Two weeks, later, a whole bunch of lessons and every day practicing, even in highheels, Bo, Alicia and Carson were surprised that Shirley could do the Rhomba, Cha-cha, Waltz, and was moving on steadily with a new Swing routine Bo had wanted to use for the Grand Prix.
"What about the Latin?" Shirley asked at the dance studio, while she and Bo took out their water bottles.
"We'll work on it soon," Bo assured her, "You just have to work on the Swing thing. You're lacking in face emotion. Smile. Swing is open to every smile in the book. It's actually fun, you have to look like you're having fun."
"Excellently put," Mrs. Hastings said, sneaking up behind them. She smiled at Shirley, "You know, it took me nine years to get Bo to learn half of the stuff, and nine years for me to learn to like him. But you're catching on fast, and I like you already!" Shirley smiled and thanked her, Bo laughed.
"That's Mrs. Hastings for ya." He said. Bo then looked around the room, to the doorway and his face went white. Shirley noticed this right away.
"What's wrong?" She asket urgently, she followed his gaze. In the doorway was a girl about Bo's height. She was a scrawny looking thing, her arms thin as well as her legs, and her waist was incredibly tiny. She has brown curly hair and blue eyes, she was looking around the room nervously. Shirley also noticed that she wasn't in a dance leotard.
"Nothing's wrong," Bo assured her, looking at Shirley excitedly, then he turned to the doorway, "Nicole!" He yelled. The girl looked up, when she saw Bo she smiled hugely and ran to him, they hugged.
"Oh Bo!" The girl said, "It's so good to see you! I haven't seen you in months!"
Bo could only smile. Shirley looked at Bo pointedly, and when she noticed that Bo wasn't looking back, she cleared her throat. Bo glanced at her.
"Uh, Nicole, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Shirley Holmes." Bo gestured towards Shirley, who extended her hand. Nicole shook it and smiled.
"Bo has told me so much about you. You seem to be his world!" She joked.
Bo turned red. Shirley was pleased.
"Shirley, this is Nicole Summers." Nicole smiled. Bo looked her over.
"So are you here to sign up again? I mean you look so much better." Bo said. Nicole looked at him sadly.
"No. I mean, not until.... well, y'know. I have to meet Mom and Becki
for lunch, but I wanted to stop and see everyone... I'm working on it though."
Nicole said. Bo squeezed her arm.
"That's great." He said. Nicole looked at her watch, and her face turned
into panic.
"Oh! I have to go! Mom's gonna think that- I have to eat lunch with her! She'll freak... you know.. bye!" With that, Nicole swiveled around to the door, she dropped the coat she had been holding. She kneeled down to pick it up, pressing slightly on the pocket, she got up and walked away briskly.
"How do you know her?" Shirley asked Bo.
"She's been dancing here with me up until a few months ago. And then she had to quite. She's my good friend, I've known her longer then I have you, but she doesn't dance here anymore. I talk to her on the phone though. And before you even ask, we're just friends." Bo explained, he extended his arm, and Shirley and him began cha-chaing.
"I don't doubt it.." Shirley said, then she looked at Bo, "Why did she quite dancing?"
"It's nothing." Bo said quickly, they moved around the room.
"You can't get out of it that easily." Shirley said. Bo looked at her and sighed.
"I probably shouldn't tell you this, but Nicole's sick. We were dance partners last year, and she was pretty scrawny then. When we found her collapsed in the bathroom we found out she had anorexia. That's why she looks so thin, but her mother blames it on the dancing. She believes that the standards are looking thin. Nicole told me though, it's not the demands or dancing, that's a time she can feel free, but it's everyday life. Mostly school that pressures her not to eat. So she's been in a hospital, and her Mom is ballistic. Nicole's Mom is one of those people that is believes so much in perfection the littlest thing out of schedule, or reality, makes her go crazy. Her twin sister, Becki is exactly like her mother. Nicole can't dance now, because her Mom blames dancing, but we know otherwise." Bo explained.
"That's really really terrible." Shirley said, thinking about how Nicole must feel to have her one passion taken away from her. Suddenly a cry and a loud THUNK cut through the silence. Shirley and Bo stopped dancing, and swiveled around. A female dancer Shirley didn't recognize was lying on the ground in tears, her leg was at a peculiar angle- it was broken.
Bo and Shirley rushed over, along with the rest of the class and Mrs.
Hastings.
"Natalia!" Mrs. Hastings said to the girl, "What happened?"
"I slipped!" Natalia said through tears, "On this slippery spot!"
Shirley took her gaze to the floor, and saw a small puddle on the ground.
"Natalia, your leg is broken, you won't be able to go to the Grand Prix... I need to call an ambulance." Nicole looked absolutely stricken and began to sob. Shirley set her fingers into the puddle on the ground, and rubbed them together. It was slippery... oil. She also noted that it was the exact same place Nicole dropped her coat.
After all the commotion, and Natalia was driven to the hospital, everyone was trying to do their routines with high spirits. Shirley and Bo were practicing on their Swing routine.
"That was oil- what Natalia slipped on. I think it was put there diliberately
if the janitor cleans the floor before we come in here. It
might've been Nicole... this is where she dropped her jacket. She also
pressed on the pocket... like it could've..." Bo shook his head and gave
her a look.
"Shirley don't bring Nicole into this, and I mean it. The oil is probably
the stuff Mrs. Hastings slathers on her hands to keep them
soft." Bo said.
Shirley decided that she'd bring the Nicole theory in later, because it was possible it was baby oil that Mrs. Hastings seemed to rub on her hands all the time. Bo peered over her shoulder.
"Oh my God." Bo muttered.
"What now?" Shirley asked.
"Behind you is the best dancer in Redington. Gina Sparks, she's the
best. What is she doing HERE?"
Bo was in absolute awe. Shirley turned around. Gina was a tall blonde,
Bo's height, with blue eyes and the perfect dancer's figure.
"I dunno," Shirley said, "But quit looking at her like that!"
Bo laughed.
"You're so jealous!" Bo teased. Shirley was about to protest, when Mrs. Hastings called Bo over to him, Bo excused himself and Mrs. Hastings, Gina and Bo went into the office.
-End of Part 2-