WILD EMERALD

Connie stood up and gave her sister the, 'watch your step look', the same one that she would give her when she was out of control as a teenager. Sharon held up both hands in front of her as if to say ‘WHAT’. As Connie came out of the ladies room, she noticed Kelli walking towards the dance floor. She rounded the corner and was about to wave when she ran into what seemed to be a brick wall. Connie felt something cold running down the front of her when she realized that ice had gone down the bodice of her dress. She then realized that she had run into someone, and had knocked the drink right out of his hand. She was about to apologize when she looked up and saw the most beautiful face that she had ever seen. She was stunned into silence. Connie couldn't even open her mouth. His eyes were mesmerizing. He began to say that he was sorry for not looking where he was going, when their faces met. The man was simply stunning. So much so, that he astounded her. Connie tried to stop starring, so she bent down to pick up some of the ice that was on the floor. He bent down beside her to help and there faces met again. What was wrong with her? His thick unruly hair tickled his forehead. Connie wanted to reach up and brush the lock away from his face. It seemed made for a woman’s hand to run through. As he smiled at her, she realized that she was staring, and that he had noticed. She attempted to compose the sparks that were now going off inside of her. But she was really doing a lousy job of it. She felt as if her mouth had been filled with cotton. Up this close, he was far too handsome to be real. Connie averted her gaze before she could make a total and utter fool of herself. Connie had to do something to stop from looking at him. She began to collect the ice cubes and the broken pieces of glass, but the first piece that she reached for was the same one that he did. Their fingers touched and Connie felt as if her insides were melting. Connie's face flamed red, and even though it was dark, she was sure that he could see her blush. She nervously released the glass fragment, and stood back up. He took her hand and introduced himself. "Hi I'm Mason." Connie couldn't move. With him holding her hand, she felt as if someone had nailed her feet to the floor. What the hell was wrong with her? Move, she told herself, but that didn't work. She just stood there with her hand in his. "Do you have a name?" he said and waited for Connie to respond. She said nothing at all. "Well?" he added. “Well what?" she said. "Your name?" "Oh, I'm sorry," she said. Connie had to untangle her hand from his before she was able to answer. "Connie," she said, rather nervously. "Hello Connie," he said with all the confidence in the world. "Hi," was all she could manage to say. They just stood there staring at each other. He didn't seem to be near as nervous as she was. He probably did this on a regular basis. "Let me get you another drink," she said. "No, that’s okay," Mason said, "But I'd love it if you would join me." Connie tried to move, but her legs wouldn't let her. She was making a total fool of herself, and she didn't even know why. This was the strangest thing that had ever happened to her. "Connie?" "Yes?" "Would you like to?" "Would I like to what?" she asked. "Join me at my table for a drink?" Mason once again asked. She shook her mind back to reality. "I really can't, I'm here with some friends." "That's alright. You’re welcome to bring them over as well." "I'll check with them, but I have to go to the ladies room first," she told him. "I thought that’s where you just came from," he said. "I did," but as Connie looked down Mason realized that she was wearing his drink. "Oh my God, I hope that I haven't destroyed your dress." "That's okay, it'll come out," she told him. Well at least she thought that it would. The drink that she had run into appeared to be clear in color. "I hope so. It was only gin and tonic," he told her. "I'm sure that it will be fine. But I really should go in and clean it up." "I'll wait right here for you, that is if you don't mind?" he asked her. "That's fine, but it might take me a little while. It's pretty busy in there." "That's okay; I've got nothing better planned." "Okay, I'll be out just as soon as I can" and into the ladies room she went. About a minute later while Connie was wiping off her dress, she felt a tap on her shoulder. When she turned around, Connie saw two very radiant and smiling faces staring back at her. "What's taking you so long," Sharon asked. "We thought that maybe you had left us here," Kelli, said snickering. Connie tried very hard to hide the fact that she was blushing. "NO! NO! , I just had a small accident with somebody's drink is all. I came in here so that I could clean up as much as possible," she told the two as they continued to tease her. "Who is he?" Sharon and Kelli both asked at the same time. "Who?"