"Zachary didn't recognize me just now."
"But I recognized you instantly."
Norah's eyes lit up, and she stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "That's because my eyes are full of you. You saw yourself in them, and that's how you knew."
Xavier's heart skipped a beat.
"Come on," Norah said, guiding his other hand to her waist. "It's just a dance. It can't be harder than handling a sniper rifle. If you keep arguing with me, we'll just draw more attention to ourselves."
Sometimes, Xavier felt utterly helpless against this girl. "I really don't know how to dance."
"And I told you I'd teach you. I'll go slow, just follow my lead." Norah's left hand was intertwined with his, and she looked up at him, her gaze intense. "Are you ready? Shall we begin?"
Perhaps it was the infectious joy of the celebration, but he found himself not wanting to disappoint her. Just for tonight, he could indulge her, let her be happy for a little while.
His palm rested on her waist, the silk of her dress and the softness of her skin a distinct sensation against his hand. His fingers tensed slightly before relaxing. His voice grew deeper as he slowly nodded.
"Let's begin."
"Follow my rhythm, okay?" Norah's mask covered all but her eyes, which were bright and clear. If one looked closely, they would see that they truly held nothing but his reflection.
Xavier held her hand and followed her steps. After a moment, he realized they had been staring into each other's eyes the entire time. Flustered, he quickly looked away.
But Norah was happy. Incredibly happy.
With his strong arms supporting her, and her own dancing skills, she could move beautifully even without much help from him. She spun and twirled, her movements dazzling him.
Her laughter, like the chiming of silver bells, blended with the soaring music to create the most beautiful sound of the evening.
Xavier watched her spin, her head tilted back, her eyes sparkling with laughter. Gradually, it wasn't just his reflection in her eyes anymore; his own eyes were filled with nothing but the vision of her radiant, smiling face.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)