Chapter 4
Eleanor offered the seat to Elizabeth courteously with a smile, Elizabeth smiled back and sat down as Eleanor took her coat off and sat on her seat.
Elizabeth's eyes remained fixated on Eleanor. Eleanor was wearing a white long sleeved buttoned up shirt and blue coloured braces (suspenders). Her dark blue tie was loosely tied around her neck, almost like it's clumsily put in place which added a mysterious charm on Eleanor.
'It was quite adorable.' Elizabeth thought as she smiled.
Eleanor looked at the menu attentively, not being able to notice the admiring look that Elizabeth had on her face.
'Her tie hair looks so soft and beautiful.' Elizabeth thought to herself. 'And her chiseled face is quite handsome today too despite her unkempt appearance.' She giggled.
"Excuse me?" Eleanor asked which startled Elizabeth.
"Yes?" She asked in a frenzy. Eleanor looked at her in confusion and shook her head.
"It's nothing," Eleanor replied. "I must be imagining it." She smiled. Elizabeth looked at her in confusion and soon shrugged it off as she looked at the menu on the table.
Eleanor nervously browses through the selection, she could faintly hear some words coming from Miss Hayes that's sitting in front of her, words of praises that seemed to be directed at her and yet it's quite hard to believe. So, she just let it go. Hopefully it's all just her hearing things.
*****
The two had finished ordering and Elizabeth still kept on staring at Eleanor. Eleanor awkwardly darted her gaze and looked around the restaurant when she noticed one of the servers stood on top of the stage with a wide smile.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!" The man, appearing to be in his forties, spoke with a commanding yet refined tone, instantly capturing the attention of the entire restaurant. The soft murmur of conversation gradually faded, leaving an expectant hush in the air.
Eleanor glanced at him, her brow furrowing in mild confusion as he continued.
"We are delighted to welcome you to a very special evening. Tonight, we are not just here to enjoy fine dining but to celebrate a milestone—five wonderful years since this establishment first opened its doors. We are deeply grateful for your continued support."
He paused, offering a warm smile as he looked around the room.
"To mark this occasion, we invite all couples to join us on the dance floor shortly, for an evening of music, joy, and memories. Our musicians will transport you back to an era of elegance, and we encourage everyone to take part in the celebration."
There was a murmur of excitement in the crowd as people exchanged glances.
"So, ladies and gentlemen, raise your glasses, hold your partners close, and join us as we celebrate not only our five years of success but the joy of being together, here and now."
With a final nod, the man stepped back, allowing the soft strains of the band to begin to fill the room. Eleanor's confusion melted into curiosity as she watched couples rise from their tables, some hand-in-hand, and head toward the center of the restaurant.
Eleanor looked at Miss Hayes with a smile and offered her hand. "Shall we?" Eleanor asked which made Miss Hayes jolt as she seemed to be awoken from a trance as she looked at Eleanor's hands.
Confused, she looked around the restaurant and saw that everyone had cleared out a space in the middle where countless couples regardless of age and genders, have taken their partners to dance along the floor as the gentle harmonies of the piano and violin filled the air.
Smiling, Miss Hayes took her hand and whispered, "We shall." To her ears which made Eleanor felt itchy. She didn't understand what, why, and where but something deep inside her felt uneasy. Is she scared?
Frowning, she thought deeply as she led Miss Hayes into the dance floor. The two held hands, stood inches closer to one another as they stride along the floor along with other couples. Eleanor was confused but she soon brushed it off as she looked into the smiling blue eyes of Miss Hayes.
It seems like lightning had hit her body as she unconsciously jerked, ruining her posture and running the balance the two had maintained in perfect rhythm to the sweet melodies as if their bodies were one.
As she's about to fall, she realized that Miss Hayes had caught her, despite her big and heavy body that the seemingly frail and weak arms of Miss Hayes couldn't even muster to hold entirely let alone keep her still, she managed to hold on in grace as she smiled.
"How clumsy." Miss Hayes whispered into her ear as she smiled back and got up. She took the lead and "accidentally" pushed Miss Hayes slightly as Miss Haye bent into her arms as Eleanor smirked.
Elizabeth was surprised and caught off guard that she didn't know what to say or react. "I guess I'm not the only one." Eleanor teased as Elizabeth scoffed, her cheeks reddened in anger and embarrassment and yet, despite her sour expression, her heart was still racing fast. No, it's not just hers— the heart of the woman who's holding her tightly as they intimately danced around was also beating quite fast, it's almost deafening.
'How odd…' Elizabeth thought as their eyes locked in each other's, daring not to look away even for just a moment as if it found its resting place. 'Truly odd.' She taught as she chuckled and rested her head on Eleanor's shoulders, hoping this moment would last maybe for a… lifetime.
*****
And soon, the long and romantic "date" ended much like the fleeting emotions that the two had randomly shared and experienced. It's not over but the hearts of the two people involved… beat in sync.
And before they knew it, a day had already passed and the strangeness of the night had long disappeared along with their dreams.
"So, how did it go?" Vincent asked curiously as Eleanor tended to the flowers in her shop, making sure they're kept in a perfect condition.
"How did what go?" Eleanor teased as Vincent grumbled, Eleanor would always act dumb like this towards him which made a fool out of him many times and he, for sure, hated it.
"You know what I mean!" He replied in an annoyed tone which made Eleanor smile as she faced him.
"I don't think I understand what you mean." She replied as Vincent scowled at her and tried punching her which was very unsuccessful as Eleanor dodged him instinctively. "Hahahaha," She laughed as she calmed him down. "Alright, alright, relax, I'll tell you." Sbe explained as Vincent pouted but listened to her words.
After she's done explaining, Vincent looks at her in utter confusion. Eleanor's eyebrows raised, thinking what she was wrong.
"What's wrong with you?" Eleanor asked as Vincent chuckled, making her baffled as well.
"What's wrong with me?" Vincent chuckled as he pointed at her. "The question should be, what's wrong with you?" Vincent asked. "So you're telling me you just spent the whole day with her—"
"The whole afternoon to evening to be exact." Eleanor spoke, correcting him midway through his words. Vincent dismissed her words as she swayed his hands.
"That doesn't matter," He replied. "What matters is the fact that you, of all people, would do all that??" He asked in disbelief.
"Is there something wrong with me taking her out on a date and dancing with her?" Eleanor asked as she looked at him bewildered. There's nothing wrong with what she did or… was it obvious that their relationship was fake?
"Exactly!" Vincent shouted and pointed at her. "You would never do that. Ever." He paused as he seemed to realize something. "Wait… Are you really in love with her?" he asked, perplexed.
"Isn't that what I already told you the first time?" Eleanor replied in bafflement as Vincent scoffed.
"Utter bullcrap, everyone knows you're a homosexual!" He shouted in reply as Eleanor chuckled dryly in irony. She had long rumors of people doubting her sexuality after she remained uninvolved with any omega and opened up a flower shop that's perceived as omega like hobbies but she didn't think her best friend would believe in them either.
"Is that what you truly think I am?" Eleanor asked with a tint of sadness. As her hobbies and her business being seen as something only omegas would take interest in, she's used to the stares and prejudice cast upon her.
Noticing this, Vincent gulped and tensed up. He looked at her with a serious look on his face as he shook his head. "No." He replied firmly as he looked straight into Eleanor's eyes. Eleanor looked at him to see if his lips were full of lies but was surprised to see that he seemed quite serious.
"I see." Eleanor replied as she smiled. "I'm glad." She muttered as she refocused her mind to work, tending to all the flowers gently with love and care as Vincent observed her and went back to his usual foolish smile.
"So," Vincent smiled as he nudged at her. "When would I be able to see this beautiful woman who caught your heart?" He asked teasingly as Eleanor didn't shoot a glance at him as she opened her mouth.
"Soon." She replied with a smile.