"Hey Shell," Tammy ran up to me after rehearsal Friday afternoon.

"Hi Tammy, what's up?"

Tammy and I go way back. We started becoming friends in the third grade. We both were being teased for our red locks by Amber. Tammy and Amber were on-again-off-again friends. Of course, they still are…Anyways, let me give you a run-down of how Amber hates me. In art class, after our teasing, when the teacher left, Tammy held Amber down and I dumped orange paint on her head.

"Oh, um…Well—"

"Tammy…" I said in a stern voice. I could tell whenever she started stuttering, something was up.

"Okay, well about our weekly sleepover…"

"What? If you can't have it at your house this week, it's totally fine because my parents are going to an auction and it will just be me and—"

"I can't go Shell,"

I quieted. "Why not?" Tammy has never cancelled on me once since eighth grade.

"I-uh-kind of said yes to a sleepover at Amber's,"

"Tam-my!" I whined. "Why? How?"

"Well, it was homeroom this morning, and Darla and Lou Ann and Amber were sitting behind me. I guess Amber was my friend again and she and the other two were talking about mani-pedis at Elise's and they invited me and my mind totally went blank and I'm sorry…" her voice cracked and she pouted. Sometimes you just couldn't be mad at Tammy.

"Honey it's all right. I'll just have a night to myself I guess."

Tammy hugged me and then hurried over to a waiting Amber.

I sat outside the studio in the back alley smoking. I've tried numerous times to quit, but I haven't been able to.

"Smoking is terrible for dancers" Corny Collins stepped outside and sat next to me.

"You're one to talk," I snapped as he lit one up.

"Shelley, Shelley, Shelley," he shook his head. "You know, Maybelle isn't very happy with your new rendition of 'The Sylvester.' But fear not, Michelle, Ole Collins here stuck up for you and—"

"Corny, what are you doing out here?"

"Can I ask you a personal question?" he asked, inching towards me. I blew smoke in his face and he rubbed his eyes.

"Of course,"

"What do you think of me?" he asked, still rubbing his watering eyes.

"What do I think of you?" I repeated his words. "Let's see, of course you're sexy, and a little irresistable…"

"And…?" he asked, leaning in.

I stood up immediately and starting pacing around. "You also can be a jerk, and you get teenage girls pregnant,"

Corny rose and followed me.

"And?"

I turned sharply and faced him. "What do you think about me?"

Corny smiled, revealing a big set of white teeth. He leaned in to kiss me but I stuck my finger in his chest.

"Don't try to mess with me Corny Collins. I will not forgive you for what you did to Brenda. Don't think you can blink your beatuiful eyes and expect me to—"

Corny grabbed my shoulders and kissed me.

I woke up in a strang apartment, my head groggy and aching.

"Hey Shelley,"

Corny walked by in boxer shorts.

Oh my god.