The Kiss

Will Turner has a very low tolerance to alcohol. After all, jerk or not, he assigned me the Creative Dev project, and he was my boss and a somewhat friend. I owed him the moment.

"No, I am not drunk. I am just messing with you!" He laughed.

"But you can call me Will for the rest of this evening. No shade there."He chimed in. Maybe he was just having a good time. I shrugged, and got a glass of wine.

A minute later, music filled in, and I found myself swaying to it. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, I take this moment to ask you to pair up for the Him and Her dance. Take a moment to think of this dance as a moment to thank your peers and enjoy. Thank you!" The host said.

About three-fourths of the room was lined up with couples, swinging to a song in a slow dance. And I wasn't one of them. I sipped on the wine, trying to forget my utter singleness.

"Eva, would you do me the honor of this first dance?"I found Will, extending his left arm and bowing out of courtesy. I couldn't help but gape at him. I took his arm, and he pulled me closer.

 His right hand landed on the small of my waist while we postured ourselves for a slow waltz.

"You look beautiful." He whispered, and I felt the tingle kick in.

"Thank you, I guess." I said, shunning my eyes to the floor.

"I didn't know people would dance like 'this' on a Award Ceremony." I said, feeling my senses getting weak. 

"Me neither." He said, and our eyes met.

"But I am happy I get to dance with you." I said, shooting him a wide grin. What's wrong with me?

"Are you drunk, Eva?" He asked, and I chuckled.

"You call six glasses of wine drunk?" I laughed. Maybe I was drunk.

"Depends."

"Enough about me, Turner." I said, looking into his eyes.

"Are you happy?" I asked, feeling my cheeks hurt. I should stop smiling.

"Very." He said, and I felt his grip on my waist growing stronger. My insides warmed up and I couldn't help but notice his lips.

"Will, did you hate me so much then?" The moment had lightened up my mind, giving me the courage to ask all the right questions. Or maybe it was the alcohol.

"I don't hate you, Eva. Never."He whispered slowly.

"But you always cut off on weekends. Say mean things to me and seldom appreciate what I do. You pulled back the last time..."

"I pulled back when..."

"The last time we were together-" I said stupidly. I shouldn't have brought that up.

The words escaped blatantly.

Will looked at me softly.

His gaze met mine, and I found myself melting in his embrace. His slow breaths turned heavy as he drew closer. Leaning me over in the embrace with his eyes never leaving mine, his lips softly touched mine.

For some reason kissing him felt different. It wasn't like the time at the elevator. It felt like a thousand butterflies in the pit of my stomach were allowed to break free and flutter, like a touch of nectar spilling against my tongue, and I craved it more and more.

He pulled out slowly, holding me in place.

Flash. Flash. I realized what was happening. It wasn't a dream. Will Turner had kissed me in front of the whole Bexley Publishing. The paparazzi. The paparazzi had clicked us together!

A few more flashes went around. I felt so many eyes looking at us. Mr. Faux, Rosie, John, Cassie, and Josh. Oh my God, not Josh. How will I ever propose to Josh now?

"Eva, look at me." Will raised my chin to level his eyes with mine. There was a spark of confidence in them, trust and certainty. But I just couldn't.

"You ruined everything!" Tears welled up in my eyes as the words escaped.

A stinging shot of pain sprang through my head. My head played a reel of pictures. An evening with so many people. The lights, so many lights. A familiar smile. Warm hands. His touch, and then everything blacked out. The last thing I could remember seeing was a pair of grey eyes, his eyes.