FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

20 ➵ Masked

I looked back for a quick moment only to see a perfect view. They were all dancing together, enjoying one of their few nights to relieve the stresses of the outside world. Nothing mattered in that moment besides each other, and that's all we needed anyway.

As I made it to the snack table, I tried looking for Charlie. It might seem hard with the dull light of the club, but I easily spotted him with a familiar face. I recognized the dress and the mask from before, and I realized it was Valerie. They stood in the corner laughing at a harmless joke Charlie had said as they brushed the rest of the world away.

The smile never fell off my face.

I tried grabbing the punch very quickly in order to make it back to my friends, but the ladle fell towards the floor in an attempt to pour. I rolled my eyes, not wanting to use to ladle any longer, before crouching down to grab it. For the second time that night my hand touched another in the same moment. Instead of it being Valerie this time, it was another masked stranger. I smiled allowing him to grab it instead while getting back up.

"Sorry, if  you can't get punch anymore." I muttered softly. "I think there's water bottles at the end of the table, though!"

As I was about to walk over to it, the stranger stopped me. "Allow me."

He quickly grabbed two water bottle out of the large metal bin at the end of the snack table before handing one over to me. I muttered a small praise before chugging the substance. I hadn't noticed how dehydrated I was until the water was quickly gone. However, I did notice that the stranger kept a close distance to me, but it didn't bother me much. I just smiled as he did the same.

The stranger had light blonde hair, almost platinum. His stance was strong which showed his overall confidence and nice posture. He wore a slick black suite with a black tie. His mask was the most interesting one I've seen tonight. Instead of it covering the top half of his face, it stretched along the left side and his nose, covering that whole portion. The mask was white and simple, being as it reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera styled mask.

"I like your face," I spat out. I realized my wrong wording before shaking my head. "Your mask! I like your mask!" I corrected myself.

He raised an eyebrow looking towards me. "Oh, so you don't like my face?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, I like your face, okay? Happy? I just wanted to say that you're mask is cool. It's like really old looking. I mean, it looks vintage, but the cool type of vintage. It's like that Phantom of the Opera kind of cool, but without the possessiveness and killing people. I'm just going to stop talking."

I started drinking more water as I looked to my side to see him snickering. I could tell his eyes were light, but I couldn't quite pin the color. He was just so enchanting to look at. I usually don't murmur that when I'm talking to others, but I realize that it might had been the liquid courage in my system. I could not have taken enough to get me drunk, but easily enough to make me tipsy.

"You look beautiful," he filled the awkward silence between us as I nodded.

"Thanks," I tried keeping my mouth shut from another embarrassing spill.

"Blue is definitely your color," he added. I couldn't help, but smile still turning my gaze towards the dancing crowd.

"And, I like how you knew it was inspired by Phantom of the Opera," he chuckled. "I mean, this is a masquerade ball. I couldn't pass up a perfect opportunity."

"It was a really good movie," I studied my words carefully, trying my hardest not to mess up.

He could tell. As I looked towards the masked stranger, he was already looking towards me. I shied up looking back at the crowd. The music in the background suddenly felt drained; it was muffled in the air that consumed both me and the blonde boy.

"Would you like to dance?" he was still looking my way.

I smiled softly.

"Yes."

I grabbed his hand tightly, pulling him into the crowd. I could tell the liquid courage was working, and maybe he knew too. The songs were soft as our focus was just on each other. There were many duos in the crowd already dancing together, and we added another pair. I felt his hands grip my waist as I pulled closer to him. I didn't look at him, though, but instead I rested my head into his chest. I heard his heartbeat. I felt his soul.

"I'm Sienna, by the way." I muttered closing my eyes.

The stranger hesitated for a moment; I could tell as his breathe hitched. "I'm James," he spoke quietly.

"Hello, James." I giggled gripping him a little closer.

"Hello, Sienna."

In that moment, two strangers just filling the void of emptiness with our close proximity was enough. Swaying to the music was enough. Hearing his heartbeat was enough.

Together, we were enough.

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lil bit of a longer chapter for you guys! hope you are enjoying and please stay safe! i'm in self quarantine right now so i have much more time for posting! love you all!