All of the speeches were done in just an hour which Nova appreciated greatly. Because now they could relax. Because now the dance would start and people will be busy doing just that; dance.
Mark's retirement speech wasn't emotional, at all, if Nova said so herself. His speech was light, playful and full of hope. He didn't seem very sad about the fact that he was retiring, instead he seemed happy that his son - Mr. Adams or Mr. Adam Watson for everyone else - was taking a hold of the firm.
Mr. Adams had a speech as well on which Nova accompanied him just to be standing there and smiling. Though she did say some of her words herself because, of course, she wasn't just going to be a trophy wife - or even fiance for that matter. People clapped and the atmosphere seemed welcoming and she hoped that in her workplace as well, people would be welcoming because only then could she do the work she was actually supposed to be doing.
Many couples and business owners came their way to congratulate them for the engagement. The congratulating was in series if she was right in noticing that. People would come and congratulate them for the engagement, drop a compliment or two on their rings, then they would wish Derek a good luck and after some funny jokes at last they would settle on how Nova was still so young and so was Derek and how did this happen without the media knowing.
Their answer to all of those who asked these questions was the same and for the one at the last, Nova would look at Derek, he would look at her and they would smile at each other while Derek would pull her towards him a little by her waist. That left the ones who asked in awe and drop a compliment and best wishes. And she was now exhausted - repetition does that to people.
"See him?" Derek suddenly appeared beside her handing her a glass of wine and sipping on his.
Nova took it and then shook her head, "Not yet, no." She knew who he was referring to because unconsciously, she'd been looking for him too.
Derek was about to say something when her parents appeared in front of them. Derek settled on not saying anything at all.
"Could I borrow our daughter for a minute, Derek? So that we can talk about you, of course," her mother said with lightness in her tone and her laugh at the end indicating that she was just kidding.
"Sure, Ms. Newton. I was just going to get the drinks," he said, smiling at them all.
Before going, he bent down to her ear and whispered: "I will look for him. You do too," and when he was finished she nodded with a smile and dropped a kiss on his cheek. Right where his scar was fading into his skin. Again.
She felt him tense for just a fraction of a second but then he nodded as well. With pursed lips, and dropping a kiss on her head, he went on with his work.
When he walked away Nova turned her eyes towards her parents. He mother's expression was very confusing because she almost had a straight face. Almost because there was a tiny smile that was hiding on her lips which could mean anything - in a positive way or a negative way. Her father, however, did not seem like he was having a good time in the party. But before she could ask him what was wrong he beat her to it.
"That is Mark's son?" He asked sounding angry. Nova's eyebrows furrowed at that but she didn't let go of the smile, just like her mother.
"Yes, Dad, why? What's the ma - "
"What's the matter? Did you see that scar on his face? That... huge thing resting on his face that you just kissed? And tell me Nova, did you know he was the person who lived across your house? The very same one that we told you to stay away from? And what do you do? You go ahead and start living with him! And let's not forget the engagement!" Her dad's voice was thankfully low, no one could hear him except if they paid too much attention and if they were standing closer. Nova could only hope no one actually heard him because then that would be pretty problematic.
She knew something would go wrong the moment her parents met Derek, but she increased the possibility by not making sure that whatever goes down, it goes down in private and not in a hall full of people.
"Dad, he's -"
"Do not. Tell me, Nova, is he even an officer? Don't get me wrong now, I trust you, but I do not trust him. And who knows-" he cut himself off, maybe whatever he was going to say, he realised, that this was neither the time nor the place to say it. Thankfully though, this whole thing was spoken so low that no one could hear it. No one except the ones who stood right beside him: her mother and Nova herself.
"We will have this conversation later," her father said heaving a deep breath. And with that she went away to where Derek went, suddenly wanting to be closer to him.
She'd been walking through the crowd looking for Derek when suddenly her hand was pulled to the corner. And when she looked up she looked into Blue eyes. Derek's Blue eyes.
"De-"
"Sh..." He shushed her and put his palm over her mouth. Nova's brows furrowed again, then shot up, trying to find answers in his eyes. He stood so close, his face even closer and his eyes when looked into hers seemed like they were transferring the water that they held into her brown ones. His eyes were cautious, Nova noticed after having looking for answers. He wouldn't look at her for more than a second either. His gaze wandering behind her and around them, as if trying to locate something. Or someone.
Nova parted her lips a little against his hand that had covered hers. That had his attention and he removed his palm away from her mouth and rested it on the side of her head against the wall Derek had pushed her. It was now that Nova took notice of where his other hand was; on her waist.
"Where?" She asked him in a soft voice, she assumed they weren't to be noticed and so she played along.
"Here, just a minute ago."
She nodded and looked to her right, trying to spot him if she could. But she didn't see anyone of that same build or height. She turned her head to the other side just when Derek was moving his as well and their faces almost collided but... they didn't.
Nova tilted her head sideways so as to not bump her head straight into Derek's cheekbones. And as she did so, her eyes caught sight of his lips. It was probably the first time she noticed his lips, from such a close distance, too, that she felt as if she was committing a crime. She immediately pulled her gaze away from Derek's lips and towards his eyes and when she caught his on hers already, she had a sudden urge to gulp.
"I-"
"And now it's time for the dance to begin!"
That had them both looking down and maintaining a distance that definitely was missing just a second ago.
"Come on," taking a tight hold of her hand, Derek lead her towards the dancefloor.
"Wait, what?"
There was no point in protesting. They were already too close to the dance floor. Even if they hadn't themselves volunteered for the first dance, Nova was sure they would have been dragged to do it anyway.
The music began, and Nova took position, preparing herself mentally for whatever that went down with the dance. She knew how to dance, of course, but she didn't have to just dance this time. She had to make people believe that she wanted to dance. Wanted to dance with Derek. All the while still keeping an eye out for the man.
Positioning her hands on him and feeling his on her made some kind of sensation to stir deep in her stomach. It was like when you feel nervous, but not quite. She was sure if she let go of her emotional guard her eyes would be open wide, blinking rapidly, mouth open too, trying to get as much air in gulps as she could. But she remained in her character, not once letting it go.
Everything was, however, forgotten when Derek tightened his hold on her waist and began moving first to the music. How smooth and gracious he was must be a sight for the ones witnessing it. For Nova, it was a new source of confidence.
She straightened her back slightly and began moving in sync with him. Eyes on each other, in a daze, they moved. How naturally it came to both of them was surprising but it was a good kind of surprise. It made pretending easier because it didn't feel like acting at all. They could be doing this all night and it still wouldn't be enough. Hands on each other with not even a breath's space parting their bodies. Eyes staring into one another's, lost in the present as if it were a dream.
They were gliding across the dancefloor it seemed, because Nova felt like she was flying. But they weren't, it was just their minds playing tricks on them, maybe their hearts were involved too but she didn't feel like taking her brain there at the moment.
The music changed and this time two more couples made their way to join them; both of their parents. Soon others joined them as well and now they weren't the centre of the attention anymore. They weren't even in the centre of the dancefloor because that place was now taken by Derek's parents. His dad looked very happy, his mother blushed when he sang the lyrics to her all the while still dancing.
Her eyes looked around for her parents and she found them right beside Derek's, dancing as well. Her dad looked like he could be doing anything else but dance while her mum looked like she was finally rid of the tensions of the world. She said something to her husband and that had a small smile play on his lips. Now they both looked like they were having a good time. Nova felt a kind of relief on seeing that and she sighed.
But her relief was short-lived because the man they had been looking for all night was here. In the party and on the dance floor. With a blonde girl whose face wasn't towards Nova.
Her hold on Derek tightened almost instinctively, so as to make him aware that something was important. He caught the signal but when he said 'I know,' Nova wanted to take her eyes off the man and look at him instead. If he knew, why had he been just dancing? Weren't they supposed to do something about him?
"Well then wh-"
"The partners are going to be exchanged. We're close enough. All you have to do is catch his hand and start dancing with him. I'm sure you can figure out the rest. Any minute now, be prepared."
Just as Nova nodded, the music took a high note that felt as if meant to create anticipation in a horror movie. A whirlwind of people began around her and Derek pushed her away in circles from him, giving a kind of assuring squeeze to the hand that he still held until he let go of it.
She saw the blonde girl, going in circles towards Derek. And then she knew that the person who held her hand was the man they had been looking for.
The whirlwind stopped, the music soft again, people smiling at their new partners and falling in sync to the dance and rhythm of the music.
Nova held her gaze up, to look at the guy and she knew it was him.
"Hello, there," he said, his brown eyes twinkling in a manner that seemed as if he was trying to be charming. His hands, though held her loosely, it still seemed to bother her for some reason. But she put on a sweet smile, stood straighter and greeted back: "Hey to you, too, Tim."
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A.N:
I'm late, guys. I know, but I told y'all that I was sick! Annnd I went to a wedding. Wasn't great but, you know, meh.
Anyways, I hope THIS chapter right here makes it up for it ;)
Tell me if I'm doing it right, you guys. Haven't really been a pro at writing hot stuff lol. If you can even call this that.
Ciao for now, can't tell when I'll be updating next, though i hope it's soon :)
Read, comment, vote, share, add, but most importantly? Enjoy!
-Z.