Elizabeth and the Vampire's Cabin(4)

It’s too bad Kitty sidetracked them. It seems the ladies are all taken now, she thought to herself. The only thing that dumb girl said to them that held any truth is that Austin is a lazy ass older brother. If he really cared about me then he would go with me.

The band played on. Elizabeth was approached by many a good looking young man. She politely smiled at all of them. But her demeanor still had a harshness to it, and she seemed strangely aloof while also engaged at the same time. She really didn’t care much for the affections of men. She had a brief thought that a lot of the young men at this party wanted to get into her pants, especially the two men who had been speaking with Kitty outside. She wondered if they wanted to make a try. She smiled to herself. No, they would not. They may have found her attractive, but they wouldn’t attempt to make a move. She intimidated them. She could tell. Particularly Arthur. Ugh. Elizabeth was ashamed. Though people considered her to be a very “into herself” kind of girl, she wasn’t nearly as haughty as she used to be. Years ago, she had shot Arthur down. They were in middle school together, and her bluntness had never been one of her charms. I sting like a bee with my words, she reflected. She had told Arthur, at a middle school dance, that she would not dance with him. She also told him he was a horrible dancer and not good at sports (both true). He responded that he was too busy with sci-fi club for sports and couldn’t help being an awful dancer. She gave him a death stare and he slowly edged away from her. She entertained the notion that he backed away in case her animal instincts took over and she decided to lunge if he moved away too quickly. Perhaps he even imagined her hair standing up like hackles. But no matter how hostile the interaction was at that point, it could not compare to what happened next. She called him worthless. Those were her last words to him. She thought he was worthless, and she would rather hang out with her loser brother. At that point, it wouldn’t have surprised her if Arthur would also have preferred to hang out with her loser brother. Though Austin was egotistical and shallow, he was still a lot nicer than her.

Elizabeth watched as Jack moved off into the party to mingle with the other guests. Arthur stayed put. She was no longer a thirteen year old girl rejecting him on the dance floor. Maybe he would take a chance and try to get that dance with her. If he still wanted it. Though he was eyeing her, she couldn’t imagine he would still want anything to do with her after that awful exchange they had years ago.

Now standing alone, Elizabeth began people watching. She was radiant with the light from the chandelier shifting down on her. Arthur’s gaze, still in her direction, became undeniably hungry. She then saw him purposefully move forward, as if he had just screwed up enough courage to do so. Keep coming, Arthur, Elizabeth mentally coaxed. I’m not gonna cut your balls off. He moved through the dancers and mingling guests. He apologized here and there for accidentally bumping into someone, but he tried to make a beeline for Elizabeth. He would not be a wallflower. All he wanted was to be exactly what she wanted. She needed a man who could match her stubborn confidence.

“Elizabeth,” he called to her as he approached. “May I have this dance?”

Arthur looked like he was anticipating a “no”. She felt an annoyed look cross her face for his cowardice, but she forced it away and it vanished in a heartbeat. She smiled warmly and held his gaze for a long moment.

“I promised myself that I wouldn't dance with a partner tonight.”

"I promise, once you start dancing with me, every man in this room who wants to be dancing will have someone to dance with. I’m the last one who needs a dance partner. Don't leave me hanging. You don’t want to miss this song do you? It’s a classic.” It was Come Sail Away by Styx.

“I have turned down every guy who has approached me…until now.” She laughed and took his hand. “I have the worst manners,” she said sincerely.

Since their middle school mishap, Arthur had actually developed into a fairly good dancer. He swung her around the room, but he was so nervous that she said “ow” quite a few times as he stepped on her toes. He apologized profusely until they suddenly stopped near the door to the backyard. The backyard was a beautiful Japanese garden and tiki torches were lit throughout to lend some ambience. The garden was empty as all the guests had decided to enjoy the warmth of the inside of the home.

“You were perfect,” he said breathlessly.

“Let’s go outside,” she suggested.

Arthur nodded his head vaguely. He was speechless. He looked like he couldn’t believe what was happening. She was finally opening herself up to him. After all these years, this was his chance.