I do not own Dirty Dancing.
Chapter Eight
POV Baby
Kitchen Tears
The party that night was held in the gazebo. I still couldn't get my mind off Johnny. It didn't help that he was dancing right in front of me. He looked nice tonight, wearing a white suit. Mr. Kellerman came up to my family, who stood against the gazebo railing, rather than take part in the dancing. "Aren't you dancing, Doc?" Max asked, as if wondering the same thing I had been. Why wasn't I dancing?
Because I don't know how, I think. Because Johnny hadn't asked me.
"We're waiting for a Waltz," My Mother answered.
Max gave an "Ah," In understanding.
The woman dancing with Johnny giggled, "Hi, Max. Aren't my dance lessons starting to pay off?" The woman wore a glittering black dress, which was exceedingly low cut, leaving her ample breasts spilling out of the neckline. How could anyone have that much cleavage? Her hair was a mass of dark curls. She was middle aged, but judging by the cut of her dress and the way she was staring at Johnny, it seemed like she was trying to convince herself and everyone else she could be twenty forever.
I felt an overwhelming urge to call her a tramp, but that would only get me in trouble. Besides, it wouldn't help my situation with Johnny, and it wasn't like he was telling her to go away. Through the sexy Cha-Cha, it almost looked like he was encouraging her. But I didn't understand why he would. Maybe he had to dance with her, like the Waiters had to romance us.
"You look great, Vivian," Max called. I stare at the woman enviously, not for looks, but for being in Johnny's arms. A spot I myself burned to be in. "Terrific." The woman traced a finger down Johnny's jaw flirtatiously. She clearly didn't want dance lessons. What disappointed me more, was that he wasn't doing anything to stop her advances. "It's Vivian Pressman," Max muttered to my Father, "One of the Bungalow Bunnies. That's what we call the women who stay here all week long. The husbands only come up on weekends. Moe Pressman's a big card player. He'll join our game," Max called out to Vivian, "Moe coming up on Friday?"
"Friday," She answered.
"He's away a lot," Max said, "I know. The hardship."
Neil walked up to Johnny and pulled him away from Vivian, hoping to have words with him. A brief, albeit pleasant, sense of relief washed over me at their sudden distance. However, it didn't last long, as Vivian soon closed the distance. "Um... where's Penny?" Neil questioned in a demanding voice. "Everybody's been asking for her," He told Johnny.
Johnny looked nervous for a second. Then his demeanor shifted to what could only be described as 'How dare you question me?' "What do you mean 'Where's Penny?' She's taking a break. She needs a break," Johnny said coolly, shoving his hands into his pockets. Where was Penny? There was clearly more to this than her needing a break.
"As long as it's not an all night break," Neil said bitterly. He walked over to me. "Come on, doll," Neil put his arm around my shoulder. I feel an instantaneous discomfort. "Let's take a walk," No matter how much I disliked it, Neil wouldn't take no for an answer. So together we walked out to the lake.
A cool wind came from off the lake, and in an effort to conserve heat, I huddled closer into my pale blue, knit cardigan. I have no doubt that Neil would've pulled me closer if he knew I was cold, but I didn't want him to come any closer. I just wanted to get away from him.
"I love to watch your hair blowing in the breeze," Neil said, playing with one of my many curls. God, could he be any more creepy? Neil leaned closer, as if to smell my hair. Gross! I shift at the last minute to avoid his getting any closer than necessary.
"Maybe my Parents are looking for me," I say, in an effort to get away from him. Neil made me feel so uncomfortable. It was a sensation I'd never felt before. It was almost fear. I felt so nervous around him that I could hardly stand it. I wanted to put as much distance between him and I as possible.
"Baby, don't worry," He said casually, doing nothing to ease my nervousness, "If they think you're with me, they'll be the happiest Parents at Kellerman's," How conceited,I think, "I have to say it. I'm known as the catch of the county," He bragged, trying yet again to impress me.
"I'm sure you are," I answered, hoping to get this overwith. His being the catch of the county didn't change the fact that I hated his guts.
"Last week, I took a girl away from Jamie, the Lifeguard," He started, as if believing I cared about such escapades, "And he said to her, right in front of me, 'What does hehave, that I don't have?' And she said, 'Two hotels,'" I fake laugh. I don't point out that nobody wanted a boyfriend who left a girl in less than a week and started flirting with someone else, or one who could only talk about past exploits.
The leaves rustle. "Robbie, I don't hear an apology," Lisa said, limping out from the woods, carrying a broken high heel. Robbie follows her our of the brush. I guess her date hadn't gone so well. She was adjusting her sweater, which had fallen down her shoulder. Or been pushed. Had Robbie gotten fresh with Lisa?
"Go back to Mommy and Daddy and keep listening, Lisa. Maybe you'll hear one in your dreams," He told her bitterly.
"I'm sorry you had to see that, Baby," Neil said, "Sometimes, in this world, you see things you don't wanna see," I look away from him, not believing I'd put up with his crap for so long. How could I get away? "You hungry?" He asked. I shrug, "Come on," He said, taking me over to the kitchens.
"So, Baby, what do you want?" Neil asked, leading me into the kitchens. I stand behind him, glancing curiously at my surroundings. "You can have anything you want. Brownie, some milk, left over rice pudding," As Neil spoke, I caught sight of someone curled up in the darkness, quietly sobbing. They looked up at me, and I saw a glint of blonde hair. Penny. She glanced up from her sobs in fear of me, at the sway I held over what could happen to her in the next few moments. Silently, she begged me to keep quiet.
Neil walked up to Johnny and pulled him away from Vivian, hoping to have words with him. A brief, albeit pleasant, sense of relief washed over me at their sudden distance. However, it didn't last long, as Vivian soon closed the distance. "Um... where's Penny?" Neil questioned in a demanding voice. "Everybody's been asking for her," He told Johnny.
Johnny looked nervous for a second. Then his demeanor shifted to what could only be described as 'How dare you question me?' "What do you mean 'Where's Penny?'? She's taking a break. She needs a break," Johnny said coolly.
If Neil caught her, she would get in trouble. She was supposed to be working. Neil's voice pulled me out of my daze, "Beets, left over Cabbage roll, fruit salad. Sweet Gherkins?" He inquired, turning to face me. I look back to him so he doesn't see Penny.
I rapidly think of an excuse to leave the kitchens. I needed to tell someone about Penny, or Neil might come back and find her. "Oh, Neil, look. I'm sorry, I'd better go check on Lisa," It's not much of an excuse, but I think it's good enough to get us out of here before he sees Penny.
"Yeah?" He questioned.
"Yeah," I insist.
Together we walked out. Neil stopped, and groaned, burrying his face in his hand. I glance to him, and he looked up, almost ashamed. "Ah, Baby? Do you think you could make it back on your own? I actually just remembered that I have some arrangements to make for tomorrow night. I'm sorry,"
Freedom! "Of course, Neil. It's fine. You can go," I tell him, trying not to shout from joy.
The minute he was out of sight, I ran back to the gazebo. Who should I talk to? Who wasn't going to tell anyone if I said where she was? I saw Billy, leaning against the railing of the gazebo, fiddling with an extra 45. Billy would know what to do. I dart up to him, "Billy," I whisper.
Billy turned to me, surprised at my sudden appearance, "What?" He asked in a hushed tone.
"I found Penny crying in the kitchens," I tell him.
Billy's face shifted into a panic. "Wait here," He instructed. Billy then darted out into the dance floor, looking for Johnny.
For those few of you who are reading this- do not be afraid to write me a review! I welcome them! I want to know what you think of this so far!
Also, for those who may not have realized it yet, I am very meticulous about being as true to the movie as possible. I put down dialogue word for word, clothing, choreography, small actions. One example already seen in my having Johnny mouth along to the last few lyrics of Love Man. Some of you may not have noticed that, some may have, but I did, so it is in here.
So therefore, in this fic, you may catch one or two lines of dialogue in a scene that did not appear to be in the movie. I assure you, any scene from the movie has been written here as meticulously as possible. If a line of dialogue in a movie scene is one you do not recognize, I assure you, it is in the movie, or a deleted/extended scene. I am certain of this, my DVD player is very sound sensitive.
And again, I do not own Dirty Dancing.
TheLovelyBallroomGeek
