Iris leaned against one of the buffet tables on the far side of the ballroom, trying to look engaged with the circle of people around her. She was a pro, knowing exactly when to laugh and how many smiles to give. She certainly didn't dislike the people, they were all perfectly fine, but she couldn't help but feel disconnected. Her eyes shifted around the golden, gilded room. It truly was a beautiful, no, magnificent, place, but…

At last, her purple eyes landed on someone else huddled in one of the other corners of the room. Unlike Iris, though, she was completely alone, and from the look on her face, she was anxious to keep it that way. Despite herself, Iris felt a tiny, dry, smile quirk at her lips. Didn't she know the feeling? Before she even knew what she was doing, Iris found herself gliding across the shining floors to reach the mysterious stranger. Though it was apparent she didn't like being here anymore than Iris did, that was part of why Iris felt drawn to her, why Iris wanted to talk to her.

The woman happened to notice Iris as she made her way across the room. For a moment, Iris worried she would look away coldly. After all, if she wanted someone to talk to, she wouldn't be hiding away in a corner. But, to Iris' surprise and relief, the woman only seemed curious, maybe even interested. Who are you? Why are you coming over? Iris hoped that maybe she saw a kindred spirit, so to speak, and that she would understand that Iris didn't really like this scene either.

"You're not enjoying yourself tonight? I get that. Neither am I," Iris said dryly, and the woman seemed pleased with her.

"I'm only here because my friends insisted I join them, but…" Although Iris didn't know who exactly the woman was pointing to, she understood.

"I'm the same way," she chuckled and shook her head. Although her friends hadn't "abandoned" her, per se, when they showed little interest in seeing if she was enjoying herself, or trying to invite her into conversations, she'd drifted over to the buffet table in hopes that food would distract her. She got sidetracked listening to some of the other partygoers who had the same idea.

"I'm sure the things coming out of their mouths are far less pleasant than what's going in," the woman smirked, and Iris tried to stifle a snort. Admittedly, those were her exact thoughts, she just hadn't wanted to think so harshly of them because it wasn't their fault she didn't mesh with them. But to hear the other woman say it so boldly was both a relief, and an amusing delight.

"I know stupidity isn't contagious," Iris decided to play along and tried to think of something witty to say, "but I can't blame you for trying to stand as far away from any of them as possible."

"I like to keep my distance," the woman agreed, smirk widening. She was also secretly delighted that Iris was playing along with her rather antagonistic humor. Of course she didn't actually hate anyone here, but she knew that her rather aggressive humor would've left most people chiding her for being improper and impolite. She was glad that this young party guest thought she was funny, too.

In fact, although the two had never met before, she happened to notice Iris only a minute or so before Iris noticed her. Like Iris, she was standing idle and bored in the farthest reach of the ballroom, shifting eyes scanning the room as she stared vacantly at all the pretty dresses and fancy suits. She'd noticed Iris also looking restless in her own little group and she couldn't help but smirk and shake her head.

Well, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who wishes she was somewhere else…The only reason she couldn't leave was because her friends had driven her here and it was too far and too late to walk home alone. Then, Iris started to approach, and the woman decided to allow it, just because she had indeed seen a kindred spirit in her just moments ago.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I never got your name. I'm Iris."

"I'm Storm."

"Awww, I like that name! Well, Storm, might I say that it was enchanting to meet you?"

ooo

Even a day after the party, even after Iris forgot literally everything else, she remembered Storm. It was 2AM, about 22 hours after the party concluded, and Iris was having yet another restless night. This night, though, she felt high-strung rather than simply incapable of falling asleep. A question spun around her head: Storm, who do you love? Iris wondered until she was wide awake.

Suddenly, she was pacing around her house, wishing Storm was at the door. Of course, Iris would open up right away and Storm, as soon as nothing stood between them anymore, would say, "Hey, it was enchanting to meet you."

And Iris would reply, "Yes, all I know is I was enchanted to meet you." And then suddenly, they'd be dancing.

She was transported back to the party 22 hours ago. Right before it ended, when the final dances were going, it was Storm who initiated.

"Care to dance?" she asked, surprisingly smooth for someone who didn't seem to like people. She held her hand out to Iris, and for a moment, Iris could only stare. Dance? With her? Right here and now? In front of everyone? Each question in her head only made her more and more excited. She didn't remember taking Storm's hand, but she remembered Storm leading her to the center of the ballroom.

She didn't remember the song, but she remembered the music, the lights dimming; and then she remembered spinning. She remembered laughing and smiling for the first time that night. It turned out that the final dance was something of a lightshow, because even though they dimmed at the start of the dance, they brightened and darkened throughout the piece. Her purple gown shimmered, silver sequins shining like stars.

In all the moments that the room was bright, she saw a quiet, satisfied smile on Storm's face. It seemed as though her subdued nature was natural, not just because of her disinterest with the party. But even though she wasn't giggly the way Iris was, Iris could still tell by the look on her face that she was happy. Just like Iris, this was also her first time that entire party where one of her smiles was sincere. The night was truly flawless. But even all the moments that the room was dark, Iris could still see Storm's blue eyes shine in the dim glow. She was sure her eyes were the same.

The crystal chandeliers sparkled in the waxing and waning light and Iris held onto Storm the entire dance. There was never a single step where at least one of her hands wasn't somehow connected to her partner. Even after they were finally forced to part, Iris and Storm's respective friend groups pulling them away from one another, Iris would never forget the feeling of Storm's hands in hers. They were a little rough, calloused, but Iris liked that. They felt strong and secure, hands that would hold her heart even after they had to let go of her body.

The car was abuzz with chatter, her friends excitedly recounting how wonderful the party was. Iris stayed quiet, not because she didn't have any good memories to share (quite the opposite), but because she was too busy blushing all the way home. And perhaps there was a tiny, selfish, jealous part of her that didn't want to share Storm. She liked to think their lovely, unexpected night together was a secret for only them to keep.

Now, Iris danced alone in her kitchen, pretending Storm was with her. Her visions danced between memory and imagination. Sometimes, she was back in the ballroom. Other times, she was in her kitchen; Storm had finally come knocking. She still didn't remember the song, but she did remember the music, and that was enough for her to come up with lyrics of her own, the same thing she'd been thinking since that magical night ended: I'll spend forever wondering if you knew…I was enchanted to meet you!

ooo

In the days to come, Iris still couldn't get Storm, or their flawless, sparkling night, out of her head. She found herself wishing, hoping, dreaming, that this was the very first page, and that the night in the ballroom wasn't going to be a one-off thing. And she knew in her heart that it would echo Storm's name until they somehow, someday, got to be together again.

Whether Iris was at work or home, walking around town or through the woods, trying to be productive or enjoying a little R&R, she saw the past and future in her mind's eye. Sometimes she was still back in the ballroom with Storm, laughing or dancing in equal measure. Other times, she kept imagining what her daily life might be like if Storm could return to her side. In any case, she felt truly inescapable.

One night, Iris found herself staring at the moon. All she could think of were the words she'd held back even at the very end of the party, at the very end of the final dance. She'd been too nervous to say them at the time, but now, a week later, she felt more than ready to say them and would've given anything for the chance to do so. Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you.

As those words, in her head, intertwined with her declaration of enchantment at meeting Storm, they created another beautiful, tragic harmony that she couldn't help but sing and dance around all alone to. She still didn't remember the song, but she remembered the music, and that was enough for her to compose lyrics of her own. They followed her around, day and night, accompanying her until she got to be with Storm again, finally rising into a near-deafening crescendo of power and longing.

At roughly the 10-day mark, Iris was walking around her downtown's park. She and Storm had texted a little since the night of the party, but it was painfully and annoyingly clear that they weren't the best at knowing what to say to one another, especially now they were no longer together. All the ease of that very first night had changed into a sort of shy, giddy, hesitance. Iris already knew Storm wasn't very good at social interaction, period, but Iris herself thought she would've been better than this, less flustered and at a loss for words, and yet here they both were.

But they were finally able to eke out an agreement to meet at the park. Even though they were both bad at knowing what to say to one another over the phone, it looked like they both still wanted sorely to see one another again. That was a hopeful and promising sign. At first, though, Iris reached the bench where they were supposed to meet. Storm wasn't there and Iris, herself, was five minutes late. That was not a good sign. Iris sat down on the bench, but as the minutes ticked by, a wave of doubt washed over her. She felt too scared to text Storm and ask.

Was this a mistake? Was I wrong about her? Man…and here I was, really hoping that she wasn't in love with anyone else. I know I'm the one waiting on her, but what if she was waiting on someone else? Iris slumped forward, elbows on her knees and chin in her hands. Despite her sad thoughts, they were mixed with the enchanting night in the ballroom. Her thoughts were pacing back and forth between joy and sorrow, as if beautiful memory and tragic present were waltzing as well. She just wished she could go back to—

Suddenly, a bouquet of blue and purple flowers was shoved in front of her face. She reared back in surprise and when she looked up…There was Storm, towering over her, an awkward, embarrassed, sheepish smile on her face.

"Sorry to keep you waiting on me," she said. Iris was overcome with another wave of emotion. It rendered her mute, and she could only nod, mouth open slightly. She hoped it was enough for Storm to know that Iris had forgiven her at once. With shaking hands, she took the flowers.

There was a tag hanging from the tie that held the stems together: No, I am not in love with someone else. I never had somebody waiting on me. You might be all of my dreams come true, and I just wish you knew, Iris, I think I'm in love with you.

AN: This is my favorite "Speak Now" song and ties with "Delicate" as my favorite TS song EVER! (So of course my main OCs had to have it! Especially since this album already has a bit of a history with them. And yes, the dress Iris wears at the ball is the one on the album).

IMO, the story behind the song (and Owl City's lovely reply-cover) was so beautiful and tragic!

I'm also mad that this was supposed to be the album's name before it was forcibly changed to "Speak Now", LOL!

And while I'm definitely happy that TS is happy with Joe, I always wondered what might've happened if she and OC's storyline didn't end after that first enchanting night. (Although, thinking about TS' Version of the song and knowing it'll be sung after she fell in love with Joe… IT'S GONNA BE SOOO GOOD THAT IT MIGHT KILL ME BUT I WILL DIE HAPPY!)