Chapter 10:
Marie POV
The room was full of silence, not the 'somebody just died type of silence', but the awkward silence. One of the most awkward moments I have every been dragged into in my life. I stood in the corner quietly while Summer stared at Erin with pure disbelief pouring from her eyes.
"YOU'RE breaking up with ME?" Summer hissed towards Erin clenching her fists at her side.
"I'm not trying to hurt you! I just think that you and Raoul are perfect for each other. He's so lost without you Summer. Think about how happy you were..." Erin trailed off with a sudden spark in his. He new exactly how to convince her to go back with Raoul... By using the thing Summer craved most. Drama. "Summer Rains, I Erin Destler am not the one for you. For it is Raoul that has your heart Madam!" Erin waved his arm in the dramatically like he was reciting a Shakespearean monologue. "His tears of love, and grief cannot stay within his eyes no more!"
"R-Really? He cares that much?"
"Yes. He really does.." Summer started at Erin for what felt like forever, then she stood up fixing her posture. Summer would rather be dead than look unconfident in herself.
"You're right Erin. We had chemistry once, but that time is over. Raoul is the one who loves me. He deserves me."
"Exactly! So we're all good?" Erin flashed a grin, and twitched his fingers nervously hoping for this conversation to be over.
"Good!" Erin and I sighed full of relief looking at each other waiting to see what one of us would say next. A few days ago Erin, and I had admitted that we liked each other. Erin was found of the idea, and eagerly agreed to break up with Summer. So now here we both were with Summer out of the picture, and neither of us really knew what to do or say. Five minutes ago I would have been able to tell you with confidence that Erin, and I will work perfectly. But now... Staring at him.. I'm not sure anymore. Hoping for the best is all I could do. Plus Erin is a sweet man, and hasn't done anything to convince me otherwise. I broke my thought process when Erin stared back over to Summer to say something.
"That's great! Because well.. Marie and I are together now." Erin slowly walked over to me taking my hand. He never broke his eye contact with Summer on the way. As awkward as this conversation was I couldn't help but smile brightly at Erin.
"Oh." Summer stammered. "Uh, I'll just leave you two alone now." Summer turned around to leave the room making sure to eye Erin. I wasn't sure what that look meant, all I knew is that Erin was eagerly staring at her back. Was Summer really okay with Erin and I? More importantly, was Erin really okay with Erin and I?
"So Marie?" I snapped my head away from watching the door to face Erin, giving him a gentle smile.
"Yes?"
"Want to go out to dinner tonight?"
"Of course. Is seven okay at that little cafe by the opera house?"
"Yes! I'll see you at seven then!" Erin winked squeezing my hand before I turned around, and walked out the door. Dinner date. That reminded me of a person who I hadn't thought about in a long time... Jacob.
7:30 PM. One of the longest thirty minutes of my life. I stared across the table at Erin as he played with the fork sitting next to his plate.
"Sooo..." I started gently taking the fork from his hand. Erin jerked his head as if he was snapped out of whatever his mind wondered off to.
"What's your opinion on marriage or kids?" Marriage or kids? I completely froze just looking at him. How was I supposed to answer this question? Who asks that on a first date? No matter what I say some how it will bite me in the butt. The only time marriage was ever brought to my attention was when Jacob proposed to me. Even then as much as I loved him, I still panicked. I twisted my head down to look at the table then back up at Erin finally opening my mouth to speak.
"We'll I've never really considered marriage or kids.. I guess I'll know when the right person comes along." Alright that sounds good... I think.
"Yeah... This isn't working out..." What.
"What."
"This isn't working out." My mouth gaped open as I completely eyed Erin in disbelief.
"What do you mean it's not working out? We've been on one date!" I glanced around the room motioning to restaurant we were sitting in. "You know what, not even one date. One fourth of a date."
"I know. I know. I'm sorry.. It's just.. The spark, I can't feel it."
"You kissed me remember?"
"Of course. It was there then, but now... I can't explain it." As angry as I was at him, I couldn't help but completely understand what he meant. These thirty minutes we shared were awkward. Almost as if we were under pressure, but I still liked him and I wasn't okay with giving up this easily.
"Erin, if there was a spark once we might be able to find it again. If we look hard enough." Erin met his gaze with mine carefully telling me he was listening. "We just have to think back to that moment when there was a spark. I don't want to just give up so soon.." Erin nodded, and tried his best to slightly smile at me.
"You're right. We should start by getting out of this restaurant." Erin grinned his word famous grin, and set some money down on the old table. As we both turned to get up, we were startled by the sound of fierce thunder coming from outside the small restaurant. I smiled widely as I looked outside to see steady plump raindrops falling from the sky.
"Come on!" I giggled, and practically raced out of the restaurant to the rain. When I turned to face Erin he was trying to use his coat for cover from the water soon to realize it was no use, and simply let the water drizzle all over him. The sky was dark with just that small hint of left over sunlight covers by the dark, gray, and almost beautiful clouds. Erin was now smiling at the sky, it was a sight that made me smile in return.
"Do you know how to dance?" I broke the silence between us, and walked over closer to him.
"Me? Oh hell no."
"It's easy! I can teach you."
"Right now? In the rain?" Erin was laughing now, but not rejecting the idea.
"Hmm... Why not?" He just shrugged, and held out his hand for me to take. "Alright we'll just try a waltz."
"Aww.. What about the tango?" Erin asked as he did his own little tango dance. A very bad impression of a tango dance that is.
"Ehh. Let's not. Now let us waltz. Okay first take my hand in yours. Now you put your other hand on my waist, and my other hand goes on your shoulder." Erin looked at me like a little boy learning how to tie his shoes. I couldn't help but laugh. "Okay now it's actually very easy. You just visualize the box pattern of the waltz. The boy always leads, and you just move your left foot in a box pattern and I follow you. Great! Now you start adding all the extra wow factor." Erin spun me around gracefully, then brought me back in for a dip. We looked in each others eyes, and both choked up. He quickly let go of me, and I looked away. "Great.. See you can dance!" Erin chuckled quietly both of us avoiding eye contact.
"Yeah.. Thanks Marie."
"I should probably be heading home now. I have a long day of dance tomorrow."
"I should too. Well, that was fun. Goodnight. I'll be up at the Opera House tomorrow. I'll see you then." We restored eye contact for a moment until Erin wrapped an arm around me for a hug.
"Goodnight Erin." I smiled down sheepishly, and he waved goodbye before walking away. When I looked around the street I noticed the rain had stopped pouring. Perfect for me since my house wasn't that far away. It was beautiful night anyway. Paris always found away to be beautiful no matter where you're standing. Watching the passing people, and carriages I navigated down the street. Paris was filled with so many different types of people. The more I was out the more I enjoyed it. I felt as if there was an entire life out there calling my name, and I couldn't resist it. I was worried about how things with Erin will turn out, but for a moment I stopped to think about life. That is until I heard a familiar voice coming from the alley way down the street. My ears snapped towards the voice.. It sounded just like Erik, but Erik wasn't alone. I stopped my thinking, and dashed over to where I heard the voice. I could see the edge of a white mask, and slicked back dark hair as I got closer to the voice. I was right it was Erik! I ran faster towards him only to stop dead in my tracks when I saw who was stand across from him. "Dad..?