Page 26 of Beyond the Blues
“Nora, I can’t dance.”
“Everyone can dance if they act like no one in the room.” Nora says, pulling me into her chest, her hands around my waist and mine wrapped around her neck, our bodies as close as possible together. We look into each other’s eyes, our bodies somehow swaying perfectly in time to the music. When I look into Nora’s eyes, there’s a reassuring look in those eyes that everything will be okay. The entire room could be staring at me right now, but I wouldn’t care because all I can focus on is Nora. All I can focuson is how I am well and truly fucked, and have fallen for her a lot quicker than I thought was possible. I know they say lesbians move quickly, but I didn’t think it was possible because it hadn’t happened to me till now.
“What are you thinking?” Nora asks, face intrigued. I fluster, trying to find an answer other than ‘I think I am falling for you’.
“Nothing.” I shrug it off, breaking eye contact, trying to hide the fact I’m lying. I am an awful liar, my face sweats profusely and I almost always bite my lips, as if the truth is trying to escape my mouth. We continue to dance, and Nora’s eyes never leave me once.
“You look at me a lot.” I remark.
“Well, I don’t need to look at anyone else when I have just what I want in
68
CHAPTER 14
front of me.” I feel my cheeks flush and I place a kiss on the corner of her lips. When I pull away, a man, around our age, barges into the back of Nora, knocking her into me. I trip backwards and fall onto the floor, the guests’ attention suddenly going onto us. Nora shoots round and shoves the guy backwards. As if a switch flipped, her eyebrows furrow and her fists clench.
“Are you fucking alright?”Nora raises her voice, her Irish accent really packing a punch. Nora turns back around, grabbing my hands and pulling me up.
“Are you okay?!” Nora asks, voice laced with concern. I nod. Without thought, Nora stands in front of me, using her body to guard me.
The smug look on the man’s face tells me he meant to barge into Nora. My anxiety spikes, my heart beating faster and my hands clammy.
“I just don’t feel comfortable being around you people.” The man’s voice is slurred.
“Around us people?” Nora asks, her stance getting more protective. I think she knows what this man is talking about now.
“LEZZAS” He shouts in Nora’s face. I can smell the vodka on his breath even from behind Nora. Nora turns back around to me and walks me away, to get out of the situation. Before I know it, the man has pulled Nora backward by the collar of her shirt. She falls into the table, knocking several glasses over and she hits her head hard. Nora falls down, body limp on the floor covered in broken glass. He spits on her and stares at me like a predator who’s just seen his prey. He wipes the spit on the sideof his mouth away and licks his lips. I want to go over to Nora and check if she’s okay, but as the man edges closer towards me, I’m frozen in fear.
“Sure I can’t turn you, love?” His face disgusts me. He looks like he’s enjoying this. I debate on what to do in this situation. I look behind the man and see people around Nora making sure she’s okay. Without a second thought, my fist meets his cheekbone, and I hear a crack. The pain from my knuckle makes me wince, and wonder whether the crack was from his face or my knuckle. The punch stunts the man, sending him a couple feet backwards. He shouts every curse word under the sun at me, mixed with many misogynistic and homophobic comments. I stare at him in disbelief.
69
BEYOND THE BLUES
How can one human hate another person so much for something they can’t help? The workers come rushing over and pull the guy away outside the hotel, the other guests in shock at the situation. What was once a beautiful moment is now smashed glasses, spilt drinks and bloodied knuckles. I run over to Nora falling down onto my knees beside her, not worried about the shattered glass, just her. She’s laying on the floor unconscious. I sit by her side holding onto her hand, my eyes welled up with tears. This can’t be happening. Her eyes flutter open slowly.
“Oh fuck Nora, you scared me.” I let out a sob and kiss her head.
She comes to consciousness slowly sitting up, whilst everyone around her carefully guides her. Nora rubs the back of her head and looks at me, suddenly realising my eyes are soaking with tears.
“Are you okay?” Nora asks.
“I’m fine.” Her eyes clock my swollen, sore knuckle, her eyebrows furrowed and her jaw tensing. She sits up quicker, trying to get to her feet, but her steps are wobbly.
“Nora, sit down!” I raise my voice, panicked that she will fall again. She stops in her tracks. I can see her considering her options, but she listens, and sits down onto a chair. After an hour of medical attention, making sure Nora didn’t get too much of a concussion, we walk back to our hotel room, escorted by some hotel workers a couple of feet behind us. They reassured us that they had arrestedthe man and would never allow him back to the hotel. We walk into my room, and Nora lays down on the bed, her head clearly hurting but she’s trying to hide it. I sit on the edge of the bed, stroking her hair.
“Can I get you anything?” Nora shakes her head.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.” Nora says quietly, embarrassed. “You don’t need to be sorry. It’s not your fault.” “I know, but you could’ve got hurt…”
“But I didn’t Nora, I got a pretty good punch in.” A soft smile erupts from her lips.
“How is your knuckle?” Nora asks, looking down at my hand. I can’t lie
70