Lend Me Your Heart
Sixty-Nine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46byB2YGePA
“I forgot to tell you,” JJ said later that day, handing me a sparkly black and gold mask. “It’s a ‘Roaring Twenties Masquerade’.”
“JJ!” I practically screamed, my eyes widening. “What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“You look fine.”
“Fine isn’t good enough,” I muttered, looking through my closet for something better to wear than the sparkly, gold dress I had on, “I don’t even look like I’m from the twenties.”
“Why the hell are you so insecure?” he asked, grasping my shoulders and forcing me to look into the mirror on my wall. “Look at yourself. You’re beautiful.”
“You have to say that because you’re my best friend.”
“True,” he said, pursing his lips and making me laugh. “But I also wouldn’t lie to you. After all, I am your best friend.”
I smiled up at him and took my mask out of his hands.
“Thanks, JJ.”
“Anytime, Layne. Thanks for coming with me.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Whatever. Anything to get you laid.”
“You love me,” he said with a grin.
I smirked and glared at him, trying my best not to laugh.
“You wish, lover boy.”
***
When we walked into the huge apartment, the first thing I noticed was the music.
It was a song called “Sing Sing Sing” by Benny Goodman and Louis Prima; a seven-minute song I danced to during a recital a few years back.
It was dark inside besides some colorful strobe lights and glowing cell phones.
It basically looked like a club playing old-fashioned music.
It was weird.
Everything felt weird and mysterious, but I was extremely excited to dance.
It’s not everyday that you go to a party and get to experience this type of thing.
There were some people that went all out with their twenties masquerade outfits; some girls were wearing feather boas and sparkly headbands and fringe dresses.
Some boys wore old tuxedos and hats, making me wonder how they weren’t dying of heat in this place.
“Layne!” I heard JJ call from behind me over the loud music. “That girl over there is checking me out. I’ll catch up with you later, alright?”
I rolled my eyes, putting my mask over my eyes.
Typical JJ.
Why did he even invite me if he was just going to keep ditching me?
“Yeah,” I said, quiet enough that only I could hear myself over the music, waving him off with my hand. “Just leave me here alone to suffer in misery.”
The music had started to pick up a little; the drumming got louder to the point where I could practically feel the vibrations within my chest, meaning my favorite part of the song was coming up.
That’s when I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder.
I turned around to see a tall, dark figure standing behind me.
He worse black dress pants, a black dress shirt, a white tie, a white mask, and a black hat; the kind men used to wear back in the twenties.
I couldn’t make out the color of his hair or eyes, but he was very tall and fit.
He suddenly leaned in towards my ear.
“Want to dance?” he asked in a low voice, sending chills down my spine.
I guess he could tell what my reaction was by my lips formed into a faint smile, because he smirked and led me towards the group of dancing people in the middle of whoever’s apartment this was.
He locked one of his hands with mine and put his other on my hip.
I was surprised he didn’t just immediately start grinding with me, like most of the people here were doing; I liked it.
I’d be lying if I said he didn’t make me nervous, because he did.
He was mysterious.
I got a strange feeling when I danced with him, but I couldn’t quite place what that feeling was.
Suddenly, the song immediately started to pick up after a drum solo.
The man moved his feet quicker, matching my steps.
I laughed incredulously; I’d never danced with someone as good as him.
His grip tightened on my hip as we started to sway further.
I felt like I was being carried away by the music, so I closed my eyes and titled my head back slightly, until the man raised my arm so he could spin me.
A few of my curls fell loose, but I didn’t care.
I was too busy enjoying myself with this stranger.
At this point in the song, I couldn’t even feel the people who kept bumping into me or how fast my heart was beating our how my heels kept painfully squeezing the skin on my ankles.
Suddenly, though, the song came to an abrupt end, causing the stranger and I to clash chests.
I would’ve fallen backwards if he hadn’t caught me in his arms and dipped me, like it was all a part of our act.
Our faces were so close to each other and his arms were wrapped around me in the most perfect way that all I wanted to do was kiss him.
Luckily, though, he kissed me first; it was so perfect.
I’d never kissed a stranger before, but this stranger seemed oddly familiar to me, like I’d known him my whole life.
His lips were so warm and gentle, and then everybody started clapping and cheering for the little show we put on.
I hadn’t even realized they were watching us.
When we pulled apart, he lifted me back up so we were standing again.
People started to disperse, going back to their original dancing positions and places, but he and I just stayed put in the middle of everybody.
Pulling me closer to him by my hips, he started to say something, but a voice interrupted him.
“Wow!” I heard JJ voice say from behind me. “It’s like you two were made for each other, Layne. I mean, did you see the way-”
“Layne?” the man breathed, stopping JJ in the middle of whatever he was about to say.
“Yeah, that’s my-” I started, but suddenly lost my train of thought when his hands flew up to my mask, slowly moving it down my face.
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