2. Hell Erupts
Katie felt a little embarrassed as she entered the ballroom. Nerit’s amazing work on the Halloween costume had resulted in a slinky dress that made her slim, athletic build look very womanly. It tied behind her neck and revealed her strong shoulders before gliding down over her hips and ending in a slanted hemline that accentuated the curve of her legs. Despite all her bruises, she looked amazing.
She felt very much like a girl and it made her a little nervous. No one would have ever called her a dyke before, but she was most comfortable when dressed in her running clothes or a good pair of jeans and a tank top. Dressing up was what Lydia had been good at while she had just tried her best to look presentable when they went out. But tonight, she felt that she had achieved a level of femininity that was new territory for her. She felt like a bombshell.
Feeling a bit lightheaded and giddy from the pot, she moved to the bar where Felix was playing bartender.
“A glass of wine,” she said and blushed under his awed stare.
Sipping the chilled white wine, she began to make her rounds around the ballroom, greeting people, and trying not to look too anxiously for Travis.
Juan and Jenni were out on the dance floor laughing and hoofing it up to some country music. They were both pretty good and their moves were fluid and graceful. A few older people were on the floor as well, moving slower, but obviously enjoying themselves.
Peggy was trying hard to get away from a tall, older man who smelled so badly Katie winced. She recognized him as the crazy old guy who had arrived on the scooter. He was talking rapidly and waving a video camera around.
“…so you can tell the Mayor that I don’t believe he has the flu and I think he is avoiding me as he always does, because I alone know the real truth of what he is planning to do. And I plan to write letters
to the media and report to them how he has blocked their transmissions from this town so he can…”
Peggy walked by Katie and whispered, “Nice dress” then kept walking with the crazy man right behind her.
Finishing up her glass of wine, she went back for another and found Bill at the bar, drinking a beer.
“Nice dress, Katie,” he said with an appreciative smile.
“Thanks, Bill. I’m trying to impress someone tonight. ”
“Well, I’m impressed, if that counts. ”
She laughed and nodded. “Yes, it does. How are you doing?”
“Still trying to figure out this vigilante business, but letting it go for now. We have a lot of other stuff to worry about. ”
“That we do,” Katie admitted. She was now feeling very lightheaded and a bit tipsy and her shoes suddenly seemed way too high to walk in, but she gave Bill a soft smile and turned to watch Jenni and Juan tearing up the dance floor.
Among all the fond memories of her life, one of them was when Lydia saw her for the first time in her wedding dress. The look of awe and love in her lover’s eyes would stay with Katie forever. It was only matched by the look on Travis face when he finally entered the ballroom looking very handsome in a dark blue shirt, jeans, his leather jacket with his freshly washed hair curling slightly over his brow. She finally knew what it looked like to see someone struck speechless.
Walking across the room toward him, she enjoyed his look of absolute adoration and awe. She set her wineglass down on a table and held out her hand to him and he took it, blinking slowly. His hand was slightly trembling and sweaty in hers.
“Damn,” was all he managed.
“You like?”
“Damn,” he said again.
“This is what Nerit was helping me with earlier,” she went on.
“I’ll thank Nerit later,” Travis decided.
“Want to dance?” she asked.
Travis got the goofiest look on his face. It made her laugh.
“I have other things in mind, but dancing is good for now,” he responded.
Taking her hand, he guided her out onto the dance floor and drew her close. They danced slowly to a ballad sung by Patsy Kline, slipping across the highly-polished floor gracefully. Staring into each other’s eyes, they were oblivious to all the looks of approval they were receiving. Old Man Watson even applauded as they danced past his table. At last, to everyone in the room, it was clear that Travis and Katie were in love with each other.
When the song finished, and Travis kissed Katie softly, the room erupted into applause.