Chapter 36:

"Oh boy." Zara let out a nervous breath as she walked into the hotel ballroom with Jim, her arm linked with his. The music coming from the live band at the back of the room echoed through the walls, accompanied by the rhythmic thumping of feet and hands as the dance floor moved in an organized maze of dancing bodies. The scene was breathtaking.

Jim led Zara over to an empty table, pulling out a chair for her in a gentlemanly manner. The two watched the people in awe until the dance concluded as everyone clapped for the band.

As everyone waited for the next dance to spring to life, Zara leaned over to Jim so that he could hear her above the din of the room, laughing as she spoke. "What were we thinking? We are gonna look like absolute fools out there!"

Laughing with her, Jim spoke close to the girl's ear. "Well then, we'd better get started." Rising from his seat, Jim stood in front of the girl before bowing low at the waist, his hand extended out to Zara. "My lady, it would give me great pleasure if you'd agree to look like a fool with me. May I have this dance?"

Accepting his hand, Zarabeth stood before giving a formal curtsy. "It would be my honor, sir."

The lively music had just begun by the time Jim and Zara had found a place to stand among the couples. With one warning note, the whole room simultaneously began to move, all except for Jim and Zarabeth. The couples around them began to spin their partners as they walked forward, everyone moving in a general circle about the floor for a few seconds before changing into another dance step.

With only a few seconds in between, Jim and Zara would somehow get the gist of what to do, mimicking the people around them, just before the step would change.

Holding the hem of her dark blue dress in one hand, Zara quickly learned to stay loose, letting Jim be responsible for figuring out the step and leading her through it until its next change.

Even with no idea of what they were doing, Zara was having the time of her life. Laughing at every mistake, Zarabeth was smiling throughout the entire song as she began to grow dizzy from spinning.

Even though the song was only a few minutes long, it felt like so much more, both Jim and Zara relieved when the music called each dance to a stop.

After a few songs, Zara had to ask if they could rest for a little while, feeling lightheaded from exhilaration and all the spinning.

As the evening wore on, each song became slower and slower, the pace of the music and atmosphere changing as the couples grew more tired or left.

A few hours before midnight, Jim and Zara finally left.

As they walked back across the street to where they'd left the solar-surfer, Zara looked up at the starry Etherium high above them, sighing in contentment as she held onto Jim's arm. "It was the perfect day."

Turning his head, Jim gave the girl a quick peck on the cheek. "Wouldn't change a thing."

Releasing her hold on his arm, Zara let Jim set up the surfer as she continued to stare up into the sky. She could hear the sail fly up into place from behind her as Jim gently took her hand.

"Ready for round two? I'll take it slow this time."

Standing behind Jim, here arms securely about him, Zarabeth let her head rest against his back as she watched the lights of the town fade below them. This boy in her arms, he meant more to her than anyone or anything in the universe. He'd given her more than she could ever repay. He'd given her love, hope, and now, he'd given her a future. Jim was her future.

•The End•

Hello everyone! Well, that was it! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.

A huge "Thank You" to all of my readers from all over the world. You guys are the best!

As you may have already guessed, I am currently writing a sequel! I won't be posting anything until I'm further along, but I'm very very excited about it.

God bless!