Orbitting Venus
She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, trying to keep the hurt within.
She pouted, her eyes glued to the happy couple as they embraced. She leaned against the craft services table and watched him spoon cake into his new fiancée's mouth.
Maybe she could hijack him to the moon; then he would understand.
"Don't stick it up her nose, Dave!"
She smiled at Ozzie's tone; he still stuck up for her, no matter what. But she didn't need defending; what was done was truly finished.
That's what the pink teddy bear in her head told her.
She pranced away from the happy couple, out onto a deck outside. Untypically, no one noticed her absence. She stared out over the city of Atlanta, which sprawled before her like a naked god, considering the merit of a jumping-off point. Daffney could remember clearly how she felt after meeting David for the first time; alive. Stacy must feel the same way at the moment.
Forgiveness came in waves; really, she had forgiven him months before, but her conscious mind accepted now, let him go completely.
She took a deep breath, the painful knot beneath her breast loosening. She exhaled, sending threads of blue hair outward, stroking the night sky.
Looking up, she took in the stars; those few precious objects that she didn't have to share with anyone.
"I brought you some punch," A voice she recognized, dear in tone, entered her senses, banishing selfishness.
"Thanky, Devon," She smiled, and he strode onto the balcony with her, closing off the endless cacophony of music. She could see David dancing with Stacy to the tune of some Disney movie main theme.
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" She winced at the sound of Elton John's song.
"Yes," responded Devon unconsciously. She pierced him to the core with her gaze and, wincing, he looked away. "Lotta stars out tonight," he announced, changing the subject.
"Yeah," She smiled, "When I get married, it's gonna be under the stars, like this."
Silence lingered between them; when Devon spoke next, it was through a mouthful of punch.
"You know, Ozzie and Fyre are in there, dancing."
She nodded, "It's OK."
He lifted a brow, "You're not jealous?"
"Nope."
"But he's your boyfriend! Shouldn't he...wait a minute...You're not jealous! And if you're not jealous...holy moly...that means he's not really your.."
"Hush!" She cried, as a disbelieving Devon shook his head, "If your ex-girlfriend was getting married, you'd ask someone else to play your boyfriend, too!" She made face, "Wait...no."
"I get what you mean," He smiled, "You're still single."
"Uh-huh."
Silence reclaimed their tongues. Daffney returned to staring upward at the sky, specifically the many stars twinkling above her head.
"Have you ever thought about something?"
"What?"
"That there are so many people out there who belong together, but never get there." He refused to look at her, but continued to speak, "It's like..there's always someone or something in the way; baggage. The worst part of it is when two people are meant to be together, but one of them is off chasing rainbows...rainbows that don't even exist."
She smiled, "My mom used to say that...before she sent me there..." 'There' indicated a darker place, where David had found her; the less said about that, the best. "And that, sometimes, the best person for you isn't Prince Charming; it's the guy holding back his horse."
He smiled, "Yeah. His horse."
The song had stopped; upbeat dance music began to throb through the air. Devon yawned, began to more toward the balcony's door.
"Devon?"
He stopped dead in his tracks, "Yes?"
"I've decided...I'm gonna forget about Prince Charming."
He smiled, "Really?"
"I'm going right to the guy holding his horse." With that, she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around Devon's neck. "I'm going right to the guy with his horse."
His grin was effervescent, "Good." On that note, the air filled with the sweet strains of another ballad, "Now, how's about dance?"
A wide smile spread itself across her face. Joining hands, they stepped into a slow dance; into a new beginning, as the moon smiled down upon their sweet, addled heads.