Bo didn't show up until the end of the dance lessons, and when they
were walking home, he looked very excited.
"What is it?" Shirley asked.
"You won't believe it! Mrs. Hastings wants ME to dance with GINA SPARKS at the GRAND PRIX!" Bo exclaimed.
Shirley's face fell but Bo didn't notice and continued excitedly, "Mrs. Hastings said that I have an incredible amount of talent and Gina would be right, she's already been discovered, and we should dance together! Hastings really believes I have a shot at this! She wants me to stay after class so I can learn a new Swing routine with Gina for the Grand Prix! I can't believe that they want ME to dance with Gina!"
Shirley looked at Bo.
"You told them no... right?" She asked timidly.
"Why would you think that! This is my big chance!" Bo looked at her
quizzically, and then it dawned on him. "Oh my God Shirl... I completely
forgot..."
"Apparently." Shirley interrupted him sharply. Bo looked at her.
"This is my big chance, Shirley. I don't mean to ditch you but this is importan-" Bo was about to finish, but a sudden rise of anger in Shirley made her interrupt him.
"What about ME? What about how important this is to ME? Bo! I didn't just suddenly become a better dancer over night! I wanted to surprise you, but I've been staying after class with Mr. and Mrs. Hastings extra hours for extra money certain nights, I practice until eleven at night, just so I could be as good as YOU! And you think this isn't important to ME? So you're just going to ditch me! Is that it????"
Bo was shocked, "I had no idea...Shirley, this isn't like yo-"
Shirley wiped at her eyes, which were beginning to be flooded by tears.
"This isn't like me. Well, it's been said that I've changed. I'm sorry that I can't go back to the less emotional Shirley everytime it's convenient for YOU! I was really looking forward to this Bo... I really was!"
"Shirley don't do this to yourself!" Bo said, "I've been dancing since I was six, you know that this is it for me-"
"And I tried to pack a life time of dance lessons in three weeks-"
"Why won't you just think of me!!!" Bo shouted, and was surprised when Shirley slapped him across the face. In fact, Shirley herself was surprised.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK I HAVE BEEN DOING? I took those extra dance lessons
for YOU, Bo. I practiced every night for YOU. I tried to perfect my
dancing because I knew this was YOUR big chance. I'm glad you'll get
to dance with Gina, but I am so angry at you for totally ignoring how I
would feel, and not caring. I want to give you the WORLD but you can't
even..." Tears were streaming down Shirley's cheeks.
Bo rubbed his cheek.
"I deserved that." Bo's voice softened and he looked at Shirley, "I've known you three years and I've never seen you cry... I'm SO sorry. Tell me Shirley, what do you want?"
"I want- I want- I want-" Shirley sputtered, trying not to cry even harder. "I want you to keep away from me."
And with that, Shirley ran off, leaving a stunned Bo behind. When he finally regained his thoughts he raised his hand to his forhead and then rubbed his eyes.
"This is NOT happening!" He yelled, he kicked a fire hydrant closest to him, his foot screamed in agony.
"Then again... maybe it is." He muttered.
-End of Part 3-