Annabelle’s POV

“Yeah, I like those too” I say to Aaron, my co-worker, scrolling down the screen at my last photo shoot here. I’m really gonna miss this place. Everyone is so nice & they kinda became like a family to me. They gave me my first opportunity. I’ll always be grateful for that.

“Annabelle, Brian’s on line 2” Mabyn says, popping her head by the door.

“Hello” I answer, clicking on more photos.

“Hey, Belle” He says & I sigh. I have to get use to the fact that I’ll just listen to his voice through a phone. “What are you doing?” He asks & I roll my eyes.

“Umm… working” I say, stating the obvious. I hear him laugh & I smile. I’m gonna miss his laugh too. I’m actually gonna miss a lot more than what I’m willing to admit. “What do you want?” I ask, knowing that he wants something. He never calls me at the office phone unless he needs something.

“Remember when you promised to give me dance lessons?” He says & I furrow my brow. When did I do that?

“I did?” I ask, leaning back on my chair.

“Well… it wasn’t exactly a promise. But you said to remind you to give me dance lessons” He says. “When we went to Florida” He pushes, trying to make me remember. & I do.

“Oh, yeah. So you don’t step on Michelle’s toes” I say, looking at Mabyn eavesdropping. I get up & send her a look, not a mean one, before closing the door. She had always told me to go for Brian. That we would make the cutest couple EVER. She claims that because of our zodiacs we are meant to be together. But I don’t believe in astrological bullshit.

Besides… it’s Brian. The same Brian I grew up with. The same Brian that became my best friend. The same Brian that took me to prom. The same Brian that gave me my first drink. The same Brian that took me to get my first tattoo when I turned 18. I smile, looking at my tattoo on my index finger. Since I’m a photographer, we thought it was a good idea to get tattooed the word ‘Smile’ where the person being photographed sees it & well… smiled. Just let me tell you… my mom didn’t smiled when she found out.

And he’s also the same Brian that’s marrying Michelle.

“ANNABELLE” I hear Brian scream & I’m brought back from my reel of thoughts. “Are you fucking listening to me?” He says.

“Yeah” I mutter. “What?”

“I’ll stop by your place tonight so you can teach me how to dance” He says, a bit annoyed now. I guess he already had given me this information.

“Ok” I say before remembering that my apartment is practically empty except for my bed & a chaise lounge. “You know what? Why don’t we meet at the old dance studio I used to go? It’s bigger & maybe later we can go out to grab something to eat” I say & I hear Brian agree. We say our goodbyes & I hang up, before resting my head on the back of the chair, closing my eyes. Tonight is gonna be the night that I’ll tell Brian I’m moving to New York.

*~*~*

I arrive at the old dance studio & smile. Mrs. Helena, my ballet teacher, used to play the piano while all of us did our routines over & over again. I place my bag & jacket on top of the piano, before walking to sit in front of it. I run my fingers through the keys before pressing one, the sound echoing through the empty room. I smile, before starting to play ‘Your song’ by Elton John. That was the first song my dad taught me. I can almost hear my dad singing with every note I play. I stop before I start crying.

I think it’s finally setting in that I’m leaving. That I won’t be able to see my family & friends every day or whenever I wanted. Am I giving up too much? Is it really worth it?

I hear someone clap, startling me & turn to see Brian standing there with a smile on his face. I blush a bit. I’ve never been insecure about anything… but I’ve never let anyone listen to me play or sing something. Except for my nephews, of course. It's just that I think it’s very personal & private & intimate for me. But I find myself doing it in front of Brian lately. “I knew you could play but I never thought you played it so well” He says, walking to sit beside me, his back to the keys, leaving us face to face. We stare at each other for a good minute, not saying anything. It’s then that I see him notice what I’m wearing. “Wow, Belle. You look… great” He says, making my blush deepens. I’m not gonna say that I’m dressed like any other day, because I’m not. I don’t know why, but tonight I wanted to look pretty. I wanted for Brian to notice me, but not because I was wearing a short skirt or anything like that. I wanted him to notice me for me.

“Thanks” I say, swallowing. I sigh & stand up. “So… shall we start?” I say & he nods, standing up too. He plugs the iHome & sticks his iPod in it. “So… what’s the song?” I ask & he looks at me blankly.

“What song?” He asks.

“The song Michelle & you are dancing at the wedding” I say & I see his expression remains the same. “You know… your song?”

“Are we supposed to have a song?” He asks & I stare at him shocked.

“Yeah” I say & he nods in acknowledgement. “So…?” I ask after a while.

“What?” He asks. I swear to God that he has the attention span of a 5 year old.

“What’s the fucking song?” I say angrily.

“Oh… we don’t have one” He says, shrugging. I stare at him & he stares back.

“You don’t have one? Are you kidding me?” I ask & he shakes his head no. “How can you not have one? Every couple has one” I say.

“Well… I remember dancing that Flo-Rida song” He says, thinking hard. “Something about apples” He says & I roll my eyes.

“Are you shitting me, Brian?” I say exasperated.

“No. We don’t have a song. What’s the big deal?” He asks, like there is no big deal.

“YOU’RE A FUCKING MUSICIAN” I yell. “How come you haven’t written her a song?”

“I’ve never thought it was necessary” He says, checking himself in the mirror. I let out a scoff.

“What are you planning on dancing on your wedding?” I say & I interrupt him before he starts. “Don’t say Flo Rida, please” I say & his mouth closes.

“I thought we were gonna dance a waltz or something like that” He says carelessly. How can he be so careless about this? How can this don’t bother him? It’s bothering me & I’m not the one getting married, for God’s sake. “We can dance to ‘Warmness on the Soul’” He says & I stomp over to him & smack him on the back of the head. “Ow. What was that for?” He asks, turning to look at me.

“You can’t dance to that. That’s Val’s song” I say.

“They’re twins. Maybe it counts for Chelle too”

“No, it doesn’t” I say, sighing. “Since you guys don’t have a song, I assume you don’t have appropriate music on that thing” I say, signaling the iPod. I walk to my purse & take out mine. I take his out & place mine, searching for a slow song. I settle with ‘Bubbly’ from Colbie Calliat. “Ok, we’ll start with the basic” I say, walking to him. “You’re the guy so you have to lead, naturally” I say, placing my hand on his shoulder & taking his other one in mine. He places his hand on my waist, accidentally lifting a bit of my shirt & sending a thousand shivers down my spine. We start swaying back & forth. “Don’t look down” I say & he looks at me. “You don’t want to look down. You’ll want to savor that moment” I mutter. He nods. I step a little bit closer to him, so that our chest are touching. I mean, he won’t be dancing at arms distance with his wife.

It starts in my toes and I crinkle my nose
where ever it goes I always know
that you make me smile , please stay for a while now
just take your time where ever you go

“Now, let’s try to turn” I say. He nods & we start swaying while smoothly dancing in circles. “See… it’s not that hard, is it?” I ask, noticing we haven’t stopped staring at each other. “If you manage to do this at your wedding day, you’ll have no problem” I say, stopping but he pulls me closer to him, my breath hitting his jaw.

“Let’s finish this dance” He says, not losing eye contact. I somehow, feel hypnotized & captivated by his brown eyes. Their unreadable right now, although there’s this glint in them. I nod & continue to dance, while Brian places his other hand on my waist, making me snake my arms around his neck. We danced until the end of the song… & another song… & another song. Just like that… staring into each other’s eyes.

Can it be? Can I be in love with my best friend?

From the way my body tingles under his stare & under his touch… I think I am.