Shirley Holmes looked around Redington Dance Studio nervously. It washer first day after signing up, and she couldn't find her best friend and boyfriend, Bo Sawchuk anywhere. Alicia Gianelli and Carson Evans appeared behind her.
"No Bo?" Alicia asked, giving Shirley a sympathetic look.
"Nope. But at least you guys are doing this whole dancing thing too, or I would've totally run out of here by now." Shirley looked around one more time.
"I'm sure that he's here. You said he's being doing this since he was six, right? He wouldn't be late." Carson comforted her.
"Hi! Sorry I'm late," Bo said appearing from behind. Shirley, Alicia and Carson laughed. Bo looked at them curiously.
"So teacher... what do I do?" Alicia joked.
"First of all, don't ever get caught calling me a higher power or Mr. Hastings will let me have it. He and his wife are our dancing teachers not me, and Mr. Hastings is very, very stuffy. Mrs. Hastings is extremely cool. She'll be teaching us today.." Bo said, "But you've done one thing right, you're all dressed for dancing practice."
They were too. Alicia and Shirley were comfortable in there body leotards. Alicia had chosen a bright lime green color, while Shirley stuck with black, Carson and Bo were dressed in white undershirts and much to Carson's dismay, black tights. Bo having been a dancer since he was six, was used to the whole get up.
"I thought we'd be dressed up real fancy. When I found out we weren't I was kind of disappointed." Alicia sighed.
"Nope. The only thing you guys dress up fancy is in highheels." Bo said, and laughed as Carson looked at him in mock horror, "Oh c'mon Carson, they're very comfortable! No, just joking. And you don't wear those until your third or fourth lesson I guess."
"I was looking forward to the whole highheels prospect," Carson said, faking disappointment.
Bo sniffed and pretended to wipe away a tear, "So was I man... so was
I."
Carson and Bo pretended to sob. Alicia looked at Shirley.
"This is going to be a LONG lesson." She observed. Shirley grinned.
"I dunno, it could be fun." She thought out loud as Bo flashed her a smile. Alicia groaned.
"You know if I wasn't going out with Carson, I wouldn't understand this whole lovey dovey thing. This whole I've got a boyfriend thing makes me not want to hurl when you of all people get mushy." Alicia declared.
"I don't get mushy." Shirley announced. Alicie rolled her eyes.
"Oh puh-leeze Shirley. Maybe you'd like to think you've not changed, but after you're Mom came back you've been this whole new person. I mean, you laugh and that's kind of scary. But that's good, people change all the time. For better or for worse, right?" Alicia took Carson's hand and walked away with him. Bo walked over to Shirley and put his arm around her.
"Do you think I've changed?" Shirley asked Bo.
"Sure," Bo replied, "We all have. We all still are."
"Do you think that I've changed for the better?" Shirley asked. Bo shrugged.
"I like you so I'd have to say for the better," Bo smiled. He leaned in to kiss Shirley but their moment was interrupted by a loud banging of the studio door slammed shut. An older woman with graying hair and a huge smile bounded into the room.
"I was thinking we could start with beginner's step but I see that someone's already started the Rhomba... Mr. Sawchuk." The woman said. Bo smiled and shook his head.
"What does she mean?" Shirley whispered to Bo. Bo looked at her and smiled.
"The Rhomba is the dance of love," he explained, "She walked in just
as I was about to kiss you."
Shirley felt her cheeks growing a deep red.
"I am Mrs. Hastings, and I'll be your dance intructor every Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Mr. Hastings teaches on Saturdays and Thursdays. Now... this isn't school. You can come in late, but if you think about the amount of money your parents are paying for these courses you might not want to. All I ask is you let me teach, and you learn the steps. Alright everybody, find a partner!" Mrs. Hastings clapped her hands together.
Shirley turned to Bo.
"Mrs. Hastings is cool," Shirley decided.
"Now class, I bet you are wondering why we have intermediates and beginners in the same class. Well this year there will be a dance off with talent scouts in the audience for the intermediates, they cannot dance with eachother, because it's hard to focus on one intermediate while two are dancing with eachother. The winners have the chance to get a scholarship for college and a week at the Grand Prix at Crystal Lake Hall. Who knows... you could go onto bigger and better things! Now... I have to step out for a moment quickly but I would like for the intermediates to start teaching their beginner partners the Cha-cha! No two beginners can be a partners please!" And with that, Mrs. Hastings walked out of the room.
"Crystal Lake... haven't been there since we exposed the lodge manager and her lover for framing an innocent man. Where does the time go?" Shirley joked. Bo laughed. Then he looked across the room.
"Alicia and Carson were seperated." He pointed out. Shirley looked and saw Alicia and Carson dancing with different people and not looking exceptionally pleased.
"Well that sucks... anyways, show me how to cha-cha." Shirley demanded.
"Okay," Bo took Shirley's hands and straightened his back.
"When I bring my right foot forward, bring your left foot back. Step
back on your right foot quickly then back to your left foot and bring both
feet together and hop, but alternate your foot. So it's right foot forward,
left back which would be ONE TWO, and then the hop, CHA CHA CHA." Bo explained.
They tried it. A moment later, Bo was trying to get over the pain in his
foot.
"Okay, watch me." He said, he demonstrated. "Now do the same thing, except with the opposite foot." Shirley tried and failed, Bo looked at her and sighed.
"You know... you were right... this is going to be a long lesson."
-End of Part 1-