The Contest
The couples had until 8:30 to sign up and practice. Bit and Leena had signed up right after they had their talk, and they began to dance together. Every few songs, Leena would drag Bit into the vestibule for the sodas they had left on the drink table. They were each marked with a piece of masking tape so no one could steal another person's soda and try to say it was an accident. Although the Fuzzy Pandas did confuse whose soda was whose because they all got Coke and signed it with their team name.
About 8:25, Leena brought Bit into the vestibule for their last break. They had wanted to be in tiptop shape for the contest. Bit could see many others, including his friends doing the same thing. 'I guess besides Harry, there are no morons in this contest,' he thought.
At 8:29, the DJ said, "Alrighty then, the contest will begin in a minute. Will all couples report to the dance floor." At once, a stampede of people ran to the floor. Bit could see most every girl—with the exception of Mary Champ who was forced to dance with Harry on account of a lack of good guys on the floor—wearing Valentines bracelets.
"Here are the rules. Breaks are allowed, but the more you stay on the floor, the better you score in endurance. But mostly, we're looking for technique, so you can win even without a lot of endurance. First song will be Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight', the extended version. Ready…Dance," said a Judge who had been programmed for this event.
At once, everyone began the slow dance. Harry gave Bit the eye, as he was good at this kind of dance. But Leena had taught Bit everything he knew, and she was his partner. Nothing mattered anymore, just that she was on his arm. Bit began to think that those bracelets Leena wore had brought them together.
After over six minutes of dancing, the song ended. The Judge said, "Now, we'll have two pop songs for the freestyle segment of the dance. They will be 'Let Me Love You Tonight' by Da Buzz, and 'I Turn to You' by Melanie C. Both songs are extended remixes. Ready…Dance."
"But these aren't dances," screamed Harry, "Dances are slow and graceful, like the last song. Heck, I don't think that even qualified as a dancing song." That got everyone else in the dance hall laughing at Harry's complaint.
"These are the pre-chosen songs. If you don't like it, you can always leave," replied The Judge. Given no choice, Harry settled on the floor with Mary, grumbling about the lengths he was going to in order to impress Leena.
The next song started. Bit remembered something Leena had told him, about how acting out the song was always a good way to get technique points. This had also been one of the songs he had been trained to dance freestyle on. So they acted out a story of a girl who chased the boy she was madly in love with, searching for how to make him love her back. At the end, they pretended to kiss.
'I Turn To You' was another of Bit's training songs. In his opinion, Leena made a beautiful flower when she made the motions of the chorus. She also thought that Bit's tender way of holding her during the bridge was really adding to their routine. Again, they had decided to use a fake kiss, but somehow, it ended up being a real one. Both warriors began to blush uncontrollably.
All to soon the song was over. Many of the couples, including Jamie and Fara, were leaving for breathers. But Bit and Leena were still going strong. So were Brad and Naomi, Leon and Julianna, Jack and Kelly, and this guy Jacob and Chris. Everyone watched, and waited to see what The Judge would announce as the next song.
- - - -
We really did hear 'Let Me Love You Tonight' and 'I Turn To You' in succession at my dance. I didn't remember what was before, so I made it one of the slowest songs I could think of. The long version really is over six minutes. And wasn't the Bit/Leena kissing scene kwaii? I thought that their acting turning into reality would be a good story.
The couples had until 8:30 to sign up and practice. Bit and Leena had signed up right after they had their talk, and they began to dance together. Every few songs, Leena would drag Bit into the vestibule for the sodas they had left on the drink table. They were each marked with a piece of masking tape so no one could steal another person's soda and try to say it was an accident. Although the Fuzzy Pandas did confuse whose soda was whose because they all got Coke and signed it with their team name.
About 8:25, Leena brought Bit into the vestibule for their last break. They had wanted to be in tiptop shape for the contest. Bit could see many others, including his friends doing the same thing. 'I guess besides Harry, there are no morons in this contest,' he thought.
At 8:29, the DJ said, "Alrighty then, the contest will begin in a minute. Will all couples report to the dance floor." At once, a stampede of people ran to the floor. Bit could see most every girl—with the exception of Mary Champ who was forced to dance with Harry on account of a lack of good guys on the floor—wearing Valentines bracelets.
"Here are the rules. Breaks are allowed, but the more you stay on the floor, the better you score in endurance. But mostly, we're looking for technique, so you can win even without a lot of endurance. First song will be Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight', the extended version. Ready…Dance," said a Judge who had been programmed for this event.
At once, everyone began the slow dance. Harry gave Bit the eye, as he was good at this kind of dance. But Leena had taught Bit everything he knew, and she was his partner. Nothing mattered anymore, just that she was on his arm. Bit began to think that those bracelets Leena wore had brought them together.
After over six minutes of dancing, the song ended. The Judge said, "Now, we'll have two pop songs for the freestyle segment of the dance. They will be 'Let Me Love You Tonight' by Da Buzz, and 'I Turn to You' by Melanie C. Both songs are extended remixes. Ready…Dance."
"But these aren't dances," screamed Harry, "Dances are slow and graceful, like the last song. Heck, I don't think that even qualified as a dancing song." That got everyone else in the dance hall laughing at Harry's complaint.
"These are the pre-chosen songs. If you don't like it, you can always leave," replied The Judge. Given no choice, Harry settled on the floor with Mary, grumbling about the lengths he was going to in order to impress Leena.
The next song started. Bit remembered something Leena had told him, about how acting out the song was always a good way to get technique points. This had also been one of the songs he had been trained to dance freestyle on. So they acted out a story of a girl who chased the boy she was madly in love with, searching for how to make him love her back. At the end, they pretended to kiss.
'I Turn To You' was another of Bit's training songs. In his opinion, Leena made a beautiful flower when she made the motions of the chorus. She also thought that Bit's tender way of holding her during the bridge was really adding to their routine. Again, they had decided to use a fake kiss, but somehow, it ended up being a real one. Both warriors began to blush uncontrollably.
All to soon the song was over. Many of the couples, including Jamie and Fara, were leaving for breathers. But Bit and Leena were still going strong. So were Brad and Naomi, Leon and Julianna, Jack and Kelly, and this guy Jacob and Chris. Everyone watched, and waited to see what The Judge would announce as the next song.
- - - -
We really did hear 'Let Me Love You Tonight' and 'I Turn To You' in succession at my dance. I didn't remember what was before, so I made it one of the slowest songs I could think of. The long version really is over six minutes. And wasn't the Bit/Leena kissing scene kwaii? I thought that their acting turning into reality would be a good story.