Chapter 8 – A Night to Remember

"Girls, would you get down here, you are making your dates very nervous." Connie's father yelled up the stairs.

"We're coming; we want to make a grand entrance you know." Connie yelled back.

"Any grander an entrance and we'll be going to the high school reunion" Paul whispered to Erik. He stifled a laugh.

First Connie came down the stairs, her father happily snapping pictures as she came down. She wore an elegant red satin gown with a light black slip underneath to give it a darker look. The dress hung off her shoulders and around her neck she wore her mother's pearl necklace and matching earrings. When she arrived at the bottom of the stairs, Paul carefully pinned her corsage to her gown and then they turned to look at the top of the stairs. Paul shifted Erik over so he could receive his date.

Kimberlee started down the stairs and immediately saw the stunned look on both her father's face and Erik's. Her gown was white with layers upon layers of fabric on the skirt. On the outer layer there were sparkling jewels placed around to catch the light and make it sparkle. The bodice of the dress was form fitting and also hung off the shoulders. It was tight around the waist and supported her breasts perfectly without any effort whatsoever. Her shoes were one inch heels covered in the same satin fabric used on the dress. It matched her white jewelled mask perfectly. Erik's heart stopped beating momentarily and his breath caught in his throat, she was something out of his dreams. He had to pinch his arm to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs her father suddenly realized that he had forgotten to take pictures. He lifted the camera and took some pictures as Erik carefully pinned her corsage on. Then they all turned to face the families and have some more pictures taken. Once the kids had enough of that they said goodnight and went out to the waiting limousine. Once inside he held Kimberlee close and quietly whispered into her ear.

"You are a vision."

"Thank you, you are very handsome yourself."

"I only hope that tonight I can fulfill your dreams" he whispered back.

"Being here with you tonight is all I've dreamed about for a long time Erik. I love you."

"I love you too" he said and then he kissed her gently caressing her lips with his own.

Too soon they arrived at the hotel where the prom was being held. The men got out first and then helped their dates out of the limo. The driver gave Erik his card and told him to ring him when they were ready to leave and he would come around to pick them up. Erik thanked him and then looked ahead as people in gowns and tuxes went into the large ballroom. This was the first time he had ever been to a party with such a large group of people, and his nervousness was beginning to show.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, I'm here with you" Kim said taking his hand.

"I know" he said taking her arm and placing it through his own.

They entered the ballroom and the first thing Erik noticed was how the lights reflected perfectly off Kimberlee's dress. The room was awash in silver and gold decorations, reflective mirrors, there were even balloons laid on the dance floor that seemed to move in perfect time with the dancers. There were food and drink tables off to the side and various places for people to sit down and visit with friends. In front of them leading to the dance floor was a grand staircase and as they began their descent it seemed the entire room suddenly stopped and was staring at them. The deejay started to play a new song, 'I Still Believe In You' by Vince Gill and both Erik and Kim smiled. By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs couples were once again in each other's arms, people stood at the punch table and in other various spots around the room. Paul and Connie came over to the couple.

"Wow, now that was some entrance. You two looked absolutely perfect."

"Yeah, I think you two are probably the best dressed couple here, except maybe for us" Paul said.

Connie dragged Paul onto the dance floor leaving Erik and Kimberlee by themselves. They both stood there awkwardly not really knowing what to do now. This was the first "public" date they had been on and was really like a first date. Neither knew quite what to do now. As if fate had heard and understood their predicament, the deejay started to play another song that Kimberlee knew well and one that would be easy to dance to. The song was 'On The Verge' by Collin Raye. She turned to face Erik and held out her hand.

"Sir, will you honour me with a dance?"

"I believe it is I who am supposed to ask you?"

"Maybe, but if we don't hurry then the song will be over."

"Then I accept" he said taking her hand his and allowing her to lead him to the dance floor. They didn't leave the dance floor all night except for a drink here and there.

The prom itself ended at midnight and Kimberlee couldn't find Connie and Paul anywhere. Erik went to telephone the driver while she looked for them. She found a couple of their friends, Angela and David and found out that they had gotten a room upstairs for the night, so Kimberlee offered them a ride in their limo since their ride had also ditched them. The three came outside and waited with Erik. Once inside Angela started talking.

"So Erik, did you have fun tonight?"

"Yes I did, did you?"

"Oh yeah, say we are heading to this party at so and sops house, can't remember whose party it is, but they have a house on the lake. Do you want to come too?"

"I don't know, what do you think love?" he asked Kimberlee

"I suppose we could go for a while, but we won't have a ride home afterwards" she said.

"Don't worry; I'll take care of that. That settles it….sir?" he called out

"Yes sir."

"Angela why don't you give the man the address; and if you could drop us off there please sir, we'd appreciate it."

"Sure thing."

Angela gave the driver the address and once they all arrived they got out of the limo and Erik paid the man for the evening. When they entered the house the party was in full swing. People were passing out drinks and girls were dancing on tables. This was certainly a far cry from the prom they had just attended where all these people had been on their absolute best behaviour, people were behaving like animals. Erik just stared completely dumbfounded. Kimberlee poked him in the ribs and smiled up at him.

"Welcome to your first 'wreck the house' party. If you want to keep your senses, don't take anything offered, get your own drinks."

"Got it, so this is what goes on at a house party?" he asked as they made their way out onto the back porch

"Only when the partygoers are kids, adults contain themselves…sort of. I used to go to parties like this back in California with my friends and we'd laugh at all the idiots drinking and making fools of themselves."

Erik and Kimberlee laughed quietly and then looked back through the porch door.

"I see what you mean" he said.

Erik brushed back a piece of her hair that had fallen to her cheek and held his hand in place. Under the moonlight shining brightly on them she was breathtaking. Her face had a halo around it caused by the light, she looked like porcelain. She in turn was looking at him, into his eyes. They shimmered like diamonds in the moonlight; she knew she could get lost in those eyes for a very long time. She lifted her hand to his which was rested on her cheek and then leaned up toward him for a kiss. He leaned in toward her and met her lips. Their kiss started innocently enough but soon emotion overtook them and they became much more passionate.

He wrapped his arms around her careful not to crush her dress and she reciprocated. They held each other in the embrace for a while looking out onto the lake. Erik placed a kiss on her neck and then excused himself for a moment. Kimberlee stood on the porch looking out on the water when suddenly a hand was on her shoulder.

"Earth to Kim, where are you?" Angela asked her

"Somewhere far away from here, somewhere Erik and I can just be"

"Are you thinking what I think you are thinking?"

"Yes I am…Angela I really think I'm ready to be with him and I think he feels the same way."

"That's great, but where did he go?"

"He said he had to make a quick call and that he'd be right back."

The girls continued to talk for a few minutes, Kimberlee asking questions about what to expect the first time etc. Inside, Erik had telephoned for a carriage to pick them up, he knew someone who operated the horse drawn tours and called in a favour. He then found David and pulled him aside.

"David I have something important I need to ask you?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"I know you and I just met tonight but I was wondering if I could ask you about…you know?"

"Oh…are you thinking that tonight might be the night you and she are together?"

"Yes and I think she wants it too. I feel weird asking you this because you are her friend, but believe me it was more difficult having her Uncle put a condom into my hand earlier."

"So he obviously thought that you two might do the deed."

"How did you know what to do? There's not exactly a manual on how your first time should be?"

"I'll tell you what my brother told me. It comes to you naturally, you do what feels right. Now I suggest you go find Kimberlee and get a move on, I take it you are not staying."

"This isn't really my thing, I'm not too fond of crowds and right now I just want to be alone with her. I do love her David."

"I know you do and I think you two make a good couple…so does Angela. Good luck Erik."

"Thanks David."

Erik went back to the porch and found Kimberlee now alone, Angela had gone back inside to find David. He walked up behind her and gently wrapped his cloak around her holding her close. He placed a gentle kiss on the back of her neck as he swept her hair aside. She shivered against him but it wasn't from the cool night air.

"If you are ready to go I have arranged a romantic ride for us this evening. Our carriage should be arriving momentarily" he said in her ear.

"Sounds good, this party was beginning to bore me anyhow" she said turning to face him.

He saw desire in her eyes and she in his. They both knew in that instant that tonight would be the night they would consummate their love, when their two souls would become one. They made their way around the side of the house so not to draw attention to themselves and met the carriage in the front. Erik helped her in and then stepped in after her. From inside Angela and David watched and she turned to him and playfully slapped him on the arm.

"Now why don't you do things like that for me?"

"Stick around long enough babes and maybe I will someday."

The carriage made it's way back to the opera house entering from the west side as not to wake anyone or be noticed. They very cautiously made their way below to Erik's home. When they arrived he lit some candles and she turned on the CD player. Music filled the room and she gently took Erik's hand in hers and silently asked him if he wanted to dance with her once more. He wrapped his arms around her both knowing that they had now reached the point of no return.