His eyes swept across the room, taking in the lively gathering of his best friend’s family members. Small groups of relatives joined their parents, while the kids ran around, infusing the house with echoes of their laughter. Siblings exchanged warm greetings, sealing the moments with kisses on the cheek. Amidst this vibrant scene, his scrutiny, came to a sudden stop, as she opened the front door. Intrigued, he wondered about her identity while maintaining the illusion of paying attention to the person with whom he was conversing.
She went around exchanging greetings before deciding to sit in the second living room, adjacent to the dining room, where Elliot was engrossed in his conversation. Ella, the aunt known for her grace, captured everyone’s attention, including his. Sitting on the vintage leather couch, she engaged in a separate conversation with her sister, and they glanced up when Elliot left the dining room to head upstairs. Curious, she asked her sister about him, and they concluded that he must be the birthday boy’s friend.
Elliot descended the stairs, and in his hand, his film camera. This caught Ella’s attention as she too had brought her recent birthday gift, a Pentax film camera. He settled back into his seat at the dining room table, setting up his camera. Stealing glimpses of Ella, eager to talk to her, he noticed how she started to capture moments of her family with her camera. Elliot grinned, seeing the perfect opportunity to start a conversation.
As the house continued to welcome more guests, Ella floated around to bond with everyone, making sure she gave each person a chance to update her about their lives. She gained knowledge as she collected stories and wisdom from others. One could tell she was well-traveled by the softness of her voice and her eagerness to listen. To Elliot’s surprise, she chose to settle in the dining room, where her favorite family members were planted. Sipping on her Coca-Cola and laughing at the sarcasm that layered the atmosphere, he made his presence known.
“Is that your camera?”
“Yeah, I just got it for my birthday.”
“Oh, that’s very nice, when was your birthday?”
“It’s my new film camera, I’m using my first roll right now.” Ella let out a soft giggle. “It was two months ago, my big 3 0!”
“No way you’re 30!!” Elliot was baffled by her response. “You make thirty look really good.”
Ella blushes. “Is this yours?” pointing to his llford Delta 3200. “It’s beautiful.”
Elliot smiles. Their conversion flows organically as they break the ice on their shared love for photography.
Shifting topics between their shared interests and acquaintances at the party, Ella had the upper hand since this was a family function for her, while Elliot only knew one side of the family. He mentioned that he was visiting from out of town for the weekend, and she informed him that she was heading into the city tonight with her sister, inviting him to join. He agreed to a night out as he shifted his body toward her, slightly closing the gap between them. The host interrupted their brewing chemistry with an announcement, “We’re going to sing happy birthday now.” They exchanged a look that said, “it’s go time,” and headed into the kitchen on a mission. He started to take photos, and she began to record with her Canon G7x, teaming up to capture the event. The candles began to melt, the kitchen filled with cheer, and the smoke from the candles rose, disappearing as it ascended toward the lights above.
A group consisting of Ella, Elliot, the birthday boy, and four other family members decided to take the party outside the house. They opted to grab a bite to eat and catch a movie. Two cars were needed; Ella and her cousin volunteered to drive. In the first car, there were three family members, including the birthday boy. In Ella’s car, there were two family members plus Elliot. Ella adjusted her rearview mirror and captured Elliot’s smile as she started to drive off, puzzled about why he had chosen her car when his friend was in the other. The thought faded, and they soon arrived at their destination. The typical cousin outing ended at a Steak ‘n Shake. Elliot happened to sit across from Ella, engrossed in a deep conversation as they munched on their cheeseburgers. One by one, each person got up to dispose of their trash. The fluorescent lights reflected each step as they all exited through the clear glass door.
They were the first to reach the car. Elliot promptly claimed the front passenger seat, playfully forcing Ella’s cousins into the back. Ella chuckled softly, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes as she murmured, “You snooze, you lose.” Her smile was tinged with a rosy blush, reflecting the playful mood of the evening. The drive to the theater was brief, the car filled with light banter and laughter that spilled over from the dinner.
At the movie theater, as the lights dimmed and the chatter subsided, they found themselves among early birds, securing seats in almost full Row D. Elliot ended up next to Ella, the last seat to his left signaling his special spot. Ella glanced sideways, her curiosity piqued by his seemingly deliberate closeness. It felt like an invisible force, akin to the moon’s pull on ocean tides, was gently nudging him closer to her.
As the credits rolled up the screen and the audience began to shuffle out, Elliot lingered a step behind Ella, his presence a comforting shadow. Outside, under the starry January sky, his offer to let the cousins have the warm front seat on the chilly night backfired humorously, leaving him to settle once again in the back, caught briefly in Ella’s rearview mirror as they drove off into the night.
The car unlocked new characters and dropped off previous ones. Nat hopped into the back seat, allowing Elliot to take the front passenger seat as the guest of honor. The whole way into the city, Nat’s intoxicated lips complimented Elliot on his Mountain Dew-green eyes and the soft brown freckles adorning his nose. She took it a step further by stating, “Your kids will be so cute!” Ella’s focus quickly shifted from the white dashed lines on the road to a death stare through the rearview mirror, sending a glare of “CAN YOU NOT” to Nat. Ella turned up the volume as a distraction from the never-ending comments ringing from the back seat. Singing their lungs out as they rode the highway into the city night until they made it to their destination.
Nat and Ella were no strangers to the city nightlife; they already had a table next to the DJ with bottle service waiting for them to indulge in. They all took a welcome tequila shot, then resorted to their go-to drinks of choice: a classic tequila reposado-Red Bull for Ella, a vodka-pineapple for Nat, and Elliot opted for the same as Ella. The electric vibrations coated the air, the sound of heels hitting the wood floor, and women gathering their hair into high, messy ponytails indicated the peak of the night. Drinks flowed through their veins, providing the energy to keep dancing. The humidity grew denser as sweat began to evaporate with each step. The sisters started to dance to their favorite song until Nat interrupted by grabbing Elliot’s arm and shoving him toward Ella.
Ella rolled her eyes and shyly showed Elliot the steps to dance salsa. His two left feet quickly picked up the rhythm, pleasantly shocking Ella. After a while, they took a breather as Ella reached for water to stay hydrated, having designated herself as the driver for the night. She poured Nat and Elliot a shot to celebrate his quick improvement in dancing. They downed it, and Ella served up another tequila shot for them before leading the way across the street to their next destination.
When they reached the security at the next location, everyone began shuffling through their wallets to showcase their IDs. However, the bouncer recognized Nat and Ella and waved them in with a friendly chuckle. “Don’t even worry about it, y’all go right ahead. I remember y’all!” The sisters, a bit embarrassed but amused, proceeded to enter the doors with confidence, as if it were their home. Inside, their friend, who was waiting in a quieter section, greeted them with welcome shots. Ella opted for a cold Coca-Cola instead and reassured Elliot that he was in good hands. “Don’t be afraid to let loose,” she encouraged with a smile. After he downed his shot, she slyly reached for his hand, gently interlocking their ring and pinky fingers, and led him to the dance floor. As they moved, the music transitioned from traditional Latin dances to vibrant urban reggaeton vibes, pulsing through the crowd.
Elliot pressed his body against Ella’s, eliminating any space between them. The surrounding tide calmed, and their synchronized breathing steadied his nerves as they swayed to the rhythm. Gently, he brushed her hair aside, revealing her neck. The soft touch of his lips barely grazing her skin sent a shiver down Ella’s spine, dissolving any remnants of reserve she had held. Turning to face him, her eyes sparkled with a mixture of surprise and delight. Their previous hesitations faded into the night as they moved back to their friends. Ella’s comfort with him was apparent as she casually draped her legs over his while sitting. This gesture hinted at a closeness that seemed too deep for the short time they had known each other. Together, they appeared to rise above the surrounding chaos, enveloped in a cocoon of shared intrigue that painted their night with vibrant shades of desire and potential.
As closing time approached, Elliot and Ella found themselves lingering at the entrance of the establishment, the ambient buzz of the night growing faint as the hours faded. With the weight of impending departure hanging in the air, they stood in silent anticipation, caught between the sanctuary of the indoors and the enticing allure of the outside world. Ella’s gaze momentarily wavered as she leaned inward, a subtle gesture urging Nat to hurry up.
As they awaited Nat’s arrival, a brief moment stretched out, pulling at the distance between them until it was filled with unspoken yearning. When Ella’s eyes met Elliot’s once more, a palpable tension crackled in the air, drawing them inexorably closer. Without a word, their lips met in a tender embrace, a silent symphony of shared desire and unspoken promises unfolding beneath the canopy of the star-studded sky.
As they reluctantly pulled away, the lingering taste of bittersweet longing hung in the air, a touching reminder of the depth of their connection. Despite the ache of separation, they found solace in the knowledge that their bond extended beyond mere closeness, a silent vow to carry the warmth of their shared moment into the uncertain expanse of the night.
With Nat’s arrival marking the end of their stolen moment, they reluctantly tore themselves away, the echo of their shared kiss lingering like a whisper on the night breeze as they made their way back to the car.
Elliot’s left hand gently lay on Ella’s right upper thigh, her fingers wrapped around the steering wheel with a reassuring grip, while her right hand tenderly caressed his left. In the back seat, Nat was passed out, sprawled across all three spots. As the car cruised down the road, the city slowly faded away in the rearview mirror, its lights dimming into the night.
