Chapter 7 - Friends
"No! No. And no!" Ana-Lucia barked at Kate. Ana was really angry and defiantly stood with her arms crossed over her chest.
Kate shook her head. "But Ana, you have to understand that I can't say no to them. They want to enroll in the academy and the academy is open to the public! It would be very bad for business if they both left here saying that I wouldn't enroll them because of personal reasons."
"Kate, I don't have any problem with Jack. You can enroll him, but not Sawyer! Please! Not after yesterday." Ana pleaded. She was beginning to feel desperate. "Kate, don't you understand? His fiancée is working here. I won't be comfortable with him around."
"Ana, what are you so worried about?! Tell me." Kate tried to reassure her friend. "Technically it wasn't you who kissed Sawyer. He kissed you at the party yesterday, so don't feel guilty, my friend."
"Yes, you're right. Technically he kissed me but I did kiss him back, Kate, and nothing will change that fact. It was the best kiss I've ever had and I don't regret it but every time that I see him in class, and especially his fiancee, I'll feel guilty because I kissed Sawyer! I don't want to feel guilty, damn it!"
Kate held Ana's hands. "Ana I understand you, believe me, but there's nothing that I can do now. I can't send away two paying clients. Let's be professional, ok? Please, Ana, can I count on you?" Kate was the one pleading this time.
Ana-Lucia closed her eyes and thought about it for a few moments before she finally agreed, "Okay. I'll try to be professional."
Kate smiled and hugged Ana-Lucia. "I knew that I could count on you."
They left the ladies room, their favourite place to talk, and found Jack and Sawyer nervously waiting for them in the reception area.
"Would you guys like to enroll now?" Kate asked Sawyer and Jack with a genuine smile on her face.
Sawyer almost shouted "Yes!" but he controlled himself. He looked over at Ana-Lucia and their eyes met before Ana quickly looked away and curtly said to Kate, "Kate, if you're going to register them now then I'm going to the restaurant and I'll wait for you there."
"All right." Said Kate.
"Hey, why don't you wait a few minutes?" Sawyer asked Ana. "Then we can all go to lunch together."
"Yes, that would be nice." Jack replied feeling hopeful for the opportunity to spend more time with Kate.
"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry today." Ana politely said as she prepared to leave the academy. "I'll meet you there, Kate."
As Ana left, Kate smiled sweetly at Jack and Sawyer and asked, "Well, I know Sawyer can dance but what about you, Jack?" Kate grinned at both of them.
"I suck!" Jack honestly answered and Kate burst out laughing. "I used to dance before I went to work in Antarctica but I'm really rusty. You saw me at the party last night."
"Ok." Said Kate. "What kind of class do you want to enroll in? We have a variety of rhythms. Our teachers are excellent."
"I know." Sawyer maliciously said with a big grin on his face. Jack discreetly kicked Sawyer's leg. His friend needed to be careful about his lecherous intentions with the dance instructor.
Sawyer looked annoyingly over at Jack and then said to Kate, "I've already studied contemporary ballet. Now I'd like to learn the Latin rhythms."
"Ok. And you Jack?" Kate enquired.
"Anything you want to teach me!" Jack blurted out. This time Sawyer was the one to discreetly kick Jack's leg. Sawyer's expression was saying, "Who's being obvious now?"
Kate became a bit shy with Jack's words but she sweetly smiled up at him. Jack loved it. He loved her beautiful green eyes.
"Actually, I don't teach much anymore. Only special classes. Paulo and Ana-Lucia are the instructors here and now, of course, we have Shannon. So unless you're both over the age of sixty then I can't teach you." Kate cheekily grinned at them.
Sawyer tried hard to contain his laughter.
Jack replied, "Well, what if I told you that I just turned 65!"
Kate laughed out loud again and Jack felt his heart accelerate at the sound of her laughter. She had a delightful and contagious laugh.
"You're funny!" Kate said. "And you know what? I challenge you both of you guys to learn more than one type of dance."
"We love challenges!" Sawyer maliciously said.
"We have an intense Latin class Monday to Friday at four o'clock." Kate explained. "This class is taught by Ana. She teaches the Latin dances as well as other rhythms such as the foxtrot and the waltz."
"This class is difficult and you need to take it seriously. I recommend my best students from each type of dance compete in the official dance competitions. So, what do you guys think?" Kate finally asked.
Sawyer looked over at Jack and said, "We say yes, Freckles!"
Jack looked at Sawyer and wondered what the heck he was doing calling his Kate Freckles. Jack could see that Kate had adorable little freckles across her nose but calling her Freckles was a bit bold!
However, before Jack could enquire further Kate piped up and said, "Freckles? I like that. You're creative Sawyer."
Sawyer gave Jack a smartass look telling him that he knew what he was doing. Jack rolled his eyes at him.
Jack and Sawyer both registered for Ana's Latin class. Then they said goodbye to Kate telling her that they'd be back for the four o'clock class that same day.
Sawyer was so excited about the classes that he suggested to Jack that they both buy new clothes for their classes after they'd eaten their lunch. That's what they did.
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Shannon finished her lunch and thought about calling Sawyer before she went to her class. She was thinking that it was pretty amusing that Sawyer and Jack would want to learn to dance at the same academy where she chose to work.
She was confidant that Sawyer was taking dance lessons for her - to spend more time with her. Shannon thought that this was very sweet of him.
However, before she could call him to find out where he was her car started to sputter. Probably the damn fuel injection again!
Shannon took her car to her regular garage as they were familiar with her and her car. She removed her bottled water from her dance bag and sipped from it as she waited for news on her car.
She'd hoped to wait until the car was ready but the problem was worse than she thought. It wouldn't be ready in time. She'd already waited long enough and she couldn't wait any longer.
Shannon checked her watch. It was almost two o'clock. She had to get back to the academy because she had a class at three o'clock. She decided to take a taxi to Los Canales but a torrential rain began to fall.
She felt cold and began to shiver so she wrapped her white coat tightly around her body. Shannon didn't have an umbrella with her so she decided to wait under the awning of a store until the rain stopped and she could get a taxi.
Shannon attempted to flag down every cab that came near her but the rain was too intense and the drivers wouldn't stop.
The cabs were busy with other fares as everyone was attempting to get out of the rain just like Shannon was.
Shannon cursed and ran through the rain hoping to stop a taxi so she wouldn't be late for work.
"Taxi! Taxi!" She shouted when another yellow cab approached. As she ran the heel on her shoe broke and she fell in the street with her heavy dance bag on her shoulder. Her body was now soaked.
A tall, dark haired man was walking down the street holding a black umbrella and noticed Shannon on the street. He ran to help her and asked, "Miss, are you alright?"
Shannon looked up at the handsome stranger with pain in her eyes. Her hair was dripping in her face and her knees were scraped and bleeding. The man offered his hand to her and Shannon gratefully accepted.
"Thank you." She said as he helped her stand up.
"Your knees are bleeding." He said in a gentle voice.
"I'm ok. No need to worry." Shannon said.
"You look like someone desperate to get a taxi - because you literally jumped in front of one." He teased.
"Oh, you saw that?" Shannon replied feeling embarrassed. "I'm late for work and I can't get a taxi. This rain is causing me so much trouble."
"I live right over there." He pointed to a building a few steps away. "Do you want to come in and you can clean and bandage your knees? I don't think that you really want to go to work bleeding like this."
Shannon agreed. The man was right. She was already going to be late for work but she couldn't arrive with bloodied knees. Kate would understand her delay.
"You are very kind." Shannon said as he carried her bag for her. He placed the umbrella over her head to protect them both from the rain and they walked the short distance to his building.
"My name is Sayid." He finally said.
"I'm Shannon. Nice to meet you Sayid." She replied.
When they arrived at his apartment Sayid showed her where the washroom was. Shannon cleaned her knees with an antiseptic that she found in the medicine cabinet. Then she placed bandages on her knees and left the bathroom.
Shannon looked around his apartment and noticed that it was overflowing with books and papers. It was a very comfortable room.
Then she noticed a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen and decided to investigate. Shannon blushed as Sayid smiled at her when she entered his kitchen.
"Would you like a cup of tea Shannon?" Sayid politely asked.
"Yes, thank you. It smells wonderful. What kind of tea is this?" She asked intrigued.
"It's a secret I'll reveal only after you have tasted it." He said as he poured her tea for her.
"Mmm, apple and cinnamon. My favourite!" She exclaimed as she delicately sipped from the cup. It was wonderful and she felt her body immediately begin to warm up. "Where are you from Sayid?"
"I am from Iraq." He replied.
"What are you doing here in The United States?" Shannon asked.
"Working. I am a writer." Sayid responded.
"I see. That explains this apartment!" Shannon smiled looking at the books and papers in the room. He smiled too.
"Somebody once told me that I need to buy a computer to avoid accumulating so much paper and books but I can't leave my typewriter. It's so hard to quit old habits." He calmly stated.
"I know what you mean." She said.
"You know?" He quizzed.
"I think so." She answered. What she was saying? Her only old habit was Sawyer. They'd dated for three years now. He wasn't a habit - he was her future husband. The man of her dreams?! Shannon tried to put those confusing thought out of her mind and kept on talking. "What do you write about?"
"About the world. People. Everything. I used to write romance novels but in general I write poetry. That's one of my passions." Sayid said.
"I love poetry. I used to read a lot when I was in college." Shannon shared.
"What did you study?" Sayid asked.
"Economy. Can you believe it? I've wanted to be a dancer my entire life and then I studied economy in college. My father thought that I needed to have a real profession before I dedicated my career to dance." Shannon replied.
She felt very comfortable talking with Sayid.
"And now are you dedicated to dance?" Sayid questioned.
"Yes. I just got a job teaching children ballet. In fact, I'm going to be late for my class." She checked her watch. It was almost three o'clock. "Thank you for the tea Sayid. It was amazing. You've been very kind but I really must go."
"You are welcome." He said sipping his tea. "The secret is in the brown sugar."
"I'll remember that." Shannon watched the man in front of her for a few moments. He was very attractive. He should be about thirty five years she thought. His eyes revealed a certain kindness that appealed to her but he was also strong, too. She thought that his accent was incredibly sexy!
"Can I use your phone to call my fiancé to come and pick me up? I tried to call earlier on my cell but my battery is dead." Shannon asked.
"Of course. The phone is next to the sofa." He replied.
Shannon placed the cup of tea on the kitchen counter and went to use the phone. She dialed Sawyer's number but he didn't answer. She placed the phone back on the receiver and looked at some of Sayid's books that were on the table next to the phone.
Shannon focused on a book written in a foreign language. She jumped when she heard Sayid's sexy Arabic accent behind her and felt an inexplicable thrill in her body.
"All the things about my love I'll be concerned with such care, and always, even in front of my love's greatest defects I would fall in love again. I want to cherish every moment and share my songs and laugher and shed my tears for my love's sadness or happiness. So later when my love searches for me, maybe in death, in anguish of those love's lost, who knows the loneliness, the end for those who lovd,, I can tell about love (that I had): love is not immortal because it is a flame but love is infinite at last."
Shannon sighed after hearing those beautiful words and asked, "Is that poem from this book?" She showed him the book in her hand.
"Yes. This poem is called Sonnet of Fidelity and was written by a Brazilian poet named Vinícius de Moraes." Sayid answered.
"It's a really beautiful poem." Shannon replied. She was blushing again. Was it her imagination or was this man's presence affecting her?
"I have to go!" She suddenly said. "Thank you so much for helping me…the bandages, the tea and the poem. Goodbye Sayid."
"See you soon Shannon." He said looking at the beautiful woman who he had just begun to know. He didn't say goodbye because in his culture when people said goodbye it meant forever and something inside him was saying that they would meet again.
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Exactly five minutes to four o'clock, Sawyer and Jack arrived at the academy and waited excitedly for their first class to begin.
They had both bought new clothes and dance shoes and they looked very stylish in their new outfits. Kate thought that both looked cute and said to Ana and Nikki, "Oh, look at those guys! They seem like excited little boys waiting for their first day at pre-school! Aren't they cute?"
Nikki laughed but Ana-Lucia just frowned. "I don't see anything cute Kate, especially that blond jerk!" Ana replied.
"Oh Ana, give him a chance. Maybe he's sorry about what he's done." Kate whispered to Ana-Lucia.
"The only one that needs to forgive him or give him a chance is his fiancée – because he's such a jerk! Not me because I don't give a damn about him!" She said talking low.
Despite all of her setbacks, Shannon arrived on time for her ballet class. She was just finishing her class when Sawyer and Jack arrived at the academy.
Sawyer sat with Jack on the sofa and waited for Shannon to finish her class. He smiled when Shannon smiled at him and Sawyer blew her a kiss.
Ana-Lucia felt sick watching their display of affection…especially after how Sawyer had behaved with her at the party the previous night. She thought that he was a real womanizing jerk.
When Shannon's ballet students left the dance floor, Ana's Latin students went out onto the dance floor and began to warm up and prepare for their class. Jack and Sawyer had no idea what to do.
Ana-Lucia stood in front of the mirror and began her warm up. She crossed her arms above her head and began to stretch and move her body.
Sawyer couldn't keep his eyes off of her! Once again he was lost in the generous curves of the teacher wearing a red leotard, skirt and tight top.
In her hair she was wearing the fasteners that made Sawyer crazy. This vision affected Sawyer immediately in his groin and Sawyer took in a deep breath to try to regain his composure.
Jack realized that Sawyer was losing his control again and warned him, "Man, control yourself! Here comes your fiancée!"
"Hey baby." Shannon said as she hugged Sawyer.
Shannon smiled at Jack as she embraced Sawyer and said, "Hi Jack. How are you?" "Great thanks." He said and smiled back at her. Jack thought that Shannon really was a sweet girl.
Sawyer tried to forget about his sinful thoughts and wrapped himself around Shannon."You were wonderful with those little girls." Sawyer praised.
Shannon smiled, "Thanks! Maybe one day we'll have our own beautiful little girls like my students?"
Sawyer suddenly choked. "What's wrong baby? Did I say something wrong?" She worriedly asked.
"No! I think I just swallowed a mosquito!" He answered.
"Do you want me to get you some water?" Jack asked as he tried hard to contain his laughter.
"That would be great. Thanks Jack." Sawyer said. Jack went to get water for his friend.
."Sawyer, why didn't you answer your phone earlier? I called you before three o'clock. Where were you?" Shannon curiously asked him.
"I was shopping with Jack. Stuff for our class. I'm sorry, baby. I turned it off so I wouldn't be disturbed. Old man Locke always wants to kill me because of this!" Sawyer explained.
"I got hurt this afternoon." She showed him her bandaged knees underneath her pink stockings.
"My poor girl! How did this happen?" Sawyer seemed genuinely concerned and caring at that moment.
"The heel on my shoe broke. It was pouring rain. Can you believe it? I fell. I was lucky though because a kind man stopped to help me." Shannon explained.
"He was attractive?" Sawyer asked frowning.
"Not like you are baby!" Shannon replied kissing his lips.
"Good afternoon everyone! Vamos empezar! (Let's get started)" Ana-Lucia's voice sounded happy on the dance floor as the students prepared to begin.
"Your water." Jack said as he handed Sawyer a glass. "Gracias. (Thanks)" Sawyer said taking the glass.
"Ok, I'll see you tonight darling?" Sawyer said to Shannon.
"Yes, baby." Shannon said. "Have fun in your first class. I'll be waiting for you in bed." She whispered in his ear.
Sawyer smiled. Shannon said goodbye to everybody and left. After she left Sawyer joined Jack on the dance floor and concentrated on what Paulo and Ana-Lucia were saying.
"Hoy vamos a bailar un poquito de salsa. (Today we're going to dance a bit of salsa.)" Ana began. The students became excited but when Kate heard the word salsa she frowned and said, "Salsa, Ana?"
Paulo was, also, concerned and said, "But today we have new students Ana! We should start with the bolero."
"Don't worry, Paulo, our new students will be ok." She looked triumphantly at Sawyer. He didn't understand why she was looking at him like that.
Ana knew that Sawyer wasn't very good with the Latin rhythms. She had the proof from The White Swan last night. She was ready to kick his ass! Ana wanted to embarrass him and get revenge for him treating her the way he did at the party the night before.
"Everyone, I think that you've all noticed that we have two new students joining us today. Please welcome Jack and Sawyer to our class." Ana announced. The other students greeted Jack and Sawyer and introductions were made all around.
"Boys, this is how it works. First you'll follow us and learn the basic steps and then you'll dance with a partner to the music." Ana explained.
"Seems easy to me." Sawyer said. Ana smiled mischievously and thought to herself "we'll see about that!"
"Ok, Paulo is going to lead our warm up this afternoon." She said as she started a song on the stereo.
Paulo led the students for about a five minute warm up. Then Ana-Lucia turned off the music and began to teach the basic steps.
"The salsa is the dance of love. The couple must be connected but this connection must be subtle. The dance has to be energetic and happy. Do not forget that dancing is also interpreted."
The students listened carefully.
"Follow me! I want you to start like this. Right leg back, left leg to the front with the hips moving sensually from side to side. This way…" She demonstrated and the students followed her.
Jack and Sawyer had problems following in the beginning but soon they got the steps figured out and followed the group along. "This is easy so far." Jack said to Sawyer.
They were practicing the basic steps for about 15 minutes. Ana didn't add much to the basic steps except one movement where the left leg moves back to starting position.
Sawyer was confident. Ana decided to put him to the test and prepared to start the music.
"Ok everyone, choose your partner!" Said Ana.
Everybody chose their partners. Jack was paired with a pretty blond girl who seemed very anxious to dance with him.
Sawyer was left standing alone because of the odd number of dancers in the class. He looked anxiously at Ana-Lucia. She said, "Ok Sawyer, you dance with me."
Ana started the music.
Soundtrack: La bomba / Rick Martin.
"Okay, guys, get comfortable and feel the music." Ana explained.
The couples began to dance with the music. Ana-Lucia stood close to Sawyer and challenged him, "Come on!"
Sawyer held her properly in front of him but when they started to do the steps he couldn't get the rhythm of the music. He stumbled and almost fell on the floor taking Ana-Lucia with him.
She became angry and said, "You have to pay attention, man! Do it this way!" She took his hand and lightly placed it on her waist. "Now hold me, firmly!"
"My pleasure." He maliciously said and he forcefully grabbed her waist and pulled her close to his body.
Ana-Lucia shot him an icy glare with her eyes and quietly said between gritted teeth, "Touch me this way again and I'll kill you!"
"Hey, it was you who asked that I hold you firmly." He defended himself.
"I asked you to hold me - not grab me…there is a difference!" Ana snapped.
"I don't see the difference!" Sawyer said. Ana wanted to smack him.
Jack, in contrast to Sawyer, was doing very well with his partner. Kate was enjoying watching him dance.
"You suck, you know?" Ana-Lucia said to Sawyer.
"Maybe you don't know how teach me." He rudely shot back.
"Maybe your unteachable! Maybe you should consider looking for another academy." Ana continued.
"OK! Enough!" He said. "What's your problem with me?" Sawyer asked.
"Do you really need me to spell it out for you?!" Ana replied totally frustrated with Sawyer's attitude. "Last night you tried to seduce me, knowing that you're engaged. You kissed me and when I told you that I wasn't interested in you – you called me a whore!"
"Hey, I didn't force you to kiss me! Sure, I kissed you but you kissed me back even though you slapped me!" Sawyer continued.
"I want to apologize for the things I said to you. I was a jerk! Please forgive me, Ana. I know you're not a whore." He said in a low voice even though the song was loud.
"I drank too much last night and I made a mistake with you. I swear that it won't happen again. I would like to be your friend." He finished.
"Friends?" Ana suspiciously asked.
"Sure. You're absolutely right about not wanting to get involved with me. I have a fiancée. So let's forget about what happened and start over. What do you think?" Sawyer offered.
Ana-Lucia looked at him seriously and said. "Man, I don't know if I can trust you."
At that moment the music ended and another song began. Ana changed pairs and Sawyer danced with a blond teenager.
Soundtrack: Corazón espinado/ Santana feat. Maná.
The second song was easier to follow. Sawyer felt less tense because he was not dancing with Ana anymore. Ana-Lucia made him feel nervous and that song from Rick Martin wasn't helping him learn the salsa.
However, for the last song of the class Sawyer came back to dance with Ana. Fortunately, the song was slower. Sawyer felt a little more confidant.
"Guys, this song is just to relax and warm down, enjoy!" Ana announced to everyone.
Soundtrack: Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps / Cake.
Sawyer enjoyed the song from the moment it started. He confidently spun Ana-Lucia around. She threw her head backwards and Sawyer lowered her down so that her body almost touched the floor. Then they came together again and they slowly moved their hips against each other.
"You're improving." She said and Sawyer smiled.
At some point during their dance the entire academy stopped to watch them. They seemed perfect together.
Sawyer and Ana didn't realize that they had an audience watching them. They were feeling the music and dancing like they were the only ones in the academy.
Ana was feeling so good in Sawyer's arms. She never wanted the song to end.
Ana-Lucia didn't want to admit it but she was enjoying very much dancing with Sawyer. She asked herself if they really could be friends. Could she trust him?
As the music was ending Sawyer gingerly lifted Ana into the air. Everyone clapped and he gently placed Ana-Lucia back on the floor. They were both a little startled with all of the attention placed on them.
"Amazing!" Said Kate. "You two are perfect dancing together. Maybe you both could consider becoming partners in future dance competitions.
"Paul is my partner for all competitions Kate!" Ana said moving away from Sawyer. "Guys, we're finished for today. Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."
The students applauded Ana-Lucia and Paulo and thanked them for a fun class. Jack went to the locker room and changed his clothes.
Sawyer noticed Ana-Lucia was alone at the water cooler. He didn't lose the opportunity to talk with her again.
He walked up to her smiling and turned on his charm revealing his irresistible dimples.
"The class was great!" He said.
"Thanks. I think you did well. I originally thought that you would be a disaster." She teased. They laughed together.
"Well, well, well. You're smiling at me! I'm happy again." Sawyer thought that it was time to leave the battlefield for a while but not before confirming that his offer of friendship would be accepted.
"Friends?" He offered his hand to her.
Ana looked into his eyes trying to read the truth about what he was asking.
Finally, she smiled at him and placed her hand in his.
"Friends!" They shook on it.
To be continued…
