CAROLINE

That evening I stared up to the mass of twinkling lights that adorned the once basketball gym, now made over into a beautiful reception dance hall. The flowers from glittering pots stationed every ten feet created a beautifully sweet scent flying through the air, but it did nothing for my nerves.

"Now for the first dance. Catherine, Blake, front and center," the DJ called from his corner. He then looked at me and I felt my heart plummet to my toes in stage fright. I loved singing, but being on stage never got any easier. "Introducing, bridesmaid Caroline Peters singing Blake and Catherine's first song, Come Away with Me."

I took the few steps up to the stage and looked out over the crowd. Luckily the lights were strong on me and there was a spotlight over Catherine and Blake at the dance floor, so the faces around the room were too silhouetted for me to pick out anyone.

Anyone. Who was I kidding?

I'm not nervous to sing in front of Rick.

"Take it away Caroline!"

I nodded to the DJ and he played the track. Suddenly a thousand sparkles lit the room in a soft spiral as a ball lit from the ceiling. I grabbed the microphone and took a calming breath. Now that I was up here, some of the nervousness faded. It was always that way on stage. And I started singing. My voice lighting up the area as faces turned to the dancing couple in the center.

♪ Come away with me, in the night... ♪

My feet automatically began swaying to the soundtrack as the music flowed through me.

♪ ...Come away with me and we'll kiss...on a mountain top... ♪

I then caught William's form at the doors of the reception hall. Just enough of the light from the hallway trailed in to let me see him. Even just backlit in basic sweats and tshirt, my heart thundered he was more attractive than any man in a suit amongst the crowd. I realized I was still singing and tried to catch the words up. Tingles danced across my skin and goosebumps chilled my arms; the way I first felt when William was around. It was undeniable.

♪ ...And I want to wake up with the rain... falling on a tin roof.... ♪

I gave a soft grin through the song and continued, my eyes centering on him much more than necessary. His head tilted as he watched and his lips parted. I then realized I could see him intensely clearly. The way his fingers rubbed together almost unperceptively. The blue in his eyes, flecking with golds. The way his chest moved with every deep steadying breath. It began to be like I was singing just to him. But a flash caught my eye beside him and I realized there were three other bodies in the doorway with him. But I didn't want to focus on anything but his staring smile.

♪ ...So all I ask is for you...to come away with me. ♪

The song ended and I watched as his grin showed just the slightest brightness of teeth. I took my bottom lip against my teeth and my lips sparked as if I could feel the touch of his lips again, dream or not, it felt real now.

Everyone started clapping, heads turned from the couple to me and I bowed with a simple curtsie. "Thank you, and one last time for the lovely couple. Blake and Catherine." I clapped against my wrist already replacing the microphone in the base.

My eyes still on his, I walked the stairs down to the dance floor and suddenly I was engulfed in a hug. Red hair caressed my vision and I smiled, patting Catherine on the back.

"That was so beautiful!" She gushed. "Thank you so much for that!"

I chuckled. "No problem. Thank you for the honor of singing your first song."

"It was so gorgeous," she gave a small hiccup.

I pulled her to arm's length. "Hey now. No ruining your makeup."

"Right! Right!" She took deep breaths in and out. "Can't do that." She started waving at her face to fan herself.

People started flooding the dance floor as the next song started playing. A beautiful love ballad with a man's lovely raspy voice.

"He couldn't keep his eyes off you could he?"

I jumped straight, the movement like a shock. She noticed? "He...he couldn't?" I stuttered. I scanned the area for William but couldn't see him through the dancing couples.

"I know! It's like he's never seen you sing before."

My eyes flew back to hers. "He hasn't? Wait, who are you talking about?"

Her face twisted in confusion. "Rick, duh. Who are you talking about?"

"Oh!" My eyes went bright and wide. "Right, right! That's who I meant."

She laughed. "You've been under stage lights for too long. Go get a drink." She winked. "How about a champagne. You earned it."

"I..."

"I know you don't drink. But it's my wedding. Have a glass. Enjoy yourself."

Blake's form popped up behind Catherine. "Sorry Caroline. I need to steal my wife back."

I nodded. "Of course. You two go dance."

She started following him, but pointed. "You have that drink!"

I then turned back to the door and started walking, my feet automatically moving to the guy I'd barely even met. But fireworks singing at the ridges on my neck pressed me forward.

Yet as the crowd parted enough to show the hallway doors, they were empty. I stopped confused.

He was just there. Wasn't he? Was I imagining him?

I shook my head trying to clear the thoughts of piercing blue. Stupid!

But then I noticed his Eric friend walking straight to me, catching my glance. No way Jose!

I turned slightly and booked it instead to the drink bar, pretending that was where I was headed all along.

Drinks, yes, a champagne. That's what I was doing. Not walking to some weird, scratch that, handsome apparition that comes to me in my dreams.

When I made it to the bar, I grabbed one of the readymade champagne flutes to the side and took a sip. I almost spit it out. Bubbly what? Wood? Or like eating a flower? The flavor was strong and wrong.

"Hey Caroline," Eric sidled up to me and gave an order to the bartender.

"Mr. Eric," I acknowledged. I couldn't say that his black suit didn't make him look good though. I tried to take another sip of my drink. Bleck. Maybe my palate is just not formed for alcohol.

The bartender grabbed a blue bottle from a hidden cupboard and filled him a scotch glass. I started walking away when a hand reached around my arm and held fast.

I turned back to Eric and frowned. "Hand?"

He grabbed his glass and guided us toward an empty table, never letting go.

"Where are we going?" I was still nervous about this jerk and his neck smelling ways.

"Just sitting." He pressed me down and then sat next to me. "Your song was lovely."

"Oh," I startled for a moment. "Thank you." I sipped again. Still no good.

"So how did you get out of the fire?" He took a drink of his, looking out over the crowd.

"Huh?" I asked, eyes harsh. "What fire?" I looked around for a fireplace.

"The fire when you were eight."

"When I was eight?" I shook my head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He pressed another question. "Why are you a vet?"

"Excuse me?" I asked.

He glanced my way, his drink to his lips. "Why are you a veterinarian?"

"I...I don't understand. Because I wanted to be?"

He set his drink on the table and leaned to me, trying to invade my space. "Why did you want to be a vet over say a teacher/actor/postman? Or why instead of a doctor?"

A doctor? Something about that thought struck a cord but I didn't understand why. I leaned back trying to gather space for myself, still watching him. "I don't know. I just liked helping animals get better."

His head tilted. "And you are good at it. Aren't you?"

I looked back to my drink and swallowed the nerves. "I don't know. I guess?"

He sat back and took another swig. "I think you'd be very good at it."

I shrugged, still staring at my drink, watching each bubble as it floated to the top. "Rick always gives me the hardest cases, but that's because I did the best in school."

"I think it's because he knows you have a gift." I felt his steady glare on my cheek.

I looked towards him, eyes locking.

"I think that's why he asked you to marry him."

"He loves me," I objected.

He shrugged. "Maybe. But men don't do that when they love a woman."

"Don't do what?"

He took another gulp of his dark liquid ignoring me. "When are you two getting married?"

I sat back in surprise. I stammered, "I...I.. well, we haven't set a ...date."

His eyes came back to me. "And that's because you don't want to get married, isn't it?"

"No," I shot back. "I want to get married."

William's face then flashed through my mind.

He smirked and sat forward in my space. "But do you want to marry the vet?"

"Yes." No. Then my eyes went wide at my own inner denial. No? "Yes, I do want to marry my fiancé!" Who was I trying to convince? I took another drink of the gross liquid to stall my own words.

He sat back a knowing smirk on his face, then finished his drink in a last gulp. He was quiet, looking out over the crowd for a whole minute after his drink was done.

He gave a big fake smile to me. "Just wanted to say hi." He stood. "But I'll be going now. Bye Caroline. You are a lovely singer. I didn't know that before."

"Wait," I said to his retreating form, but he just moved into the darkness.

Strange guy.

"There you are, Darling." Rick came upon me. His brow raised at the two glasses in front of me.

"Oh that's not mine!" I spoke too loudly.

He chuckled. "Are you ready to go back to our room?"

My posture fell in the chair and I looked mournful out among the dancers. "Aren't we going to dance?"

He looked out too. "Oh, uh. Yes. If we must." He held his hand out. "Would you like to dance, Darling?"

I smiled and placed my hand in his. "Yes please."