Take Me Dancing

8 Years Before -

I watched in amusement as Dana struggled shamelessly to lift a large cardboard box filled to the brim with books.
"Needing a hand there babe?" I asked, my voice tinkling with humour. Dana gave a frustrated sigh and nodded her head sarcastically. With a laugh I took the box from her arms with ease and headed out of the garage to her small yellow Beetle.

Dana had finally graduated from High School a week ago. Unfortunately she didn't get enough GSCE's to get into the University she wanted in London so had to compensate for the local one in town. In all honestly I was bitterly happy she wasn't moving to London. I couldn't help but feel that if she did, she would find someone better and well...you can imagine I wouldn't be too happy without her. I on the other hand had quit my job at the small local record shop and have just got a promotion at the Recording Label downtown. As soon as Dana graduated I insisted on her moving in with me in my flat in the City Centre. Eventually Dana, and her parents, agreed and today's the day. The day we start our proper life together.

After much complaining and moaning from Dana's part we finally got all her boxes into her car and were heading off.

"Welcome home honey!" I called to Dana as I thrust the door of my flat open. She gave a small giggle and pushed through the door in front of me. Wow, those skinny jeans made her legs and arse look...soso good. As she was making herself a cup of tea I linked my arms around her tiny waist and lifted her off her feet. Squealing and laughing I dropped her onto the large cream sofa. With a confident smirk she pulled at the collar of my polo and I fell on top of her.
"Hmmm..." I put a finger on my chin in deep thought, "this seems familiar..." With a gasp Dana feebly hit my forearm. I gave a chuckle and planted a sweet kiss on her forehead.
"You think you're going to like it here?" She smiled and nodded her head eagerly.
"We could live in a cardboard box and I wouldn't mind." I raised my eyebrow in mock amusement. She is such a head case.
"You want me to make dinner for you?" She grinned cheekily.
"Peter making food. I could get used to this." I rolled my eyes and Dana made her way towards the bedroom to unpack.

By "make dinner" I, of course, mean phone Yee's Chinese Takeout. But close enough right? After taking the still steaming food out of it's containers and setting it out on plates I called Dana through to the small dining table in the middle of the kitchen.
"Wow. You make all this yourself?" I nodded. She went along with my white lie, congratulating me enthusiastically on my professional standard of cooking.

After eating our fill we decided to lounge around and watch some typical Saturday night TV. I groaned as Dana switched the channel and the X Factor came on.
"Come on! You know fine I hate that show!"
"But the auditions are the best part. Some of them are right twats." I snorted with laughter. That's my Dana.

An hour of laughing our faces off at the crap auditions we decided it was time to call it a night. Because there was only one bedroom Dana was sharing a bed with me. We've shared a bed before of course but this time it was different somehow. For one thing we were allowed to and for another well...did she want me to make a move? Would she want to? After contemplating this while brushing my teeth I decided to throw cation to the wind.

Emerging out of the bathroom in only my boxers I found Dana stripping off her shirt leaving her in only a pair of checked pyjama bottoms. Oh God. Suddenly full of confidence I strolled towards her and pulled her in. The kiss was rushed; all tongue and teeth. The passion was rushing off us in waves. Her fingers were knotted in my hair and my hands were clamped onto her hips. Gently, she pushed me onto the bed and crawled on top of me. I let the pure passion and lust take over.

*****

I cracked a sleep clad open and grimaced as the sunlight made lights flash across my vision. I rolled over to my side and was met by the peaceful form of Dana still in a blissful sleep. My eyes traced over her perfect face, taking in every freckle, every angle and shadow. Memorising the way the sun made her hair seem like a waterfall of gold flowing around her head like a halo and how her lips were curled at the corners into the smallest of smiles. I wondered if she was dreaming about me behind those closed eyelids. She stirred and let out a sigh before slowly opening her eyes. She smiled at the sight of me.
"Good morning beautiful." I cooed, my voice still thick with sleep. She gave a lazy giggle in response and traced a hand slowly through my messy hair. I closed my eyes at the contact and smiled. I could get used to this.
"Make me a cuppa would you love?" She asked her voice low and gruff. I shook my head in amazement, pulled on a pair of joggers and padded off to the kitchen.

After stuffing our faces with blueberry pancakes, fry ups, toast and scrambled eggs we decided to take a stroll in the public garden. We walked hand in hand down the street, stopping to sit on a bench now and again to chat aimlessly and joke about the future like we had a clue. I couldn't help but fall in love all over again as I watched Dana make the simplest of things: brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, smile at a stranger, brush invisible dust off her leg, look so classy and elegant. There were a few times I interrupted her sentence with my lips upon hers.

It's the tiny moments like this that I think to myself I couldn't live without this beautiful, hilarious, happy-go-lucky girl. It's moments like this that I realize I'm completely, altogether, absolutely and perfectly in love with Dana Patterson.