Not Just Any Dancing Day

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Chapter Two: Tango for Two


“Ow!!” yelped my partner as I stepped on her naked toes. “That hurt!”

“What have I told everyone about wearing thongs to class??” cried Mrs. Peterson, garnering a few giggles from the people who found her word for flip-flop shoes funny.

My partner mumbled incoherently and ran away to the bathroom to mend her boot-stomped toes. I found myself alone for a moment until Mrs. Peterson had the girls rotate one down so that I could have someone to dance with. I barely acknowledged the annoyed look from Mrs. Peterson; my head was still swimming from the tantalizing gaze that had frozen me in place. I felt as if I were completely under her power just from that look, as if I were being drawn to her. Yet, I could not move anywhere without conspicuous glances from my fellow classmates. I would have to bide my time and I had all night.

All the men were instructed to turn around again at our starting points so I was unable to see my hypnotizer any longer. We attempted the step a few more times but each turn around I made, I was unable to see her from my position. Luckily for me, our practice step was soon over. I began to walk over to where I had last seen her but was stopped by Mrs. Peterson in my tracks. I cursed her inwardly for getting in my way but smiled nonetheless.

“Memphis, please take Rebecca and take her through the moves we just went over?” she asked me ever so politely.

“Sure,” I said, I could not make myself be rude to her.

I took Rebecca’s hand and led her onto the dance floor as the sounds of an orchestra leapt out of the karaoke machine playing Blue Tango by Les Baxter. I knew the song by heart so it did not take long for me to easily slip into a step while also keeping an eye out for mystery girl. I realized I had never seen this girl come into my class before. I determined by Mrs. Peterson’s lack of questioning that the girl must have been from one of her other classes during the week. Mrs. Peterson occasionally had her other students from the swing, tap, and modern dance classes join ours, or any of the others, to make up points for skipping the classes.

Taking the outside track of the line of dance, I noticed the mystery girl was in the inner circulation. Damn! She got stuck with Charlie! I swore my chances were slim now that he had her. He might just run her out of the entire class for the night if he screwed around! Another strange quirk about Charlie was that he added his own “flair”, as he calls it, to the standard dance steps. Though, it just makes him look even more ridiculous than he already does. I once caught him trying to dip a girl during a tango and he was not properly holding her and she nearly fell flat on her back. A most dangerous dancing partner if I have ever seen one.

I was a little surprised though as I noticed the mystery girl attempt to adapt to his strange style. Her long, black skirt, perfect for tango, had two long slits up both sides, showing the gleam of her long legs beneath. Her blouse was an off the shoulder style reminiscent of Argentinean origins. She moved elegantly with ever step she made, despite how hesitantly she took them. It was like watching the epitome of grace itself as she strode and spun along the floor next to a buffoon of an excuse for a dancer. I glanced away for a moment as to avoid a beginner’s couple that nearly ran into my partner. I ended up facing the opposite side of the room from where my interest lay; however, everyone soon had her attention as a loud girlish scream rang through the air.

“What did you do that for?!” screeched Charlie at the top of his lungs, sounding very much like the girly wimp that he was.

Everyone ended up staring at my mystery girl and Charlie who stood off to the side. She had her hands on her curvaceous hips as she looked down pitifully at Charlie who was on the floor withering in pain, holding one of his legs. She was wearing sandal heels of a most damaging type when put to good use.

She shrugged slightly, “Perhaps that will teach you how to properly lead a girl next time.”

I heard a few chuckles from the crowd as a couple other guys came in and helped Charlie limp out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, a few of the girls gave a quick thank you and praise to the girl for finally doing something that they all had wanted to do for so long. As everyone began to disperse and look for new partners, I walked my own to the side of the room so that another guy could ask her to dance. I then scanned the faces as to where my girl had gone. I found her on the fringe of the room, by herself. It appeared she had scared all the other guys away with her revenge. I approached her as Mrs. Peterson started up another CD with tango music. Ah, she put on Por Una Cabeza, my favorite tango.

“Would you care to dance with me?” I asked her.

The power of the dark brown irises came upon me once again and all I saw was the magical, unending depths I stared into. She smiled warmly but her eyes betrayed an almost sensual touch.

“As long as you promise not to toss me around like a rag doll as that last one did,” she said coolly.

“I give you my word,” I said, matching her intensity.

I could not help but listen to how her words flowed past her lips so effortlessly. It was smooth and deep, not a teenager’s voice but that of a mature adult. I offered her my hand and she laid her soft palm in it as she followed me to the floor. I placed my hand in the proper spot on her back and she let her left arm drape lightly on my shoulder while I held her other one tenderly. I found myself within inches of her face, silently contemplating the contours of her face. Her nose was small yet not too narrow and fit perfectly between her high cheekbones. Her dark lashes matched her eyebrows and fluttered softly in front of me. I breathed in and found myself consumed by her scent, a touch of raspberry matched with a blend of cherry. I then noticed her looking at me curiously so I quickly tried to cover my sudden quietness and standing still. I led her along in a couple sets of the basic tango pattern.

“How familiar are you with tango?” I asked her.

“I prefer it above all others,” she answered. “It is the one I am most advanced in.”

“Then you won’t mind if I do some sophisticated steps?” I queried.

“Do as you wish,” she said breathily.

I took her into the pass spin we had been working on and as the music hit a crescendo, I opened up into a promenade. The move is one that is similar to what most see in the movies but it is a little overemphasized by the actors. We did not need any extra highlights on our dance but instead of the pass turn at the end of the promenade, I took her into a double turn. She met me back face to face with an impish curve to her lips. Suddenly, I felt her shift her center of balance and I found her body come dangerously closer to mine so that we were no more than a couple inches away from touching.

I felt her arm snake closer up my shoulder; her elbow resting higher as her fingers playfully grazed my neck. She moved without caution or hesitance. I led her still, yet I felt I was no longer in control of this dance pairing. She eyed me slyly as she slipped from one aesthetic step into another. A flick of her heeled foot, a swish of her hip with every beat. I finally found my wits and we became locked into a battle of touch, move, and style.

I came back with a quick promenade and opened us out into a fan, her standing straight out next to me in a line. I tugged on her hand and she curled against my arm, coming up against my side. I clasped her free hand as I leaned to my right but kept my balance, as she pressed against me in the lean dip I had pulled us into. I held her against me covetously as we came out of the dip. I yearned for the closeness once more after I spun her outward again. We came together in a step together and a swish. We were back to where we started.

I heard the music rising as it headed into the last notes of the song. I stepped forward and back again, bringing her flush against me as I took us into a deep dip. It required trust and an incredible closeness where one is practically touching. I twisted and lowered her below me as we both gazed into each other’s eyes. As the music twinkled the last beats, I felt our lower bodies against each other. Her leg was pressing on the inside of my own, and her thigh was treacherously close in proximity to where only couples in relationships would go.

I felt the urge to take her into my arms right there in the middle of the room and kiss her but I realized it would have been a bad idea. All eyes were on us as I brought her up from the dip and I felt as if we were on display.

“Now that is how you do a dip!” Mrs. Peterson declared proudly. “Get back into rotation lines, everyone! We’ll go through step-by-step on how to pull off that maneuver.”

I thought this was probably the best chance I had to slip out but I noticed my partner had disappeared. I saw one of the side doors shutting quietly and I slipped out silently to follow her and find out her name.