Johnny drove off, glancing in the rear view mirror only once to see Baby disappear in the cloud of dust his car left behind.
He didn't know where he was going, or what he was going to do. This summer job meant a lot to him financially. It kept him from having to suffer a normal job, such as the painting service his uncle was in. He usually made enough money to survive through the rest of the year, until he could find a dance studio looking for an instructor.
However, his thoughts really weren't on the fact that he lost his summer job for the following year, it was on her.
How did she do it? How was she able to capture his heart the way she had?
He remembered when he first saw her. Somehow, his cousin, Billy, found her and brought her up to the Staff quarters, where guests were not supposed to enter. He was worried that his cousin would lose his job by bringing her up there.
At first, he wasn't very nice to her. His mind had already decided what type of girl she must have been; a stuck up little rich girl. Yet, she looked so innocent watching all the staff kids dancing in a way she had never saw anyone dance before. If he looked closely, he could even see her moving her hips a little to the music.
That was when he had his first encounter with her. He didn't use words, just his index finger, and motioned her to come with him to the middle of the floor. He didn't know why he wanted to teach her this dance, but he did. Perhaps, in his mind, he thought it would be fun to corrupt the little rich girl.
But as the time wore on, he became impressed with the person she really was. She wasn't the typical selfish rich girl that he was used to. She had a desire to always help those in need, even if it meant sacrificing the trust she built with her father and her entire summer vacation.
Johnny pulled his car into an empty store parking lot. He put his car in park and turned the radio up a little. He needed something to drown out his thoughts of her, because it was pointless to even think he would ever see her again, let alone have any sort of relationship with her in the future.
He glanced over to the broken window in his car, which was covered with plastic. The sight made him chuckle a little. It also brought back some memories of the two of them practicing the lift for their dance at the Sheldrake. It was the only move that Baby couldn't achieve.
Johnny looked out the windshield to the small store he was parked in front of. It looked like a little record store. Thinking he could use some fresh music for his collection, he turned his car off and opened the door. After making sure he locked the doors to his car (checking his hands for the keys this time), he entered the store.
A little bell signaled the clerk of his entrance. A small, older gentleman entered the main room from a small storage room towards the back of the store, "Oh, hello son. Anything I can help you with today?"
Johnny smiled slightly to the man. He thought this man looked more like a scientist, with his big, black-rimmed glasses and bow tie, than a record store clerk, "Just looking for something new."
"Ah," the old man replied, "well, what sorts of music are you interested in?"
"Well, I'm a dance instructor, so something that is upbeat…" Johnny explained but was quickly cut off by the old man, who now was behind the counter, "Got just the thing for you, son," the old man started, bending down behind the counter and then standing up straight, holding a small record, "Just got this in. It is defiantly something new, doesn't sound like anything that is out there now, but is pretty catchy."
Johnny took the record and looked over the sleeve. It was just a one-song record with the title, 'I've had the time of my life'. Johnny couldn't help but laugh a little at the title, thinking it was very appropriate for the summer he has had at Kellerman's.
The old man must have heard his laugh, because he asked, "What's so funny, son?"
Johnny grinned at the old man as he set the record down and reached into his pocket for some money, "Nothing, I'll take it."
After making his purchase and wishing the old man a good evening, Johnny exited the store and went back to sit in his car.
He took a deep breath as he relaxed back in the seat. He was tired and mentally drained from the stressful day he had. His thoughts still weren't leaving him, and they plagued his mind as his eyes drifted closed.
"Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you."
The confession made Johnny's heart stop. At this moment he realized that the feelings that were starting to develop over the last few days was not something he was imagining, they were real.
He couldn't say anything to her in response. His thoughts were lost in a haze and the words she said repeated in his mind over and over again. The thoughts were interrupted when Baby stood up and walked over to him, "Dance with me?"
And he did. All the while, thinking to himself, 'Johnny, you shouldn't be doing this…you'll get in trouble…"
Suddenly, she started to kiss his neck, and the thoughts repeated themselves, louder, but his heart wasn't listening. He succumbed to his feelings more and more as their dance became more intimate.
Johnny woke up with a start and looked around. He didn't remember where he was at that moment but quickly remembered that he was still in the parking lot of the record store and had fallen asleep in his car.
Night had fallen and the store was now closed. It was very dark out, aside from the light coming from the street lamps.
He started up his car and left the parking lot. He still didn't know where he was going, but he was just driving until he found a motel for the night.
Johnny's thoughts switched from the past, to the future. How would they live their lives together, given the chance?
Baby had such concrete plans for her future. She was going to be starting Mount Holyoke College in a few weeks and would be joining the Peace Corps shortly after her graduation in 4 years. From there, she would be traveling to distant countries, helping the less fortunate and attempting to restore peace and harmony. How would a dance instructor, who lives his life paycheck to paycheck, never knowing when he will land another dancing gig until it comes along, fit into that kind of life?
And then there was the issue of Dr. Houseman, Baby's father. The comments from Dr. Houseman stung Johnny to his core, 'Don't you tell me what to see. I see someone in from of me who got his partner in trouble and sent her off to some butcher, while he moved on to an innocent young girl like my daughter'
He couldn't blame the man for thinking that he was the father of Penny's aborted baby. Even Baby, in the beginning, thought that he was the father. To any outsider, it would seem obvious that he was, he understood that. Penny and Johnny had a very close relationship and their strong chemistry was prevalent in their dancing. They tried to date when they were teenagers, but they quickly realized that they were only meant to be friends, and became two of the closest friends that anyone could ever have.
For Dr. Houseman to accuse Johnny of putting someone he cared about into any danger purposely, when he didn't even know anything about him, made Johnny mad. If only Mr. Houseman would give him a chance and get to know who he really is…. but then that lead Johnny back to his original question, What kind of a life would Baby and he have?
Johnny sighed deeply and snapped back into reality for a moment. He must have been driving for an hour and he still didn't see any motels. Just then, he saw a sign up ahead. He squinted his eyes and attempted to read it, 'Kellerman's Hotel and Resort…2 miles….'
"What the hell…." Johnny muttered to himself, confused for a moment, and then realized he had taken a wrong turn when leaving the parking lot and was headed back to Kellerman's! Johnny didn't realize the car sitting at a stoplight ahead until he snapped out of his state of shock and quickly slammed on the breaks. Fortunately, he stopped just in time and did not hit the car.
Waiting for the signal to turn green, Johnny turned his radio up a little and the song; 'So much in love,' by The Tymes was playing.
Was the universe, including his own conscience, trying to tell him to go back to Kellerman's? He looked down at his watch on his wrist and saw the time. The play should be over and it would almost be time for the final dance, were he still employed at the resort.
A smile came on Johnny's face. He no longer cared what the future might hold for Baby and he, or that he may not get his summer bonus for what he was about to do. All he cared about was now, going back to the resort, sweeping Baby off her feet and performing the best dance of his life.
As soon as the light turned green, Johnny passed the other motorists and floored it all the way to Kellerman's. He couldn't wait to see the looks on the guest's faces when they see what show he has planned for them.