A Choice

A Story by ellisonlerkins

Nothing is perfect, but sometimes that's okay.

Noah laughed at her as she sloshed some of the punch out of her plastic cup, and laughed even more when she tried to pretend that it never happened and continued to fill it to the brim. After a couple seconds had passed, Lily looked up from the drink in her hand, her face slightly flushed, and her eyes were glittering with humor.

“That never happened, right?” she expected him to agree with her, and he did. He pulled her close, and replied with the cliché “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t see a thing.” His eyes reflected the humor in hers, and he was about to suggest that they go dance when a tap on her shoulder made her attention falter.

The split second of confusion on her face was gone once she realized who it was.

“Oh, hey, Daniel. I didn’t know you were going to be here.” Lily smiled at him, and Noah’s thoughts were immediately filled with her smile and the memories that went along with it. The first time he’d seen her she was smiling, and it was her smile that made him fall for her in the first place. We’ve come so far since then, he thought.

“�"be okay, right?”

Brought back to reality, Noah realized he hadn’t heard anything that was just said.

“Sorry, what’d you say?”

Lily laughed quickly and repeated herself. “Daniel’s asked me to dance, but doesn’t want to impose. I told him you wouldn’t mind, that you’d be okay, right?” His heart lurched, but he didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“Of course. Go have fun.” Noah squeezed her hand gently, and she kissed him before taking Daniel’s hand and making her way to the dance floor. As they stopped, the music changed, and a slower melody began playing through the room’s speakers.

“Figures,” he muttered to himself. Shaking his head, he tried to pretend it didn’t bother him a bit. He was glancing around the room, at all of the couples dancing, at the people laughing, at the complete ridiculousness of the few other people just sitting around the room, when he felt someone step up beside him.

“Hey, Noah.” He quickly looked to his side and saw that it was Mackenzie, Daniel’s girlfriend.

“Hey, Mackenzie. How’s your night going?”

“It’s been pretty wonderful. We should really do things like this more. I love to dance and everyone seems to be in a wonderful mood.”

Noah mumbled an agreement, but his eyes were still on Lily and Daniel dancing. Lily had decided to go all out for the “Senior Prom” theme�"lacy floor length gown, a hairdo that took hours to accomplish, and heels high enough to break her ankle if she stumbled. Noah’s pale pink tie matched her perfectly. She looks so beautiful.

“I’m assuming yours isn’t going as well?” Mackenzie’s voice had a sympathetic tone to it, and he didn’t know what to make of it.

“It was going great until…” He trailed off, knowing she’d understand. Mackenzie nodded her head, and replied with “Don’t let it get to you.” She turned to walk away, but before she’d even taken a step, Noah asked, “Does it not bother you?”

“Does what bother me?”

“Not knowing. Not knowing if they still have feelings for one another.”

Slowly, Mackenzie shook her head and stepped in front of Noah. “Noah, look at me.” He tore his eyes away from the dancing pair and looked down into her probing eyes. “You know the answer to your own question.” He quickly started shaking his head. “No, Mackenzie, no. I don’t. I have her answer, and I have my opinion, but I have no idea what the truth is.”

“Look at them, Noah. Really look at them.” Mackenzie and Noah both turned to look out onto the dance floor.

He saw them dancing together, yes, but he didn’t know what he was supposed to be seeing. But as he stared longer, started to take in details, he understood.

It was in the way Daniel’s hands rested on her back, in the way Lily held herself as closely to him as she could. It was also in the way he brushed her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. It was how he looked at her�"but mostly, it was the way she smiled at him as if he was the only other person in the world. She’s never smiled at me like that.

They were in love with each other. No doubt about it.

Noah momentarily felt like his world was crashing down on him, but soon realized that he’d known it for some time. Honestly, he couldn’t even be mad at her, because he didn’t think she knew it herself. The realization didn’t make it hurt any less, but it did help him calm down.

With an aching heart, he once again turned to look at Mackenzie.

“How long have you known?”

“Since the beginning,” she replied. “I don’t even think he realizes it.”

“How do you handle it?” Noah’s eyes began to fill with unbidden tears.

“Because I know that no matter what they truly feel for one another, nothing will ever happen. They lie to themselves. I don’t know why, but I don’t question it. I love him more than anything, and I’m not going to push my luck. I’m going to love him as long as he wants me, through all of his faults, including his love for her.” She looked at Noah, and her eyes mirrored his.

The song was coming to a close, and as it did, Mackenzie walked away, leaving Noah to hurriedly dry his tears as the pair made their way over to him. He could hear their chattering as soon as they got close, and walked over to meet them halfway.

“I was just telling Daniel that you love that song,” Lily looked as happy as she had been when she left.

“Oh, um, what song was it? I got distracted,” Noah replied. Lily gave him a strange look, as though she knew something was up, but decided to ignore it.

“Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop?”

“Oh! Yeah, I, uh, love that song. Landon Pigg is one of the best.”

Daniel nodded his head and agreed, and suddenly glanced around the room.

“Well, I’d better be finding my own girlfriend before she wanders too far.” He laughed, and continued, “Thanks for letting me borrow her, but you might want to teach her how to dance better before you let her out of the house again.” He winked at me and turned to Lily as she playfully hit him in the arm.

“Oh, shut up,” was her comeback, but she wasn’t angry.

Daniel kissed her on the forehead, whispered, “Love you,” and Lily replied with no hesitation.

“I love you too.”

They both watched as Daniel swiftly moved across the room to Mackenzie and took her hand. She turned to him and smiled as he did.

“So, Noah, want to show me your moves?” Lily brought his attention back to her, and she was smiling again. Only this time, the smile didn’t quite bring back the memories. Wasn’t quite the same. But maybe that’s okay.

“No, thanks,” Noah replied. Lily’s smile faltered slightly as he spoke.

“Oh, well, okay.”

Noah took a deep breath. What was he going to do?

It only took a moment.

“Here. Can’t dance until you’ve finished your drink. Then I’ll show you just how good my moves are.” Noah grinned mischievously and handed Lily’s drink back to her, and her smile was back in place.

I will love her. For as long as she wants me.