“I think if you have a pair of black pants or something close, a pair of black shoes, and a white shirt, and maybe a black bow tie or something, it should be enough. So go to your room and get dressed and I’ll meet you in the living room. Then you get to see what I found for myself.”
* * *
I took the jacket and headed back into my bedroom. I had a pair of black pants, but they weren’t all that formal. But I did have a charcoal gray suit, and I figured the pants from that were more formal-looking, and would be a more appropriate match. The jacket fit fine and I had plenty of white shirts, including one that didn’t have a button-down collar. And I did have, from some long-ago occasion, a black bow tie. Fortunately, it was a clip-on. I looked through my shoes and I decided to go with a pair of black leather chukka boots that I hadn’t worn in some time. After I put everything on, I went into the bathroom and wet my hair and slicked it back to change my appearance even more. I definitely looked different. I was no Omar Sharif, but I wasn’t Brandon anymore.
By the time I was dressed in this outfit, I looked and felt like a completely different person. I went back out into the living room and sat down on the sofa to wait for Ellie — or was I waiting for Lara? I was still somewhat uncertain about what was going on. I had done what I could, but it was impromptu based on what I had in my closet.
It took a while, but finally I heard Ellie’s bedroom door open and in a moment I saw her come into the room. The sight of her almost took my breath away. She was wearing an elaborate burgundy-colored vintage dress that she filled out perfectly. The dress was long enough that I couldn’t see much of her feet, but it seemed that her shoes were similarly vintage. She had also put her hair up in a new way and looked totally different and totally exotic.
“Yuri,” she said, looking at me. “I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time. You look so handsome tonight.”
“Lara,” I said, “you look more beautiful than ever.”
Suddenly I understood everything. It was more romantic than anything I could’ve ever thought of, more romantic than anything I had ever experienced before in my life.
* * *
“Come Yuri, come dance a waltz with me.”
I was taken aback at this unexpected request. “I… I don’t know how to waltz,” I said apologetically.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure you can count to three, and that’s all it takes. I’ll teach you. She called out to the speaker beside the TV, ‘Alexa, play classical waltz music.'”
She stood elegantly before me and I moved forward meet her. She helped show me where to put my arm and my hand, and reminded me to stand straight the whole time. Then the music began. The first waltz was a beautiful song with a very clear rhythm.
She had me follow her and count with her, one, two, three… one, two, three… With her leading me, it seemed almost natural, and I began to see and feel everything coming together.
“You look amazing tonight, Lara. You are a vision of loveliness.” I didn’t have to make any of this up, she was all that and more. She was more beautiful and more exciting and more intoxicating than any girl I had ever met. And I felt transformed as well. I had forgotten our other selves entirely. I was part of this amazing new world, or old world, or whatever. This world of romance and fantasy and love.