Gwen walked in on Ben as he was stumbling around on a mat with foot prints.
"Hmm, this looks familiar." Gwen said. "Oh I know, like Goofy learning how to dance."
"Ha, funny Gwen. Just be glad I can't put one of these footprints on your big butt."
"Maybe we can find you a dress makers mannequin."
Ben grunted in frustration. "Why do I have to dance with her anyway."
"It's just part of the tradition Ben. The best man will dance with the maid of honor and the ring bearer, You, will dance with the flower girl."
Ben hung his head and sighed. "I'm going to make a fool of myself."
Gwen was about to make a snarky comment about it being too late for that, but the look on Ben's face changed her mind. "Well, lucky for you I had two years of cotillion."
"Co-what?" Ben asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Cotillion, learning manors. You should try it sometime." Before Ben could respond she added. "And it includes formal dance. I can teach you."
She walked to the center of the room to stand next to Ben. "It's pretty simple. The most important thing is not to step on her toes."
Gwen took Ben's hands and she counted out the steps.."One, two..one, two..one two. There, you're getting it."
The two continued for a while then Gwen said. "Now this may make you feel a little awkward but you're not going to be holding each others hands all night. She moved in closer and directed Ben's hand to the small of her back. She then placed hers on his shoulder. She looked him in the eye. Is he getting taller, she asked herself. He's looking me in the eye. As he did she felt butterflies like she hadn't since the first time she had danced this close with a boy in her class.
But those butterflies weren't caused just awkwardness at the situation, although there was that. There was a comfort there. She was finding that she liked this closeness.
Ben broke into her thoughts as he said in an almost giddy tone. "Check this out, I'm dancing."
She smiled and said. "You're a natural."
He returned the smile saying "Thanks Gwen."
"You're welcome...Maybe, save a dance for me?"
"You got it."
What they didn't notice was who was watching.
Before their dance ended Max ducked back toward the front of the rustbucket, he didn't want to embarrass them by letting then know he'd been watching. That would ruin such a sweet moment. He thought. Looked like Natalie might be right about these two.
Later that evening, after dealing with the brides parents and ex-boyfriend, the wedding proceeded. Max and Gwen were proud of Ben's conduct in his role as ring bearer. The usually mischievous boy behaved perfectly. Gwen has suspected he could be a proper gentleman if he wanted to. She found it very satisfying to have it confirmed.
At the reception the dance began traditional with the bride and groom starting the first dance.
Ben wasn't the sentimental type normally but he did see how this kind of thing could be appealing; Having that one person that you could always count on, talk to about anything, a partner in life that would always have your back.
Suddenly Gwen's voice broke through his thoughts. "Earth to doofus. It's almost your time to dance. Go over to Lucy."
"Huh, oh, yeah." He walked over to the girl who was now his cousin by marriage and, clumsily asked her to dance.
"Gets nervous around girls doesn't he Mr. Tennyson." Gwen asked
"Yes, with one exception I've noticed." he answered.
"Really? Who?"
Max only answer was raised eyebrows as though she should know the answer. She caught on.
"Oh, huh, yeah, I guess maybe so." She said, suddenly fidgeting in her seat.
After the dance was over Ben came back to the table. But he didn't sit down. Instead he walked over to where Gwen was sitting. "Well Gwen, do you want to dance. I did tell you we would."
Not the most eloquent invitation to dance that she'd ever heard, but he's new to this whole behaving like a civilized human being thing, she reasoned.
"Why I'd love to Mister Tennyson." She said as she rose from her seat to walk with him onto the dance floor.
They stepped out and place their hands just as they had in the rustbucket. The music began and they moved with it, in perfect unison together. Just like when we fight aliens or criminals. Ben thought. As much as they may argue he could always count on her, she would always have his back just as he would always have hers.
Hadn't he been thinking about something like that just a while ago?
They continued to move in sync with the music and each other as they held each others gaze, just content to be together, no arguing, no aliens, just moving to the music as softly talking.
In those moments something was happening. Neither could exactly say what but both felt it; a connection they didn't have before, a bond beginning to form. Where it would go from here, neither knew but they were happy with it now.
