I do not own Dirty Dancing.

Chapter Eleven

POV Johnny

Help


Penny and I swayed slowly together at the staff party, to the song Stay. If we didn't get this solved, she'd be leaving here soon. To make matters worse, even if we had been able to come up with the money, the only available date was next week Thursday, the night of the Sheldrake. No one was available to fill in. So even if we could pay, if she got the abortion, we both would get fired.

At the door, I see Baby. She was wearing a black and white striped sleeveless shirt that had a high neckline, and knee length blue jean shorts. She stood on tip toes, looking around, and upon spying whatever she was looking for, carefully shuffled further into the room so as to not bump into any of the other couples. She still looked very uncomfortable in here, just not so much as before.

Baby came up to us, and tapped Penny on the shoulder to get our attention. She stepped into a more secluded corner, where Billy had been dancing with Jenna. They stopped when they saw Baby. Penny and I walked over, following her. What could Baby have to say to us? She'd done her bit last night, and had no reason to be here.

Baby handed an envelope to Penny. "There's money," She said.

"You mean Robbie?" Asked Penny in disbelief. For a second I can't believe that she would be so selfless as as to help people like us. That she would just give the money away, no strings attached. And then I realized the truth, that these people had money that could be just thrown away. She had probably asked Daddy.

The girl smiled and shook her head, "No, you were right about him." I sipped my Coke. I was right. Her Father must have given it to her. Real bravery, there.

This one little act of her giving money to Penny made me dislike Baby. Don't get me wrong, I had a crush on her. But this one act made me feel like a charity. It made me think of her as no different on the inside than the other women that came here.

"Then where'd you get it?" Penny asked, still not putting two and two together.

"You said you needed it," Baby told her, still not revealing anything.

Penny looked at me, and beamed, "Is this kid for real?" She asked, staring happily down at the envelope. Even if we couldn't use it the way intended, it could still help out a lot.

"Yeah, it takes a real saint to ask Daddy," I spat. Baby looked away, confirming what I said. She was a spoiled little rich girl. All she had to do for that money was ask. We had to work our assses off to make that kind of money.

Penny's smile faded. She was too kind hearted, and wouldn't want to use the money for a different purpose if it came from Baby's family. Right on cue, Penny handed Baby the envelope. "Thanks, Baby, but I can't use it," She said. Penny pulled me out to the dance floor again, not wanting to talk.

"What? What's the matter with you? You should take the money," I insist. Even though Penny couldn't get an abortion, the money could still help us a lot. Baby never had to know.

I hear Billy explain to Baby. "I can only get her an appointment for Thursday. They do their act at the Sheldrake next Thursday night. It gets canceled, they lose this season's salary, next year's gig."

"What's the Sheldrake?"

"It's another hotel. Where they do their Mambo act," Billy answered.

"Can't someone else fill in?" Baby asked. I groan, and roll my eyes. She really didn't understand.

"No, Miss Fix It, somebody else can't fill in," I spat, bitterness oozing from my voice. "Maria has to work all day, she can't learn the routines, and Jenna has to fill in for Penny. Everybody works here." Joking, I suggest, "What, do you want to do it? You wanna take time out from Simon Says?" Baby looked away, submissive. Just like I thought. Only willing to go so far to help.

"Johnny," Penny scolded.

"It's not a bad idea," Billy suggested. Baby looked at him like he'd lost his marbles.

"It was a joke, Billy," I tell him. I did not want to teach a naive, rich Daddy's girl to dance the Mambo, especially one as complex as the Sheldrake. Beautiful as Baby was, she wouldn't take it seriously, and would make it a pain in my ass.

"She can move," He said, considering her for the job. I wanted to say that I wasn't sure one lesson on dirty dancing qualified as being able to move, but I think everyone in this room would take that as my being hypocritical. Besides, Billy wasn't wrong. Baby could move. She had the potential, I'd seen it when I danced with her a few nights ago. But it wasn't a good idea for me to teach her.

"No, it's the dumbest idea I ever heard of," I insist. I knew I was being a bit harsh on Billy, but if Baby did this, it would be disastrous. For me, mostly. I was already thinking about her more than I should be. Spending hours with her every day wasn't going to help, it was going to make things worse. I needed to get Baby out of my head, not deeper in it.

"I can't even do the Merengue," Baby said, desperately attempting to stop this before it could go any farther. She didn't want any more part in this than I did. Yes, that was my escape.

"See-" I start, and then Penny cut me off.

"Johnny, you're a strong partner, you could lead anybody," She begged.

"But you heard her! She- she can't even do the Merengue," I say. Merengue was the easiest dance out there! You couldn't make a dance less complicated. Merengue was even easier than the One Step, which was just walking! If she couldn't do that, how would I teach her Mambo in a little more than a week? But they were already ganging up on me. "She can't do it. She cannot do it,"

Baby glared at me. I guess she didn't like being told what to do, because at this point, she said, "I'm willing to learn, if you'll teach me. I don't have anything better to be doing," There went my one ally in this argument. And any reason I had to dislike her. After this remark, she seemed ready and willing to do anything she could to help us. There went my hope of getting her out of my head by thinking she was no different than the other guests.

I groaned. Now even she was siding against me. Penny looked at me, her last chance, "Please, Johnny," She said, "Do it for me,"

This was Penny's last chance. If we lost our jobs now, it was my fault. All I had to do was put my feelings for Baby aside, and teach her to dance. In roughly two weeks, I would never have to see her again. I hug Penny, and groan in defeat. "I'll do it," I say, "But only for you,"

I turn to Baby, and give her a once over. She was still beautiful. I wanted her more than she knew. "Meet me here tomorrow morning. 10:00 sharp. Don't be late." Baby nodded, and turned to walk out of the party.

Baby Houseman. The rich girl, who wanted to help us in any way she could. No matter how unrealistic. I got to teach her to dance. I got to spend hours every day, with a beautiful girl in my arms. A beautiful girl, who I had a crush on, and was nicer than anyone I've ever known.

I was completely screwed.