Chapter 1: The life they wanted

It was probably going to be the most ridiculous thing he would do in his entire life. And that was saying something, since his life had been nothing short of unusual, embarrassing instances.

But that was likely to take the cake.

The paper with their registration number was safely secured inside his pocket, and every now and then he would cast a glance over his shoulder to see the people inside the small studio, and shift on his feet, uncomfortably.

He had told Emma to meet him there, at the corner of Glisan and Hoyt St. He had the snack, the beverages… All he had to do was wait 'til she got back from the little store a couple of blocks away, and then casually wait 'til they were eating their sandwiches and her eyes fell on the studio behind them… to give her the paper and wait for her surprised reaction. As usual, getting that gift had involved some stealing and fencing, but not directly. He had actually paid for it, though the money had come from a little day trading on the side. Nothing too bad, though. Couple of goods from an electronics store that had gotten busted for tax evasion and was now trying to get rid of some of the stuff they had brought illegally into the country.

What mattered was that he had gotten just the amount of money he had needed to enroll the two of them in a… dance class.

He laughed, again glancing at the paper in his hands. What exactly had he been thinking?

Dancing… of all things.

But it was her birthday, and he wanted to see her happy. Not that long ago, the two of them were driving past a studio very similar to that one, and her eyes seemed to glow as she watched the people dancing inside in the brief instant they were waiting for the traffic light to change.

"Never knew you were a… dancing kind of person," he had said at the occasion, smirking at her as they drove away.

"Oh, I'm not," she had replied. "Can't dance to save my life. But I find it beautiful. Always wanted to learn."

Well now, maybe, she would, though she had just gotten herself a helluva dead hoofer for a partner.

"Hey," he heard her say as she approached, giving him very little time to hide the piece of paper back into his pocket.

"Hey!"

"I thought we were going to have lunch in the park?" she asked.

She took one of the sandwiches from inside the bag Neal was holding, looking at his face with a smile. It was a good thing that he had offered to get them some food – he always ended up with better hauls than she did.

"Nah…" he shrugged, getting his sandwich as well as she opened her can of soda. "It was too crowded when I drove past it."

"Too crowded?" she asked, her mouth full as she raised an eyebrow. "On a Tuesday afternoon?"

Again, he raised his eyebrows, grabbing another bite of his mayo-free sandwich. He could hear the soft music playing behind them, and it was only a matter of time 'til she turned around and saw it.

"What?" she asked, glancing at his face.

She realized he had that look on… The one that meant trouble, that he was up to something.

'Like a flower bending in the breeze… bend with me, sway with ease…'

She frowned at his silence, and then at the song that was playing somewhere near them.

"Can you hear that?"

"What?" he asked, a very unconvincing look of confusion on his face.

"This song…" she whispered, turning her head around.

'When we dance you have a way with me… stay with me, sway with me…'

"I think I've heard it on TV bef-"

The rest of her sentence died away as her eyes fell on the people dancing inside the little studio.

'Other dancers may be on the floor… dear, but my eyes will see only you…'

She saw a young girl, probably her age, swaying elegantly around in a beautiful purple dress, like a butterfly. One of her hands was holding her partner's hand, and the other was resting on his shoulder. They were both smiling… and moved in perfect synchrony. Around them, other couples danced as well, some of them faster, others in a much slower pace.

By her side, Neal had stopped eating his sandwich, studying her face as she looked past the window with a dreamy look in her eyes. He carefully took the paper out of his pocket, waiting for her to shift her glance to him…

But instead, her eyes were again drawn to the girl in purple, and she blinked, sadly. Growing up, she had always thought of many things she would like to do when she was older. Drawing, driving a car, dancing. The second one she had learnt rather fast, the only good thing she had gotten from a couple of dates in the past. As to drawing… she had given it a shot, but found out she had no talent at all. And dancing…

As she looked at that girl, so gracious, so elegant, so beautiful, she realized it might just be another thing she had absolutely no talent for. She would never be able to sway that graciously, mainly because she was not gracious… or beautiful, or elegant. She didn't have any of those things in her, and probably would only make a fool of herself in front of everyone else.

"Now you look at that," she snorted, hiding her sadness with a smirk. "It's ridiculous, isn't it?"

Neal raised his eyebrows at her words. That was certainly not how he had expected that conversation to start.

"What is?" he asked.

"Dancing."

He quickly crumpled the paper and shoved it back into his pocket when she turned her head to look at him again.

"I thought you wanted to learn it…"

"Nah…" she whispered, taking another gulp of her soda. "I find it rather stupid, really."

He swallowed, then took another bite of his sandwich and looked away to hide his slightly blushed face.

Now that had gone well.

Neither of them said another word, and simply munched on their sandwiches instead. When their meal was over, it was him who spoke first, grabbing her hand as he hurriedly led her to the bug parked across the street.

"And now, for your birthday surprise," he announced, grinning at her as he opened the door and entered the car.

The word made her stomach flutter. She didn't have very good memories of her past birthdays. As a matter of fact, she didn't have any memories of her past birthdays, and that was the problem. The other October 22nds of her life had been days like all the others… No parties, no relatives or friends singing "Happy Birthday to you", no birthday cakes.

Not even 'Happy Birthday's, except for those coming from the few social workers who even bothered to be polite.

"Where are we going?" she asked, after taking the passenger seat.

And then, he leaned over and kissed her lips, and when she looked at him again there was such excitement on every line of his face that she had to smile as well.

"I thought I had mentioned it is a surprise?"

She rolled her eyes. Neal Cassidy and his ideas. Still, she couldn't help but feel that with him and whatever crazy plan he had in mind, maybe, just maybe, for the first time in her life she would have a birthday worth remembering.