Chapter 6

Natalie looked at her watch. It was only 5 minutes since she traumatized herself with the romantic scene upstairs. She has been staring at the papers on her desk for 5 minutes, and she knew that she wasn't going to get any work done for the night. She looked out the office door and looked at the piano Carly just purchased. She got up from the desk and walked over to the piano. She pulled the seat out and opened the cover to reveal the shiny black and white keys. It has certainly been a while since she played.

Watching Elizabeth and Ric dance made her think of her first dance with Ric:

***

"It's beautiful out here," Ric said as he looked at the view. They were both sitting on the hood of Natalie's car listening to the radio. The car was parked over a bluff, and it overlooked the town below.

"I told you I know the perfect spots here," Natalie responded. She was pleased that Ric liked where she took him. "Actually it's the highest point in this area."

"You've looked?"

Natalie looked down and blushed. "Actually, I have. I explored the area until I found this place."

Ric looked curiously at her. "Why does it have to be the 'highest point'?"

Natalie shifted her weight to tuck her legs underneath her. "After my father died, I always looked up at the sky to talk to him. Well--I used to think that if I was at the highest place in the area, he could hear me better." Natalie watched Ric smile. "Hey---I was 10-years-old, alright?"

"I didn't say anything," Ric said defensively. "Please continue."

"Anyway, my uncle and I lived in a town in upstate New York at the time. There was a park on a bluff that overlooked the town, and it was the highest place I knew of there. I used to go there everyday after school to tell my father about my day. When I felt sad or scared, I used to go there at night. I would stare in the sky and find the brightest star and wish on it."

"What did you wish for?"

"I wished to be happy. I wished to be a good girl and to try not to cause my uncle any problems. I wished for my uncle to be happy, too." Natalie laughed. "As I got older, I started to wish for a boyfriend or to be asked to the dance by the most popular boy in school."

Ric laughed also. Then he started to look at Natalie. He saw this little girl inside of her full of wishes and dreams. He respected that because he couldn't remember ever being that way when he was a child. This side of her showed how pure and innocent she was. It was beginning to look very attractive.

Natalie noticed Ric was staring at her with a weird grin on his face. "Are you still laughing at me?" she asked. She held her fist up and playfully punched him on the shoulder. Then, she started to feel a little embarrassed by that gesture. She felt like she was 5-years-old punching a boy because she secretly had a crush on him.

Ric shook his head. "I'm not laughing at you, really." He then laughed, and Natalie punched him again. "So.you actually wished on a star for the most popular boy in school to ask you to the dance? Did it work?"

"No." Natalie stopped to think. "Come to think of it.I don't think ANY boy asked me to a dance. I would always end up going with my girl friends."

"Really?" Ric asked surprised. "I would have thought that every guy in school would be standing in line to ask you out." He thought to himself: 'The only reason any boy wouldn't ask her out would be because she was too beautiful to ask out. She was probably intimidating them. If that wasn't the reason, then the boys in her school must have been from some different planet. She's gorgeous!' Ric suddenly snapped away from his thoughts. What was he thinking? He was hanging out with a good friend that he met while on a business trip. He shouldn't be having these types of thoughts.

Natalie blushed at Ric's comment. "Thank you," she said while staring in Ric's eyes.

They were both silent and stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Suddenly, Ric heard a ballad blaring from the car radio. He jumped off the hood of the car. "Tell you what," he said as he held out his hand. "On behalf of the stupid boys that didn't ask you to the dance, let me make it up to you. Dance with me?"

**The song "Taking You Home" by Don Henley was playing in the background.

I had a good life Before you came

Natalie laughed nervously. She looked at the handsome man standing in front of her with his hand stretched out waiting for her. How could she say no? "Yes," she said and reached for Ric's hand.

I had my friends and my freedom I had my name

Ric helped her off the car. Natalie slid off the hood then jumped to her feet. She stood up, then looked up and realized how close she was to Ric. She started to feel lightheaded as his eyes stared deeply into hers. They never broke eye contact.

Still there was sorrow and emptiness 'Til you made me glad Oh, in this love I found strength I never knew I had

They swayed lightly back and forth and Ric slowly twirled them in a circle as they swayed. He pulled her closer with his right arm that was wrapped around her waist and slowly brought his left hand (that held her hand) towards his chest.

And this love Is like nothing I have ever known Take my hand, love I'm taking you home

Natalie, who was looking in Ric's eyes, broke eye contact to press her cheek lightly against his. Ric's heart began to pound as he tilted his head lower to press his cheek closer to hers.

I'm taking you home

They both danced in each others arms during the rest of the song with their eyes closed so they could feel every part of their body that was touching the other's. At this point, they were so wrapped up with each other, they continued to dance long after the song was over.

***

Natalie snapped out of her daydream and sighed when she realized she was back in reality. She ran her hand over the black and white keys of the piano. She then stretched her fingers over the keyboard and started to play.