Torn
Part 21: Tango
A few days passed, Lailie staying in the Shadow Wolves Cave and almost never leaving Mace's room. Kipcha and Mace's only living relative Suna would bring her regular meals. She was becoming a bit depressed after finally remembering she was attacked by Jack. She didn't want to go home now, and the Pack counsel had agreed to let her stay for as long as she needed. It had been 3 days since Lailie had even seen Mace during the day. The only time she saw him was when they went to sleep on the large bunk bed that replaced Mace's normal bed. Crimson and her Dress were returned to her one morning by Kipcha, who was nursing a bleeding bite in her palm. This was probably the only happy moment Lailie had in the days in the Realm. She was alone most of the time, so she took up her time writing poems in a black diary given to her by Suna or playing with Crimson.
And then a week went by….. Missing signs had gone up all over the place. Even the Shadow Realm. Now, this was a problem for Lailie because it meant that either she couldn't leave Mace's room, or she couldn't leave the cave. She really didn't want to be found. What she really wanted was someone who cared for her…… She wanted to see Mace…. He was never there anymore. At all. Not even to sleep…..
Kipcha brought Lailie's lunch at 3:30. Lailie quickly shut her diary, clearly startled by the door suddenly opening. She turned onto her back, then sighed as she watched Kipcha walk over to the end table with a tray of food.
"Oh, it's just you," Lailie said, sitting up and swinging her legs off the lower bunk.
"Yeah. How have ya been?" Kipcha asked, setting the tray down.
"Fine, thanks…" Lailie grabbed the bowl of soup and spoon.
"You seem lonely."
Lailie didn't respond this time. Instead she stirred the soup lazily.
"I haven't seen Mace since he healed me…," she said to no one in particular.
"You haven't?" Kipcha asked, sitting down next to her. "That's weird. He's been quite active in the main cave." Lailie looked up at her. There was a small length of time where Kipcha and Lailie stared at each other.
"He's avoiding me….," Lailie muttered, breaking the silence. She returned her gaze to the soup.
"What? No no no! He's just been wrapped up in some matters within the Pack, that's all. Besides, don't you see him every night?"
"No… He hasn't been sleeping in here.."
There was another short silence before Kipcha got up. She walked out of the room, saying good bye before shutting the door. Lailie set the bowl back onto the tray and picked her Diary up. She opened to a random page and stared at the lyrics written sloppily on the page. It was about dancing…. She had been in the mood to dance lately, so she was writing some poems and songs about it. A light beat started in her head as she stared at the lyrics. She had memorized them, so she stood up and began to dance lightly around the room.
"It was hot in the night as I walk down the street. To the place where I knew we would finally meet. I was humming a tune to the place on my feet. Tonight I want to tango!" She sang, closing her eyes and lightly swaying and dancing as she continued the song. "The sun down the lane covers me with the light. I feel fresh, I feel clean; I will see you tonight. And the rays of the suns shining light on my hair. I walked in to the bar. You were already there."
There was a very short interlude and she transferred her spot next to the bed to in front of the door and continued to sing and lightly dance.
"Pick me up and tango! Pick me up and tango! Pick me up and tango! Come along, set me free; everybody dance with me! ...As we move to the floor and you're smiling at me. And the band starts to play as we're moving our feet. Feel your hand on my waist; this is heaven I feel, coming closer to me as we move to the beat." She transferred her position again as she shut her eyes and span slowly and carefully to another spot in the room.
"Come with me (to the Party). Dance with me (at the Party). Set me free (at the Party). Dance all night long……Pick me up and tango! Pick me up and tango! Pick me up and tango! Come along, set me free; everybody dance with me! Pick me up and tango! Pick me up and tango! Pick me up and tango! Come along, set me free; everybody dance with me!" Her ending position was to the left of the bed. Her hands were up and her legs crossed as she finished the song. Her eyes shot open and she lost her balance once she heard a low chuckle emit from the shadowed corner in front of her. She fell backwards, then watched as Mace walked out of the shadow.
"M-Mace!" she stuttered, feeling her face become quite hot.
"I never knew you liked the tango." Mace said, walking over to her and holding out a helping hand. Lailie took his hand.
"Well… I guess now you know," she said, feeling a little embarrassed. The moment he felt her hand in his, he smirked and lifted her up, sliding his hands down to her waist.
"Never knew that you were interested in 'sensual' dances either." He said with a barking laugh, twirling her around. Lailie laughed for the first time in almost 2 weeks. She hadn't been happy to see anyone or anything since Crimson was returned to her. But… Just seeing Mace seemed to cheer her right up.
"I thought YOU didn't like to dance," Lailie said grinning.
"I don't," he said, though he threw her into the air gently before finally letting her back down on her feet. "I'm just manhandling you."
"Oh, you wish!" Lailie laughed, twirling. Mace laughed softly as well, grinning and baring his over-grown fangs before pulling her back to him with her back to his chest.
"For someone who doesn't like dancing, you dance pretty well," Lailie said, looking up at him and resting her hands on his.
"I got forced into going to those dance lessons with you and the others in the human world, 'member?" he replied dryly, starting to sway against his will.
"Oh yeah! And all the other guys would make fun of you!" Lailie added, swaying also.
He snorted. "Don't remind me."
There was a moment of silence between the two. They both stared at the wall in front of them as they swayed slowly.
"Where have you been lately?" Lailie asked finally, almost sounding sad.
"Here.. There… Everywhere," Mace responded blandly, not taking his eyes off the wall. Lailie looked up at him.
"Oh thanks. That's helpful," she said.
"You're welcome." he said with false cheer, twirling her away from him, then went over and sat on the bed. Lailie walked to the other side and scooped up her open diary just as Mace leaned over to look at it. She stuffed it in a drawer, then sat down and started eating her almost cold soup. She heard Mace yawn a few minutes later as she set the now empty bowl on the tray Kipcha had brought. An arm wrapped around her middle before she was forced down onto the bed.
"Whoa! What are you doing!" She asked, turning a warm shade of red.
"Sleeping…." Was Mace's response.
"But it's 4 in the afternoon!" Lailie argued.
"I was up all night…." Mace yawned again. "Good night…."
"Mace! God dammit… Now I can't get up.."
Lailie crossed her arms and looked around for anything close by she could grab and smack Mace with. Unfortunately for her, there was nothing. I mean, sure there was the tray and the bowl, but she didn't want to hurt him to much. Crimson squeaked softly fromit's spot in the bottom end table drawer. Lailie had madethe drawerpadded and very squishy so it could sleep somewhere.
Lailie looked as best as she could at it. It was curled into a tight ball and also asleep. She sighed and covered her face with her hands.
"I'm not enjoying this. I'm not enjoying this. I'm not enjoying this. I'm not enjoying this…." She chanted in her head. She peeked out from her palms, then waved a finger. The upper bunk disappeared, allowing her to see the blue and white stars the ceiling twinkle and wink at them.
"Stop mocking me!" she muttered angrily to them. The top bunk appeared above them and Lailie turned over onto her stomach. She ended up being pulled closer to Mace doing so, but she didn't seem to mind. She put her head on her pillow and looked at Mace.
"Feel your hand on my waist… this is heaven I feel…" she mumbled in a tune, smiling softly. "Pick me up and tango…" She closed her eyes with a sigh and fell asleep.
Neh, short I know. But I thought this was a cute place to stop. BTW, I DO NOT own that song. I just love it. It's from In The Groove 2, which is a game like DDR. So I don't own it. ANYWAY, I hope you liked it. I haven't put a song in for a while, so I thought it was a nice change. Wolfdog21 is such a big help with Mace's personality, Thanks a lot girl! Stay tuned and thanks for all my reviews!