The Final Dance

The bell rang signaling it was time for lunch. I grabbed my books, stuffed them in my locker and headed towards the crowded lunch room. Lunch was never my favorite because it was so crowded and loud. I entered in my clan of friends with my lunch tray. The table I sat at contained an equal amount of boys and girls. Normally I didn’t talk much, I joked around with my girl friends. Because there were the same amount of boys and girls I liked to pair up girls and boys together in my group. I never told anybody, but it was fun to see who would be whose perfect match. But then there were some people in our group that were already going out together. Of course I always paired me up with a certain boy, Nick. He had sandy brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was tall and quite handsome.

My brown-orange hair was tied in a pony tail, and my dark green eyes had contacts in them making them shine brightly in the light. There was about fifteen more minutes of lunch and the girl and boys and separated. The boys were in their circle talking among themselves. Us, girls were more relaxed and spread out talking to girls from other groups. The lunch bench on the side of my table was empty so I lay flat on it and closed my eyes for a few minutes. Then rough hands covered my eyes, my hands instantly went up to grab those hands off but more hands grasped my wrists keeping them from moving anywhere. At first I though it was my girl friends, but then I remembered that because I danced I was easily the strongest one out of all the girls and not one of the girls could pin me down, I finally realized that it must’ve been boys pinning me down. For some strange reason I didn’t say anything, I just lay there expecting them too get off sooner or later. More hands grabbed my legs to keep me from kicking. I heard one boy to ushering another boy, but they never said names.

“Guys…” I said cautiously. In a flash, there were rough yet soft hands placed on my cheeks and I could feel someone else’s body heat getting closer to me. I didn’t move I was petrified. The girls started squealing, and then it was there. I felt a boy’s lips touch me. A sweet simple kiss, I wanted to pull free to see who it was but hands covered my eyes and grabbed my arms and legs. I strained to pull free but they were all stronger than me. Finally the unknown boy pulled away, I guess they held onto me longer so that I wouldn’t catch a glimpse of him, whoever he was, getting away. The boys finally let go and scampered off. “Rob, Tristan and the rest of you boys get back here!” I demanded. I walked up to Tristan. “Who was it?” I asked with surprising anxiety. I was more excited than I thought. Tristan tried to pull away but I grabbed his wrist. “Who was it?” I asked again.

Tristan blushed as I sated. “I’m not obliged to tell you, Jenna,” Tristan mumbled. He paused for a moment, “Basically, I’m just not allowed to tell you.”

I let go of his wrist and he ran off to the other boys. It could have been him but I wasn’t sure, everybody seemed rosy cheeked. I decided to consult to my friends. “Sarah,” I began. She detached herself from Andrew, a boy that had turned from her best friend to her boyfriend.

“Yes Jenna?” smiled Sarah knowingly.

“Please tell me who he was,” I begged.

“Tell you who is who?” joked Sarah.

“You know,” I whined.

“Well, I’m not allowed to tell you orders from- oh, can’t tell you that,” chuckled Sarah.

“But you’re my friend…right?” I asked, I was desperate eager to know anything I could about this mysterious person.

“Well I’ll tell you this,” proclaimed Andrew walking over to Sarah.

My eyes lit up hoping for a clue that would give him all away. “Okay, what?”

“He’s in our group,” smiled Andrew.

“Thanks that’ll help a lot,” I added sarcastically. The duck-sounding lunch bell rang sooner than I expected. I must have lain on the lunch bench longer than I thought I did… giving time for the boys to tell everybody not to tell me who He was.

Weeks passed and I gradually forgot about the incident in the lunch room. I was busy with dance, being that the competition was coming up.

It was after modern-dance class and I was gearing up for lyrical jazz. The studio directress, Jodi, came out searching for a face through all the team dancers. When her eyes scanned over my face I saw the expression in her face change to the one when you find something you’re looking for. “Jenna, Jenna!” Jodi called. Jodi taught some classes at the studio, mostly the advanced classes which I wasn’t in. She had curly blonde hair with a touch of grey in her roots. She was very fit, probably more fit than some of the students in the studio. Jodi finally fished her way to me, “May I talk to you in my office?” I nodded my head wondering what was going on.

“You are an excellent dancer, Jenna,” Jodi began. I nodded my head, I hadn’t said anything since we had entered the office. “Probably one of the best among the intermediate dancers and I believe you are just about ready to move up to advance, but that’s not what we’re here for.”

I nodded my head again waiting for the exciting news.

“I would like to ask you to choose a male partner and choreograph a dance with him for the competition. You may choose the song, but I’ve seen you’re choreography before and it’s excellent. I would like something fresh and new, it can be any kind of dance you like,” informed Jodi, smiling brightly.

I couldn’t believe it, only the advance students were asked to choreograph duets for the competition, but then I almost was an advance student, I couldn’t believe it though.

“Jenna, you look bewildered, are you okay?” Jodi asked with a touch of concern.

“Just a little surprised,” I murmured.

“Will you do it then?” asked Jodi.

“Yes, of course,” I broke through all the tension and finally let the news sink in. A huge grin appeared on my face. “Thank you very much, I’d be honored.”

I was about to leave for class when Jodi stopped me, “One more thing, Jenna. Before we start choreographing the group dances for the competition would you like to join the advance group?”

My eyes lit up as bright as they would be, “Are you sure? Really?”

“You are an excellent dancer, Jenna,” Jodi repeated, “You may struggle at first but I know you will succeed. The advance class is doing tap right now, would you like to join them?”

“Yes please,” I answered.

“Follow me,” said Jodi. She got up from her desk and opened the door of her office. “Put on your tap shoes,” she half ordered half said. I quickly and quietly slipped them onto my feet. We were about to enter the room when it dawned on me that Nick was in this class. He had been dancing before and was in the advance class, this way I could spend more time with him. I hope Jodi hadn’t seen me turn a little bit pink. She opened the door, her tap shoes clicking on the floor. I saw everybody’s eyes turn and look at her… look at me. Nick lifted up a hand waving hello, I gingerly lifted a hand also. “Class, this is Jenna she will be joining the advance classes from now on.” As custom everybody applauded and welcomed me. “Thank you Brianne, I can take the tap class from here.” The substitute tap teacher who was one of the senior dancers curtsied and left to her classes.

“Hey Jen, congrats,” said Nick. There were plenty of boys in the studio, he wasn’t the only one.

“Thanks,” I replied as class started. I will admit that it was tough, but with lots of concentration I got down the steps and could do them easily. I observed that Nick was an excellent tap dancer. After class I called my mom and told her to pick me up an hour later when the advance classes ended and started getting ready for modern class again.

The advance team classes came almost four times a week which busied my schedule even more, but I loved dancing and I really didn’t mind.

Weeks passed and I grew accustomed to the advance class students, we became really friendly. It was nearing the end, the last hour of the advance class which was optional. You could learn pointe for girls, and do an extra ballet class for the boys. Most boys were tired after three hours of dance so the majority went home. I stayed for pointe class.

The ribbons on my pointe shoes had tangled so I sat on the dance bench desperately trying to untangle them, then Nick appeared with his dance bag hung over his shoulder. He had put on his tennis shoes, a jacket and a baseball cap. “Hey Nick,” I said, just giving a short glance.

“Hey Jen, want any help?” offered Nick.

“Nah, I’m okay.”

“It’s fine, I’ll help you,” he said.

He sat down besides me and helped untangle the ribbons that I had no idea how they tangled. His hands brushed against mine several times and I hoped I didn’t blush. Finally, they were undone, I put the pads onto my toes and slipped on the shoes and started lacing them up. Break was almost over, but I still had time. “Thanks for the help Nick,” I thanked while tying tight knots into the laces.

“Hey Jenna, could I talk to you?” he asked attentively.

“Well… I am talking to you right?” I joked giving a hearty grin.

“I heard from Jodi that you were one of the only girls who don’t get all tense when a guy asks you to dance or when dancing with a boy.”

“Well I’ve been dancing all my life,” I stated “It doesn’t really bother me because I’ve done so many dances where I have to get up close to boys.” I stood up on flat feet with me pointe shoes on. Suddenly I fell forward, losing my balance, I was supposed to lean backward so I would land on my heels but I had forgotten. There were sudden strong hands that caught my waist and pulled me up. I realized that the hands belonged to Nick.

“Thanks… sorry,” I murmured.

“Its fine,” said Nick, he seemed to want to say more so I waited before saying anything. “Okay, um, it’s okay if you don’t want to, but, Jodi asked me to choreograph a dance with a girl for the competition, and uh, I was wondering if you’d like to… well, you know…”

I gave a small laugh, “Don’t be so tense. Of course I’ll do it with you,” I smiled. I could see relief fall into his shoulders. “But,” I added, he stared at me, it felt as if his blue eyes were beaming holes into me. “Jodi asked me to pick a guy also and I was going to ask you.” It was a half lie I guess. I had dreamed of asking Nick to come dance with me, but I never imagined that he’d say yes, or nor would I have the guts to ask him. I could dance with boys I didn’t mind touching and getting real close, it was just the asking part that got me.

Nick looked confused, “Oh so who are you going to ask now?” I wasn’t all that sure but I thought I detected a hint of jealousy in his voice.

I summoned all the courage I had, “Well I was wondering if I should ask Jodi if we could choreograph two dances.”

“Yes please do!” said Nick, he had grabbed both my hands and were holding my hands in his. His hands were soft but strangely rough at the same time, they were warm and I liked the feeling of his skin against mine. “Sorry,” mumbled Nick dropping my hands and recoiling his back to his body.

“Let’s go ask before break is over, then you’re leaving right?” Nick nodded his head and I walked with him towards the office. He rapped his knuckles on the white wooden door. Jodi opened with a look of surprise on her face. “You ask,” I said underneath my breath.

“Hello Jenna,” she looked towards me as she said my name, then she turned her gaze towards Nick she slowly dipped her head as she said his name.

“Well we wanted to ask you,” began Nick taking a deep breath. “You know how you asked us to find somebody to choreograph a piece with?”

“Yes.”

“Well I asked Jenna and Jenna wanted to ask me and we were wondering if we could just do two pieces instead of having one of us finding another partner,” explained Nick.

“Sure go ahead, but remember I have high expectations from you two. I want you to create as many pieces as you can. First do one for the duets then you can do them in jazz and whatnot, I wish you luck,” said Jodi she closed the door and left us just like that.

“Well, I guess I’ll be getting to know you very well,” I smiled.

“Yeah,” added Nick.

“When do you want to start meets?” I asked. The studio I went to was very nice. Whenever two people were choreographing Jodi would give them a time in a dance room all to themselves.

“Next week?”

“Will do,” I accepted. A light by the door to the pointe class started blinking signaling it was time for the pointe class to gather. “Well I better get going, see you later Nick.”

As Nick and I practiced all our dances and our team dances I completely forgot about the kiss in the lunch room. It totally escaped my mind until today. Nick and I had mastered our duet dance and another lyrical jazz dance that wasn’t as good as we planned, but it had made it to Regional’s.

We were dancing our duet in one of the biggest dance competitions where we lived. I never thought that our dance would make it this far. Naturally our group dances had gone on, they had every year.

“Are you ready?” I asked looking at Nick with starry-eyes. The duet dance we had choreographed contained lots of us touching and close up pressed together.

“Truthfully, no,” admitted Nick.

“Being nervous is good, it’s a good sign. If you’re not nervous then there’s something wrong with you,” I stated trying to calm both of our nerves.

Jodi walked up to both us. “You guys have met higher than my standards and I must say that I’m impressed. I wish both of you the best luck and remember even if you don’t win think of where you are with this type of dance, you guys are truly amazing,” complimented Jodi.

I wanted to cry but I knew I shouldn’t so I gave Jodi a hug, she had influenced my life so much and I owed her a lot. “Thank you,” I said trying to keep my voice level.

“Thank you for this opportunity, Jodi,” said Nick he gave Jodi more of a pat on the back, but you could tell that he was grateful.

We walked onto stage and got into the pose that we had so many times before. The sun shone brightly for the stage was outside, but I tried my best to concentrate. The music started and I was in my own world. I felt Nick’s hand on my shoulders, this part we came very close to each other. The next part was supposed to be a make-shift kiss our faces would get very close to each other but only our noses touched. He would be holding me and bending me down low. Suddenly, I felt his soft lips on mine and applause erupted from the audience. Those lips seemed vaguely familiar. I nearly forgot the next part of the dance after the kiss, but I knew I had to keep going. The dance was finally over, it would be the last time we performed it, even if we won or not. It was the final dance. The song ended and we bowed (I curtsied) to the judges and audience and left the stage. This was the last dance I would perform. All the group dances were already performed and judged. It would be awhile while they judged the duets, plus the duets weren’t done performing yet. The next duet couple entered the stage. I pulled on my jeans and a jacket over my costume. I was rosy-cheeked from the sweat.

I met Nick over in the stands where Jodi complimented us greatly.

“Hey,” murmured Nick he was obviously embarrassed from kissing me.

Then it hit me, like so many things did. “Come with me,” I said slipping my hand into his familiar hands. I pulled him behind an empty pavilion onto a grassy spot and we sat down.

“What is it?” he asked.

“You’re the one who did it, didn’t you?” I said. I knew those lips were familiar it was the lunch incident.

“Did what?” Did he really not know?

“This,” I had kissed him twice already so I guessed I wouldn’t mind kissing him again. I covered his eyes with my fingers and kissed him on the lips.

“Oh…that,” he said in a hushed tone.

“It was you right?” I was eager to know.

“Yup, I was the one who did this to you.” He covered my eyes with his fingers, leaned forward and kissed me again. If my cheeks weren’t pink already they had become even pinker.

He finally pulled away, “Why didn’t you tell me it was you?”

“I didn’t know if you felt the same way,” he said.

“Felt what?” I asked, I knew what he meant but I just felt like saying it.

“Like this,” he pulled me onto his lap and we both leaned forward into the deepest and longest kiss I ever had. He had set his hands on my shoulders pulling me closer to him and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He started moving his head and I moved mine with him. I heard footsteps coming, but I didn’t care, watch if they like, but I was glad I could finally let out my feelings. I heard a tiny laugh then heard the footsteps die away. I realized I had closed my eyes the whole time. After what seemed like forever, we pulled away, I was breathing hard and so was Nick. “That’s how I feel,” he whispered and kind of talked at the same time.

“And if I said I felt the same way?” I said, knowing it was true that I did.

“I would ask you to go out with me,” proclaimed Nick. “Well do you?”

“I’ll show you.” And we were caught up in the same, but longer, deep kiss. We finally pulled away smiling and grinning from head to toe.

“All this time… and we felt the same way towards each other,” sighed Nick. He stood up. “Come on, judging might start soon.” He stood up and offered a hand, I took it and after he pulled me up, he pulled me close, it felt so good to be close to him because he loved me, not because of dance.

We met Jodi, she had a twinkle in her eyes, I wondered if she was the one who saw us together. “Judging’s going to start, so take off those jeans and get up stage,” she said.

I took off my jeans and jacket in my small corner and met up with Nick. The announcer introduced each of the dancers and each of us taking a curtsy or bow. “Now for the winners!” boomed the announcer. The announcer started from 8th place working his way up. By the time he had gotten to 3rd I was scared that we wouldn’t make it. I looked at Nick with worried eyes and saw the same worries in there. The announcer moved onto second place, and still we weren’t called. “And first place goes to…” the announcer looked at his paper and I heard him say our number, say our names and beckon us over. A roar of applause shook the earth and the stage.

“Congratulations you two, your dance was truly extraordinary!” He handed both of us smaller trophies then had a man bring in a shining trophy nearly as tall as I. “Before we let you two go, the judge’s have a quick question.” I was crying, I knew it, but I couldn’t help it. It was a dream come true.

“We have question for you two,” started one of the judges, “that kiss in your dance, was it planned or have you two developed a relationship?”

The announcer handed me the microphone so I guess I had no choice but to answer. The crowd stared at me all waiting for an answer. “Actually, no it wasn’t planned at all,” I smiled. The crowd started cheering again as Nick wrapped one of his arms around my waste pulling me close to him.