~Emily’s POV~
A few minutes later the dean joined us on the balcony with a coffee in his hand. “Ashley sends his apologies. He had some business to attend to.” He pressed the coffee mug into my hands.

“More drummers?” Jake asked.

“The actual drummer showed up.” Dean Ferguson smiled.

Jake laughed. “Is that so?”

I pretended not to notice the subtle smirk they exchanged.

“Could I trouble you to make sure everything is under control.” The dean instructed Jake.

Jake looked at me. I leaned my back against the railing and concentrated on my coffee. “My pleasure.” Jake nodded to me and left me with the dean.

“I’m afraid I’ve a confession to make.” He said, looking up at the single star in the sky. He sighed and spoke as though deep in thought. “When I first saw my wife, I felt weak in the knees.” He smiled, remembering.

I looked into his eyes curiously, he didn’t look back.

“I knew she was the one from the moment I saw her.” He averted his gaze to the ground. “I believe in love at first sight.” He looked into my eyes. “And I witnessed the way you looked at the gentleman in the queue a few moments ago.”

I felt a hope rise up to my heart from deep within me.

“The gentleman.” I said, hoping with every ounce of hope I had, it was his job to know everything about everyone in the school. “You know everyone in this school.”

He smiled. “I don't know him.” He said quietly. “Or his friend, the drummer.”

My heart flip flopped. What if he'd told them to leave?

“If I can have your attention ladies and gentleman.” I heard Jake announce from inside the ball room. “Our entertainment is about to perform.”

“You’re not drunk.” He said quietly. “Your drinks were significantly diluted.” He laughed. “Although I have tremendous admiration for your enthuse.”

“But how?” I watched The Riddler pour all of our drinks, they were all the same.

He tapped his fingers against the balcony railing and folded his arms.

I thought he was ordering more and more drinks each time he tapped his fingers, he was telling the bartender how strong to mix the drinks. “It’s possible that you’re feeling the intoxication of love.” He smiled warmly. “But the guys don’t have to know that.” He tossed his head back, laughing. “The way they carried you out here.”

I laughed with him.

“I’d like to invite everyone to take their seats please, our first act of the evening is about to begin.” Jake announced.

The dean held his elbow out and I looped my arm through his. He took my coffee cup and set it down on the railing. “Shall we find your masked man?” He invited, holding the door open for me.

When we stepped back inside there were two Venetian living statues positioned at each end of the waterfall. Jake was the only person I recognized at the dean’s table. Ashley looked over his shoulder from his table then at the living statues, shrugging slightly and probably wondering what we were all seated for.

I noticed somebody sitting at Ashley’s table wearing a black bandana, and stared at him, waiting for his head to turn. When he finally turned around and looked my way all I saw was a Wolverine mask and a wide smile. He waved slightly.

“Is that him?” Dean Ferguson whispered.

“No.” I said quietly.

“He’s the drummer.” He replied.

I mouthed the name, “Christian?" to Wolverine.

Wolverine mouthed, “What?” back to me, stiffening his shoulders and pressing his head backward as though I’d confused him.

“Should I give him the third degree?” The dean whispered.

“You’d enjoy that.” His date said, nudging his arm.

I mouthed “Where’s Andy?’ to Wolverine.

He raised a hand to his ear as though he could neither hear me nor lip read what I was saying. “What?” He mouthed again.

“Ahem.” The dean cleared his throat loudly and Wolverine turned away. His date giggled.

I’d surveyed the room and Batman was nowhere to be found.

Two stilt walkers broke my train of thought when they made their way majestically down the center of the dance floor, long black and white striped capes trailed behind them. I looked around the table at the corner of my eye and everyone was donning the same blank faced captivation that I felt. “Wow.” I said, my jaw dropping when the stilt walkers lit four torches on fire and started tossing them to each other. They looked like the last boss in an incredibly complicated role playing game come to life; I’d never seen anything like it before. Most of the tables started clapping. I was too mesmerized to move.

The dean leaned closer to me. “Your drummer keeps glancing toward the upstairs balcony.”

I scanned every detail of what I could see of the second level but nothing in particular stood out.

When two more stilt walkers joined the first two I looked at Jake. He was sitting back in his chair, arms folded, wide eyed and observant. I felt completely overwhelmed but everyone seemed to be the perfect vision of calmness. When the four stilt walkers began fire spinning my brain seemed to shut off and enter record mode. As though he sensed this, Jake pushed a glass of wine toward me and continued watching the show without a word.

I took a long drink and watched fire twirling around the dance floor, wondering what would happen if one of the torches touched one of the dangling balloon ribbons.

“Those torches seem to fly dreadfully close to the balloons.” The dean’s date observed.

“Nonsense, they’re professionals.” The dean replied.

I saw something move in the corner of my eye and looked up to the second floor balcony in time to see the shadow of an all-black tuxedo line up next to a black pillar. I looked at Wolverine desperately in time to see him looking up at the same person I was.

I felt my heart pounding harder than ever.

I reached a shaky hand toward Jake’s wine glass and took another long sip.

“Found him?” The dean smirked, watching me.

I looked at Jake, he was still watching the show.

Wolverine wasn’t paying attention. But when one of the stilt walkers tossed a torch into the air a little too close to Ashley’s table and his face illuminated by the flame, I saw the smirk on his face. I watched him mouth the words, “She knows” to Wolverine. Wolverine nodded back to him and turned to look at me.

The lace of my gloves brushed against my lips as my hand rose to my mouth. “Christian?” I mouthed to him again.

He turned to look at Ashley.

Ashley nodded a yes at me.

I looked back up at the balcony for the shadow of Andy. He was gone.

A loud thunderous applause began, people stood up from their seats. The stilt walkers had dowsed the torches and were taking bows.

Jake was announcing an intermission before the dance began. People were shuffling outside. I stood up to talk to Christian but his table had emptied. There were so many people standing around.

“You look like you could use a smoke.” A tall, thin man wearing a Loki mask observed.

I couldn’t speak. “Yeah.” I tried to think. “I’m looking for someone.” I finally convinced words to come out of my mouth.

“They’re probably outside.” He shrugged, pulling a silver monogrammed cigarette case out from his jacket pocket and holding it toward me.

“I don’t smoke.” I shrugged the offer away.

“Thank you good sir.” Dean Ferguson reached over my shoulder and took one of Loki’s cigarettes, holding his elbow out. I automatically linked my elbow through his elbow. “We were about to enjoy a spirit or two.” He took a second cigarette and placed it in my hand. “Join us.” He added.

I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.

“Excellent.” Loki said, looking at the doorway and back at me.

I paid attention this time as the dean tapped his finger on the bar three times, three glasses of Hennessy appeared before us and I didn’t understand the dilution trick involved.

“I’m Dean Ferguson.” He introduced himself, holding his glass in the air.

“Tyler.” Loki clinked his glass against mine.

“Emily.” I said quietly, curtsying politely.

Loki held my gaze for a moment, his deep green eyes looking up at me as he bowed to kiss my hand with the other hand behind his back. “A pleasure to meet you milady.” He said. He took his drink like the dean, without hesitation and somehow savoring taste. I watched him swirl his glass around the same way the dean did.

“Excuse me gentlemen.” Josie stepped toward me. “Emily your presence is requested outside.”

I looked at the bar and downed my glass. “Please excuse me gentlemen.” I whisked away with Josie as though my heart was still beating, a cigarette in one hand and my invite in the other.
I craned my neck looking around the crowds of people scattered about the entryway. No Batman in sight. I sighed.

“Where is he?” I asked Josie.

“Outside.” She smiled.

I looked at the door and took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I stepped outside.


~Andy’s POV~
I stood on the second floor all night, watching Emily and wondering when the right moment to present myself would be. I had it pictured in my head and CC and Ashley were going to help me carry it out. They didn’t question my idea or make fun of me for wanting the moment to be perfect.

My cover was almost blown when Emily looked right where I was standing during the fire spinning. I stepped into the shadows but I’m sure she saw me. It didn’t matter, as long as our eyes didn’t meet until the right moment I was okay with her knowing I was there. I don’t know why she isn’t texting me, but at least I’m here for her in some way.

I was standing outside after the wicked entertainment when an older man in a suit called out, “Emily!”

I saw the spiked edge of her shoes and ducked between two tall hedges, attempting to flatten myself against the wall.

“My clutch!” She shouted happily, throwing her arms around the guy. “Thank you so much dad, my phone’s in here.”

So that’s why she isn’t texting.

As she hugged him she turned to look in my direction.

“Hi, I’m Ashley!” Ashley loudly intercepted, standing in front of Emily and blocking her view of me.

“So you’re Ashley.” Emily’s dad said authoritatively.

I ducked out from the hedges and ran around the corner of the building to the smoker’s balcony. A small group of men in tailcoat tuxedos began laughing. “Your secret’s safe with us Batman.” A guy dressed as Loki said.

“Thank you, citizen.” I replied in my best Batman voice. I slipped in the doors and scanned the room for a better place to hide before everyone returned to their seats.

“OMG I just got your texts.” Emily texted. “I didn’t have my phone.”

I smiled. “Ok.” I replied, stupidly.

“How are you feeling?” She asked.

“Ok.” I texted again.

“You don’t seem okay.” She wrote.

“It’s been a long day…” I smiled.

“Tell me about it.” She wrote. “There’s a guy here who looks just like you, but he keeps vanishing.”

I gasped out loud when I read the words. I typed and erased a bunch of things, but finally replied with, “Sounds like something I’d do.”

“There’s a drummer named Christian here?” She wrote.

“Strange coincidence.” I replied.

“I love you Andy.” She texted.

“I love you Em.” I replied.

People began filing back into the building.

The alumni only first dance was announced, the band began to play an acoustic cover of Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. I stared at Emily longingly as Ashley’s voice rang out through the ball room. I watched the way her face lit up in a huge smile every time somebody dipped their partner. I wanted to hold her so much it hurt.

Notes