Wife Swap - S01 E18

6 months ago

Wife Swap - S01 E18

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 18

I feel overdressed as I look around the dancing floor. Today I opted for a dark blue lacey dress with sleeves up to my elbow and it is a few inches above my calves. The problem is that my confidence is very unstable. One moment I feel like a model in a runaway and the next I feel invisible and don't even like how I look now. And my choice of clothes fluctuates with it.

"Do you have a favorite song?" Rome asks beside me.

"No," I am quick to answer.

"Who does not have a favorite song?"

"Me?" It comes out like a question.

"How is that possible? What do you listen to while exercising? " He is genuinely shocked.

"I prefer watching or listening to true crime shows over listening to music," I answer. But to be honest I prefer the monologue in my head much better. But I don't tell him that, he already thinks I am crazy and sad. Confessing that will just prove him right.

"Give me a second." He says and walks towards the Deejay. I watch him say something to him and both turn to look at me making it obvious whatever they are saying is about me. It does not take long for him to return to me with a huge grin.

"Were you talking about me?"

"Only about the good stuff." He says trying to contain his smile.

"Good is quite subjective," I say.

"Come with me to the dance floor and follow my lead." He holds my hand and I feel an electric wave travel through my body. I suck in the air.

"Can you even dance?" i ask

"To my favorite song? Yes."

"Which is ?" I ask.

"Sobrio by Maluma." He says proudly.

I have never heard of the name but all along I thought BTS was a shipping company like DHL.

He turns and gestures at the Deejay once we are in the middle of the dance floor. A song with enticing beats and what sounds like Spanish starts. It has slow beats and even though I don't understand the language it makes me emotional and compels me to move. Rome moves closer and puts his arm around my waist. My heart somersaults and I hardly can breathe properly while he seems not affected.

"Follow my lead, " He reminds me.

I start to move with him and follow his verbal instructions easing into his form and soon a crowd forms around us, cheering. If alone I would cower and wish to disappear but with Rome, he senses my fear and continuously whispers to me that I am doing okay. We come to a finish as he twirls me around and I come crashing on his chest. I quickly release myself from his hold and turn around thanking the audience that is impressed by our dance.

"You should sign up for our dance competition." A man approaches us.

He is a lean man of average height with a mustache. He is dressed in dress pant that looks like a palazzo and a white fitted t.shirt.

"You make a great team and there is a lot to be won." He seems overly enthusiastic as he tries to convince us.

"Thanks but no." I don't have to think twice.

"C'mon, you are a lovely couple with killer moves, you are already winning. " He is persistent.

"We are not..."

"...We will be joining the competition." Rome cuts me short by speaking over me.

"Wonderful, just sign your names here." The man is delighted.

Rome writes his name and I am surprised when he writes my three names without asking me.

"You will be dancing alone," I tell Rome when the man leaves.

"It is just a dance competition." He says.

I hate competitions, I hate how they remind me that I am not good enough when I lose. And even when I win, I feel like a fraud. I suffer when I either lose or win.

"It is a huge commitment." The competition is to happen in a month from now.

"All that should matter is having fun." He says and I follow him when he starts to leave the dance floor.

"Where did you learn to dance like that?" I ask him after a while.

"I have two sisters and I was their practice dummy." He chuckles.

I envy his life, to have siblings to share things with and parents that want you, no wonder he is full of life. It was breathed in him throughout his entire existence.

We hang around for a while and have some drinks before we are both exhausted and decide to go back home.

Rome decides to go and buy some food as we haven't eaten any.

"You can just wear my jacket I will be back." He says, I did not carry anything to keep me warm assuming my dress would be enough, but I was wrong.

I pick his jacket and wear it over my dress. My hands feel cold and breathing through them doesn't help.

I decide to tuck them into the pocket and then feel a hard paper-like thing. Without thinking I decide to pull it out. It is crumbled and I remember it is the one that Rome hid there earlier. I shouldn't pry but I am compelled to. Just a peek and I will return it. He will never know.

I unfold it slowly and when I am almost done, I shove it back in the pocket. Conflicted about snooping into his privacy. I try to forget its existence but it calls on me louder, begging until I can't ignore it and again I reach for it and unfold it quickly before I have a change of mind.

It is a photo.

A photo of me at the National archives during a school trip. I was in high school then. I still remember that day but I do not remember meeting Rome that day. Most importantly why he has my photo? Where he found it and if he knew me long before I met Mason?