XIX. I Saw Her Standing There
Well, she was just seventeen,
You know what I mean,
And the way she looked was way beyond compare,
So how could I dance with another,
Oh when I saw her standing there
Well she looked at me,
And I, I could see,
That before too long I'd fall in love with her,
She wouldn't dance with another,
Oh when I saw her standing there.
Well my heart went zoom as I crossed that room,
And I held her hand in mine.
Oh we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before to long I fell in love with her,
Now I'll never dance with another,
Oh when I saw her standing there.
Well my heart went zoom as I crossed that room,
And I held her hand in mine.
Oh we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before too long I fell in love with her,
Now I'll never dance with another,
Oh since I saw her standing there.
Oh since I saw her standing there.
A gaggle of girls surround Darcy, praising her ring. Darcy, her eyes still wet from tears of happiness, lays her head on Spinner's shoulder. On the other side of the room, Joey and Caitlin talk to Joey's mom, with Craig dragging me over to that corner. Joey's mom leaves when she sees Angie trying to sneak a piece of cake.
"Angela Elizabeth Jeremiah!" she cries.
"Hey, Craig," greets Joey, nudging Caitlin who smiles. "And Ashley, apparently."
"Apparently," replies Craig, smiling himself. "So who caught the garter?"
"Dwayne," answers Joey. "Caitlin fulfilled every fantasy he had about her."
"Well, it all comes down to our dance," says Caitlin.
"And now a song for the bride and groom," announces Patrick. "I heard Caitlin was a Beatles fan so I got out me songbook and made Joey pick something at the bachelor party. Luckily, he was sober at that point and not looking at the stripper. So here it goes, mates."
Caitlin punches Joey in the arm, then leads him to the dance floor. I fumble with my dress, looking down. Everyone else pairs up. Spinner and Darcy. Peter and Emma. Toby and Manny. Snake and Spike. Wheels and Lucy. Demetria...and Jimmy? Well, I guess Hazel's in the bathroom.
"So how could I dance with another, Oh when I saw her standing there," sings Patrick
Craig looks at me quickly, then stares straight ahead. I feel a tap on my shoulder. Ellie.
"I have to go," says Ellie. "Line up for good-byes."
I give her a huge hug, which makes me happy, that I don't have to hold back anymore. Ellie returns it, a strength behind it, a strength that lets me know she can pull through this latest problem. Instead of hugging Craig, she wrestles his hair.
"Take care of my friend," says Ellie. "I'll be back for graduation."
"Tell Seth I said hi," replies Craig. "And you take care of you."
"And you can call us anytime," I say. "Either one of us."
"Good to know," says Ellie, a quiet smile on her lips.
We watch Ellie walk outside the room, and Craig scratches his neck.
"Well she looked at me, and I, I could see, that before too long I'd fall in love with her," sings Patrick, who has managed to get Angie's attention because she's now swooning.
Craig clears his throat, and I throw my hair over my shoulder.
"This feels...," starts Craig.
"New?" I offer.
Craig's cheeks turn a little red. "Yeah."
I understand. When we were in the lobby, it was the cementing of a new beginning, even if we weren't thinking it was at the time. But that didn't mean it didn't feel good or right. Craig broke the ice the last time, so maybe I should break it this time.
"I'm Ashley, and you are?" I say, extending my hand for him to shake.
"Craig," answers Craig, relaxing his shoulders and shaking my hand.
"Craig Manning? I think I've heard some of your songs. They're really good."
Craig licks his lips, and starts to circle me. "Good enough for you to dance with me?"
"Hmmm, I don't know. I think some of your groupies would get jealous," I say, pointing out some imaginary girls.
"Yeah, but here's the thing," says Craig, still circling me. "I've had my eye on you for awhile now and you're the only one I'm interested in dancing with."
I nod at him. "Lead the way."
He takes me hand and twirls me before I put my hands close to his head, and his hands go around my waist.
Oh we danced through the night, and we held each other tight...
"How comes this feels so perfect?" I ask, pulling him closer.
"Because I'm in love with you," says Craig.
My heart beats faster. Well my heart went zoom as I crossed that room. I sigh and shake my head.
"But we just met," I say, my chest throbbing, giving him a sly grin..
"I may not know you and it may seem forward," whispers Craig confidently. "But each time we meet, I'm going to be in love with you."
"Then I must be forward too, because I'm in love with you," I say, rubbing my nose with his.
And before too long I fell in love with her,
Now I'll never dance with another,
Oh since I saw her standing there.
Oh since I saw her standing there.
"Love at first sight," I breathe.
"Love at every sight," corrects Craig, and I feel his heart beating through his clothes, faster than my own..
Angie skips to us, and breaks us apart. She points to Joey and Caitlin, who are dancing almost as closely as we were.
"Rice," says Angie.
"Huh?" says Craig.
"Rice!" says Angie urgently, nodding her head towards the door.
"Oh," realizes Craig, clapping his hand to his face. "We should head out."
"Can I help?" I ask them, as Angie guides Craig to the exit.
"You can't eat the rice,"teases Craig, grabbing my hand.
We jog until we reach the outside of the hotel. The rest of the wedding attendees were already assembled, lined up in two rows, making a pathway for the newlyweds. Peter, Emma, Snake, Spike, and Danny were on one side, while Demetria, Toby, Manny, and Jimmy were on the other side. Spinner and Darcy were holding open the limo door for them, though they were more preoccupied with gazing into each other's eyes. At least they weren't making out, like Toby and Manny were in their row. Emma throws a few grains of rice at them.
"Come up for air!" orders Emma. "They'll be here any minute."
Manny clucks her tongue, and Toby instinctively wipes off traces of Manny's lipstick. What's weird is that it looked like he'd already done it many times before. Well, it's not like I hadn't been kissing someone else just minutes before.
Craig and I stand beside Demetria, nearest the limo. We hear a few shouts that let us know Joey and Caitlin are on the way out.
"Make sure to kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower!" yells Melanie. "It's so romantic."
Joey and Caitlin come out, and we lightly pelt them with the rice, yelling "Congratulations!" and "Good luck!" Caitlin giggles, and hugs each of us, while Joey shakes our hands.
"Before we get in," says Joey, looking at the limo, then us. "We just have to thank you for all the hard work you put into this journey. Demetria, especially."
"Recommend me to the friends!" shouts Demetria over the roaring of the limo's engine.
Emma and Manny grimace. Yeah, something tells me no one would be recommending her.
"Thanks for taking Angie, too!" says Caitlin to Demetria.
"We have fun," says Demetria. "I put hair in bouffant."
"Ewww," whispers Angie, turning her face so Demetria can't hear her.
Caitlin climbs into the limo, but Joey motions for Craig to lean down. What Joey says is fairly quiet, but it's loud enough for me to pick up.
"I assume you're staying for a bit longer," says Joey.
Craig answers with a shy grin.
"Good," says Joey. "And good luck. Just don't fool around in my bedroom."
Craig lightly pushes him into the limo, refusing to look him in the eye.. "Get in there, man."
"Hey, it was a valid request," says Joey, closing the door behind him.
The limo drives off, but Joey lowers the window and we see their hands waving to us. We wave back.
"What did he say?" I ask, pretending I didn't hear anything.
"He said he knew we'd be here," says Craig, massaging my back. "Just like them."
Demetria glances at us, and winks.
"I do your wedding too," she says. "The colors orange and white. You like?"
Angie pretends to barf. I smile politely.
"Get out of here," says Angie. "For your own good."
Demetria starts snapping at her. I think she's cursing in Russian.
"I didn't mean it, but those aren't good...," protests Angie.
"Run," whispers Craig, and we do. But at least we're not running from each other anymore; we're running away together.
Please read the epilogue. :)