Dennis had been standing by the bar, holding a drink in his hand; his eyes were scanning through the crowd. He wasn't enjoying himself, but necessity was upon him to show up for the dancing.
His gaze located Amara in the crowd. Amara wasn't sitting alone and feeling that she didn't belong this time, she was right in the middle of the dance.
"Wow! This is Amara. She can dance?" He whispered to himself.
Amara was right in the middle of the dance, with her body following the rhythm of the song like she didn't have a care in the world. It was a carefree dance.
"I trust my friend; she will kill me,t," Teni spoke out. Dennis couldn't hear what she said, they were standing right beside themselves.
"What is he looking at?" Teni murmured to herself. She wanted to know what had caught Dennis's attention that he didn't respond to, she said earlier.
She followd his gaze, and it landed on Amara.
"You're watching her, aren't you?" Teni spoke out in surprise.
Dennis was caught off guard. "What? I don't know what you are talking about." He said quietly.
"I mean, Amara, you are following her steps with your gaze and all." Teni was trying to tease him.
"I didn't even realize I was looking. I was lost in the middle of the rhythm even though I am here standing." He said openly.
Teni raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. You're captivated. It's kind of cute."
Dennis scoffed but couldn't hide the truth. "There's nothing 'cute' about it."
"Are you not considering joining the dance? She looks like she is enjoying herself already." Teni said.
Dennis hesitated. He wasn't the kind of person who just walked over to someone and started up a conversation, especially not when they were in the middle of doing something so personal.
But something in him wants to go there and feel the rhythms as others are doing
Before he knew it, he was walking toward the dance floor.
"Having fun?" he asked, Dennis's voice was audible enough for her to hear.
But Amara was lost in the song; her eyes were closed, and her hands raised, turning in the same direction as her body.
"Are you so carried away Amara?" This time, Dennis's voice was able to cut through to her hearing.
"Oh, you have been talking to me? I don't even know someone is here besides me." Amara said surprisingly.
"Oh, hey! You're Dennis, right?" She spoke over the music, her tone light and playful, like they were just two people having a casual chat in the middle of a crowded room.
"Yeah, this is me, Dennis". His voice was more relaxed than before.
"Welcome to the dancing floor," Amara said softly.
"I didn't think you'd be out here. I mean... the dance floor's not your thing, is it?"
Amara laughed loudly, that Dennis too was intrigued to smile. "Same with you; you don't look like someone who is into this too."
"Of course, I am not. But I kept noticing you among others" Dennis spoke with sincerity.
Amara tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "Oh really? And what exactly was so interesting about me dancing?"
Dennis hesitated for a moment, he was searching for words. He didn't want to sound flattery. "You're different from everyone else here. You're not trying to impress anyone. You're just... yourself."
She chuckles, feeling almost embarrassed by the compliment. There is no reason for pretending and holding back. Life is too short to worry about what other people think."
Dennis was already feeling a sense of admiration. He had a strange feeling, something he had not felt for a long while.
"Come on, join me. It's your birthday! You can't just stand around watching me or others. You should have fun too."
Dennis chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "I'm not a dancer; I can't even remember now when last I danced publicly."
"You don't need to be a dancer before you dance on a day like this one," Amara said with a smile, and she offered her hand to him. "You have to experience what you are looking for; come on, let's dance".
Dennis wasn't the type to do something spontaneous, but in that moment, with her offering her hand so freely, he felt a pull to join him in the dance. He moved closer and grabbed her hand.
"Don't be disturbed by the steps to take," she said with a laugh. I will guide you through the steps. "Just let the music take over."
After some awkward steps, Dennis got enveloped in the music.
"Oh yeah, you are killing it," Amara said with joy on her face.
"I am trying now" Dennis responded softly.
Teni was where she was looking at both of them. She was happy Dennis found someone that brought him out of his shell.
Finally, the song ended, and they both stopped. They were breathing and laughing.
"That wasn't a bad move, was it?" Amara asked, her chest rising and falling with her breath.
With a genuine smile spreading across his face, Dennis said "I will admit, that was... unexpected."
"You just need to stop acting serious all the time; life is not about locking yourself in that study space," Amara said jokingly; she reminded him of where he found him while she wandered away sometime earlier.
"Oh, you see that study space is what makes me. I can't abandon it for anything.".
"Anyways, I knew you had it in you," You just need to stop being serious all the time.
He raised an eyebrow. "I'll try."
Amara smiled at him, Dennis's heart melted, and the attraction in him became stronger.
"I think you're right," Dennis responded.
"So, what's next? Are You going to have your seat or do you want to keep dancing?".
Dennis looked around the hall. He's left with the decision to make a choice.
With a chuckle, he extended his hand. "I think I'll keep dancing."
Amara took his hand, her smile wide. "Oh! Good choice."
And for the first time that night, Dennis felt like he was exactly in the right place with the right person.