Dedicated to thedeadly_rose for always being on top of new chapters and the first to vote, lots of love and I hope you enjoy.

April 2nd:

The faint classical music drones static in the background, pairs of people spin around them. The instructor, a tall woman with a slicked-back bun, stands at the front of the room. Her grating voice calls out directions to the group, Mara struggles to hold onto Talon's hands. His left hand rests on her lower back. Mara itches to pull away, keeping an ominous distance between their bodies.

She asked for a different partner, but Talon Banks isn't one to say no to. So here she was, somewhat purposefully stepping on his feet, as he spins her around the ballroom. She isn't that good of a dancer, not this style at least, but it is of her sister's requests they learn how to formally dance for her wedding.

Mara loathed being a Gray sister, more so now than ever before.

"You're really bad, love," Talon chuckles, keeping Mara from toppling over. To make it more realistic, each girl had on a dress that falls down to their ankles. Mara isn't used to the length of the fabric and nearly twists her ankle on it.

"Maybe it's my partner," Mara snaps, rolling her eyes exaggeratedly. She steps back from Talon, who laughs, holding his hands up in surrender. His green eyes shine with amusement, but Mara isn't laughing.

"Sorry, sorry," he drawls, pulling her back to him, "we will take it slow."

After a few more times around the square dance floor and a couple more near-death experiences, Mara has had plenty. As Talon excuses himself to the bathroom and the instructor lets them off for a lunch break, Mara makes her escape. Quietly, she sneaks out the large framed doors, taking the one car in the garage that nobody touches.

It is beaten up and growls when you drive it, but it works nonetheless. Nobody will go looking for this car upon realizing Mara's escape. The stuffy air felt suffocating, especially with Talon so close, his cologne attacking her nose.

She finds herself in this position a lot, her car leading her to Elias's calming house. Not on purpose, either. It is more like a magnetic pull that attracts her. She feels drawn to him, enjoying their time together so much that she finds herself seeking it out.

Mara has never gone in search of another. They almost always find her.

---

It is weird standing at the stoop outside Elias's house, her knuckles pausing against the red door. She almost always waits for him on the curb, parked in the safety of her car. The snow has melted away by now, being replaced by rainy days and blooming flowers. The sky overhead is a looming gray, thunderclaps a few miles back.

The door swings open, revealing a disordered Elias. His tousled brown hair falls in front of his dark brown eyes, obscuring them as he squints towards Mara. A pair of plaid pajama pants hangs low on his hips, a white t-shirt hugging his toned frame. It isn't that early in the morning, but here Elias stands, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Surprise! You get to spend the day with me," Mara's smile grows as she pushes herself past the door, avoiding the now falling raindrops. Elias just lets her in, stepping back as she pushes past him into the small entryway. 

Elias blinks, shaking his head as an amused smile takes over his lips. Mara never fails to surprise him, ever. He yawns, leaning forward to shut the door behind her lingering frame. His arm brushes against her shoulder, leaving goosebumps on her neck as she steps backward.

She smells of the air before a storm, thick and smoggy. It mixes in with her pine smell, following her as she trails Elias into the kitchen.

He bites into a piece of bread coated with butter and jam. He offers Mara one, but she shoos it away with a flick of her wrist, shaking her blonde hair. Sitting down on the barstool, she spins in it a little, taking in the kitchen. It isn't large, nevertheless, it feels like home. It is warm, the fan above her head spinning at a slow speed, creating a ticking noise.

Elias quirks his eyebrow, leaning his back against the counter as he watches. He crosses his arms over his chest, a silent questioning of what she is doing here.

Not that he minds, Mara contributes to the little yellow circle of crayons on his paper. He finds that a lot of his happy moments are involved with Mara.

"Sorry to barge in," Mara chuckles, looking at him. "It's just my sister getting married. And, well, she's making us learn how to dance, but I, god, it was terrible." She proceeds to rant, a smirk forming on Elias's firm features as he watches.

"Don't laugh at me," Mara huffs, causing Elias to break out into chorusing merriment. It chimes through the kitchen, echoing off the snug walls as they stare at each other, both grinning.

"I bet you couldn't do any better," she shakes her head, pulling her thick blonde hair up into a messy ponytail. The thunderstorm begins to pour harder outside, the world around them turning dark gray. It feels like a silent daring, pushing the pair together.

Elias puffs his chest out, shoving the rest of his piece of bread into his mouth. Leaning behind him, he flicks on the radio to the station his mom normally leaves it on. The hum of old hits fills the room as he extends his hand to Mara.

Her eyes darted between his eyes and his hand offering, taking it. She gaps suddenly pulled into Elias's chest. It vibrates with his laughter, her ear crushed against his steady heartbeat.

Unlike Talon, it doesn't feel weird when his hand relaxes on her lower back, pulling her chest into his. One of her hands rests on his broad shoulders, the other clutching onto the bronze skin of his soft hand. Their faces aren't far apart, their ragged breathing mixing together as its warm air fans each other's faces.s

Suddenly they are spinning, Elias guides them around the kitchen. The music turns upbeat and, suddenly Mara's gasping, being spun away from Elias, his hand still holding hers.

Her body is chilly without his radiating energy. Their fingers entwine as he holds her away from him, her giggling as she looks over her shoulder. Mara's laughter only grows as she's pulled back into his chest roughly. Her head is thrown over her shoulder as she stares into his dark irises.

Her body felt hot, their noses so close they almost grazed each other. Sparkes ignited their nerves where they touched, Elias's heartbeat began to pick up, not because of his anxiety. Both of them were feeling something, Mara's cheeks burning bright pink as she beams.

Throwing her head back in laughter, her eyes staring at the ceiling, both of Elias's hands rest on her lower back. His arm, hooking around her as she leans back, fully trusting he would keep her up. They continue to move around the small room, the hardwood floors below them, groaning under their weight as they spin in circles.

Another song changes, this one softer, not matching their slovenly steps. The rain outside matches their laughter with rattling raindrops, a single ray of light beaming through the dark gray. There was a rainbow somewhere outside, but the two are lost in each other to notice.

They continue to sway together, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Her head rests against his shoulder one minute, being spun away from him the next. They don't stop, even after their feet begin to hurt.

They must dance for hours, not stopping until two figures are caught in the corner of Mara's eyes. With Elias's back to them, Mara peeks over his shoulder, grinning at the couple whose faces are shocked. Elias's eyes dart over a now standing Mara, glancing over his shoulder to find his parents awestruck.

With a smile on his face, booming with laughter, he waves at them. In a flash, Mara is swept up into a hug by his teary-eyed mother. His father, coming to pat Elias' shoulder, squeezing lightly. They've never seen their son so happy, wrapped up in his own little world.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. James. I'm Mara," Mara grins, being set down by Ella. She doesn't miss the quiet thank you Elias's mom whispers in her ear. Mara's smile grows as she notices Elias shoot his mom daggers, rolling his eyes before flicking towards Mara.

"Well, continue on," Elias's dad chuckles, pulling his frozen wife away. They are both beaming brightly at the sound of their son's laughter. He's been so light, these past months, and now Ella knows why.

It is the girl with blonde hair, who radiated confidence. The girl with a beautiful smile has made her son laugh, for the first time in years. Ella can't stop smiling even after she leaves the kitchen, listening to her son and the young girl's snickers fill the room.

For the first time in a very long time, everything feels at peace. The storm outside dwindles, the sun peeking through the shadows, filling the world bright white. Everything felt lighter like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

Happiness. They feel pure and honest exhilaration.

---

Authors Note:

More cuteness overload to come.

Thoughts?

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- ❤ Nia

Edited 3/30/22