New Year's Eve With Adagio

You hurry over the cold, snow-slick street in a bothered rush. The darkness has already fallen even if the stars have not yet come out and you are late. Very late.

An uncomfortable phonecall kept you and made you angry in more ways than one. Your mother has not stopped bitching ever since Christmas. A constant bombardment of annoyance for almost a week.

You had the great idea of bringing your girlfriend along to the family gathering. Something you had been putting off for a long, long time. She had been understanding about it at first but slowly, over time, started questioning your explanations of the fact that your family is completely insane.

What a painful cluster-fuck it had been. You knew Adagio and your mother would never get along but you had not expected the nuclear meltdown that happened. It had been hate at first sight. You could not even introduce your yellow-and-orange angel before sparks were flying off your mom.

Adagio had dressed proper. Modestly and even put on a non-evil smile for once. Of course, her short fuse and snide sarcasm had quickly crept back once your mother had made herself into an adversary.

Women.

You skid to a stop and almost end up run over by a passing vehicle. Look left, look right, look left again. Your head is swimming up in the dark, lightless sky. Thoughts just colliding violently about what you had to do and probably still have to do about patching things up with the women in your life.

Naturally, you had defended Adagio the best you could. At least in the ways you could bring yourself to. She had already made it abundantly clear that she fights her own battles. She would not have accepted your so-called help. You take a deep breath and put on a smile, she is remarkable in all senses of the word.

Tearing through the streets for a few more minutes, you finally spot your destination. Probably not her first choice but a sentimental place for you for multiple reasons. The shoddy little corner-pub you have spent a good few nights in.

The shoddy little corner-pub where you first kissed her after a long, long night on the town.

That feels like ages ago, you feel like a bad boyfriend for not remembering exactly how long but it is coming up on a year now.

A year. You think about all the days you ached for her. Even hours of separation felt like knives in your soul. You are head-over-heels and while she mainly keeps a cool exterior. Although you have seen the glint in her eye. More and more lately. She seems to hate the rest of the world more and more each day while she has almost start acting girlishly affectionate around you.

You love that. Love it a lot.

You and her against the world.

There is a certain spring in your step as you approach the place. It is a strange feeling to start off here, you usually end up here after a few drinks. Or end it here with a whole bunch of drinks. Perhaps that little change is part of it, the whole feeling of something about to happen. Silly little butterflies in your stomach.

You silently scold yourself for your jitters as you reach the door. Stepping in from the cold is like entering another world, a dimly lit little fairy-land populated by both grim and merry faces. Many of them you know on a first-name basis, the rest are just here passing by.

None of the usual faces matter though, you have but one goal. She is in here somewhere. You coax your coat off and fold it over an arm as you stride through the hushed murmur up to the bar. The keep smiles at you and wordlessly starts pouring a glass of your favourite ale. When the frothing beverage is on the bar-top, you thank him and ask for where your special lady might be seated. He points you in the right direction and lets you know that the drink is on your modest tab. No need to dawdle with money right now.

Your vision is a tunnel of focus as you slowly make your way through the small spaces of the cramped locale. Cold glass against your hand and your head in the clouds. The soft lighting is dotted with little candles on the tables around you. You do not need any light in particular to navigate this place. You have done this little dance before, far too many times.

To the booths in the back. Everything feels like a film. You are not prepared for the sight that awaits you. When it strikes, you stop in your steps and stare dumbly for a while. She has not yet noticed you and with that thought, you thank the gods that she has not. The beautiful visage before you is to die for.

Adagio is sitting alone in one of the old-timey booths in the furthest back. She is looping her index-finger around the edge of a nearly empty glass of wine. Candle-light illuminating her morose face. What draws your attention next is what she is wearing. A slim, tight black dress, highly contrasting to her natural colours. You have to swallow and take a deep breath through your nose before proceeding.

As you approach, she looks up from her boredom and a sinister smirk slowly spreads over her face. You can pretty much physically feel her eyeing you as you sit down with an obvious dumb look on your face. She raises an eyebrow. You have never seen something so heavenly.

You stammer some excuse, she cocks her head to the side, smirk unwavering. Her eyes are predatory, her body relaxed. Her magnetism is undeniable. Your eyes flutter back and forth, waiting for a response.

Finally, her expression softens. Her eyes practically glow as she greets you with the sweetest of voices. You feel right ready to melt into a puddle at her feet. You do your best to remain collected for the time being. She looks absolutely perfect and you feel under-dressed. A mouthful of ale. You ask about her day. She happily replies with a description of the drudge she feels. You make a joke, nail it, you both laugh.

She did not have much of a wall built up to begin with but whatever there was is instantly broken down. You play the gentleman, as usual, comment smoothly on her exquisite appearance and offer her another drink.

As you go to acquire it for her, you share a meaningful locking of the eyes before you go. The butterflies in your stomach are replaced with a hurricane in your heart. You have never felt like this for any other girl, especially not after nearly a full year together. Your jitters make you feel like a nervous teenager again.

An approving look and nod from the barkeep and you soon return with another glass of wine for Adagio. She really is glowing as she focuses all her attention on your return. Elbows on the table and head resting on her clasped hands. You have to swallow and focus not to just fall over right there. She is picture-perfect, the very meaning of beauty.

You settle down opposite of her and she gives you a much softer look than before. Her driven malice and stern purpose muddled behind that girlish affection you have been enjoying of late.

Absolutely perfect.

She gladly accepts the wine and takes a small sip. You happily watch her lips caress the glass, wishing it was any part of your body. Watching her like this has pretty much had you in a trance a thousand times before and that does not seem to be changing any time soon.

As she sets the glass down, you follow her motion with your eyes and as you look up again, she has another sharp smirk on her face. She knows she has you spellbound and she enjoys it. She shifts a little and leans on the table with one arm. She asks about your day, it is almost like she knows you slept in, wandered around aimlessly, argued with your mother and got late because of it.

You feel like you are confessing while explaining the silliness. She nods understandingly and actually offers kind words instead of snarky comments when you reluctantly describe your mother's emotions. Adagio obviously does not care and that is the best help on the entire subject. You picked sides the first second. The knowledge that you do not have to soothe her washes over you like a warm spring breeze. You have never met a person before that holds her own like Adagio.

You raise your glass and she does the same. Smiles exchange with a clink of beverage-containers. You drink as you watch her do the same, her eyes closed as she enjoys the red liquid. You take in the sight for as long as it lasts. She has a radiant aura, the dim lights above and the candle on the table give her an ethereal look. Her mass of hair frames the rest of her shape and assists the glow.

It takes you a few moments to realise she said something. You shake out of it and look like a deer in  headlights for a moment. She snickers and leans forth to place her hand on yours. The feeling of being a nervous teenager rushes back like a mental avalanche. Her dainty fingers are like silk against your rough palm. Your eyes lock and you feel time slows down to a crawl. There is no other explanation to the feelings you are experiencing.

You have looked into the deep well of her beautiful eyes so many times before. The jitters are only getting stronger. You guess it is the situation, perhaps the tension of days past, perhaps even something as simple as what she is wearing but surely, there is something.

Something different.

Fingers dance against each other, it almost feels like a kiss. You exchange sweet nothings, followed by a good few words that actually mean something. Both of you share emotions more than usual. You have both had the time and chance to ease into it gradually, you have basically said all and everything besides profess love. Well, some form of love has been spoken but not yet the famous “I love you”.

You have both been teetering on the brink for months. All things considered, the moment currently going on almost feels like a competition who can hold it in the longest. You have gone over this a million times in your head, should you just fall to your knees and confess? Should you wait for her to crack? What would be the most satisfying? You do not know.

She pulls you out of your contemplative, dream-like state with a question. Where is the evening heading? Where are you going next? She has already made it abundantly clear at other times that she does not want to spend an entire evening in this dimly-lit, timeless hole. Not something that ever offended you, it simply taught you to be more and more creative with your dates and finally, your usual hangouts.

You have improved by simply having her around. She is obviously very comfortable around you, something that was the first spark you had together. Something like love at first sight, followed by a long time of dancing around the subject.

Tonight marks the occasion. One of you will, sooner or later, just lay down the cards and say it.

The love thing. The words sound out aloud in your head. She instantly notices the unease on your face and cocks a brow. She drinks her wine while eyeing you meaningfully. You chuckle and empty your glass in response. This whole ordeal is like a shaky race. Well, a race without any manner of speed. A contest none the less. You know how she works and she obviously has a very keen eye for you.

A battle of minds. Minds set on the same thing. A match made in Heaven. If there is such a thing.

You talk further about what is next. The new year, the clock ticking down to a showdown of sorts. The winter sky will be filled with the bright colours of burning projectiles. A few more glasses perhaps, a good few more moments of just staring into each other's eyes. The cheesy romance is so thick that you almost fear it might start spreading to other people around you. Exactly what you wanted. Well, besides the latter part.

You excuse yourself and leave the booth to get more drinks. Walking on clouds and apparently glowing earns you a hearty guffaw from the barkeep. He winks and pours drinks swiftly enough. When you return to your booth, Adagio is standing, her stance crooked, accenting her ample hips. She waits in silence as you approach, then takes your arm just as you are about to sit down. Smiling broadly, she scoots into the booth very close to you, still clinging to your arm.

You have experienced this before. You have been over this with yourself in your head just as many million times as all the other things. What other things?

It all simply melts away when she is this close, clinging to your arm as if you were the only piece of stable ground in the middle of a roiling sea. You want to control it but you cannot, you are blushing.

Unending warmth spreads through your body like a torrent of fire. Uncontrollable heat that is not even remotely quelled by the intake of more cold ale.

You are about to set your glass down but stop dead in your tracks. A sound. The sweet, sweet sound of Adagio giggling. You look to your side and see her look up from her new glass of wine. Her face flushed and eyes shifty. It would appear the alcohol is taking effect. Nothing you counted on but at the same time nothing you will complain about. You enjoy all her moods, all her sides. A dark, brooding Adagio is just as attractive as a girlishly giggling one.

The thing is, right now, a girlish giggle helps de-fog your clouded mind. You sling an arm around her and pull her even closer than she has positioned herself. You are rewarded with another short giggle.

You sit together for a long moment in silence, just listening to the dim world around you. The low murmur of conversations. No real distinction of words but a very pleasant background noise. Through it all, all you can think about is how her very presence is intoxicating.

She wiggles a bit in your grip and you look down at her. She is so small compared to you. A thing you have always found extremely intriguing. She may be able to be real scary at times but you usually get to feel like the man you are. You nearly chuckle at the thought but you are caught by her half-lidded gaze. You collect yourself and give her a sly smirk of your own. Her response is to bury her face into your chest.

You sit motionless for a bit. If this little moment was eternal, you would not complain.

The blissful eternity is divided by a few sips of drink and what could best be described as extremely intimate cuddling. You have had many wordless moments like this before. The underlying tension just makes it even more interesting. You have no idea her intentions, you just assume they are somewhere near your own. Overthinking it is definitely a thing. Then again, you have no worries. She gave you part of the success when she snuggled up to you in the first place.

It took a long, long while and a whole lot of effort to get her to open up like this, especially in public or around her sisters. Now as she instigates it herself, you can just go with the flow. A very good feeling.

You sit pretty much deathly still for some time. Even as you cannot hear it, you feel her breathing. Her surprisingly strong, slim frame rested comfortably against you. This is more than likely indeed what Heaven feels like.

You join the murmur of the place with a few low-spoken words of your own. The more you explain the simple course of the evening, the more she seems to melt into your arms. Nothing have ever satisfied you so. You exchange words in sultry, hushed tones, you drink together until your glasses are dry.

You find yourself wanting while she seems to have had at least enough to get started. Before long she makes a lithe, cat-like movement and escapes your grip. She downs the last drop of her wine while standing up. Extending a hand to you, she gives another divine smile. You have another moment of contemplating the difference in the size between you and her as you stand up. You tower above her, feeling just as manly as when you had previous thoughts on the subject.

Perhaps an odd thing to think about, perhaps something nature intended. You praise the powers that be as you take a swift step around to retrieve her jacket. She usually disapproves of such things but tonight has a magical feeling of change. At least for the remainder of the year, a short while, a good start.

She observes you in silence with her predatory gaze obviously muddled by the wine. As you offer up her jacket held ready for her to slip into, she just grins and takes the offer. Arms in, she takes an extra step back and brushes up against you. Looking over her shoulder, her grin has been replaced by a mysterious little smile. Your head thunders and heart races. This entire situation is impossibly good.

You step around her and lean in, she is quickly there to meet you. A quick kiss before you get your coat and she busies herself with puffing up her hair. She then grasps your arm. You are ready to head out into the frozen night.

Striding victoriously through the locale, you give a few greetings and well-wishes to some of the more familiar faces and finally wave good-bye to the keep. An old, creaky door later and you are back out in the cold. Only now, you are not alone and stressed. All the worries of the world washed away by her presence.

You definitely lost track of time in there. Out here, the stars are now dominating the surprisingly clear sky. You have a course, a spot to end up on. She suggests a stop on the way, a different venue for another drink. You do not protest, you have no reason to. There is time and you are both in high spirits.

The city streets are devoid of the earlier frantic traffic. It has been replaced with groups of people. Scurrying singles, strolling couples, packs of loudly celebrating party-goers. You walk with purpose, the king of the world right now with your queen on your arm.

A bit of happy, idle chit-chat. A bit of thoughts for the future. You almost let slip a few things you promised yourself you would say at the most appropriate moment tonight. Before you know it, she points up ahead and pulls you along with some extra enthusiasm. You soon find out why. Of course, she would want to go to her own stomping grounds. You feel rather bad for forgetting one of her favourite places was on the way. Probably due to all the other lovely noise in your head.

Pretty much the perfect opposite to your shoddy, old corner-pub, the place you are heading for is some kind of fabulous, colourful musician's joint.

No longer on your arm but with a firm grasp of your hand, she barges in like she owns the place. A few patrons look up, almost as if recognising the sound of her step. A few of the few even greet her in different ways. You look around with bewildered eyes, feeling like an alien in this place. Sure, you have been here before but that does not stop the feeling of utter wonder.

Adagio dances over to the bar with you in hurried tow. The just-as-colourful bartender eyes you up and down a good few times while happily greeting Adagio. Are you good enough for this genderless nobody? You do not care but approval feels good anyway as he-she nods with a smile while serving up the order.

You are presented with some strange cocktail, house special or whatever. An unending cascade of colours. You hold back a huff and just take it. If this is what Adagio wants, this is what she gets.

She leads on into the back of the place, just as she had perched in the back of yours. She remains eternally determined, poised and purposeful. A very attractive trait. Before long, you are seated on a small, yet strangely comfortable sofa accompanied by a hideously designed, tiny table.

First you struggle with the amount of space you take up and the oddly shaped glass of your drink. The worries of those tiny problems are soon washed away as Adagio makes a point to wiggle out of her jacket in front of you. Very seductive movements and a gaze that makes your soul burn has you thinking about entirely different things than the dumb décor.

You hardly even blink as she moves in close. Very close. She invades all and any personal space you had and you are happy about every second of it.

Finally, she sits down and leans against you with a satisfied sigh. She holds her drink high and toasts to you two, the passed year and the year to come. So many things to do, so many things to improve and set right. So many things that are already good. You gently strike your glass against hers and kiss the top of her head before tasting the strange fruity drink.

The cocktail hits like a train. Mixing closely with the surrounding and music of the place. You manage to think of how fitting it is to be called the house special before being thrown into some kind of trance. The atmosphere is actually quite enthralling, sure, it is probably most due to Adagio's close presence but the rest is a refreshing difference from the usual.

Glasses drain empty, she gets up from time to time to order new, strange concoctions. She talks to waitresses like they are old friends. Perhaps they are. You watch silently and just take it all in. The music surges through it all. Genres you have never heard of, slow, fast, noisy, calm. Time ticks away and you cannot even remember the last time you were not smiling in bliss.

In the wondrous haze, you by chance manage to notice the time. A time to carry on, a time to pull yourself out of this enchanted trance. You both have places to be, things to do. Even if they are just more simple pleasures.

You notify Adagio and watch her happily empty her glass as you both rise from the seat. Another bar conquered. Another stroll through the winter cold awaits. You feel a bit dazed but her chipper enthusiasm spurs you on like nothing else. She seems to momentarily have left all her seriousness behind. She prances back and forth, singing along to the music and generally just putting on a very interesting little show.

Sure, you have heard her sing, seen her perform but usually not like this. It is hard to take your eyes off her for just a second. This slows you down but does not entirely hinder you from getting ready. She dances around you before slowly coming to a halt beside you.

A large hand on her sensually curved hip, you walk together out of the place. She does just the same as you did before, greeting a few people, even mildly taunting others. She finishes with a grand laugh while the door closes behind you.

A firm tug at your clothing, she reaches up and kisses you, rather sloppily on the lips. You quickly accept and touch the side of her face while deepening the kiss. Your tongues dance for a moment before she breaks away and smirks at you, pawing at your chest for a moment before reminding you that you have to go. The time has all of a sudden become short.

You make your way further up the street. As entangled in each other as possible while still walking. Your destination is not too far off. You feel so light that it is like your feet do not even hit the pavement. Both your heads are in the stars. Making it up the hill is not even an issue.

The frosty grass crunches beneath your boots as you reach the once-green area on top of the hill. People have gathered in couples and groups. The city spreads out below, lights glittering like the night sky above. Only a few minutes left before that changes.

You stand still with Adagio in front of you, your arms wrapped around her and her hands in yours. Silence for now, just the pleasure of the company and the wait until things kick off.

Colours begin to fill the sky. Traces of glittering stars, flashes of elaborate explosions. The thunderous smattering of small explosions that go off in random intervals together. The starry sky suddenly has a billion new stars that shoot into existence and blink out just as fast. The fire-works taking over the entire city for a few minutes.

You feel Adagio shudder slightly. If from cold or enjoyment, you do not know. When most of the explosions in the sky have gone and only the stragglers fill the air, she turns to you. Still in your grip, she looks into your eyes for a long while, something apparently at the tip of her tongue.

The cheers from the other around you, the callings for a great new year mean nothing. You can hardly hear them. You swallow once, then speak before she can form any words.

“I love you.”

She looks utterly shocked. You have a second of remorse and doubt. Before you can start contemplating the impact of what you just said, she tosses her arms around your neck. She showers you in kisses and you even have a hard time answering them as she presses herself against you.

Wordless. You let her kiss your face wildly for a moment before catching her lips in a deep, passionate kiss of your own. The world melts away, the beautiful starry night matters not in comparison to this. You stand there for what feels like another perfect eternity.

Finally, Adagio pulls back for a deep breath. Her eyes flutter around and then land on you. A sharp, evil smile splits her face.

“Let's hurry home, I have something for you...”