So how's everyone enjoying school again..? I know it's rough but keep holding on
Part two of the big night out!
It's not really big, but it'll get fun for sure
They found the restaurant pretty quickly. It had a classic 80s vibe with red booths, bright neon lights and black-white walls. Loud music was playing and a few people were on the improvised dance floor, because, apparently, it was 'swing-Saturday'. We scanned the large area until we saw the mop of red hair with his hand up and walked up to him.
''Great choice, Calum. This looks like fun!'' Raini praised him. She takes a seat next to Laura and swings along with the catchy tune that was playing. As soon as she is settled in, she tells Calum the Abercrombie story, not forgetting any detail. They all drop their winter jackets against the back of the red couch.
Ross take the seat next to Calum without saying a word and looks through the menu. Feeling Laura's eyes on him, he looks over the edge of the menu card and sees her scanning his face, silently asking him what's wrong. He shakes his head slightly, trying to reassure her that everything's fine. Getting the message, Laura tries to change the subject.
''So, have you guys seen anything good yet? I'm gonna go for the pasta for sure.'' she asks the rest of the group. A while later they order their food and just as the waitress leaves, Laura hears a very familiar song intro.
''Raini! Taylor! Let's go!'' she cheers and pulls Raini out of the booth. They run to the dance floor where many other people have stepped on when they heard 'Shake It Off' playing.
''You weren't happy with those models either, were you.'' Calum suddenly questions Ross. He leans against the back of the soft couch and crosses his arms.
''Of course not, everyone knows those guys aren't good news, except the girls who like them.'' he admits to his friend while thinking back to the way Laura flirted with the arrogant guy.
Calum watches the girls another minute before apologising. They see Laura and Raini in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by a dozen other people but, somehow, all the attention goes to them. Taking each other's hands, they dance on one of their favourite songs. The girls notice the guys watching them and wave at them happily. When Laura spots Ross staring with an empty look in his eyes, she almost wants to go back to figure out what has been bugging him all day, but changes her mind when he turns away.
''Sorry to leave you standing there, dude.'' Calum slaps his shoulder and Ross shrugs while smiling to tell him it's okay. The song ends and the girls return to the table.
''What an awful idea to wear heels today.'' Laura complains and rubs her painful heel. They take their seat again and Ross is about to start a new subject when he hears a certain melody. Getting an idea, he starts grinning and turns his attention to Laura. She notices this and looks at him curiously.
''Are you sure you can't do one more dance?'' he asks her while standing up. Her face lights up when she sees what he's doing, but shakes her head, still uncomfortable in her high heels and not feeling to be the centre of the room, knowing it's his talent to collect all the attention in the room. Ross puts one arm behind his back, gentleman-ish, and holds out one hand for her to grab.
''You know you want it, Laur.'' And he starts singing, looking at her while he does it.
''My name is Austin, nice to meet you, can I tell you baby?'' he changes his name, which makes Laura grin but still doesn't take his hand. Raini and Calum watch the scene laughing and some people on the dance floor have noticed them too.
''Look around, there's a whole lot of pretty ladies.'' He gestures to the whole room after nudging Calum while nodding approvingly. After looking around, his eyes land on her again. Subtly dropping to the floor, resting one knee and one foot on the floor, he sits in front of her. Laura hides her huge smile behind her hand and looks at Raini. Raini signs that she should dance with him by giving her the shoo shoo gesture.
''But none like you, you shine so bright.'' he uses the moment she's not watching him to grab both of her hands that are resting on the table and pulls her off of the couch. She squeals and shakes her head violently while laughing out loud. He keeps walking backwards, pulling her with him until they're on the middle of the dance floor. He then releases her hands carefully, testing if she won't turn around and walk back, but she remains still.
''I was wondering if you and I could spend a minute. On the floor, up and close, getting lost in it. I won't give up without a fight.'' Ross now sings along loudly, moving around her, drawing all the attention to them. He suddenly grabs her hand, turning her around and pushes her against him by laying his other hand on her back. Swaying, they cross the whole dance floor until people start moving and creating a big circle for them to move in.
''I just wanna, oh baby. I just want you to dance with me tonight. So come on, oh baby. I just want you to dance with me tonight'' he keeps singing to her, their faces close and Laura can't stop smiling the whole way through. She feels his hand release hers and moves it to her elbow. He does the same with the other, slowly guiding her arms up until they're around his neck. He places his own around her waist.
''We're getting sweaty, hot and heavy in the crowd now. I loosen up and let your hands go down, down. But go with it girl, yeah just close your eyes, yeah.'' he sings while they both think back to when he recorded the song and laugh, Laura closing her eyes and slowly shaking her head, keeping her head down. She freezes when feeling his fingers under her chin, pushing her head back up.
When I saw you there, sitting all alone in the dark acting like you didn't have a care. I knew then, that you'd be mine and we'd be dancing the whole damn night like,'' they keep dancing on the rhythm, Laura now noticing Ross stopped singing along. She looks in his eyes, noticing his gaze hadn't left hers during the whole song.
''Oh baby, I just want you to dance with me tonight. So come on, oh baby, I just want you to dance with me tonight.'' as the music slows down, so do they, until they stopped moving. Around them, they hear people clapping and cheering. Laura moves her hands down until they rest on his chest.
''We should go eat.'' Ross spoke after a few seconds, nodding his head towards their table. She nods slowly, feeling how the tension broke after that one sentence and Ross's hands let her go before walking back to their table.
''That was so cool, guys! The whole restaurant saw it!'' Calum claims excitedly. Ross and Laura look at each other over the table and shrug.
''Auslly has chemistry, remember?'' she replies quickly before digging into her pasta and leaving the subject behind her.
''Auslly sure does.'' Ross agrees with an unsure smile. He makes eye contact with Raini, who is giving him a curious look, and quickly avoids her gaze, starting to cut his pizza.
They danced, just like Auslly could've done. Just like they did in the recording booth, when they had to voice the chemistry they had together. But that was for the movie, it was acting. This wasn't. There were no cameras and they weren't in character. So why did he feel so awkward? The uneasy look Laura had in her eyes, proved she couldn't focus on the dinner either. For the rest of the night, the two barely talked and whenever they accidently did look at each other, they smiled awkwardly before looking the other way. What did just happen that changed so much?
Walking home, Ross and Laura somehow end up walking next to each other and walk in complete silence, until Ross finally breaks it.
''You got nice moves, I have no idea who ever told everyone you didn't.'' he spoke while bumping his shoulder into hers. They had their hands stuffed in their pockets, Laura still wearing Ross's oversized hoodie under her winter jacket.
''I did myself, and you know it's true.'' Laura laughs. Ross looks at her penetrating and shakes his head.
''You're not as similar to Ally as you think, you know.'' He tells her, looking straight forward. She looks at his questioning.
''In what way do you mean?'' she asks him.
''Just in a lot of ways.'' he answers her smiling down at her. Still confused, she decides to let it go. Walking in comfortable silence, they both think back to the evening that had just passed.
It's late in the evening when they finally arrive at their hotel. The whole evening the 'dance thing' had not been mentioned anymore and everyone could sense the tension.
''Eight in the breakfast hall, don't forget, guys!'' Calum reminds them before telling them goodnight and closing his door.
''Night!'' and Raini's door closes too with a loud bang. Laura looks at Ross standing in his doorway on the other side of the hall, straight across of hers. She leans against the frame, holding the doorknob of the open door with one hand.
''Had a lot of fun tonight, thanks for that.'' she thanks him softly, smiling gratefully.
''Me too. I hope we get to do that more often.'' Ross responds while leaning against his still closed door.
''Goodnight, Ross.'' Laura whispers him goodbye and closes the door gently.
''Sleep tight.'' he says to the closed door in front of him before unlocking his own and stepping inside. Letting it close on its own, he leans against it with his back until he hears the click.
After this night, the line between Auslly and Raura had become so blurry, he had trouble seeing it. Maybe he just needs a good night of sleep, tomorrow they're just Laura and Ross again, two great friends, nothing more and nothing less. He gets undressed quickly and lays in his perfectly made up bed.
The filming hasn't even begun and things are already weird. Nothing prepared him for what was coming these few months.
And the drama begins
Hope you guys liked it! xx