Distant Hearts
A Dress
It's the beginning of the holiday season now and you scrunch up your nose as Summer holds yet another red dress out and up to your frame for the upcoming annual Charity Ball for the museum. Every dress your friend, who was in town for the ball tomorrow and brought her husband and his best friend along for the ride, picked out, was red. Red, she said, was the color of the season. Obviously, you think, she must have been a blond once upon a time in her life before because you have red hair – the kind of red hair that can only be seen with a certain type of pink and no shade of red unless you want to be hosed down by Chicago's Fire Department. You immediately take the dress from her hands and emphasize the words, "No Red," to her for the thousandth time. "Black, what about black? I like black."
"No black," Summer snapped back at you. You had learned over the years not to argue with Summer's fashion sense, after all she was named as one of Vogue's top ten emerging designers to watch. You move onto the next rack, following her lead, wondering why you didn't take her up on her offer for her to design one for you. It would've been easier since she already had your measurements from the wedding in the summer. You hadn't gained nor lost any weight, you were the same…you thought. Summer ran her hands through the next rack, taking out several blues and violets among them when your eyes caught another dress on display. A perfect dress.
You step out from the aisle, your eyes never leaving the perfect dress that you just happened to see. A gold champagne color, it was just long enough to be perfect with subtle beading at the top. The straps were thicker, leading down to just the right point as to not to reveal anything that didn't want to be revealed. You feel Summer step beside you, watching your eyes fill with fascination and wonderment and she flags down Ana, the salesperson who had kept asking if there was anything you needed help with.
"The gold, in size 4," Summer told her and she hurried to the back to retrieve the dress. You look over at Summer and smile, knowing, or almost knowing that this is the dress. Ana comes out moments later with three gold dresses in three different lengths, "Just in case," she says.
"Hey, you have to try these on too!" Summer objects before you go into the rather large changing room. You look back at her and she goes on, following you closely. "You have to, unless, I have to go back to your apartment where I have no doubt in my mind Seth, Ryan and little Sara are on a sugar high. Please don't make me go back yet," she begs, you laugh and go to try the dress on.
With just one touch of the gentle silky fabric, you don't need any confirmation from Summer or anyone else. This is most definitely the perfect dress.
You hold the champagne flute in your hand, sipping on the liquid as the Fire Chief goes on and on about how he's grateful that MSI was hosting the Annual Fireman's Ball. You're actually hardly listening; instead you're looking out for Summer, Seth and Ryan. The ball had been planned since last year and with three extra tickets on your hands, you honestly couldn't think of anyone else to give them to. You considered Mark and Addy, but with Addy's recent pregnancy, that idea was out. You're glad that Summer jumped at the tickets actually. It'd been a while since you saw her last and you definitely needed some much needed Summer-Lindsay time.
The Chief calls your attention back, asking about the newest exhibit and how it was going. "Fine, Chief. Have you seen it yet?" You politely ask, putting your Museum Director hat back on. He tells you that he has, but wouldn't mind seeing it again with a pretty girl. You know he's trying to get you to come with him, but you've seen Body Worlds one too many times. You flag Kristie, one of the many facilitators, over and introduce her to the Chief and hand him off – just in time too, since Xander, your assistant director had strolled by your side announcing that 'a lovely brunette is persistently asking for you at the front lobby'. Summer, you know that it's Summer and you quickly finish off your flute of champagne, handing it off to him and fleeing in that direction.
Stopping only twice to do your job with the smiles and formalities, you lean over the balcony, looking for the inseparable three that you call your friends and spot them by the bar with Seth trying to put the bartender out of his job. You smile and make your way down the staircase, your eyes meeting with another pair of blue ones across the crowded room. You try to suppress the smile that wants to come out but you can't and you let it loose, smiling all the way to the middle of the room – where he meets you.
Over the months since Summer and Seth's wedding, your friendship with Ryan has, in a nutshell, developed into something that you're not sure you can label. It's somewhere in between like and love with you both tiptoeing on the boundaries of what-ifs and maybes. There's now about three inches between the both of you and you both stand staring at each other. You were right the first time you saw him again – he looks great in a suit. "Hi," you say, a flush coming to your cheeks.
"Miss Gardner," he reaches for your hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it softly, "you look…I actually have no words," he tells you as Summer and Seth finally come around.
"Ravishing, sexy, amazing, gorgeous…shall I go on?" Summer gave him some options still holding onto Seth's hand and her own flute of champagne. "Hey!" She then proceeded to squeal in your direction and gave you a hug. A strand from your half twist comes down in your eyes and you swipe it away with your free hand as the other one is still in Ryan's.
"Okay," you announce, "you have the option of seeing what's actually inside your body or…my favorite part of this job I have. Which one?"
"I'm going with the latter," Seth spoke up, "not really interested in what's inside me. I know what's in there – a lot of beer and Summer in my heart."
"You really have to work on your compliments Seth," Ryan tells him and pats his back as he's drinking his beer, "Lead the way, milady." You giggle at Ryan's words, leading them all to the backstage area where the real magic happens. Just like the magic between you and Ryan, whatever it may be.
A/N: Many Thanks to dancer150 for the original idea for this chapter.
