"So are you going to the dance with anyone?" Amanda asked as Bryan stood to go an hour later. She bit her lip a little nervously as she walked with him down the hall towards the front door.
"Bryan glanced at her quickly, trying to gauge how he should answer. "I hadn't really planned on it," he said. This much was true. He hadn't really planned on going with anyone.
"I'm sorry you won't be there," she said as she opened the door.
"Look Amanda..." Bryan said as he turned to look at her as he stepped out the front door.
"Hm?"
Bryan sighed, "Nothing. I'll see you tomorrow at school."
"Good night Mark," Amanda said to his retreating figure.
************************
Bryan sighed as he closed the front door of his own home and leaned against it.
"What's with you?" Mark asked as he paused in the entry, a sandwich in one hand.
"Sometimes I wish I was you," Bryan said quietly as he bumped his head against the door in frustration.
Mark looked at his brother funny, "You practically are me sometimes," he said.
"Not when it matters," Bryan said as he stepped away from the door.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
A Little
Bryan paused before answering her question. She thought he was Mark, and Mark was known for one personality, while he himself was known for having one completely different. Did she know Mark? Know how Mark would respond? Did she prefer his quiet spoken brother or would she like his own more open demeanor? Would she even know the difference? He wanted to tell her that he was actually Bryan, but didn't know if she would think that he had been deceiving her on purpose instead of it just being a mistake.
Bryan bit his lip as he continued to hesitate, trying to gauge how he should reply.
Amanda cocked her head to one side as she waited for Mark's answer. He seemed a little lost in thought, so she let him think.
She had heard that his brother danced, and was very good, but she didn't know if Mark also danced. She didn't know what to think of the twins as a unit. Not much was generally known about them.
"Mark?" she said as she touched him gently on the shoulder.
Bryan blinked and focused on Amanda's face, "I dance a little," he said at last.
Bryan bit his lip as he continued to hesitate, trying to gauge how he should reply.
Amanda cocked her head to one side as she waited for Mark's answer. He seemed a little lost in thought, so she let him think.
She had heard that his brother danced, and was very good, but she didn't know if Mark also danced. She didn't know what to think of the twins as a unit. Not much was generally known about them.
"Mark?" she said as she touched him gently on the shoulder.
Bryan blinked and focused on Amanda's face, "I dance a little," he said at last.
Do You Dance?
Bryan sat on the floor; his knees pulled up to his chest, and his back pressed into a comfortable looking bed, eyes closed as he let the music swirl around him. It had a good driving beat, something that you could dance to.
"Are we just going to make CD mixes and switch out CDs or are we going to take requests?" a soft voice said from above him.
"I think it would be fun to take requests," Bryan said as he opened his eyes and craned his head around to see the girl that was lying on the bed above him. They had met at Amanda's house a few times since the committee meeting to listen to music and try to settle on what should be played at the dance.
"Well at any rate, we should have slow songs that everyone can dance to, but also songs that encourage people to have a little fun," Amanda said as she sat up. She looked over at Bryan, "Do you dance Mark?"
"Are we just going to make CD mixes and switch out CDs or are we going to take requests?" a soft voice said from above him.
"I think it would be fun to take requests," Bryan said as he opened his eyes and craned his head around to see the girl that was lying on the bed above him. They had met at Amanda's house a few times since the committee meeting to listen to music and try to settle on what should be played at the dance.
"Well at any rate, we should have slow songs that everyone can dance to, but also songs that encourage people to have a little fun," Amanda said as she sat up. She looked over at Bryan, "Do you dance Mark?"
Sub-Committee
Bryan sat in the uncomfortable desk in the spare room that the committee had appropriated for the afternoon. The room was dim and Bryan rubbed his nose to keep from sneezing on the chalk dust.
Gathered in the room was an assortment of students; some clearly not sure why they were there, but merely accompanying friends, others with pads of paper for taking notes and others that seemed to just be staring off into space.
Bryan shifted to a slightly more comfortable position as one of the girls cleared her throat for attention; Amanda, Bryan thought her name was. He looked up at her as she began to detail various sub-committees; those in charge of music, decorating, and advertising. Bryan let his mind wander as she spoke on and on.
"Mark, what would you like to help with?"
Bryan was pulled out of his wool gathering abruptly at the sound of his brothers name.
"What was that?" Bryan asked as he raised his head from where it was resting on his fist.
"I said, what you you like to help with?"
"Uhh..." Bryan stalled, "I don't know, anything I guess."
"Okay, then you'll help me with the music," Amanda smiled brightly at him.
Bryan noticed for the first time that she had pretty green eyes. "Okay," he said and smiled at her.
Gathered in the room was an assortment of students; some clearly not sure why they were there, but merely accompanying friends, others with pads of paper for taking notes and others that seemed to just be staring off into space.
Bryan shifted to a slightly more comfortable position as one of the girls cleared her throat for attention; Amanda, Bryan thought her name was. He looked up at her as she began to detail various sub-committees; those in charge of music, decorating, and advertising. Bryan let his mind wander as she spoke on and on.
"Mark, what would you like to help with?"
Bryan was pulled out of his wool gathering abruptly at the sound of his brothers name.
"What was that?" Bryan asked as he raised his head from where it was resting on his fist.
"I said, what you you like to help with?"
"Uhh..." Bryan stalled, "I don't know, anything I guess."
"Okay, then you'll help me with the music," Amanda smiled brightly at him.
Bryan noticed for the first time that she had pretty green eyes. "Okay," he said and smiled at her.
No Excuses
"Hey Mark!"
Bryan's head came up at the sound of his twins name. Nobody ever got them straight all the time, even their own family could get it wrong; and it probably didn't help that both of them would answer to the others name as readily as their own. It had been a game when they were younger; now it was habit.
Josh jogged up to Bryan a little out of breath, "Hey, we have a meeting. Did you forget?"
Bryan put on a vapid look, "I guess I did. What was the meeting about again?" he asked. He knew that he could imitate his brother almost perfectly, and did so now out of twisted curiosity to see how long it would take Josh to catch on that he wasn't Mark.
"Hello? How can you forget prom planning?" Josh asked as he pulled Bryan to his feet, "let's go, we'll be late as it is."
Bryan felt a rush of horror as he remembered that his brother had volunteered to help plan the prom.
"Uh..." Bryan stammered out, "I know you had your heart set on me coming, but I just remembered that I have some important homework that is due tomorrow that I had forgotten to do; so I should really go do that," Bryan said as he tried to sidle away from Josh.
"Oh no you don't," Josh said firmly as he latched onto Bryan's arm, "you talked me into this and now you are going to come with me. No excuses."
Bryan didn't have a chance top protest or explain before he was being dragged off to a planning committee.
Bryan's head came up at the sound of his twins name. Nobody ever got them straight all the time, even their own family could get it wrong; and it probably didn't help that both of them would answer to the others name as readily as their own. It had been a game when they were younger; now it was habit.
Josh jogged up to Bryan a little out of breath, "Hey, we have a meeting. Did you forget?"
Bryan put on a vapid look, "I guess I did. What was the meeting about again?" he asked. He knew that he could imitate his brother almost perfectly, and did so now out of twisted curiosity to see how long it would take Josh to catch on that he wasn't Mark.
"Hello? How can you forget prom planning?" Josh asked as he pulled Bryan to his feet, "let's go, we'll be late as it is."
Bryan felt a rush of horror as he remembered that his brother had volunteered to help plan the prom.
"Uh..." Bryan stammered out, "I know you had your heart set on me coming, but I just remembered that I have some important homework that is due tomorrow that I had forgotten to do; so I should really go do that," Bryan said as he tried to sidle away from Josh.
"Oh no you don't," Josh said firmly as he latched onto Bryan's arm, "you talked me into this and now you are going to come with me. No excuses."
Bryan didn't have a chance top protest or explain before he was being dragged off to a planning committee.
A Night For Dancing
The level of light didn't change when Rose stepped from the twilit street into the Book of Dead Names. A quick glance around revealed a short hallway lined with coats, hats and shawls. Rose nervously slipped her own light jacket off and hung it up on a peg,the emerald green playing against a white fur coat that hung on the next peg over.
Rose moved down the dim hall towards the soft golden glow of the room beyond. As she stepped into the room Rose drew in a breath in wonder at what she saw. A magnificent chandelier spilled warm light over the large room, the very outer edges of the light just stopping short of private tables and nooks that were separated with heavy velvet drapes, tied back to reveal beautiful tables. The tables were filled with people talking quietly in twos and threes or playing a variety of games; each table was softly lit with a small candelabra that hung from a nearby pillar. The sections of wall that was not taken up with rich velvet were lined with books, many of them worn and valuable. Along one wall ran a short bar which ended in a small recessed area that was occupied by a four piece band. The music that filled the room was slow and had a slightly jazzy edge to it. The middle of the room was taken up by a dance floor, the wood shining beautifully in the candle light.
After a slight hesitation Rose moved along the perimeter of the room towards the bar where she slid into a seat with relief. A moment later one of the three men that staffed the bar approached, "What can I get for you Miss?" he asked.
"Just some water for the moment please," Rose said, trying to keep her tone level.
The man nodded politely and moved away, returning a moment later with her water.
Rose gratefully accepted the water and sipped at it as she turned to look at the room; she was sure that this was the place, he had described it so well that even had she had never come here she was sure that she could have pictured it in her mind. Rose set her glass down and smoothed the skirt of her green dress, her eyes continuing to watch the room. A nearby grandfather clock struck nine o'clock, its deep resonant tones carrying through the room. As it finished chiming the hour Rose felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Rose smiled and turned to the man behind her.
Warm pale green eyes looked out of a handsome face, the barest hint of red stubble shadowed a strong jaw and a soft smiling mouth. Rose quickly looked him up and down, revealing a well cut suit that hung perfectly from his slender frame.
"Hi," he whispered, his mouth quirking into a half smile that sent shivers down Rose's back.
"Hi," she whispered back, leaning into his touch as he traced her jaw.
"I wasn't sure you would come," James said; he couldn't stop looking at her.
Rose didn't want to tell him just yet that she would always come when he called her.
"Will you dance with me?" James asked as he took her hand.
"Of course," Rose said and let him lead her to the dance floor.
A familiar song floated across the room as James pulled her into his arms and flowed smoothly into the waltz; Rose following his every movement, though her eyes never left his face. They had the whole floor to themselves and they took advantage of it, moving gracefully around the floor in time to the music.
As the song ended another filled the room after a brief silence. James pulled Rose closer to him, one hand holding hers against his chest as his other hand softly stroking her hair.
Rose sighed in content as she let her eyes fall closed and her head rest on his shoulder as they swayed slowly. She breathed in his scent; letting him fill all her senses; his quiet heartbeat that she could feel in his chest, his warm body close to hers.
"Rose?"
Rose could feel his voice in his chest, "Hm?"
"Rose, Will you marry me?" James asked as they drifted to a stop with the end of the song.
Rose's heart skipped a beat and she raised her head to look into his eyes, wanting to know for sure that he meant it. Rose kissed him softly, "yes she whispered."
Rose moved down the dim hall towards the soft golden glow of the room beyond. As she stepped into the room Rose drew in a breath in wonder at what she saw. A magnificent chandelier spilled warm light over the large room, the very outer edges of the light just stopping short of private tables and nooks that were separated with heavy velvet drapes, tied back to reveal beautiful tables. The tables were filled with people talking quietly in twos and threes or playing a variety of games; each table was softly lit with a small candelabra that hung from a nearby pillar. The sections of wall that was not taken up with rich velvet were lined with books, many of them worn and valuable. Along one wall ran a short bar which ended in a small recessed area that was occupied by a four piece band. The music that filled the room was slow and had a slightly jazzy edge to it. The middle of the room was taken up by a dance floor, the wood shining beautifully in the candle light.
After a slight hesitation Rose moved along the perimeter of the room towards the bar where she slid into a seat with relief. A moment later one of the three men that staffed the bar approached, "What can I get for you Miss?" he asked.
"Just some water for the moment please," Rose said, trying to keep her tone level.
The man nodded politely and moved away, returning a moment later with her water.
Rose gratefully accepted the water and sipped at it as she turned to look at the room; she was sure that this was the place, he had described it so well that even had she had never come here she was sure that she could have pictured it in her mind. Rose set her glass down and smoothed the skirt of her green dress, her eyes continuing to watch the room. A nearby grandfather clock struck nine o'clock, its deep resonant tones carrying through the room. As it finished chiming the hour Rose felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Rose smiled and turned to the man behind her.
Warm pale green eyes looked out of a handsome face, the barest hint of red stubble shadowed a strong jaw and a soft smiling mouth. Rose quickly looked him up and down, revealing a well cut suit that hung perfectly from his slender frame.
"Hi," he whispered, his mouth quirking into a half smile that sent shivers down Rose's back.
"Hi," she whispered back, leaning into his touch as he traced her jaw.
"I wasn't sure you would come," James said; he couldn't stop looking at her.
Rose didn't want to tell him just yet that she would always come when he called her.
"Will you dance with me?" James asked as he took her hand.
"Of course," Rose said and let him lead her to the dance floor.
A familiar song floated across the room as James pulled her into his arms and flowed smoothly into the waltz; Rose following his every movement, though her eyes never left his face. They had the whole floor to themselves and they took advantage of it, moving gracefully around the floor in time to the music.
As the song ended another filled the room after a brief silence. James pulled Rose closer to him, one hand holding hers against his chest as his other hand softly stroking her hair.
Rose sighed in content as she let her eyes fall closed and her head rest on his shoulder as they swayed slowly. She breathed in his scent; letting him fill all her senses; his quiet heartbeat that she could feel in his chest, his warm body close to hers.
"Rose?"
Rose could feel his voice in his chest, "Hm?"
"Rose, Will you marry me?" James asked as they drifted to a stop with the end of the song.
Rose's heart skipped a beat and she raised her head to look into his eyes, wanting to know for sure that he meant it. Rose kissed him softly, "yes she whispered."
Stand
I stand on the edge of the abyss; staring off into the blackness of the night and the darkness of my own soul. I can not see the future and the past is lost in the mists of time.
Shadows and dreams swirl around me; morphing and twisting, first beautiful then horrifying, tantalizing and repellent. I raise my hand to touch the future and there is nothing there, nothing to feel. I look in vain for anything to latch onto, anything to save me.
One wrong step and I fall to the enticing darkness; yet a shift the the right brings bliss; a dance along the razor edge of life. Is the price to high to pay for such darkness, or can I attain that promised joy?
Shadows and dreams swirl around me; morphing and twisting, first beautiful then horrifying, tantalizing and repellent. I raise my hand to touch the future and there is nothing there, nothing to feel. I look in vain for anything to latch onto, anything to save me.
One wrong step and I fall to the enticing darkness; yet a shift the the right brings bliss; a dance along the razor edge of life. Is the price to high to pay for such darkness, or can I attain that promised joy?
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