Two steps in the past

To read the previous Twirl, go here.


***Special Saturday Announcement! OK, I know you're dying to know what happens after this. All questions will be answered Sunday! Stay tuned!

For the next few hours, Vivi was swept away in the muggy dance hall. Her frizzled curls were plastered to her forehead, her leotard slicked with sweat where Wade's hand pressed against her lower back. Her feet ached and her legs burned.

But all she wanted to do was dance.

Wade's bright blue eyes crinkled at the edges as she twirled across the floor. In his gaze, she felt like the prettiest girl in the world pirouetting in a lovely dress that swirled around her in smooth waves, instead of her ancient jeans and scuffed tennis shoes. Old couples smiled fondly at them and young children gazed up at them. Her fingers were locked against his, their feet sliding in a steady rhythm. She didn't even notice when the bands changed out and the sun slid behind the trees.

All she could do was dance.

The beat slowed, and Wade pulled her into his arms. Leaning her cheek his shoulder, she breathed in his scent.

"I have to tell you something," she blurted out.

"What's that?" His voice was amused.

Pulling away from him, Vivi looked up into his eyes. "I've never been happier than I am with you, dancing."

Wade nodded, his face breaking into a shy smile. "That makes two of us."

"I mean, I know that this is really forward," Vivi babbled. "And I know things are moving fast. I mean, after all, we've just known each other a few weeks. You've already met my friends, you know about my weird family and my crazy teacher...but still, I just feel like I'm skating across the sky when I'm with you. And when we're dancing, it just feels like...I know you probably think I'm coming on too strong and overthinking things and I want to assure you that I'm an independent, well-adjusted individual who is not expecting any sort of--"

Without warning, Wade's lips pressed to hers. At first, it was a soft brush. His blue eyes locked onto hers. Grabbing the sides of his stubbly cheeks, she leaned up. With the same rhythm as their feet, their lips moved together slowly, tenderly. But the burn in Vivi's chest wasn't tender at all. When Wade raised his head, she gasped. He had quite literally taken her breath away.

And she thought that was only something that happened in movies and trashy romance novels.

Taking her hand, Wade pulled her off the dance floor. Her lips tingled as they ducked behind the wall of the stage, huddling under the rig that held flashing red and yellow lights. Wade's lips brushed her ear.

"You know what I saw when I looked at you at that old dance hall the night we met?" he half-shouted.

"What?" Vivi murmured.

"Joy," he replied. "I saw pure joy. And I thought, I want to feel just like how that girl is feeling. I want to be as lit up inside, as excited by an old pile of boards as she is."

Vivi couldn't move or speak as he took her hand and rested his chin on it. He leaned his other arm against the wall.

"And tonight, I'm full of joy," he told her. "Thanks to you."

His eyes met Vivi's. Her lips parted.

And then Wade's fist went through the wall with a loud crack. He cursed, pulling his hand out of the wall and brushing splinters of wood off it. The music stopped and people rushed toward him. Vivi peered at his hand, terrified at what she would see. She glanced at Wade and opened her mouth to comfort him. But Wade wasn't looking at his hand. He didn't even look like he was in pain. He was staring at the wall, his jaw hanging low. Vivi peeked closer at the wall and blinked.

"What is it?"

To be continued....

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have a fun whimsical post tomorrow and find out what's in the box on Monday! Next week we have all sorts of fabulous things, including barbecued chicken from the new recipe series and Bear and Bitty's search for a moose. Stay tuned!