Chapter 7
It had been a week since the night Natalia arrived to the hospital and by now, all she was waiting for was the hour when Andrew would visit her, but for the angel... more than waiting for the it, he was dreading that hour of the day! Every night he left the hospital feeling more desperate as another day had passed and he hadn't seen Monica while he had spent the afternoon with a young girl whose eyes sparkled with every smile he gave her. How could he keep on doing this if everyday closer to Natalia was a day farther for Monica?
"You're miles away" Natalia told him as he had remained silent for long minutes.
"Sorry" he said. "I was thinking about some things from the academy."
"Like what?"
"Like the ball next week, right Andrew?" Mary Ann's voice interrupted him. The angel of death turned to see her and Tess, who had gotten in after Natalia's mother.
"Hello, Andrew, long time no see," the old supervisor said as she changed the girl's empty IV.
"Hi, Tess."
"What ball, mom?" Natalia asked.
"The annual ball from the ABC, honey! It's next week and guess who's the guest of honor this time? You!" Mary Ann wanted to jump when she saw her daughter smiling for the first time since they had found she had leukemia.
"Me? Are you sure? But how? Why?"
"Positive, baby. Mr. Jonathan Michels called me in the morning and told me so."
"But how am I supposed to go?" the ballerina said indicating her IV.
"It's all up to you, baby," Tess assured her. "I heard your dad saying that you could be released as soon as tomorrow."
"See? There's no reason for you not going to the ball, sweetheart," Mary Ann said. "Of course you're invited too, Tess, and so is Monica. I'll tell her tomorrow." She didn't notice the blond angel and the supervisor exchanging a happy glance and a smile as she continued, "Andrew, can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure."
"Could you escort the guest of honor to the ball that day?" she squeezed her daughter's hand and smiled at her.
"I-I..." Andrew stuttered and he turned to see Tess, this time with frightened eyes. He felt his heart plunging to the bottom of his stomach as he saw her nodding with a 'you have no choice' expression written on her face. "Ok," he managed to say, "I'd be honored."
Happy as she was, Natalia never noticed the tinge of deception in his voice. "Thanks, mom!" she said wrapping her arms around her neck, "I can't wait for next week!"
Next morning, when Monica arrived to the office, she found Mary Ann and Tess already there. "Hello, baby," her supervisor said as soon as she saw her.
"Hi, Tess. Good morning, Mary Ann."
"Monica, I'm glad you arrived early. I'm not coming to work since tomorrow and I wanted to give you some instructions before I leave. I have a million things to do with the ball, you know?"
"What ball?" the little angel asked.
"This one," her chief explained handling her an envelope with her name on it. "You can go with whoever you want to. Your boyfriend, for example."
Monica exchanged a quick glance with Tess that spoke to her more than any words. "Thank you, Mary Ann. I'll go."
"Great. Now, I leave you but I'll be right back. I'm gonna see two or three doctors that are invited as well, Richard's friends, you know?" she said walking towards the door. "By the way," she added before leaving, "your friend Andrew is going too. He's escorting Natalia."
Monica blinked several times to control the tears she suddenly felt tingeing in her eyes and then threw the invitation over her desk. Seeing this and knowing exactly what her angel girl was feeling, Tess came closer to her and hugged her. "Andrew is going with her?" the Irish angel asked, her voice trembling with anger.
"Baby, I know this is not easy but he had no choice."
"Why, Tess? Everything seemed so good, so perfect before this assignment!"
"I know, I know, baby."
"Now everything is ruined!" Her voice was a barely audible whisper through her crying. "I don't even know if we were really supposed to love each other as we had thought!"
"Monica, you can't doubt that!"
"Of course I'm doubting!" she said pulling away from her friend's hug. "Things are so complicated now! It seems like he has to be with her more and more everyday! It seems he will never be with me again! As if the Father didn't want us together anymore!"
"No, baby, that's not true!" Tess said wiping away her tears. "You think He would've allowed you to be together before just to put you apart now? Of course not, Monica. He wants you two happy, I'm sure about it!"
"Then why can't we be together now?"
"Natalia's wellbeing is Andrew's priority right now, and not only his but ours as well. I know you're angry and I know it bothers you to see him with her, but you have to trust him and trust the Father to lead you to do what you have to do..."
"But it's so hard sometimes..." the little angel continued as she struggled to control her tears.
Tess remained silent for a second thinking on what to say, and then she asked, "baby, do you remember the song I sang for Andrew the day you first met?"
"In the wedding? 'The Rose'?"
"Yeap... Do you remember what it says about love?"
"Hmm... 'I say love, it is a flower and you its only seed'" Monica answered regaining herself.
"Yes," the dark skinned angel interrupted her. "But it also says: 'Just remember in the winter/ far beneath the bitter snows,/ lies the seed that with the sun's love/ in the spring becomes the rose.' I sang it for him, but because you were there too. Don't ask me why, but I knew since that moment that you two would come to love each other too much. And I wasn't wrong. Just remember what the song says, angel girl: no matter how long you feel the winter is, the spring will always come after it and the seed will become the rose. Your love is that seed, baby. Andrew loves you, just wait a little more. It will always be worth waiting."
Silent tears were still crossing the little angel's cheeks while her supervisor talked, but a great peace washed her heart as she spoke. At the end, she closed her eyes and sighed before she met the older angel's gaze. "I will, Tess," she said hugging her again. "Thank you."
Even after their conversation, Monica didn't see Andrew the rest of the week. The little angel had to take care of all the patients and the paper work, and with Natalia out of the hospital, Andrew was not around all the afternoon, so the chances to see him were even smaller.
The night of the ball Andrew arrived at 6:30 sharp to Natalia's house. The ballerina was ready with a nice black dress and high hills. The illusion of the ball had made wonders on her: her cheeks were pink again and her eyes reflected joy, none would've believed she had blood cancer just by seeing her that night.
Once they arrived to the academy, the angel of death took a seat a little behind his assignment while Richard and Mary Ann remained at the entrance, waiting for Monica and Tess to arrive.
"Hello, Dr. Rosenberg," the little angel was trying to sound cheerful, though it was pretty obvious she was sad. "This is Adam," she said introducing her friend to her temporary chief.
"Nice to meet you," Mary Ann shook the angel's hand. "Andrew is already there with Natalia. Come on in, please." She walked them to their table. "I want you to share the table with us. Honey, look who's here," she said talking to her daughter.
This time Natalia didn't miss Andrew's glance at Monica. The blond angel gulped when he saw her and his eyes slid over the Irish angel's body. She was wearing a tight red dress that accentuated her figure, it had tiny suspenders that left her shoulders exposed as well as a good part of her back. The deep color of the fabric gave a special light to her pale skin and to her auburn hair, though he didn't miss the tinge of sadness in her brown eyes. She felt him looking at her but didn't dare to look back at him.
"Take a seat," Mary Ann's voice interrupted the blond angel's silent contemplation and he busied himself in helping Monica with her chair as the psychologist indicated her to take a seat besides him. Neither Tess nor Adam missed the sudden tension in both younger angels but they made a silent prayer for this to be the beginning of a solution.
Time passed in an awkward way as for his friends it was obvious that Andrew longed to hold Monica and that he was doing everything to control himself and pay attention to the Rosenberg's animated chatting. Several times he was caught drinking in her features, but he never got more than a quick glance in return. They ate a four courses meal and were already taking coffee and dessert when the music filled up the place.
The clear notes of a piano brought sudden memories for three angels at the table. 'Some say love it is a river/ that drowns the tender reed'... Tess' eyes met Andrew's first and then Monica's and she smiled as she saw her angel babies looking at each other. 'Some say love, it is a razor/ that leaves your soul to bleed'... She nodded at the blond angel when he turned to look at her again, his green eyes full of expectation, but Natalia's voice made him turn.
"Earth to Andrew!" He hadn't noticed she was talking to him.
"Huh?"
"Can we dance?"
The angel of death felt his illusion disappearing and stood up, murmuring a 'sure' before looking quickly at Monica, who had bent down her head to hide her sad eyes. 'Some say love, it is a hunger/ an endless aching need'... Adam and Tess noticed it and exchanged a rapid glimpse.
"May I...?" Adam said offering his hand.
Monica took it and they joined the other couples at the dance floor. "Thank you, Adam" she murmured, her eyes bright with tears.
"There's nothing to thank, sweetie."
They danced in silence, Adam following the expressions on Monica and Andrew's faces. The younger angel of death had placed him and Natalia in a way he could see Monica and Adam dancing, and the Irish angel's eyes had found his quickly, her trembling lips showing she wanted so badly to be in his arms. They were dancing with different couples, but Adam could've said by their sights they were dancing together. When the song finished both couples walked towards the table, but Jonathan Michels asked Natalia to dance with him while another man did the same with Monica. Andrew saw her walking back to the floor and buried his hands in his pockets.
"Natalia is so happy!" Mary Ann told him when he reached the table. "I don't know how to thank you, Andrew!"
He smiled and took a seat besides Adam, who immediately noticed his friend's eyes were fixed on the little angel. Both saw her dance with another man until Adam couldn't stand it more and told his partner, "Go ask her, pal." Surprised, Andrew turned to see him. "Go. Trust me." The older angel stood up and went to ask for a special song. Andrew followed his council and walked towards her when music started again.
I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright.
"Monica?" he said and she turned immediately. "May I have this dance?" She was speechless but somehow she managed a timid 'yes'.
I've never seen so many men ask if you wanted to dance, they're looking for a little romance, given half a chance...
They glided onto the floor and slowly the blond angel circled her waist with his right arm while his left hand intertwined with hers...
And I have never seen that dress you're wearing
or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes, I have been blind.
Monica released a sigh and closed her eyes as she felt him pulling her closer. She inhaled his cologne and struggled with herself to avoid resting her head over his warm shoulder. Instead, she accommodated her hand in his and put it against his heart. She took a deep breath as he rested his head against hers and she bent it lightly so her cheek touched his.
The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek. There's nobody here, it's just you and me. It's where I want to be. But I hardly know this beauty by my side, I'll never forget the way you look tonight.
"You're stunning" he murmured in her ear and felt her shivering. She let her left hand ran over his shoulder until she reached his neck, pressing herself closer to him if it was even possible. Andrew got bolder and placed a soft kiss on her earlobe, smelling her perfume and hearing her suppress a soft moan.
I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing. I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side, and when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away. And I had never had such a feeling, such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight.
'It feels so right to have her in my arms' the blond angel thought. They had forgotten everything around them, the ball, the assignment, Natalia being Andrew's date... He moved his hand that was encircling her waist and let it run up to her exposed back, her soft skin as warm under his touch as her breath over his neck...
The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek. There's nobody here, it's just you and me. It's where I want to be. But I hardly know this beauty by my side, I'll never forget the way you look tonight.
The lady in red, the lady in red, the lady in red, my lady in red... I love you.
They swayed together until the last notes of the music. Andrew bent his head and pressed an open-mouthed kiss on Monica's shoulder. "Andrew..." the little angel murmured with a husky voice.
"Let's go outside" he suggested wrapping her tightly in his arms.
Strangers in the night, exchanging glances, wondering in the night what were the chances we would fall in love before the night was through.
Something in your eyes was so exciting, and in your smile, ooh, inviting. In my heart I knew I must have you.
They left the ball room as a new song started, and only Tess and Adam noticed them going out. Andrew guided Monica to a clear on the garden where there was none but them. He stood behind her and ran his hands over her soft arms. She closed her eyes and her head unconsciously leaned back, exposing her neck to his warm breathing. "How I love you, Monica..." he whispered on her ear and his words sent a pleasant shiver all over her body. He took her face gently to make her turn and only then he realized tears were crossing her cheeks. "Baby?" he asked with a concerned tone of voice.
"I'm sorry," she said starting to whimper.
He pulled her to his chest trying to calm her. "Monica, please."
"I can't help it. She's in love with you, Andrew. Don't tell me you haven't noticed!"
"She's not. Besides you know I don't love her!" he argued combing her hair with his fingers.
"But she doesn't know. She's pretty sure you do love her."
"Angel," he said pulling her away a little and cupping her face tenderly, "you know I can't love anyone but you! I'm in love with you, you can't doubt that!"
"I'm not doubting you!" she met his gaze through teary eyes. "It's just... I'm hurting and that's because of you, because you have to spend your time with her, because..."
"Because what?" he asked when she stopped talking and looked away.
It took her a second to regain herself and looked at his expecting eyes again, her voice now a barely audible whisper. "Because I can't hold you whenever I want to if she's around, because I can't kiss you the way I used to do it before..."
Andrew didn't let her continue as he silenced her claming her mouth in a very passionate kiss that rendered both breathless. His hands moved to tangle in her hair before they came back to her cheeks when they parted. "Don't doubt my love for you, Monica," he said, his voice thick with lust and his lips barely an inch from hers. "There's none in this world that could make me feel what I feel for you."
"Kiss me, Andrew," she begged. "Just kiss me."
He obliged and kissed her hungrily, parting her lips with his questing tongue and feeling himself rending helpless with her closeness. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her hands tangled in his hair desperately, pulling him deeper towards her mouth. The blond angel let one of his hands caress her waist and rest on her hip, while the other squeezed her bare shoulder. Both angels wanted nothing more but this moment to be eternal...
But while they were out, Natalia went back to their table with Mike, her classmate following her. Tess, Adam, Mary Ann and Richard were all talking animatedly, nonetheless the ballerina immediately noticed the younger angels' absence.
"Where's Andrew?"
"Hmm... He..." Tess suddenly found herself out of words.
"He might be dancing with someone..." Richard said turning on his chair and looking at the floor to look for the angel.
"I saw him walking towards the garden," Mike told them innocently.
"Oh, well, then I'll go find him," Natalia said taking a glass of water with her. "Thanks, Mike."
Adam looked at Tess with almost terrified eyes and saw his own expression mirrored on the dark skinned angel's face. They saw her walking away but couldn't find a good way to stop her.
Andrew and Monica were unaware of their friends' dilemma as nothing matter for them other than themselves at those moments. "How I've missed you," the little angel murmured between one kiss and another.
"I know, baby. I've missed you so bad it hurts," he answered kissing her forehead and her cheeks before he brushed his lips against hers once more.
Monica brought her hands to his face and furthered the kiss until the sound of glass breaking over the floor made them pull apart quickly and turn. "Natalia..." Andrew was the first to try to speak.
The ballerina was standing near them like frozen, her right hand covering her open mouth and she was shaking her head trying to deny what she had just seen.
It had been a week since the night Natalia arrived to the hospital and by now, all she was waiting for was the hour when Andrew would visit her, but for the angel... more than waiting for the it, he was dreading that hour of the day! Every night he left the hospital feeling more desperate as another day had passed and he hadn't seen Monica while he had spent the afternoon with a young girl whose eyes sparkled with every smile he gave her. How could he keep on doing this if everyday closer to Natalia was a day farther for Monica?
"You're miles away" Natalia told him as he had remained silent for long minutes.
"Sorry" he said. "I was thinking about some things from the academy."
"Like what?"
"Like the ball next week, right Andrew?" Mary Ann's voice interrupted him. The angel of death turned to see her and Tess, who had gotten in after Natalia's mother.
"Hello, Andrew, long time no see," the old supervisor said as she changed the girl's empty IV.
"Hi, Tess."
"What ball, mom?" Natalia asked.
"The annual ball from the ABC, honey! It's next week and guess who's the guest of honor this time? You!" Mary Ann wanted to jump when she saw her daughter smiling for the first time since they had found she had leukemia.
"Me? Are you sure? But how? Why?"
"Positive, baby. Mr. Jonathan Michels called me in the morning and told me so."
"But how am I supposed to go?" the ballerina said indicating her IV.
"It's all up to you, baby," Tess assured her. "I heard your dad saying that you could be released as soon as tomorrow."
"See? There's no reason for you not going to the ball, sweetheart," Mary Ann said. "Of course you're invited too, Tess, and so is Monica. I'll tell her tomorrow." She didn't notice the blond angel and the supervisor exchanging a happy glance and a smile as she continued, "Andrew, can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure."
"Could you escort the guest of honor to the ball that day?" she squeezed her daughter's hand and smiled at her.
"I-I..." Andrew stuttered and he turned to see Tess, this time with frightened eyes. He felt his heart plunging to the bottom of his stomach as he saw her nodding with a 'you have no choice' expression written on her face. "Ok," he managed to say, "I'd be honored."
Happy as she was, Natalia never noticed the tinge of deception in his voice. "Thanks, mom!" she said wrapping her arms around her neck, "I can't wait for next week!"
Next morning, when Monica arrived to the office, she found Mary Ann and Tess already there. "Hello, baby," her supervisor said as soon as she saw her.
"Hi, Tess. Good morning, Mary Ann."
"Monica, I'm glad you arrived early. I'm not coming to work since tomorrow and I wanted to give you some instructions before I leave. I have a million things to do with the ball, you know?"
"What ball?" the little angel asked.
"This one," her chief explained handling her an envelope with her name on it. "You can go with whoever you want to. Your boyfriend, for example."
Monica exchanged a quick glance with Tess that spoke to her more than any words. "Thank you, Mary Ann. I'll go."
"Great. Now, I leave you but I'll be right back. I'm gonna see two or three doctors that are invited as well, Richard's friends, you know?" she said walking towards the door. "By the way," she added before leaving, "your friend Andrew is going too. He's escorting Natalia."
Monica blinked several times to control the tears she suddenly felt tingeing in her eyes and then threw the invitation over her desk. Seeing this and knowing exactly what her angel girl was feeling, Tess came closer to her and hugged her. "Andrew is going with her?" the Irish angel asked, her voice trembling with anger.
"Baby, I know this is not easy but he had no choice."
"Why, Tess? Everything seemed so good, so perfect before this assignment!"
"I know, I know, baby."
"Now everything is ruined!" Her voice was a barely audible whisper through her crying. "I don't even know if we were really supposed to love each other as we had thought!"
"Monica, you can't doubt that!"
"Of course I'm doubting!" she said pulling away from her friend's hug. "Things are so complicated now! It seems like he has to be with her more and more everyday! It seems he will never be with me again! As if the Father didn't want us together anymore!"
"No, baby, that's not true!" Tess said wiping away her tears. "You think He would've allowed you to be together before just to put you apart now? Of course not, Monica. He wants you two happy, I'm sure about it!"
"Then why can't we be together now?"
"Natalia's wellbeing is Andrew's priority right now, and not only his but ours as well. I know you're angry and I know it bothers you to see him with her, but you have to trust him and trust the Father to lead you to do what you have to do..."
"But it's so hard sometimes..." the little angel continued as she struggled to control her tears.
Tess remained silent for a second thinking on what to say, and then she asked, "baby, do you remember the song I sang for Andrew the day you first met?"
"In the wedding? 'The Rose'?"
"Yeap... Do you remember what it says about love?"
"Hmm... 'I say love, it is a flower and you its only seed'" Monica answered regaining herself.
"Yes," the dark skinned angel interrupted her. "But it also says: 'Just remember in the winter/ far beneath the bitter snows,/ lies the seed that with the sun's love/ in the spring becomes the rose.' I sang it for him, but because you were there too. Don't ask me why, but I knew since that moment that you two would come to love each other too much. And I wasn't wrong. Just remember what the song says, angel girl: no matter how long you feel the winter is, the spring will always come after it and the seed will become the rose. Your love is that seed, baby. Andrew loves you, just wait a little more. It will always be worth waiting."
Silent tears were still crossing the little angel's cheeks while her supervisor talked, but a great peace washed her heart as she spoke. At the end, she closed her eyes and sighed before she met the older angel's gaze. "I will, Tess," she said hugging her again. "Thank you."
Even after their conversation, Monica didn't see Andrew the rest of the week. The little angel had to take care of all the patients and the paper work, and with Natalia out of the hospital, Andrew was not around all the afternoon, so the chances to see him were even smaller.
The night of the ball Andrew arrived at 6:30 sharp to Natalia's house. The ballerina was ready with a nice black dress and high hills. The illusion of the ball had made wonders on her: her cheeks were pink again and her eyes reflected joy, none would've believed she had blood cancer just by seeing her that night.
Once they arrived to the academy, the angel of death took a seat a little behind his assignment while Richard and Mary Ann remained at the entrance, waiting for Monica and Tess to arrive.
"Hello, Dr. Rosenberg," the little angel was trying to sound cheerful, though it was pretty obvious she was sad. "This is Adam," she said introducing her friend to her temporary chief.
"Nice to meet you," Mary Ann shook the angel's hand. "Andrew is already there with Natalia. Come on in, please." She walked them to their table. "I want you to share the table with us. Honey, look who's here," she said talking to her daughter.
This time Natalia didn't miss Andrew's glance at Monica. The blond angel gulped when he saw her and his eyes slid over the Irish angel's body. She was wearing a tight red dress that accentuated her figure, it had tiny suspenders that left her shoulders exposed as well as a good part of her back. The deep color of the fabric gave a special light to her pale skin and to her auburn hair, though he didn't miss the tinge of sadness in her brown eyes. She felt him looking at her but didn't dare to look back at him.
"Take a seat," Mary Ann's voice interrupted the blond angel's silent contemplation and he busied himself in helping Monica with her chair as the psychologist indicated her to take a seat besides him. Neither Tess nor Adam missed the sudden tension in both younger angels but they made a silent prayer for this to be the beginning of a solution.
Time passed in an awkward way as for his friends it was obvious that Andrew longed to hold Monica and that he was doing everything to control himself and pay attention to the Rosenberg's animated chatting. Several times he was caught drinking in her features, but he never got more than a quick glance in return. They ate a four courses meal and were already taking coffee and dessert when the music filled up the place.
The clear notes of a piano brought sudden memories for three angels at the table. 'Some say love it is a river/ that drowns the tender reed'... Tess' eyes met Andrew's first and then Monica's and she smiled as she saw her angel babies looking at each other. 'Some say love, it is a razor/ that leaves your soul to bleed'... She nodded at the blond angel when he turned to look at her again, his green eyes full of expectation, but Natalia's voice made him turn.
"Earth to Andrew!" He hadn't noticed she was talking to him.
"Huh?"
"Can we dance?"
The angel of death felt his illusion disappearing and stood up, murmuring a 'sure' before looking quickly at Monica, who had bent down her head to hide her sad eyes. 'Some say love, it is a hunger/ an endless aching need'... Adam and Tess noticed it and exchanged a rapid glimpse.
"May I...?" Adam said offering his hand.
Monica took it and they joined the other couples at the dance floor. "Thank you, Adam" she murmured, her eyes bright with tears.
"There's nothing to thank, sweetie."
They danced in silence, Adam following the expressions on Monica and Andrew's faces. The younger angel of death had placed him and Natalia in a way he could see Monica and Adam dancing, and the Irish angel's eyes had found his quickly, her trembling lips showing she wanted so badly to be in his arms. They were dancing with different couples, but Adam could've said by their sights they were dancing together. When the song finished both couples walked towards the table, but Jonathan Michels asked Natalia to dance with him while another man did the same with Monica. Andrew saw her walking back to the floor and buried his hands in his pockets.
"Natalia is so happy!" Mary Ann told him when he reached the table. "I don't know how to thank you, Andrew!"
He smiled and took a seat besides Adam, who immediately noticed his friend's eyes were fixed on the little angel. Both saw her dance with another man until Adam couldn't stand it more and told his partner, "Go ask her, pal." Surprised, Andrew turned to see him. "Go. Trust me." The older angel stood up and went to ask for a special song. Andrew followed his council and walked towards her when music started again.
I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright.
"Monica?" he said and she turned immediately. "May I have this dance?" She was speechless but somehow she managed a timid 'yes'.
I've never seen so many men ask if you wanted to dance, they're looking for a little romance, given half a chance...
They glided onto the floor and slowly the blond angel circled her waist with his right arm while his left hand intertwined with hers...
And I have never seen that dress you're wearing
or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes, I have been blind.
Monica released a sigh and closed her eyes as she felt him pulling her closer. She inhaled his cologne and struggled with herself to avoid resting her head over his warm shoulder. Instead, she accommodated her hand in his and put it against his heart. She took a deep breath as he rested his head against hers and she bent it lightly so her cheek touched his.
The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek. There's nobody here, it's just you and me. It's where I want to be. But I hardly know this beauty by my side, I'll never forget the way you look tonight.
"You're stunning" he murmured in her ear and felt her shivering. She let her left hand ran over his shoulder until she reached his neck, pressing herself closer to him if it was even possible. Andrew got bolder and placed a soft kiss on her earlobe, smelling her perfume and hearing her suppress a soft moan.
I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing. I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side, and when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away. And I had never had such a feeling, such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight.
'It feels so right to have her in my arms' the blond angel thought. They had forgotten everything around them, the ball, the assignment, Natalia being Andrew's date... He moved his hand that was encircling her waist and let it run up to her exposed back, her soft skin as warm under his touch as her breath over his neck...
The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek. There's nobody here, it's just you and me. It's where I want to be. But I hardly know this beauty by my side, I'll never forget the way you look tonight.
The lady in red, the lady in red, the lady in red, my lady in red... I love you.
They swayed together until the last notes of the music. Andrew bent his head and pressed an open-mouthed kiss on Monica's shoulder. "Andrew..." the little angel murmured with a husky voice.
"Let's go outside" he suggested wrapping her tightly in his arms.
Strangers in the night, exchanging glances, wondering in the night what were the chances we would fall in love before the night was through.
Something in your eyes was so exciting, and in your smile, ooh, inviting. In my heart I knew I must have you.
They left the ball room as a new song started, and only Tess and Adam noticed them going out. Andrew guided Monica to a clear on the garden where there was none but them. He stood behind her and ran his hands over her soft arms. She closed her eyes and her head unconsciously leaned back, exposing her neck to his warm breathing. "How I love you, Monica..." he whispered on her ear and his words sent a pleasant shiver all over her body. He took her face gently to make her turn and only then he realized tears were crossing her cheeks. "Baby?" he asked with a concerned tone of voice.
"I'm sorry," she said starting to whimper.
He pulled her to his chest trying to calm her. "Monica, please."
"I can't help it. She's in love with you, Andrew. Don't tell me you haven't noticed!"
"She's not. Besides you know I don't love her!" he argued combing her hair with his fingers.
"But she doesn't know. She's pretty sure you do love her."
"Angel," he said pulling her away a little and cupping her face tenderly, "you know I can't love anyone but you! I'm in love with you, you can't doubt that!"
"I'm not doubting you!" she met his gaze through teary eyes. "It's just... I'm hurting and that's because of you, because you have to spend your time with her, because..."
"Because what?" he asked when she stopped talking and looked away.
It took her a second to regain herself and looked at his expecting eyes again, her voice now a barely audible whisper. "Because I can't hold you whenever I want to if she's around, because I can't kiss you the way I used to do it before..."
Andrew didn't let her continue as he silenced her claming her mouth in a very passionate kiss that rendered both breathless. His hands moved to tangle in her hair before they came back to her cheeks when they parted. "Don't doubt my love for you, Monica," he said, his voice thick with lust and his lips barely an inch from hers. "There's none in this world that could make me feel what I feel for you."
"Kiss me, Andrew," she begged. "Just kiss me."
He obliged and kissed her hungrily, parting her lips with his questing tongue and feeling himself rending helpless with her closeness. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her hands tangled in his hair desperately, pulling him deeper towards her mouth. The blond angel let one of his hands caress her waist and rest on her hip, while the other squeezed her bare shoulder. Both angels wanted nothing more but this moment to be eternal...
But while they were out, Natalia went back to their table with Mike, her classmate following her. Tess, Adam, Mary Ann and Richard were all talking animatedly, nonetheless the ballerina immediately noticed the younger angels' absence.
"Where's Andrew?"
"Hmm... He..." Tess suddenly found herself out of words.
"He might be dancing with someone..." Richard said turning on his chair and looking at the floor to look for the angel.
"I saw him walking towards the garden," Mike told them innocently.
"Oh, well, then I'll go find him," Natalia said taking a glass of water with her. "Thanks, Mike."
Adam looked at Tess with almost terrified eyes and saw his own expression mirrored on the dark skinned angel's face. They saw her walking away but couldn't find a good way to stop her.
Andrew and Monica were unaware of their friends' dilemma as nothing matter for them other than themselves at those moments. "How I've missed you," the little angel murmured between one kiss and another.
"I know, baby. I've missed you so bad it hurts," he answered kissing her forehead and her cheeks before he brushed his lips against hers once more.
Monica brought her hands to his face and furthered the kiss until the sound of glass breaking over the floor made them pull apart quickly and turn. "Natalia..." Andrew was the first to try to speak.
The ballerina was standing near them like frozen, her right hand covering her open mouth and she was shaking her head trying to deny what she had just seen.