Chapter 4 Enzo's Story

The dance had a mascaraed theme, making everyone wear mask to hide who they are. There was laughter, loud music, flashing lights, and an atmosphere of mystery from the identity's of fellow classmates being slightly hidden.

Damon and Enzo enter the dance dressed the part. Damon hands Enzo the flask he had in his pocket. Enzo was not acting rational and even though Damon was really getting under his skin, making him want to strangle him, he could not deny Damon's loyalty. Damon was a good friend and whatever crazy mission Enzo had set his mind on Damon was right by his side, following blindly without asking any questions and ready to defend his friend at any given moment even if he wasn't sure what reasoning he was defending.

This made Enzo feel guilty and so he washed away some of the nasty feeling with a heavy swig of whisky from the flask. Enzo caught himself wondering if he was maybe just selfish and not meant to be good, but if there was nothing good in him why would Damon wish to be his friend? And Ashley…

He had to find the girl. Damon and Enzo descended upon the crowd, smoothly walking through the students with an air of confidence that would make no one question if they belonged. They stood tall and strong as there eyes searched the crowd. They walked over to a large punch bowl.

"Wow this is an impressive turnout. There has to be at least a thousand students here," Damon takes note while examining the crowd. "It appears to me the only way to find your girl would be to split up and dance through the crowd," Damon says with a smile. He knew Enzo was not there to have fun, but that was not going to stop him from trying to have a little fun.

Damon walked away, grabbing the hand of the first girl standing alone in the crowd. He spun her around, making her giggle and swiftly danced with her, guiding her body through the crowd. Enzo rolled his eyes at his friend but knew he was right so he decided to do the same. He turned to a girl standing with two others to his left. He took her hand and kissed the top of it, making her blush. He was very good at making girls like him… most girls at least. There has been a few his charm did not work out like he had planned on, one being the girl he searched for now.

The music changed and Enzo continued changing dance partners, spinning giggling girls as his eyes searched the crowd. The masks made it a little more difficult to recognize faces, but he felt confident one glance at those eyes and he would know it was Ashley immediately.

Enzo continued to spat pointless small talk with each girl he dance with and after an hour felt bored and discouraged. Maybe Ashley wasn't even here and this had been all for nothing.

The song changed again, making people switched dance partners is a twirl. A girl in a deep purple gown spun into his arms. He only slightly caught her, almost dropping her as he debated leaving and giving up on this ridiculous plan.

"Well you are not the best dance partner are you?"

And there is was… that voice…

Enzo froze. He could not believe it. He had found her and almost even dropped her. He did not win the romantic first impressions with this one.

"Sorry love, my mind was elsewhere but I'm back," Enzo explains playfully, feeling uneasy all of a sudden.

"Well sorry to interrupt you and your wondering thoughts, but a dance floor requires some attention to the dancing part. Might not be the best place to stand lost in thought. Might I recommend abandoned room," Ashley speaks teasingly, with a little annoyance in her voice. "I'll leave you with your thoughts."

Ashley turns to leave but Enzo grabs her in a panic. If he loses her now he doesn't know if he will be able to find her again and he hasn't been able to figure out if she remembered him. A part of him was holding on to the excuse she couldn't recognize him with a mask on. He so hoped that's the reason why he hadn't seen any recognition in her eyes yet.

"Wait, please don't go. I am sorry. That was rude of me. May I please have this next dance and make up for my ugly actions?"

Ashley paused debating whether to give her mysterious dance partner a second chance. The sincerity in Enzo's voice was clear. He meant what he said he was not playing games.

"One more song, but than I have leave and check up on the other student's."

Enzo got his chance. He starred at her eyes desperately trying to see if she showed any flicker of recognition starring back. Nothing.

"Are you trying to turn me into stone by starring at me so hard with those eyes?" Ashley questioned Enzo.

So it was true. She would never remember him from that night. The hope inside his chest disappeared, turning into agony.

"Sorry it's just… you remind me of someone I met that's all," defeat was clear in Enzo's voice and this triggered Ashley's curiosity.

"Well I hope you gave that person a better time dancing than me," Ashley teased. "And for the record you might dance better if you get your mind out of being stuck in the past and exist in the present."

"The cheesy advice that is not nearly as easily done as it is said."

"Or maybe you are just not trying hard enough. If you want something bad enough you can achieve it, no matter how hard it is. If you don't want it enough you'll find an excuse."

"If only it was that easy love, but life is not filled with rainbows and unicorns for everyone like yours," Enzo's words trigger Ashley to step back angrily.

"Listen, you have no idea who I am or what my story is. Do not come here acting like you know me…"

"See that's where you're wrong," Enzo interrupts Ashley.

"What? Whatever. I am not getting into this. I have no memory of ever meeting you and if you knew anything about me you would know my life has been the furthest thing from a fairytale. I don't even know what I am doing explaining myself to some stranger," Ashley throws her hands up as she talks and walks away.

Enzo watches her walk away in shock. What did he just do? She was right though. He did not know what kind of life she had. He just assumed that she was compassionate and kind because she must have not dealt with anything bad to harden her, make her cold like him.

She did not remember him, but he now felt guilty for hurting her. She might not remember her actions but she did risk her life to save his. He needed to figure out a way to make up for insulting her. Than he would try and leave her be….. But he could not see that his intentions for the first time in a long time were slightly selfless. Ashley's memory did not have the power to save Enzo. Ashley did.