Taken by the Ice King

Ep6: Daphne

We walk in silence for a few moments. I think both of us are growing more nervous as the silence stretches longer between us.

"I went back-"

"I'm sorry I—" We both attempt to speak at the same time before giggling nervously. I took hold of Connor's hand.

"I'm sorry, you can go first. I insist." I smile at him, feeling completely at ease when he smiles back.

"I'm sorry I didn't come back to the park. Work has kept me out of town or too busy, so I apologize. But I went to look for you this afternoon and I couldn't find you. Do you not go to the park anymore?" he asks. The memory of today's events comes rushing back to me. The memory of Jimmy attempts to crawl into my mind.

"No, I do! I actually love that park. I just had a very, very bad day at work today, so I went straight home." He nods his head.

"Sonya had mentioned you quit your job today. I hope you find something else soon, and I hope it is better." His comment caught me off guard, causing my lips to part slightly. How much does Sonya talk about me? How much does he know about me when I know so little about him? He must sense my unease because he changes the subject.

"What is special about that park for you?" My most precious memories begin to flood my mind. My mother opening her arms for me to run into, going down the slide with me, pushing me on the merry-go-round. I don't have much, but what I have is so, so special to me, even if it is just a day at the park. My vision begins to get blurry as my eyes begin to mist over. I shove my tongue to the roof of my mouth and look up at their ceilings to avoid crying. Thankfully, the ceilings are just as decorated as anything else, so I don't look like a total weirdo.

I can see out of the corner of my vision that he is watching me, patiently waiting for me to be ready to answer him. I feel a soft material being placed into my hand. I look down, and a small tear escapes my eye to start to roll down my cheek. Connor wipes it away. I took the handkerchief he gave me and blot my tears away while composing myself. Connor gives me a sheepish smile while running his hand through his dark waves.

"I seem to be botching this. I have wanted to talk with you for months and now that I have the chance, I've made you uncomfortable and upset in the span of 2 minutes. I seem to have lost my touch." I laugh, and my sadness leaves me. I feel an unfamiliar wide smile break across my face.

"No, no! You're not botching it. I'm just an emotional wreck and a member of the dead mom's club. The two sometimes make it hard to hold it in and be a poised, proper lady." I smirk at him.

"Thanks for the hanky. Comes in handy." I held it out to him. Despite my desire to let go of all my emotions, I only did minimal damage with a few smudges of make-up. He holds up his hand and shakes his head.

"No, keep it please. If you don't see me at the park for a while, you'll have something to remember me by." He grins and, goodness gracious, he is just so devastatingly good-looking. I can't bring myself to take my eyes off him. A few beats pass between us, a quiet, but peaceful feeling of ease settles around us.

"Do you want to get out of here? I think I can make a good excuse for us." Connor breaks out into a devilish grin at his suggestion. It's so tempting, to escape with my dream man in the middle of the night and avoid all the judgmental people. But Sonya... She would be heartbroken if I skipped out on her. Especially since I let her help me get ready.

"I kinda owe Sonya some time. I bailed on her last year, and she was really cool about it, so I need to be here for at least a little bit." Connor seems thoughtful for a minute.

"One dance, then we leave. I owe you some time as well. Time I would like to spend alone with you to get to know my 'lady in the park' better." I can't help but giggle. A jealous man. Not overbearing. But someone who wants to know me without bringing up my past is so new.

"Sonya would demand at least five." I rolled my eyes, knowing my best friend wouldn't bend to her brother stealing me away so easily.

"Two. She gets you all the time, and I've only had stolen glances up till now. Those just won't do anymore." My cheeks flush as heat blossoms across my chest and neck.

"Four. Like I said, I owe her. Four dances are less than 20 minutes, then you will have hours with me." He rubs his hand over his chin, considering my offer.

"Three and I write her an IOU, then you're mine," he holds out his hand for us to shake on it. I smirk and look at him through my lashes.

"Deal, but you have to deal with your sister when she puts up a fight," I take his hand, shaking once before he pulls me close to him, snaking his arm around my waist. I gasp, and an unsure giggle escapes me. I've never had someone act this way towards me. Like I was a precious commodity not to be shared. Our faces are an inch apart, my eyes locked on his.

"It's a deal, 3 dances, and you're mine," he leans in and I close my eyes. His lips brush mine, sending electricity through me, awakening parts of me that I didn't know were asleep. Just as I was about to give in to kiss him, a door at the end of the hall opens and music pours out of it. We both look towards the door, but he doesn't let me go.

Sonya is there at the open doors waving her arms enthusiastically to get us to come towards her.

"Come on! Time to dance!" She shrieks as she races towards me and grabs my hand. As she pulls me, I feel Connor thread his fingers through mine as he follows. I steal a look behind me, his eyes pulling mine in. I smile and he smiles back. The boom of music pulls me back to my reality, but for once... I don't dread it. Sonya is here and now... So is Connor. I don't know why, but I feel like for once everything is going to be okay.

Sonya pulls me and Connor out onto the dance floor where some rock rendition of 'Carol of the Bells' is playing. Sonya lets loose, flinging her hair in every direction, letting the music move her. My moves are much more conservative. Sure, I have been to dances before but never with someone like Connor. He makes me nervous as a swarm of butterflies fills my stomach, beating their way to my chest.

Sonya gives me a quick hug at the end of the song and lets Brad Clearwater take her into his arms, sweeping her along to the soft classical Christmas music playing. The sound of a throat clearing sounds behind me. I whirl around to see Connor bowing to me, holding out his hand.

"Daphne, will you do me the honor of giving me this dance?" If my face weren't flushed already, surely its bright red now. If I'm dreaming I would give anything to not wake up.

"Absolutely," I whisper. He smiles as he takes me into his arms, and we glide across the dance floor.