A dance on the side of death

\"Did you need something professor?\"


He looked at me, seeming like he hadn\'t noticed me there at first. He blinked once, twice, then his mouth took on a determined line. I was puzzled, more so than ever. What was he thinking? He nodded, then came closer to me, placing his hand on my shoulder.
\"I was thinking I might need your help tonight. A few of the actors have plans, and they need to take care of those. I\'ll be short crew. I\'ll need someone to help me put costumes and things away after the set has been taken apart. Want to do it?\" He asked.
I paused, confused for a moment. The question startled me in all honesty. I mean, he knew that I had experience with set and costumes and such, even though my major at the college wasn\'t theatre. I had done a lot of work in high school with their productions. I looked into his eyes again, trying to discern what he was thinking. I smiled meekly when I saw nothing I could figure out. He nodded.
\"Sure, I\'ve nothing better to do, and I miss being a stage person.\" I said.
I was elated as he guided me from his office. It wasn\'t much, just helping to put up props, costumes, cleaning up after the cast had left after strike. But at least I got to spend time working with him. I felt like I was floating on air.
I went to the show that night, the last performance for this specific play. Afterwards I waited with others who were waiting for the actors. Soon the place was all but empty, and the cast was taking the set down. It didn\'t take too long, I even helped a little. It was kind of fun. But soon they were all leaving and the place was still a mess. The room downstairs where we kept our costumes was in chaos. I was helping Adrian by putting costumes away. Most of them were up on hangers and I was humming as I hung another. I gasped when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
\"I\'m sorry.\" Adrian said.
\"It\'s ok. I\'m just a bit jumpy, what with that convict on the loose.\" I said.
His eyes again held that chaotic intensity I had seen earlier. I smiled, embarrassed that I had almost screamed. My heart was fluttering fast still, but it had nothing to do with the small fright I had had. It was a funny thing adrenaline.
Suddenly his hands cupped my face. I saw his blue eyes shining, a moment before he kissed me. I was surprised, to say the least. There were rules about relationships between professors and students, no matter that he was only eight years my senior. But those rules seemed to be non existant as I felt him kiss me warmly and deeply.
\"Sorry... this is wrong! I\'m sorry, I...I..\" He stuttered, pulling back suddenly.
I was breathing heavily for a moment. I was surprised and that flustered me. That kiss, it was worlds exploding in color and sensations. I got my breathing under control and looked at him, the cast of his beautiful eyes. He was ashamed and emotions flashed across his face fleetingly. I took his hand in mine.
\"Following your heart is not wrong in my eyes. I will say nothing. If you wish to leave it at this, than I won\'t say anything more, and I\'ll leave.\" I said.
His face looked less cloudy, but still indecisive. I turned to leave, feeling that his choice had been made, we would not do anything more. I didn\'t see his slow smile. Suddenly I was in his strong arms being hugged tightly. I felt so safe, so comfortable. This man moved set and equipment around constantly, he wasn\'t weak like me.
He lifted my chin, looked in my eyes for a moment then leaned down and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck kissing him back. I felt his hands around my waist, holding me closer, I felt a heat that seemed to radiate from us. As we kissed I felt his hands roam from my waist to my arms, brushing my face. Stopping for a moment he stared at me, his icy blue eyes full of fire. He kissed me again, his hands stroking my hair.

CRASH!!!!!!!