Chapter 9: Dance With Me

Vinnie was hiding behind the chair in the day camp area. He was nervous. Very nervous. Super nervous. He had never been so nervous! His entire body sweated. His hair was slicked over his face; he tried to wipe it away but it just kept falling down. Groaning, he gave up and let it lay there. What was the point? He was never going to work up the nerve to go with his plan anyway. Frowning, he hugged his knees and stared at the wall. Purple eyes kept filling with water and he kept wiping them dry. Breathing hurt, his stomach hurt, his heart hurt. His mind hurt.

Mango is not Sunil's. Mango is not Sunil's. Mango is not Sunil's. No matter how many times he said it in his head he could not bring himself to believe it. She might not be Sunil's, but she was not his either.

He groaned even louder and laid his head on his knees. He was frustrated with himself. He was usually so cool, calm, and collected. Like a block of ice that could never be melted no matter how hot the flame. But Mango came along with a blow torch and turned him into a puddle of water. Vinnie straightened up and forced a determined expression onto his face. He steeled his nerves and stilled his frantically beating heart. He was not a creature of flesh and bone. He was a creature of love and passion. He would win over Mango and he would make her his.

"Come on Vinnie! Pull yourself together! You can do this! I mean… I can do this!" He whispered to himself in an effort to give himself confidence. Grinning with new found determination he strutted out from behind the couch… and dived into the box of pet toys.

It took every ounce of self control he had to stop from screaming like a little girl. Only a few inches in front of him was Mango. She was walking slowly, her ears fell forward in defeat. Try as he might, he could not stop himself from staring. Her orange fur had a soft glow in the light. It rippled like waves and softly caressed her sleek body. With tiny, soft steps she walked passed the box silently. She always moved silently, even when she was running. Vinnie liked that about her. How graceful she could be when she was not even trying. He sighed and got lost in her bright yellow eyes. They always seemed to relax him. He could get lost in those bright pools of sunlight. Framed by thick, fluttering lashes that flowed in the breeze. Vinnie squeezed deeper into the toy box and remembered a time when he had tried to tell Mango how he felt.

...

"Mango… you are the prettiest girl I have ever met."

"Thanks Vinnie! You look great too." Mango had said with a friendly smile. A friendly smile. She was returning a compliment.

"No, really. You are amazing. You are smart and talented and funny and graceful." Vinnie went on. His voice was getting more urgent. Sunil was over by the food eating and this was the first time he had been alone with Mango all day.

"Stop it… you are great too! I love the way you dance. It is amazing." Mango said with the same smile plastered on her face. It drove him crazy. How could he love her and be irritated with her at the same time?

"Mango… I… I-" He cut off as Sunil walked over.

"Hi Sunil!" Mango instantly called out when she saw the mongoose.

"Hello my friends! I was famished but now I am pleasantly stuffed! What are we talking about?" Sunil asked as he sat down on the other side of Mango.

"Nothing." Vinnie mumbled as he glanced at the ground so Sunil wouldn't see the disappointment in his violet eyes. "Nothing at all."

"Oh. Okay then. My! Mango, you look absolutely lovely in this light! So bright and orange with a hint of yellow glow." Sunil said while facing Mango. He was not even looking at Vinnie.

"Thanks Sunil! You look great too. So blue and bright with a hint of a tealish glow." Mango said, slightly teasing Sunil for the way he worded his compliment. But her eyes had sparkled. Vinnie could swear her smile got a tiny bit bigger.

...

Scowling, Vinnie shook his head to get rid of the irritating memory. She had not even taken him seriously. He had poured out his heart and soul to her and she had not even given it any thought. For a moment he considered not letting Mango know how he felt at all. Then he heard a sound that made his heart stop. It was low and hard to hear but he strained and was able to make it out. It pulled him forward toward the closest where Sunil had set up his surprise for Mango. Vinnie still remembered that day clearly. He had felt so happy and jealous when Mango had hugged Sunil. Shaking his head, he cleared his thoughts. He had to find out where the sound was coming from.

Pushing the door open, he peeked inside and saw a faint orange shape in the distance. It made a low moaning sound that molded itself into a kind of faint howl. Like the sound of the wind on a cool autumn night. It was beautiful and sad at the same time. It made him want to cry, but he held the tears in and continued to listen. Gently swaying in the still air, caressing his face and kissing his soul. The music soothed him. His feet gently began to sway with the swooping tune of the song. Gently they moved side to side. Soon his arms were moving as well. Tracing the path of the song as it wound itself around him and led him forward. Mango was not facing him. Her back was turned and she stared out into the distance. It was as if she was witnessing the surprise all over again. Smiling softly, Vinnie went with the song and danced.

Up and down. Happy and sad. The soft howling was everything and nothing at the same time. It moved with Mango's emotions and was as jumbled as her thoughts. She was unsure and so was the song. Vinnie loved it. He loved how the steps changed for every line and how he never knew what was coming next. But no matter how high or low the notes got, the song was always slow and gentle. As if she was desperately trying to soothe herself. He danced closer and closer. He danced and danced and danced. Not making a sound.

What good is dancing to a song like this without a partner? Vinnie thought as he turned to see Mango still staring into the distance. Watching a show he could not see.

Gently, he grabbed her paw and lifted her onto her back legs. She stopped howling the moment she felt his touch. Her yellow eyes were big and scared as she turned around. Vinnie winced on the inside. He should have remembered how easily she was scared. Mango was almost as bad as Sunil. She was just better at hiding it from the others. But no one could hide fear from him. He had been Sunil's best friend for so long that he could notice the faint flashes of fear in a pet's eyes before they laughed it off. Vinnie was happy to see that the fear vanished as soon as she knew it was him. She trusted him.

"Vinnie, what are you doing here? Did you hear me!" The last question was more of an exclamation of terror than a question. Mango scanned him with her eyes, forcing the truth out of him whether or not he wanted to answer.

"Yes I heard you." Vinnie said. "I thought it was great!" He added quickly when he saw the flash of fear cross her eyes again. She hated when people heard her sing. He sighed inwardly. No matter how many times she was told she was great she never believed them. She was constantly putting herself down in her mind. Convincing herself that she was no good and that singing was something she could only do in private. If only she had Zoe's confidence. Vinnie chuckled, Zoe's confidence probably intimidated Mango more than it helped. With a star running around the Pet Shop she probably figured that no one needed her singing.

"I am not that good. Sorry, if I was too loud. I was thinking." Mango's words drifted off as she looked back into the distance.

"I thought it was good." Vinnie looked around the closet and realized that they were alone. He looked back at Mango. She was still turned the other way. "Dance with me?"

Instantly she turned her head back to Vinnie and widened her bright eyes. "W-w-what?"

"Dance…with…me." Vinnie emphasized each word so she could not claim she did not hear him right. He flashed her a winning smile.

"No thanks. I don't dance." Mango tried to pull away but Vinnie only tightened his grip on her paws. Not enough to hurt her but enough to prevent her from running away. Which is what she was planning on doing. Sometimes she thought Sunil was changing her more than she was changing him. Sighing she looked back at Vinnie. His purple eyes seemed to plead with her.

"Come on. One dance." Vinnie said while holding his grin.

"No." Mango said firmly. She had to get the message across quickly before he could change her mind. She pushed away from the gecko and started to walk in the other direction.

"Mango!" Vinnie called after her. But she was already through the door. Gone.

She didn't want to dance with him. He had come on too strong. He had scared her off and now she probably would never be alone with him again. Groaning, Vinnie sat down on the floor and stared at the wall that Mango had been looking at only a few moments ago. He wished he could hear some more of that beautiful song. He wished he would have waited until she had finished her song. Maybe then he wouldn't have scared her. Maybe she wouldn't have thought he had heard. Maybe then she would have danced with him.

What is the point? She would never dance with me. She only dances with rich, good looking, super star mongooses. Vinnie thought bitterly. But deep in his heart he knew there was only one mongoose he was upset with… and that scared him most of all.