Chapter 23: I'll Remember You
It was now night time in Freeside, and the King's party was all set up. The stage room no longer had the tables or the chairs. It was going to be used as a dance floor. The stage was set up with a few microphones and a drum set. The lobby was all set up with a new supply of booze to give to the guests, and some of the king's members had brought a date with them. Both rooms were filled with Kings in their best suits and their partners dressed in what could be considered the finest of Freeside. The King was dressed in his best suit. It wasn't even part of the usual King attire. It was a black suit. The King wanted to look presentable and he wanted to stand out. He was sitting at the bar, waiting for the guest of honor to come down. She'd been up there for quite some time now. He was beginning to wonder if she was going to come down at all. Maybe the dress he got for Raven to wear wasn't fitting right. He was about to go upstairs to check on her when a man and a woman approached him.
"King, sir, you remember my wife Helen, don't you?"
The King looked to her and smiled. "Why yes, James, I do. It's a pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Kelby." He took her hand and kissed it gently.
"Oh, Mr. King. Haha, " said Helen as she looked around. "I absolutely love what you've done with the place, Mr. King. But I dare say, I don't even know what the special occasion is."
The King smirked and leaned against the bar a bit. "It's to honor a friend who just came back from Utah with some King memorabilia. She had a long trek and I want to show her our appreciation for the gifts."
"From Utah?" asked Helen. "Oh my goodness. For a woman to travel that far...oh my, I couldn't even think of doing that."
"Yes, Miss Wagner is a very resilient woman," said the King. "I'm proud to call her a close friend to The Kings."
James then asked, "And where is this resilient young woman?"
The King shook his head. "I do believe she is upstairs getting dressed, although I will admit it is taking her a long time."
James laughed. "Oh, woman always take their time in order to look pretty. It may drive us men nuts, but seeing the results is worth the wait. Isn't that right, darlin'?"
Helen giggled. "Of course, James. You men honestly don't know what us women have to go through in order to look beautiful."
"But I do wonder, Mr. King, " mused James. "Who's the lucky man that Miss Wagner is supposed to look beautiful for?"
The King eyeballed James a little. "She doesn't need a date to look beautiful."
Helen smiled warmly. "Well, there are a lot of single men here in your gang, Mr. King. I'm sure she'll manage to catch herself a beau."
"Not if I can help it..." The King thought to himself. "Well, now that you mention it, I re-"
The King suddenly stopped talking as he looked to the doorway that led to the hallway. There stood Raven in the door frame. Helen and James looked in the direction after a few moments.
"Well, I'll be," remarked Helen. "She certainly is stunning. Is that Miss Wagner?"
"I believe so, Helen," James replied. "She really cleans up nice, doesn't she?"
The King picked out a rich black tafetta cocktail dress for her, with a fitted bodice and a peach colored acetate line laced edge. It had double laced shoulder straps, and had a full rustling skirt that stopped just above her knees. Raven wore black high heels with the dress. Her black hair was not up in it's usual welder's bun, but was let all the way down to her lower back. He hadn't realized her hair was so long. Raven just looked...so different than her usual leather armor attire. After a few more moments of staring, the King spoke again.
"James, Helen. Would you please excuse me for a moment?" said the King before making his way over to Raven. The girl spotted the King and smiled sheepishly at him. They approached each other and the King grinned. "Miss Wagner," was all he could say.
The King watched her cheeks blush. "I'm sorry that I took so long. I...I didn't have the courage to come down here in this at first." Her head lowered and her gaze went to the floor.
The King beamed. Was she being shy? He lifted her chin with a finger and looked at her face. Raven averted her eyes away from the King. "Look at me."
Her green eyes went to his gray eyes and she said, "Do I look...presentable?"
"Miss Wagner, you look beautiful." Raven's cheeks flushed red again, and the King put her hand into his. "Now that you're here, we can start this shindig."
The King pulled Raven away from the door frame and into the lobby. He announced to the guests that Miss Wagner was finally here and that the party could really get started now. A few whistles and cheers were heard, and the King wrapped his arm into Raven's. He led her towards the stage room and he heard her gasp. He turned to her, concerned.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm just not good with crowds."
The King motioned to the band to start playing, and they did as they were told. An upbeat song began to fill the room and a few couples started to dance on the dance floor. The King took her hand and grinned devilishly at Raven. "Then distract yourself. Dance with me."
"Oh god, no. I'm...I don't dance, Mr. King."
"I'm not asking, Miss Wagner," said the King. "I'm telling you."
Before Raven could protest further, the King pulled her body into his and he led her into a dance. The band began to sing the words to the song as they danced.
The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumping and the joint began to swing
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock
The King spun Raven a couple times and she laughed when he grabbed her hips. His hands went to hers and he twirled himself around, then the courier did the same. The music coursed through their veins and the King watched as everyone started joining in on the dancing. He let go of Raven and began to back up a little, and Raven followed suit. As the music continued on and the pair kept on dancing, the King was unaware of a certain man glaring at both him and Raven Wagner as they danced.
The party was slowly, but surely, coming to a close as the crowd began to thin out. The sun was going to be up soon. Raven and the King were in the lobby having drinks and laughing. They were both highly inebriated.
"So, so..." the King paused. "So...what did you do when the Deathclaw saw you?"
Raven stood up proudly and raised her half empty glass. "What else could I have done? I shot that fucker dead!"
The King barked with laughter. "With what? A missile launcher?"
Raven sat back down and shook her head, giggling the whole time. "No. You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Mr. King."
The King leaned in and grinned at her with a flush to his cheeks from the alcohol. "Try me."
Raven eyeballed to the side then smirked and leaned in closer as well. "A 10mm pistol."
"You're kidding."
"Nu uh. I swear it's the truth."
"How the hell did you manage to take down a Deathclaw with just a pistol, Miss Wagner?" asked the King.
"Well for one thing, the Deathclaw was blind," Raven explained. "So it's not that impressive, but I just ran around a lot and shot at it, little by little. And eventually, the monster was down for the count."
"Jesus. That sounds impressive enough to me."
"Course it does. Everything I do is damn impressive."
The King laughed again. "I do admit that the things you do shock me to hell, sometimes."
Raven put her elbow up on the bar and rested her face into her palm. "So, got any battle stories of your own to share?"
"I do, but first..." the King said as he heard a song coming on. "Come with me."
Raven did as she was told and followed the King into the stage room. The music got louder and it was a slow song. Raven stopped in her tracks and shook her head. "Oh god, another dance?"
"C'mon," replied the King. "One more dance isn't going to kill you."
The woman sighed and the King grasped her hand. He placed the other hand on her hip as Raven put her free hand on his shoulder. Slowly they began to sway together.
I'll remember you
Long after this endless summer has gone
I'll be lonely, oh so lonely
Living only to remember you
"You know, Miss Wagner," the King began. "I've got to say that you're a terrific dancer."
Raven blushed and chuckled. "Yes, well, I've picked up stuff here and there, I guess."
I'll remember too
Your voice as soft as the warm summer breeze
Your sweet laughter, mornings after
Even after, I'll remember you
Raven coughed. "That day at the picnic...when I...kissed you...I'm sorry for that. I was a bit out of sorts that day."
The King shook his head. "No need for apologies. I rather enjoyed it."
"You did?"
"Yes," said the King. He leaned in closer and whispered into her ear, "and I'd enjoy the next kiss, too."
To your arms someday I will return to stay
Till then I will remember you
Every bright star we made wishes upon
Love me always, promise always
Ooooh, you'll remember too
The King made a small peck on her cheek before pulling his head back to look at her. Raven returned the gaze and something passed between them. It was a moment where their eyes were locked in on each other, and in all his boldness, the King lessened the space in between to hold her closer in his arms. His lips grazed hers softly, and Raven shut her eyes as she returned the kiss.
I'll remember you
Ok. I know awhile back I threatened to delete this story but I decided not to. You guys in your reviews have been so supportive and I love you. I will not delete the story, and I won't stop writing until it's finished! ^-^