8.

~ Once Norma was out of the freezing cold rain, she felt bad for how she'd so bitterly complained to Alex about the weather. It wasn't his fault she was ill prepared for this climate and it had been very nice of him to drive her to school so she wouldn't drown in the attempt to walk here.

Still, it seemed to take forever for her to shake of the chill that had gone bone deep and she was shivering slightly in homeroom.

"Cold?" Maggie Summers whispered with an energetic smile. Her fellow Sophomore had claimed Norma as her computer lab partner that morning and seemed eager to be her friend.

Norma realized she'd left her coat on during class and was still shaking.

"Oh." she said looking down and wishing she had worn more layers. "Yes."

"You'll get used to it." Maggie prompted. "Keep moving around and you'll warm up. Was that Alex Romero I saw you with in the parking lot? Why were you with him?"

Norma blinked. Maggie had gone from being friendly to an outright interrogation and she could feel her defenses snapping up like a security fence.

"Oh… I… he saw my trying to walk here and offered me a ride. He was just trying to be nice to the new girl." Norma explained.

"Okay." Maggie said reluctantly. Clearly she didn't believe that Alex had just been a good samaritan. "Because, you know he's dating Rebecca Hamilton. Miss perfect Junior."

Maggie said these last words with a faint hint of disgust.

"I don't… I don't care." Norma said trying to sound indifferent.

"I don't know why he's playing games like that." Maggie said to herself.

Norma pursed her lips and tried to concentrate on the assignment of navigating the web. She and Maggie were supposed to be creating an email address and send each other things.

"I've known him since we were little. He used to hang out with my brother Keith until middle school. Then he was all about baseball and we hardly ever saw him again." Maggie shrugged.

Norma said nothing. She could tell Maggie was bursting with some sort of resentment towards Alex. That maybe she had a crush on him and disliked anyone maneuvering too close to something she wanted.

"I think he was just trying to be nice so I wouldn't have to swim here." Norma whispered hoping to cool Maggie's suspicions. The last think she needed just now was for the school to be gossiping about her and Alex Romero.

~ Dance class was just what Norma needed to finally feel warm. Alex had been right, the rain subsided after a few hours of horrible wrath and when it did, an eerie calm settled over the school. Norma had gotten used to the rainfall on the building and it's sudden stillness had sent an especially creepy feeling down her spine. As though something worse was about to happen.

In the older gym, the one where the students were allowed to hang out during lunch, things seemed brighter. Their dance teacher had music already playing and placed a waltz pattern on the floor.

"It's a simple four step." the old lady said demonstrating a side to side motion that turned into a box. "Who are you?" she suddenly scowled.

The small class turned and Norma's eyes grew wide as Alex strolled confidently into the gym and handed their instructor a pink note.
"Transfer?" he said with a nice smile that made Norma instantly suspicious. "My, mother wanted me to learn to dance." he said it so casually and with such ease, Norma knew he was used to getting his way in these things.
"Oh." their teacher said not bothering to read the pink slip. "Well, alright. We're doing a waltz just now. Everyone partner up, then we'll do a switch."

Norma, as well as the rest of the class was looking at the interloper in near disbelief.

"Hurry up!" the teacher barked when no one moved.
Norma could feel George move closer to her, lacing his hand in hers and trying to quickly pull her away but she found she couldn't move. George's touch suddenly seemed slimy and uncomfortable.

"I got this." Alex said expertly slipping past Maggie Summers and catching Norma by the small of the back. Her body shifting towards him as she glared at him.

There wasn't much time to argue and Norma shook off George's hand without even looking back at him.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed feeling his hand press firmly on her lower back. His other hand gently clasping her hand and starting to move her with an ease she wasn't used to.

The music started and she was slightly aware everyone was scarring to find partners. With an odd number of students now, someone would have to be paired with the teacher and they were all comfortably distracted.

"One, two, three, four." the teacher bellowed to the music.

Alex moved and he guided her expertly in a perfect waltz. He didn't even need to look down at his feet and Norma just followed his lead, finally realizing dancing wasn't hard at all.

"You don't need dance lessons." Norma accused bitterly but she wanted to smile. He was a far better dance partner than Maggie or George. His arms guiding her where he wanted her to step and she could feel his hand pressing comfortingly on the small of her back, adjusting her rhythm to match his own.

"Of course not." Alex huffed glancing back at the other students who were struggling with the steps. "My grandmother taught me to dance when I was ten. She said it was good for her arthritis. My mother showed me how to slow dance to. Said with would be useful someday."

Norma roller her eyes and felt him pull her a little closer and move a little slower. He was smiling at her as if he'd accomplished some grand feet of trickery.

"So, why are you here?" she said casually allowing him to lead her. She caught sight of George casting them suspicious looks.

Alex shrugged as if he had his own secrets.

"Look, I'm sorry I was so… mean this morning." she apologized. "It was very nice of you to come pick me up. So I wouldn't die of hypothermia." she added with some bitterness.

"It's not a problem." Alex said with that careless nature she was learning to appreciate. He looked down at her with a sort of affection that made her cheeks flush.

"So why are you here? You don't need the P. E. credit. Wanting to dance with the Freshmen and Sophomores?" she asked teasingly.

"Pretty much. I gave the old battle ax there a transfer slip from last year. She didn't even notice." he said. "I guess I just wanted to see you. Now that you're out of the rain I thought you might be more fun to talk to."

"Oh." she laughed. "You just wanted someone to talk to."

"Isn't that what every guy wants?" he smiled.

Norma felt her stomach flutter and her legs grow weak. She wasn't used to feeling this way around a boy before. She certainly wasn't used to slow dancing with one who was looking at her so fondly.

Alex manured her swiftly into a turn and then pulled her back to him. Closer than they were dancing before.

Norma felt her breath catch and she was filled with that instant fear her father had shouted into her since she was little. How she couldn't have boyfriends and how he would know if she was fooling around with boys. How he would kill her and no one would even miss her if she was dead.

Norma felt that wonderful fluttering in her stomach suddenly turn sour. As if she was going to be sick.

"What's wrong?" Alex said softly.

"I… I'm not ready, for a boyfriend, Alex." she explained honestly.

"Yeah I'm not ready for a boyfriend either." he said pulling a face that made Norma smile.

"No. I mean I'm not looking to date anyone." she said with more confidence. It was easy to talk to Alex. His feelings weren't as delicate as most people.

"Dose your friend George know that?" Alex cocked his head backwards to where George was dancing with Maggie and throwing them a hurt look.

"I'll tell him." Norma said confidently.

"Guy like that." Alex said wisely. "Play the friend card hoping to get what he wants. At least I'm being honest."

Norma felt a pinprick of a smile tug at her lips.

"You're new, you're cute. Lots of guys here are going to want to chase you." Alex pointed out. "I want to chase you." he admitted in a soft whisper.

"I don't want to be chased." Norma said sensing this was all apart of the dance they were doing.

"Then let me catch you." Alex said logically and Norma laughed in spite of herself.

It felt good to laugh at his gentle teasing and her face flushed even more.

"We can go out a few times, scare off any of your unwanted suitors and then you can dump me like a bad habit when you find someone better." he promised.

"Yeah and you tell all your friends how you scored." she grinned. It seemed okay to torment Alex a little. To be a little mean to him without him being offended.

"No, I'll just tell them you're religious. They won't know the difference." he promised bitterly. "Besides, I'm not that kinda guy."

"What kind of guy are you?" Norma said feeing his chest start to touch hers. Their steps were slowing down and it was like the whole world was drowned out.

"I can be a nice guy." he said gently. "We can go out, you can meet my friends."

"I heard you're with some girl named Rebecca." Norma said uncomfortably.
Alex shook his head.
"We broke up last spring. She dumped me." he said simply.

"She dumped you?" Norma said in shock and Alex rolled this eyes.
"Hard to believe right?" he smiled. "Come on, Norma let me take you out Saturday."

"I-" Norma started to say. Her mind frantically searching for an excuse to turn him down.

"What are you two doing!" the teacher suddenly bellowed. "Arms length apart! Arms length apart! Are you trying to make a baby? We dance arms length apart!"

Alex pulled away from Norma at the shock of the horrible interruption, and they stopped dancing.

Everyone was staring at them and Norma's face flushed so hot she thought she might die. She dropped her arms away from Alex and they stood awkwardly apart.

"Sorry, Mrs Whitehall. We were discussing sports. She's a Florida Marlins fan." Alex said thumbing to Norma as if she were crazy.

Norma felt that suddenly sickness want to envelop her again.

"Change partners!" the teacher bellowed and Maggie Summers quickly grabbed hold of Alex and George circled around Norma, pulling her towards him.

"What was that all about?" George said in near disbelief as Norma kept him a firm two feet away from her body. She'd never felt so humiliated in her life.

"Oh, He's just… really into sports." Norma said awkwardly.

"You were laughing." George pointed out.

"I was trying to be nice." Norma said avoiding eye contact and waiting for the waves of heat to leave her face.