Brrrrrrnnnngggg.
I pick up the phone to find my long-time friend Dustin on the line inviting me to a small gathering at his home. I have to laugh because Dustin's parties are usually neither small nor just a "gathering." I expect he will continue with his norm and the party will be much more of an "event" hosted in his lavish palatial home at which there will be scads of people that want to be "seen" as part of the "in" crowd. I am non-committal as I've been a bit of a recluse lately. He continues to cajole me, not taking no for an answer, until I finally agree to come over and at least say hello. Regardless of any agreements made, we both know that "something" can come up later, which is my intent.
Life goes on and suddenly it's the day of Dustin's party. I had a particularly wonderful day and realize that a visit to Dustin's might be fun. So, I go jump into the shower and start getting ready. As the water sluices over me, my mind wanders to Dustin's other "get-togethers." They were semi-rambunctious times where the only people I knew were Dustin and a sometime a few others that I had met a previous party.
Dustin took it upon himself from the day we met as college roommates to expand my list of friends and acquaintances. You see with regard to meeting people Dustin and I are just about polar opposites. I have always been a quiet almost shy person, and I feel like in a crowd I just disappear. However, Dustin is one of those with the "gift of gab." From the second he enters a room he is surrounded by friends, even if he's never been there and knows absolutely no one. Anyways, he was always dragging me out and ensuring I had opportunities to meet some of the varied friends he had collected. He used to say "what else are roommates for??"
So, with a bit of trepidation, I made my way over to Dustin's. Dustin and I are just about physical opposites as well. He is tall, blonde, blue eyed and thin. I however am shorter, only 5'7", and while not exactly rotund, have always been a bit heavy for my height. My brown hair and eyes and quiet demeanor make it easy for me to just fade away in crowds. I am much more effective in a quieter setting, interacting with one other or perhaps a small group. Oh well, time to grow again.
I know not to be the first, nor last to arrive, thus am greeted at the door by the noise of a party just getting going. The crowd is becoming boisterous, and Dustin is wonderfully inviting. He introduces me to the people around him, and then has to break away as another group comes to the door.
I've been to Dustin's parties plenty of times, both at parties like this and for true quiet get-togethers. His house reminds me of the grand mansions I've seen in Newport Rhode Island and other places where the rich had gathered. Given to him by his parents when his grandparents died, the house was built during the early 1900's when is grandfather was amassing his fortune in the railroads. The overall building is three stories tall, made of natural stone, and shaped like an "H." Outside the "arms" enclose a beautiful entry in the front and a great veranda in the back. Inside, within each wing there are multiple interconnecting rooms. On the first floor, on one side you'll find the kitchen, dining room and a large smoking room. The middle part has the entry way with massive marble staircases sweeping up both sides and smaller rooms such as two bathrooms, and cloak rooms. In the other wing you'll find a very extensive library, a large entertaining room and two smaller living rooms. There is plenty of deep rich wood and beautiful art, with comfortable furniture allowing the guests plenty of room to move and mingle.
I slowly walked around to see if there was anyone that I knew and to no surprise there wasn't. So I gathered up a bite to eat and something to drink and went toward the library, my favorite room. I sat down and was consuming my snack when I first saw her. It was like a magnet pointing to a lode stone. I was just scanning the crowd and then suddenly all that existed for me was her. Now, I must put in that Dustin, being one of the "beautiful people" himself, is always surrounded by other beautiful people. However, this woman stood out to me, called to me in a way that is indescribable. She was standing across the library talking to a gentleman. I had no way to tell if they were together or if she was just mingling or even waiting for someone to join her. And quite frankly I didn't care at that second. I just drank in her beauty from across the room.
She was dressed in a very alluring black cocktail length dress, stockings and heels. Her hair was just short of shoulder length and framed her face to perfection. Yet, the most incredible part of her, were her eyes. They danced when she was talking and just held me captive. Then it happened. She glanced over the shoulder of her conversation partner and our eyes met. I tried to look away, and couldn't. I saw a small smile flash across her face, and then she was pulled back into her conversation. I couldn't have moved even if I wanted to. I tried to look around the room and see what else was going on, yet my eyes kept sweeping back and being captured by this mysterious woman. I thought about getting up and talking to her, of sweeping her off her feet with my witticisms, of well a whole lot of things both mundane and erotic, none of which I would do...or would I?