his sister in law whom he went to the party with. She had been enjoying herself as she did always when the two of them went to the various parties they went too. He looked at her and gloated before saying, “Someone said I was cute” but due to the music being so loud he was unsure if she heard it. He looked around as he always did on parties and was astounded, there she was again dancing ever closer to him but now there was another man with her. His hopes had flown away and he stood there yet he could not help himself but stare at her as her hair went up and down and her fist roared through the sky as was so common with the audience of these parties. She captivated him deeply and it didn’t go unnoticed, as she would look at him to see if he was looking at her.
He took out his phone and pulled up the camera to take a selfie. While he pressed the button to take the picture, he felt something and the girl suddenly pressed against him. He was lost for words as she took his phone to look at the picture. It had failed. She said “dammit” and moved away again. He tapped her shoulder and asked, “Come?” while he indicated with his hand to take another picture with her. She smiled and pressed herself against him again. As she was much smaller than him her head was on his ribs and he embraced her easily with his left arm. This picture was a success; she smiled and looked at him with a particular face that made him feel desired. He then said, “Do you want it?” while he gestured with his phone where the picture was still opened on. Her smiled broadened and with excitement said yes. He opened his contacts and opened a new contact for her. She took the phone and he looked closely to see her name. Anouk it said and then she gave back the phone as well as giving hers to him so he could put his contact details in her phone. He sent the picture to her via WhatsApp and she gloated as she looked at the picture. She looked back at him and both of them exchanged a gaze full of desire. She then said, “I have to get back to my friends but I’ll be right back ok?” He nodded and said “Sure I’ll be here.”
He did as he said and remained on the same spot he had been standing at for the last hour or so. He looked over his shoulder to find his sister in law who was ever still dancing. She looked at him and politely smiled; they had known each other for over fifteen years and knew how to read one another. He said to her “She’s hot and I’ve got her number but I’m positive she has a boyfriend.” His sister in law replied, “Send her a text asking if she has one. You’ll never know if you do not ask.” He nodded, conflicted about what he should do. He had been ditched for other guys in his previous couple of relationships and was weary to do the same with someone else. After about ten minutes of thinking and only looking at his phone and the picture, he had taken with Anouk he decided to go for it. He sent her a text asking her; do you have a boyfriend? It was only that no more. He spend the next two to three minutes standing there feeling somewhat down before his sister in law asked if he would join her in going to the smokers lounge. He nodded and they went there which was several halls from the place they had been standing at.
They sat there and finished their smoke when he saw her again. Anouk entered the smoking lounge, looked at him with a broad smile and sat down several seats down the aisle. Making contact with her at this point was hard due to the crowd and his sister in law stood there, ready to go back to the area we were before. He got up, smiled at Anouk and walked passed her. He walked on when he heard something familiar but could not place it. He decided to move on and as he almost excited the smokers lounge he heard a loud yell with his name. He turned around and saw his sister in law standing next to Anouk. He decided to walk back as everyone in the smokers lounge looked at him. His sister in law would yell “Dude, she’s single!” making most in the lounge laugh and even look at him more. He himself laughed but was also very shy now. His sister in law repeated she was single as he joined the pair and he said “Well I’m going to sit next to you now” while looking at Anouk. She smiled but both remained silent as they were next to each other. It was a little awkward for the both of them. He was no real superstar in moments like this and asked “how come such a handsome woman is still single?” she smiled, raised her shoulders and said, “I don’t know? How about yourself? You should be able to get any of these girls.” He laughed because he knew better. Not all girls would take the first few steps to lure him out of his comfort zone. They kept silent now and looked at each other before he said, “I thought I saw you with a dude earlier so I thought you were taken.” She laughed aloud and replied “No! He’s my best friend.” He laughed and felt stupid to have made such an assumption. When they were finished laughed he caressed her right shoulder as he got up and said, “I’m going back to the third area.” While he looked at his sister in law who had taken her distance a little. Anouk looked at him and said, “I’ll be there soon too! Same spot as before?” He nodded “Yeah sure, I’ll see you in a bit” and he walked passed her again.
Waiting for her felt like hours to him. He couldn’t enjoy the music anymore he was obsessively looking out for her. Eventually he felt a hand pinching his side, he had not been wearing a T-shirt for quite some time now and he was startled. He looked to his side and there she was again. She smiled at him and cuddled him, which took him aback. He quickly moved his left arm around her and pulled her closer. She looked at him and he looked at her when she stood on her toes again and kissed him. He kissed her back and enjoyed the moment. A weird feeling overcame him and as their lips parted, they both smiled and looked at each other full of lust. Nothing else mattered in this moment as they kept their gazed closely on one another. They leaned in and kissed again because this was their moment and they would not miss it for the world.
The days after The morning after.
07:00, the night is over and she abruptly went home. He did not hear from her anymore and his texts went unanswered. He spoke to his sister in law about it and both reached the same conclusion, it was a great night and that’s something to cherish. He went downstairs to the lockers and got his coat, gazing through the hall hoping to see a glance of her pretty face just once more. He took out his phone and starred at the screen. No new messages. He opened What’s App and searched for “Anouk”, he texted her “Pretty sure you’re gone or not?” He heard a voice cry out; it was his sister in law asking what the holdup was. He gazed one more time but had no hope and replied, “Nothing. Let’s go.”
He neared the exit and felt the cold. It has been 30 degrees Celsius at least inside but it was minus seven outside. He grunted and complained about the cold as he looked at his sister in law who was shivering due to the cold. He asked her “Where’s he at?” Inquiring after their friend who would pick them up. She shrugged and took out her phone to call him. Standing there in the freezing cold he couldn’t resist but to look at all the other’s leaving the building. He overheard some people complaining that they needed to wait an hour before the first metro would come by the metro station that was adjacent to the building that hosted the party. He did not care for them; all he hoped was to see Anouk once more.
His sister in law poked him and indicated which way to go. They went underway and all they did was complain about the freaking cold. The 200-meter walk felt like a marathon after a night of heavy partying and the cold did not help. When they reached the car their friend was laughing, he could read the cold of their faces. Getting into the car felt great to them, the heat and the ability to sit for the first time in hours made it all the better. As they went underway, the friend said, “So I heard you finally kissed someone huh?” A sneaky laugh from the backseat erupted and all he could do was smirk. His sister in law and their friend could only laugh while he kept his smirk up. As he looked outside the window, he daydreamed a little. It had been ten months since he had even kissed someone he thought to himself. Even though he had engaged in plenty of flirting during the previous parties he went to he never took the initiative. To scared from what had happened between him and his ex-wife.
After they had arrived at his sister in law’s place, they all took a cup of coffee, sitting down on the couch and sighing. It was a great party nonetheless. A small discussion about the remix of one of their favorite tracks ensured but both were really too tired to have at it. She got up and said I don’t know about you two but I’m going to bed. The guys laughed and he asked his mate if he could drop him off at his place. “Yeah sure.” Promptly followed and they went on their way. It was only a short drive, not even 5 minutes worth. They lit a cigarette in the car and the friend said how he deserved some happiness after a year full of tragedies. He was happy that a close friend said such kind words and even though he was happy on how the evening went, he felt a little sad that he would probably never see her again.
An hour past as he sat on the couch, using his Nespresso machine to the fullest and he only got up to get another cup of coffee. He had some music playing in the background and kept on checking his phone obsessively. He had been texting with some friends but had the hope each time it buzzed it would be her… Sadly, that was not to be the case. Eventually he had mustered the courage to get up and go to bed. Sleeping through most of the day.
19:00, the sun had already set again as he woke up. He gazed at his phone, it must have been around 80 text messages but non-from her. He went downstairs and lit another cigarette, taking his time to reply to all other texts. He pulled up his pictures and looked at those he took with her… Gods, he thought to himself. Having finished texting everyone back, he looked at the clock, 20:00. He let out a deep sigh and decided to go back to bed. The following morning he got up and once more glanced at his phone with a sparkle of hope. Sadly, it still did not produce the wanted result.
The day went by with relative speed, the clock rapidly got to 14:00, which was the sign that he could go home. As he drove he listened to some music that had played on the party as well. The memories flooded him and he felt a little sad. He decided to make a stop at his sister in law. After evaluating how cool the party had been she asked him “What’s up? I feel something is off.” He shrugged, wanting to say nothing was up but he could not this time. “It’s her… She’s keeping my mind way to busy.” She asked, “Haven’t heard anything yet?” He remained silent, letting the silence give the answer. She got up and said let’s go for a smoke and he got up as well. Standing on the balcony, she pierced him with her eyes. “Just text her again. Don’t be such a wuss and just do it. You have absolutely nothing to lose.” He smirked a little; it was amusing to him that she always knew what to say to motive him into doing things like this. He nodded, finished his cigarette and went on his way. On the walk to his car, he opened up his What’s App again and started to type… “Hey, got some rest after Saturday? I just wanted to say I had a blast and I hope everything is all right between us. I had the idea something was up...” after reading it again five times, he had mustered the courage to send it.
Arriving home his phone buzzed, he hadn’t thought much off it and figured it was work with yet another workplace drama so he didn’t check it. After he took a shower, he checked his phone and he was baffled. She had replied. “Hey! Yeah I just got home from work and I am exhausted. I had fun too! Sorry I made you feel that way, it wasn’t intended but a friend of mine had passed out and because we weren’t from around, I was stressing on how to get at the hospital because none of us were in any condition to drive... I’m really sorry I made you feel that way.”
He smiled at his phone... glad she had replied. They spend the rest of the evening texting each other, eventually at such a pace that he could not even lay down his phone because then she would already have replied. A few hours had passed doing just this and the night had already replaced the evening. He decided to risk it and texted; “I know we already told each other this won’t work because of the distance between us… If you’re up for it though I will visit you sometime in the foreseeable future.” He saw her typing a reply instantly but didn’t dear to watch his phone. He knew it was a long shot and was pessimistic from the start. He took a deep breath and read her reply. “I like you. It’s just the distance and the fact I’m just out of a long relationship. I want to keep talking to you and we will definitely meet on parties too but I just do not want to commit to anything just yet. I’m sorry.”
He sighed, he had seen it coming but it also came as a relief. He had done all he could and somewhere he did cherish the moments they had on the party.
Enter the Snake Pit
21:30 Saturday night. He exits the metro with his Sister in law, her sister and two friends and they make their way down from the elevated metro station. The venue is only a three-minute walk removed from the station. The road is full with likeminded people who are downing a few drinks before the venue opens. At the stop light he looks in front of him where some people stand grouped, he instantly recognizes one as the best friend of Anouk. He taps his sister in laws shoulder and casually points. Quietly saying “There”. She looks at him and then back at her brother in law. “Have you seen her yet?” He nods no. The light comes on green and they cross the road and hear a yell, it’s her, it’s Anouk. Not hiding the enthusiasm for seeing her best friend. It’s nothing he thinks to himself while he looks at her and the various people in her group. Which one of the men is her boyfriend he asks himself? A week earlier, he had learned she got back together with her ex. In all honesty, he wasn’t too bothered by it but now seeing her did make a little weird for him.
Entering the waiting line showed how popular the first DJ had become. Hordes of people grouped at the two opened doors. The crowed crawled forward towards the stations where people got frisked. The organization wasn’t prepared to handle these amounts of people from the start it looked like. Thirty minutes passed before the group passed security and reached the lockers. He stood there, gazing through the moving crowd when someone nearly walked into him. He looked down and it was her… Anouk looked up and was startled, he said a normal “Hi!” and she looked stressed before ushering a weak and shaking “Hey.” Her boyfriend’s face was full of questions as she pulled him along. All he could do was laugh in his fist, why she would make it so awkward for herself baffled him but he couldn’t be bothered by it. It was time to party! It had taken a good 40 minutes to get into the main hall where the music was. The closing stages of SEFA’s set began. As he entered the hall the new SEFA remix of “Get it crackin” came on. His favorite song of the moment. Goosebumps hit him and he yelled to his mate “Freaking awesome dude!” All of his friends immediately started dancing and the tone was set. It was going to be a great night.
It must have been around 01:00 when he first caught her glimpse. She just stood there, as he would normally do at parties as well. Enjoying the music but not too extrovertly. She wasn’t his usual type with her brown hair but something about her got to him. He looked away after a while but in the corner of his eyes he could now see her looking at him. He grinned a little and turned his head to face her. She was startled and looked away as he kept on looking. This process was repeated a couple of times before they would finally look each other in the eye. There was a significant distance between them as he was closer to the stage then she was but it did not matter. When they finally looked at each other without one looking away she had the prettiest smile… He couldn’t do much else but smile back at her. It simply was an amazing feat. Every two minutes they would look at each other and forget about the rest. They would both smile at each other and then focus on something else before repeating the process. An hour must’ve passed before he started to question if he should go to her. The perfect excuse came when one of his friends said they would go outside for a smoke. He decided to join them and passed her on the way there, as he was about to pass her he thought ‘it’ and he leaned in and asked “Whats your name?” She looked at him for a second, stood on her toes and replies something he couldn’t hear. He leaned in again and indicated he couldn’t hear what she said. After some yelling, he picked out the word “French!” He looked at her in defeat… Why could he never find someone who lived close to him?! He filled with rage on the inside but it did not show on the outside. They both looked at each other with disappointment and they shrugged successively at each other. Lost for words he looked sad at her pretty face before he moved away, joining his friend for a smoke.
With a sad face he stepped outside where his mate looked at him and asked how it went. “She’s French! Dammit.” He replies defeated. His friend visibly annoyed by the news, says “Just your luck man...” Still heavily disappointed they finish their smokes in silence. Disappointment after disappointment was becoming a little too much to bear. Sometimes the strong need a hug too… The next hour or so he spend walking through the venue; muscle cramps had been annoying him all week so he needed to walk it off. Eventually he made his way back into the main hall and to his friends.
It couldn’t have been more than an hour before he had the feeling he was being looked at again. He turned around to look into the crowd and he found her again with relative ease. Feeling disappointment, once more he quickly turned away but soon found himself looking at her again. The game was on again. After the tenth, time the disappointment was gone and they kept looking at each other for extended periods. They didn’t care for the music or the people they were there with. They just wanted to look at each other and make themselves feel happy. The hours rolled by and all they did was search each other through the crowd. Even when other people would get in front and the view would get obstructed their eyes would meet through the people.
Most of his friends were getting fatigued at this point. The night was nearing the last hour and some of them had worked during the day, himself included. Most of them went to sit at a designated area. He and one of his friends remained in the main hall when he turned to ask his friend. “Recon I should go to her and just cuddle her?” She nodded yes, as he predicted but it was quickly followed up with “But you should start gathering the balls to do so quickly because the others will likely say they want to go home before too long.” He smiled at the remark because she knew him too well. He fixed his gaze at the girl he had been interacting with the entire night again. They smiled at each other again before he started to look at the floor, telling himself he really should go there.
He looked up and searched for her again, when he found her his courage disappeared again. She was chatting with someone else. ‘Fool!’ he thought to himself. Why would he need countless of hours before he could finally muster the courage to talk to someone? He had rehearsed countless of lines of French words in his head ever since he first spoke to her. Sure, it was rusty but he did remember some phrases. He was mental with rage and it clearly showed when he looked at her direction but then she looked at him as the other dude was talking to her. She smiled politely and all the anger he had boiled up inside of him was gone. He smiled back and her smile got ever wider. Soon the other dude noticed he did not have her full attention and he took his leave. He grinned ear to ear to see him leave and as soon as he was gone, he walked over to her. He gave an awkward hug just when a friend she was with offered him some desperados. He took a sip, returned the bottle and started to talk to her. In English he said “You’re cute!” but she couldn’t hear him over the loud music. He took out his phone and started to type “You’re cute” when she read it she blushed and gave him a hug. When everything seemed to have been going great, the time had come to go. His phone was red hot from his friends asking where he was… He looked at her, told her he had to go and she looked bummed. It took so long before they were talking and now, when it finally happened he had to go.
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