Count Dracula's Tradition
AN: Thanks for your reviews and such! hope you like it! :P
For entertainment only! :P
Chapter 7: Dance with the Masked Man
Daniel and Claire walked into the hall where the party was. Daniel's heart was pounding in his chest wanting to run away, but he knew there was no turning back. He finally convinced himself to be here and he had to stick through and tell Betty how sorry he was and how he felt. He took a deep breath wondering how he was going to not pass out.
"Relax sweetheart" Claire said in an amused, yet reassuring tone as they made their way inside. He let out that breath he took forgetting he even held his breath. "I feel like I'm going to collapse"
She laughed at his dramatics. "Oh quit it! You sound like a girl!" she said teasingly. He glared at her. "Mom, come on. Geez. I haven't seen her in months which felt like years. How do you expect me to feel?"
"Now think about that Daniel. This is how you feel now. Think of how..."
He interrupted her before she could continue "Just stop, ok? I'm here now, aren't I? Just let me handle this now." he said upset. She looked at him apologetically. Daniel went to the bar and got a drink taking it in one swig. He took a deep breath and that was stupid because his breath was automatically taken away when he saw Betty walking in. Her uncovered eyes, her sleek shiny wavy hair, and that beyond beautiful brace-less smile of hers, Betty looked like a goddess. He gasped at the sight of her. His heart started racing, he felt the blood rush through his veins, and he nearly missed the countertop as he was putting down his glass, but Claire came next to him with an amused smile grabbing it before it slipped.
"God, she's gorgeous" He couldn't believe how breath-taking she looked. "Why didn't you tell me she looked so amazing now?"
"Would you have loved her any less if I hadn't?"
"No" he responded unable to take his eyes off her as she walked through the room with Abbey. "Exactly, so I didn't feel a need to disclose that"
He smirked and looked at her for a brief second not really wanting to take his eyes off Betty for even a split second. He turned his gaze back to Betty. God Betty, you deserve better than me. How could I be so stupid? He thought to himself. I hope you can forgive me.
As Betty and Abbey walked in Betty felt butterflies all over. She had the strangest feeling. She started to turn back when Abbey grabbed her arm "Oh where do you think you're going, missy?"
"Abbey..." she sighed "I don't know if I can do this." Her eyes skipped around the room as she took a deep breath and then looked back at Abbey. "I feel weird."
"That's just nerves. You'll loosen up. It's a party for goodness sake. Chill girl!" she said with a grin making Betty laugh at her attempt to sound American.
Abbey grabbed her arm and pulled her along to get some drinks to loosen her up. As they made their way to the bar, Daniel and Claire panicked. "Shit, mom, go somewhere" he said through his teeth. Claire walked away blending in the crowd of people. Daniel turned his back just as they approached right next to him. Daniel's heart nearly came out of his body. Betty was standing right next to him.
"Come on, Betty. Just relax" Abbey said and then ordered them two drinks. Betty looked to her side getting only sight of Daniel's back, just the sight of the cape made Betty want to scream. She looked back at Abbey. "Abbey, I'm going to die!"
"You're not going to die, silly! You're so dramatic!" She handed Betty the shot of alcohol.
Daniel glanced at them and smiled. Just hearing her voice and having her next to him, he knew he was an idiot for not coming here sooner.
Betty drank it in one gulp. She winced at the strength of it hitting her senses. She let out a deep breath. "I feel like I'm going to faint. Is it hot in here?" she said. "Another shot!" she ordered the bartender.
Abbey laughed "Oh God Betty! You're nuts, luv!" she grabbed her arm and pulled her along just as she drank that shot and slammed it back on the countertop. Daniel leaned back along the counter and looked at them smiling. Still my Betty, he thought.
Abbey and Betty ended up talking to a few co-workers, Abbey slipped out her phone and txt Daniel. "Where the bloody hell are you?"
Daniel heard his phone beep and took it out. He laughed and responded "I'm at the bar. I saw you and Betty."
In a minute she looked up and a huge smile graced her face as he waved to her with a rather charming smile. She looked down at her phone, when Betty looked at her curiously. "Who are you texting?" she asked curiously. Abbey looked up moving her phone from her sight. "nobody!"
Betty looked at her skeptically. "Oh alright, an old friend said he was going to stop by later. I was just wondering what costume he was going to wear so I'll know it's him."
Betty looked at her intently.
"Stop it!" Abbey said hating it when Betty did that to her. Betty laughed "So, what's his costume?" she asked.
"He's going to be a...uh...Zorro!" She said at the top of her head. Betty nodded "oh-kay" she still looked at her suspiciously, but let it go. Abbey text him back quickly so Betty wouldn't see. "Why the heck didn't you make a move?"
"It wasn't the right time yet."
"As long as you do it right!" she responded. "I plan on it!" he sent back.
"Abbey!" someone called making both Betty and Abbey look to see who was calling her. "Jon!" Abbey ran up to him in surprise, doubly surprised that he was dressed in the costume that she just told Betty and was indeed an old friend. She hugged him tight. "Come meet my friend" Abbey pulled him along to Betty. "Betty, Jon. Jon, Betty."
Jon was wearing a Zorro costume, his blond hair pushed back in a hair tie, his mask hanging around his neck and he had such amazing eyes that seemed brown, but had hints of green, and was extremely attractive. Betty smiled "Nice to meet you, Jon!"
"Likewise, luv" he said taking her hand and kissing it. Betty felt her cheeks warm up. Abbey smiled at her boss.
Jon looked back to Abbey. "Care to dance, AB?"
"Wow, my nephew calls me that" Betty said in surprise. Jon looked at her with a smirk. "Really?"
Betty nodded. "Short for Aunt Betty" she giggled making both Abbey and Jon laugh. "Well, then, I'll have to call her something else, huh?" he said with a smirk. Betty shrugged. "No that's fine."
Abbey grabbed his arm "I'd love to dance" He smiled looking at her and held her hand and walked her to where there were some people dancing. As they walked over Abbey looked back at Betty with a happy smile and wink. Betty laughed shaking her head.
"Betty, darling" Betty smiled knowing who's voice that was she turned around and hugged him tight "Max! How are you? I didn't think you'd be back from Italy so soon" next to Marc, Max was like the nice version of him; he even looked somewhat like Marc. It was scary. He was dressed as a rather glamorous cowboy.
"'I'm wonderful luv. You look stunning. Who are you supposed to be?"
"Uh...Esmerelda. Like from Hunchback of Notre Dame"
"Ohhh...great. I can see it now." He noticed she looked sad all the sudden. "What's the matter, luv?" he asked bringing his arm around her.
Claire walked up to Daniel seeing the expression on his face. She stood next to him looking to where he was looking to see Betty with Max. She looked back at Daniel "Don't worry, dear. He's gay. He worked at Betty's magazine."
She saw that he automatically relaxed. He sighed leaning against the counter watching her for a few moments. He couldn't believe he was seeing Betty after so long. He felt his chest tighten.
Betty told Max why she suddenly became upset, a tear slipping down her face. "Aw, there, there, Betty" Max hugged her warmly. He moved back and took her hand "Dance with me, Betty. We're not going to let you be miserable because some moron couldn't see how amazing you are."
Betty looked at him with tears beginning to form. She smiled and held her hand out. He smiled and took it happily pulling her along to the dance floor. Max was like magic. Whenever she felt down all she had to do was find him and he always cheered her up. She already found herself having fun and the sadness slip away.
Daniel watched her loving the smile on her face. He was not going to mess this up. He had to have that smile back in his life. He had to make sure never to hurt her ever again. He had to go over there right now. He looked to his mom and smiled. She rubbed his back. He took a breath and started in Betty's direction, his heart racing faster with each step closer he took.
Betty laughed as Max spun her into him "how do you know how to dance so well, Max?" she asked in surprise. "I'm fabulous, darling."
She giggled and was spun in a few circles. Daniel walked up smiling the whole way just because she was smiling. He loved how her skirt twirled with her.
Max loosened his grip on her hand and let her go. She spun once and was met with a hard body and an arm around her waist. She looked up in surprise at the masked person who caught her.
Max was about to walk up to them when Abbey grabbed him back.
Betty was looking at the masked man frozen in place, feeling like her heart was stuck in her throat.
Daniel just smiled taking her hand and started dancing with her never removing his eyes from hers. Betty felt butterflies everywhere. She felt that pull to him like a magnet. She knew she was crazy thinking she was dancing with Daniel. There was no way; it was probably just a figment of her imagination like before. Sure he was wearing a mask that covered most of his face, but she knew those eyes of his anywhere. She slowly moved her hand to his face. His eyes closed at her touch. God, he felt so real.
Daniel felt his skin tingle at her touch. He kissed her hand and then twirled her around so her back was pressed against his chest, his arms encircling her waist. Betty sunk into him a bit, his breath tickling her neck. His hand started to brush up her arm giving her all sorts of tingles and butterflies.
Claire walked up to Abbey and Max who were standing just a short distance away.
Abbey and Max smiled seeing her. "Think she knows it's him?" Abbey asked Claire. "No. She probably thinks she's imagining him."
"Is that the chap that didn't say bye to her?" Max asked curiously leaning close to Abbey. Abbey and Claire nodded.
He twirled her back around so she was facing him again, one arm hugging her waist against his body and his hand moving up to her face, tracing a finger along her jawline and down her neck to her collar all while looking into her eyes. She felt like she was under a spell. She couldn't escape his eyes. She moved her hands up along his chest, one hand coming up to his cheek again. She was about to touch the mask, but she stepped back and turned to leave. This was too real. He grabbed her hand stopping her from going anywhere "Betty..."
AN: EEPSS! :D
