Finished piece is HERE
“Oh, God, please don’t let me get stuck dancing with the teacher because no one wants to partner up with me. Please. Please. Please.”
Jennifer Mason trotted dutifully up the stairs, wearing (she hoped) an air of confidence. She and her recently ex-boyfriend had signed up for this class weeks ago and, since she was the one who paid for it, she was determined to at least try a class and hope that maybe she could partner with someone. ‘
When she reached the landing, the door to the studio was open and she could see two people in there. She felt safe in presuming that the woman was Madam Solange, the studio’s ballroom director and teacher. The woman was wearing a dark blue leotard with a bright pink wrap around skirt and dance tights. Her shoes were a little worn but obviously well kept. She had red hair that was streaked with shimmery grey streaks and pulled tightly back into a neat bun. There was a younger man there that Jennifer was less certain about. Since he was stretching at the barre she was pretty sure he wasn’t the average student. He stopped stretching when he noticed Jennifer and leaned against the bar, watching her. He was wearing a pair of ballroom shoes that looked new with a pair of faded olive green yoga pants and a white ribbed tank with a blue shirt left unbuttoned. Most of his dark hair was pulled into a short ponytail. There were a couple of strands that were maybe deliberately left out. His goatee was well trimmed and framed a mouth that seemed best suited for what Jennifer could only describe as a friendly smirk. His dark eyes were fringed with long, dark lashes, and Jennifer felt momentarily breathless under his stare until she was distracted by the teacher.
“Good evening!” The woman presumed to be Madam Solange smiled brightly and walked across the room to greet Jennifer near the threshold in the area where street shoes were still allowed. “I am Madam Solange,” she introduced herself as she took Jennifer’s hand in both of hers. Her grip was warm and gentle and Jennifer felt welcome.
“I’m Jennifer. Jennifer Mason.”
“Jennifer Mason! Welcome to my class. You signed on with a partner, though? Correct?” Madam Solange momentarily seemed to struggle with her memory. “Jennifer Mason and… Doug…”
“Chambers,” Jennifer finished for her. Her voice going a little flat along with her hopes for the evening. Maybe she couldn’t even stay in the class without a partner. Madam Solange was waiting for Jennifer to say something else and she noticed that the still unknown man was still leaning on the barre but was now bent forward, watching with interest.
“He won’t be attending the class.”
“You have no partner then?” Madam Solange pressed.
Jennifer wanted to say all kinds of things about the awesomeness of being solo but she didn’t think that Madam Solange was looking for a social statement.
“Um…. Well… No.”
The teacher’s eyes narrowed on her for a moment and she nodded her head slowly.
“Sometimes - just sometimes - this happens. Perhaps there will be another student who is also in need of a partner.”
Jennifer forced herself to not look at or acknowledge the still unknown man with really great biceps at the barre. Instead she nodded and ducked over to one of the benches provided for changing shoes. She changed shoes, used a couple of clips to hold her hair back, but couldn’t quite bring herself to take off her oversized flannel shirt. It felt too much like a comfortable armor and she wasn’t ready to part with it yet.
Other students started to file in. All couples, most of them wanting to know just enough ballroom dancing to make it through their wedding reception. Jennifer really, really wanted to go home.
Madame Solange greeted everyone individually and Jennifer still didn’t find out the name of the young man until class was beginning. Until well after she had already endured the curious stares of the four other couples. She found herself trying to carefully edge back toward the door. Maybe she could just grab her bag and change shoes back.
“Thank you - everyone! - for coming tonight,” Madame Solange exclaimed from the front of the class. “As you know, I am Madame Solange and I will be your teacher. This is my nephew, Duke Crocker. He is meant to assist with teaching, but as one of your fellow students finds herself in need of a partner, he will be alternating.”
Jennifer really would have preferred for the floor to collapse around her.
Instead, she found herself making a curtsey before her improvisational dance partner and wishing her hand was cool, dry, and steady when she placed it against his palm to start a simple waltz.
This, she could do. She had stood on her father’s toes while he danced her around the living room. She started a little rusty, and Duke had to remind her a couple of times to not look at her feet and then to let him lead, but by the time the second waltz was playing and Madame Solange was looking pleased and praising her class she had relaxed into his arms and was able to make some idle conversation with her partner.
As with dancing, he led.
“So, what happened with Doug Chambers?” His eyes twinkled at her glare.”Did he step on your toes one too many times?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Jennifer huffed.
Duke smiled. “Sorry. That was rude. And lame.”
She liked his smile more than was comfortable and found herself looking down again until she felt his hand leave her waist and his fingertips at her chin gently pressing upward.
“The guy’s an idiot,” Duke said softly.
“I could be a heinous bitch,” Jennifer pointed out. And immediately regretted it because the smile he flashed her then made her brain forget that it was supposed to communicating with her feet and she faltered.
“You could be,” he assented. “That would definitely explain why you moused yourself in a corner trying to avoid being noticed as the only single person in what is, by definition, a couples dance class after bravely marching yourself up the stairs to get here.”
“I didn’t mouse - “ Jennifer’s retort was cut off by Madame Solange ending the song and clapping her hands for the class’ attention. Everyone had the rudimentary skills to make it through a basic box step so it was time to increase the tempo a little and see how comfortable everyone was with a two step.
“Why did you take this class?” Duke asked her.
It was true that she was comfortable with simple dances like this. The main reason that she and Doug were supposed to take the class was simply to do something fun together, and because she had wanted to learn how to do some swing dancing and latin dances like the mambo and especially the tango.
“Just, you know, for something fun to do. To learn some things I don’t know how to do.”
“So you weren’t engaged then?”
Jennifer smiled. “No, not anywhere close. I guess that’s why most people take this class?”
Duke nodded and reminded her again to let him lead.
The class was an hour and half long and near the end they were beginning to brush onto more complicated dances and steps. Duke had to leave her a few times to assist or demonstrate and Jennifer was caught trying not to look as awkward as she felt pretending to dance with a partner and also trying not to blatantly ogle the man.
At the end, he bowed over her hand and kissed the knuckles and she couldn't be sure if she felt the barest tip of his tongue flicker against her or not and damned if she didn’t want him to do it again, maybe a few times, to make sure.
“You’re going to keep coming, right?”
“Excuse me?” That question accelerated her train of thought into some fairly wild territory.
“To the class?” She felt herself blush scarlet as a knowing smile dimpled his cheeks and lightly crinkled his eyes.
“Um… I don’t know….”
“Oh, come on. Don’t chicken out now.”
“You’re supposed to be teaching though. Not - “
“Well, how else am I going to see you again?”
Jennifer’s mouth moved soundlessly for a few seconds while she worked out what she wanted to say. He could call her, if she gave him her number and wanted to feel desperate - which she didn’t.
“OK. I’ll - I’ll be here on Wednesday.”
“Miss Mason,” Madame Solange approached them. “You are welcome to back on Wednesday, but you will need to find a partner, soon. I need my nephew to assist with instruction. If you can’t find a partner, I will refund your tuition payment.” She smiled as kindly as she probably could given the circumstances and moved away.
“Or… Maybe not.” Jennifer amended.
“I’ll find you a partner,” Duke offered and Jennifer was pretty sure he said it in a bit of a rush. She watched him smile again as he looked away and swept his hand over his hair, pushing the loose strands back. She unconsciously drew her lower lip between her teeth, but became extremely self-conscious when she saw his eyes focus in on her mouth and his whole expression darken slightly. She again had that feeling of trying to decide what to say and felt like there was a hole in her head from which all her vocabulary was leaking.
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