Hi everyone! I'm so sorry for this long due update! TT I'm currently quite busy with my non-writing commitments, but I'll try my best not to make you guys wait too long! Thank you for your patience and I hope this chapter makes it up to all of you ^^
Disclaimer: The latter part of this scene is adapted, with permission, from Miss Kitty DeMarco's story In Sheep's Clothing. The song, which I do not own, is Brian McKnight's Back at One
Without further ado, enjoy!
Chemistry: the branch of science concerned with the substances of which a matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances.
One thing that mesmerized Klaus during his first few years studying Chemistry was titration. He often found himself in awe when the solution turned into a different color when it reached the endpoint. It was nothing special, he'd know later, but it still fascinated him.
Now a perfumer, he sometimes fell back to his titration method while mixing concentrates together. The endpoint in this case would not be the point where the acid or alkali was completely neutralized, but the point where a new, derivative scent could be drawn from the two concentrates. As a perfumer, Klaus indeed specialized in fixing derivative scents, which made his scents had an added depth, lending to its complexity.
"Klaus,"
He turned and it appeared that Iris was already standing behind him with arms crossed. Her dress today was slightly more elaborate that her daily ones and she put her hair into a neat bun instead of letting it loose. "You know what day is today, do you not?"
Klaus glanced at the calendar. "Right," he mused. "Music Festival."
She smiled. "Let's get going, mister."
They walked over to the dining room and Klaus was surprised to find that Iris was not alone after all. Raelyn rose up from her seat and bowed politely. "Hello," she greeted.
Klaus noticed that Raelyn was dressing up today—must be courtesy of Iris. The woman indeed had her fun in dressing the younger lady up; he remembered Iris mentioned how Raelyn had the same body shape—whatever it could mean—with her, hence it was easy to find the dresses that would match her.
Today, Raelyn wore a soft yellow dress with sleeves that covered her upper arms. Just like the dress she wore back in spring, the sleeves were made from a slightly transparent material: enough for him to see the outlines of her toned arms. The skirt reached just right below her knees and she wore a matching pair of pumps. Her hair was put into a braid that she draped on her left shoulder; Klaus did notice that Raelyn had a preference to use her left hand.
"Um… I told Miss Iris that this was not necessary," she stuttered. "I mean, well…"
Her voice snapped Klaus back to reality and he finally realized that he had been improperly staring at her, embarrassing the already shy girl. "Ah, I apologize," he said immediately. "I must have made you feel uncomfortable."
"N-no!" she blushed furiously. "Well, I…"
"Sorry to interrupt," Iris said. "As much as I love to see your adorably sweet interaction to one another, we might need to make our way very soon to get the best spots."
Iris' suggestion was met by a quick agreement from the other parties; Klaus pretended not to notice her teasing while poor Raelyn blushed even more at her words. It was adorable, he must admit—never had he seen someone like her.
Klaus opened the door and allowed the two ladies to make their way first. Mistel, just like any other year, would be performing so he should already be there since morn.
"Raelyn, have you met Agate?" Iris asked on the way.
"Yes, Madam Veronica introduced us."
"She's back?" Klaus asked. "I've never seen her around."
"That's because you're too busy with your test tubes and Erlenmeyer flasks."
"Well, it's a new season."
Klaus then found that Raelyn was staring at him intently. "But, you are well, are you not?" she asked earnestly. Her tone was so sincere that he couldn't suppress his smile at that.
"I am, Raelyn," he said. "Thanks for your concern."
They reached the Trade Depot at the same time with Fritz-Raeger duo. From the looks of their face, Klaus could tell that they were mesmerized by Raelyn's appearance.
"Woah, Raelyn! You look soooo pretty!" Fritz said. "We really hafta dance!"
"Dance…?"
"After the concert, there would be a dance," Raeger explained. "A bachelorette's first dance is important, if you know what I mean." He smiled suggestively at the end of his sentence, sending another rush of blush to her cheeks.
His protective instincts—or what he would like to think as such—kicked in, but thankfully he could keep it at bay.
In the end, he sat together with Iris and Agate while Raelyn sat on the bench in front of his, between Fritz and Raeger, placing her directly in front of Iris. Before the concert started, Iris leaned over to him and whispered:
"Do you want to do the dance… slightly differently this year?"
Each year, Klaus and Iris would give their first dance to each other—hence the speculations of them dating. Iris was a marvelous partner; they had danced together for years that they understood each other's gestures and sometimes just one look to each other's eyes was all they needed.
"By differently, you mean?"
"Different partner, of course," she smiled teasingly. "Like Raeger said, a bachelorette's first dance is important, especially this is her first dance in this town, literally."
Klaus glanced over to Raelyn's—her back profile, to be exact. She seemed to have a conversation with Raeger, too, but he couldn't tell what they were talking about. "There is Raeger," he noted. "I reckon he'd be more than happy to be her first partner… and Fritz, too."
"Aw, I can take care of them if you want me to," Iris told him. "Don't make lame excuses. Do you or do you not want it?"
"Well…"
Without waiting for him any longer, Iris leaned over to the other side and whispered something to Agate. The latter nodded a few times and grinned. "Leave it to me!" he could hear her say.
After the concert was concluded, they moved the benches to the side. All the musicians stayed on stage together with another man that would be the singer. He had been the singer two years ago too, and Klaus remembered many were mesmerized by his voice.
The piano started playing and Klaus recognized it almost immediately. Iris, true to her words, walked over to Raeger and asked him for a dance. He didn't seem to expect the offer, but ever the gentleman, he accepted it graciously and they became the first couple to grace the dance floor to the surprise of many. At that time, Agate approached Fritz and soon, they were dancing, too.
Slowly, the center of the Depot was filled by couples dancing to the romantic song. Giorgio and Marian was the third couple, followed by Lillie and a young man he occasionally saw in town visiting her. Iris passed over to where he was and glanced meaningfully, before directing her eyes to Raelyn.
He glanced at her, standing alone watching the others dancing to the song. Finally, Klaus gathered up his courage—more than he was willing to admit—and walked up to her.
"Would you like to dance with me?"
She held her breath and looked at him, her round, deep wine eyes reflecting her disbelief. After some moments, however, she took his hand and they glided together to the center of the Depot just in time with the chorus. He put his free hand lightly on the curve of her waist while she draped hers on his shoulder—their height difference prevented her to put it on his shoulder blade.
One, you're like a dream come true
Two, just wanna be with you
Three, girl it's plain to see that you're the only one for me
And four, repeat steps one to three
(Klaus chuckled at this; it really sounded like a typical instruction in the later part of a titration.)
Five, make you fall in love with me
If I ever believe my work is done
Then I'll start back at one
He looked into his face, studying her features. Somehow, it just felt right to share this dance, to this song, with her. Of course, it felt nothing like dancing with Iris, she occasionally stumbled. He held her hand slightly tighter, but still gently, so every time she was about to fall, he was there to hold her up. She slowly relaxed herself in his arms and they moved even more smoothly.
He enjoyed this dance, more than he could ever imagine. That moment, nothing mattered to him: not the fact that he had more submissions to go, not the fact that she was born during his most rebellious period, not the fact that people were looking at him, at this unlikely couple.
She was here, with him, and she felt right in his arms. It needed some polishing, but it felt like he found the piece of puzzle that fit just right in his life.
He might have a good idea of what it was.
"It's chemistry…" he mused, louder than he expected.
She looked up quizzically at him. "Chemistry?" she asked in a low voice.
He took a moment to ponder as to how he should respond, now that she had heard him. Finally, he settled with the word: "Us."
She beamed into a smile as a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "Us," she echoed, and he knew it couldn't be any truer than that.
Chemistry: the complex emotional or psychological interaction between people.
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