Special thanks to "LilVickiRyan", "Spinelli Woods, Esquire", "SammyKay", and "goofy monkey child" for reading and reviewing. It means a lot that you guys are enjoying it! Try listening to the actual songs while reading…LOL…that way it can amplify the emotions. It can take the story to another emotional level.
Chapter 7: The Holiday Winter Dance
Location: In the Gymnasium, it's around 7PM, next Friday in early December
Principal Prickly decided to create, for the first time ever, a holiday winter dance party for the students of Third Street. He decided to do so after feeling bad about mistreating the students when Ashley X came and also upon discovering that he had enough school funds to host such a party. Prickly announced though that students in the 3rd grade or higher could attend the party due to the late hours of the party. (It would last until 9:30 PM.) Ms. Finster was not, at all, pleased by such an idea realizing that she had to give up her night's Bingo to watch over the whippersnappers. Ms. Finster felt like she had to be a babysitter for the entire school even though she would have some help with other faculty members, like Ms. Grotke, to supervise the kids.
The informal dance party began at 7PM and all of kids of Third Street attended out of curious excitement since a party had never been held for the students before in Third Street's history. The gymnasium was decorated much better than the students had anticipated. The main lights in the gymnasium were turned off and only the glow of the Christmas lights and decorations illuminated the gym. The numerous Christmas lights created a warm, inviting holiday glow; it was a great combination of darkness and light. There was an area were kids could play cards and board games. The dining tables had table cloths, centerpieces with lights, and confetti sprinkled on them. There was even a dance area that took up about half of the gym with a DJ playing the songs. To Ms. Finster's misfortune, she ended up with the job of serving food to the kids. She grumbled to herself seeing the kids enjoying junk food, hot dogs, hamburgers, Christmas sugar cookies, and other party foods while helping to serve punch to them.
Ms. Grotke was right beside Ms. Finster. Ms. Grotke was also assisting Ms. Finster in serving the food and drinks. Ms. Grotke sighed and teased to her, "Oh c'mon Muriel it's not that bad! Look at how much fun the kids are having!" Both of them saw and observed how the kids were enjoying themselves.
Ms. Finster sternly complained, "Grotke....I had to miss the championship title of Bingo tonight because of this circus! Look at them! The little hoodlums! I had a good bunion foot scraping just yesterday in case my friends and I would go out to celebrate."
Randall ran up to Ms. Finster's table and tried to get her attention, "Ms. Finster, Ms. Finster! I saw a kid that did not throw away all of his utensils in the trash after eating! He just left his cup and fork on the table!"
Ms. Finster became upset and asked, "Where is the messy party animal?!? I'll soon deal with him!" Ms. Finster angrily stormed around her table and followed Randall. Ms. Grotke just sighed knowing that Ms. Finster's reaction wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
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The gang, meanwhile, was all sitting around a dining table. They had just entered the building and were surprised how their gym had been transformed.
Gretchen, leaning towards the table with her arms on it, was carefully studying the decorations and the effort put into them. She commented, "This is something I could have never predicted guys!"
Vince looked around where he was sitting and added, "Yeah...who knew Principal Prickly would actually have this for us?!?"
Mikey was enjoying and indulged in the Christmas candy and desserts on his plate. Mikey excitedly said, "And so many Christmas sweets!"
T.J. took a deep breath and sighed. He smiled knowing it was memory making in the process. T.J. looked to his friends and announced, "Yeah guys...something I'm sure we won't forget."
Spinelli elbowed T.J.'s side and whispered to the gang, "Hey guys! Look at the facial freaks!" The gang all looked about 30 feet behind Spinelli where the Ashleys were sitting. The Ashleys were the only ones who dressed up for the party by dressing up in 'semi-club' attire that had a shiny, plastic leather look to their clothes. The Ashleys had reserved and decorated their own table and brought their servants with them who worked as waiters. The gang smiled teasingly to each other at the site of the Ashleys.
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Ms. Finster was bending down to clean up the mess the students had made near the trash. Ms. Finster called out to Randall, who was busy checking other students, "Randall! Randall! Get the broom from the cafeteria closet! These little monsters can't even throw trash right!" Randall ran out of the gymnasium to fetch the broom. Ms. Finster continued to grumble and curse out the children as she struggled to bend down and pick up the trash nearby. For about a minute, Ms. Finster was not focused on her surroundings and suddenly her head bumped into someone. Ms. Finster yelled out, "WHY YOU LITTLE..."
Ms. Finster looked up and it was Hank the janitor. Ms. Finster's voice was instantly changed into a sweet, soft, and kind voice when she noticed the face of the guy she had fallen in love with since meeting him. She softly said, "Oh...I'm so sorry Hank. You know how these kids can be. I didn't know you would be here!"
Hank looked into Muriel's eyes and the feelings from their relationship last year came right back. Hank wooed to Ms. Finster, "Oh Muriel, when I heard that you would be here I decided to work on my day off. I had to see you again Muriel." His eyes started to melt in bliss seeing Muriel again.
Ms. Finster was touched that Hank had done that for her. She warmly said, "Oh Hank." She began to think about their short relationship and became sadden remembering how they had to end it since the playground went into chaos because of it. She turned her head back to her left shoulder and sobbed, "Oh Hank....how I've missed you so! Those warm fires near the furnace, that dance in the cafeteria, it's all coming back to me like heartburn after eating hot cayenne peppers at Crazy Enrique's."
Hank held Ms. Finster's wrinkled hands and whispered close to her with tears forming in his eyes, "Muriel....I don't know if we could be together but I know how our lives pull our cohesive hearts apart like me pulling gum off the bottom of a student desk. But let us share one more dance together....right here..."
Ms. Finster fell into Hank's shoulders and looked up, "Oh Hank! I don't know if my heart could stand another goodbye."
Hank looked down in Ms. Finster's sad, broken face. He asked her with a small smirk, "Just one dance Muriel.....just one..."
Ms. Finster took out her handkerchief and blew her nose loudly. The handkerchief was completely soggy and she threw it out. Hank took Ms. Finster's hand and led her to the dance floor where the kids had seemingly dominated the dance floor. Hank looked into Ms. Finster's eyes and said, "Are you ready Muriel?" Ms. Finster froze up with emotions of fear and love over what was about to happen.
As the gang continued to marvel at the decorations around the gymnasium, Gus called out, "Hey guys! Look at the dance floor! You guys are not gonna believe it!" The gang whipped their heads toward the direction behind T.J. and could not mentally process what they saw. They saw Hank and Ms. Finster on the dance floor who were emotionally slow in getting ready to dance as their feelings for each other rejuvenated in them.
Mikey happily cried out, "At last! Fate has placed them back together again!"
Spinelli observed that they weren't doing anything in a crowd of kids of the half-filled dance floor. Spinelli remarked, "They aren't doing anything yet!"
Gus slowly answered, "Um...maybe they are just waiting for the right song."
Gretchen, with her scientific analytic voice, pointed out, "I highly doubt it Gus that they are waiting for a song, much less dance to a song, because this DJ appears to be playing dance music from the early to mid 90s."
Gus responded, "You mean the music played when we were little kids? Our first years in elementary school?"
Gretchen confidently answered, "Precisely Gus! Knowing the ages of these grownups I highly doubt....in fact it's impossible that they can dance to music so far distant from their youth."
Vince joined in on the discussion, "I heard that they wanted to play music of that time to bring back....if you can believe it, memories back."
Spinelli faced Vince in surprise, "Memories?!? What do they think we are...old geezers? We're just ten years old for crying out loud!"
Mikey thought of a reason and eloquently said, "Maybe it's a reflection on a decade of memories..." The gang continued to look at each other in confusion for a few seconds and started discussing about what the purpose of playing these songs were. Without warning, a pinging beat from a new song came up...then soon a voice...
"Pure love..."
The gang became more involved in the discussion, and by now they were ignoring the dance floor....
"It's 12 past midnight, don't close your eyes
Your soul's half alive, and I'll be by your side
I've come to take you there, show you how to care
Just be aware, that you'll have to share..."
Gus tried to get the gang's attention, "Uh guys! You guys should take a look at..."
Vince stopped whatever he was doing, and started adding to the discussion, yet he would first respond to Gus. He looked at Gus and emphasized, "Not now Gus, we're trying to figure something out!" Other students though were mindlessly staring at the dance floor.
"I want your love, I want it tonight
I'm taking your heart, so don't you fight
I'll be your answer, I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy, your favorite dish..."
Gus slammed his palms on the table to get the gang's attention and loudly said, "Guys! Really! Take a look at the dance floor!" The other five of the gang sighed and grudgingly looked behind T.J. They couldn't prepare themselves for what they were about to see next. A sight unseen by kids' eyes. The gang as with the rest of the students just stood there dumbfounded looking at Hank and Ms. Finster.
Hank and Ms. Finster were dancing up a storm on the dance floor as if they were professional Latin ballroom dancers. Hank was twirling and dancing with Ms. Finster passionately. They were dancing fast and quick with an energy as if they were in their twenties. The gang's mouths just hit the floor in shock.
Gretchen was just baffled. "I can't believe it! This defies everything I knew about old age!"
"From the back to the middle and around again
I'm gonna be there til the end
100% pure love
From the back to the middle and around again
I'm gonna be there til the end
100% pure love..."
Ms. Finster rapturously sighed, "Oh Hank! I'm so glad that I did get my bunion scrapping yesterday; otherwise, my feet would be killing me. Nevertheless, Hank, I never thought I could dance like this again." Hank just responded to Ms. Finster by looking deeply into her with his big, romantic eyes.
Ms. Grotke saw Ms. Finster's dancing moves and cheered out, "Go Muriel! Show 'em whatcha got!" Ms. Grotke soon blushed in embarrassment realizing how loud she was.
"You saw a brand new high, thought that you could fly
Did I hear you cry, or did you like the ride?
You call my name again, no it's not a sin
I'll show you how to win, and where I've been..."
(Lyrics from Crystal Waters "100% Pure Love")
The two lovebirds danced up until the end of the song and slowly walked away from the dance floor afterward. The two hardly paid attention to the mind-numbed, shocked students who never saw Ms. Finster be such a party dance animal. Consciousness slowly came back to the gang. Gus slowly questioned, "Wow....who knew Ms. Finster and Hank were so good at dancing?"
The other five of the gang just looked to each other in confusion as a response. Gretchen suggested, "It looks like Ms. Finster has opened herself up again and she seems happier than ever."
Vince added, "Let's just hope that the playground won't become a war-zone again." The gang decided to get something to eat from the serving table. The students at the party returned back to their activities enjoying the holiday party.
There was one student who came inside the gym from the school doors and nervously sighed entering into doors. She was casually dressed in an orange T-shirt and bell-bottom blue jeans and looked similar to Ashley T. The Ashleys immediately noticed and Ashley B whispered to Ashley T, "Like how is she Ashley T? Do you know her?"
Ashley Q snapped irritated, "Like who is she to just walk in here?"
Ashley T looked at the student who just came in and she looked vaguely familiar to her, but she just ignored it. "Oh just forget about her Ashleys! She's nothing compared to us anyways." The Ashleys shared her disinterest and continued their previous discussion.
The girl in the orange shirt took one careful step at a time observing the behavior of the kids. She desperately hoped that the kids would not recognize her at all, and after about 15 heavy breathing and heart racing minutes, she calmed herself down feeling relieved that no student or teacher could identify her or even realize that she was a student of Third Street. She questioned herself constantly on why she came to the holiday party, but she knew that she came here for herself to enjoy the music and dancing. She spent all day trying to build up her confidence and courage to face the students of Third Street. The DJ then played another song...
"Dah Dah Dah dah, ditta ta tay
Dah Dah Dah dah, ditta ta tay
Dah Dah Dah dah, ditta ta tay..."
Her ears pulled her mind toward the music being played. It was one of her favorite songs and her right foot started tapping to it like an uncontrollable itch. She looked around herself, in a stage fright panic, as if everyone was looking at her but she calmed herself realizing no one was looking. She decided in her mind that she was going to enjoy dancing to the song and that she wouldn't have to worry about the consequences afterward since no one knew who she was. She fearlessly but slowly paced toward the dance floor...
"This is your night
Dancing free until the morning light
Together forever 'cause, this is your night
And everything is gonna be alright..."
The girl's confidence was building up hearing the song. It was her night and that no one was going to stop her from enjoying it. She arrived at the corner of the dance floor and started to gradually dance.
"Aww yeah, so in love with you
Aww yeah, it's too good to be true
Aww yeah, feelin' so brand new
Aww yeah, eee yeah, eee yeah..."
Her mind drifted from the world of the dance floor of other students to a world of pulsating, happy, high energetic music. She was aware of the other students around her, but she was not inhibited about herself anymore. Her mind and heart followed the beat and lyrics of the song and that was what she was only concerned about. That at least for this night, there would be no worries, no problems, nothing to hold her back....
"You captured my heart, you're the key to my life
A vision of our love, that made me survive
Regaining the mood, that we're in it's so real
It's time to move up, and to face what I feel, oohhh..."
She started dancing to the beat and started showing her dance moves. She then began dancing as if no one else was there while her eyes were semi-closed since she was focusing on the music. The students around her started noticing how good she was dancing, but little did they know that wasn't all she had...
"This is your night
Dancing free until the morning light
Together forever 'cause, this is your night
And everything is gonna be alright..."
She then started twirling, spinning, and shaking her hips on the dance floor. The kids around her (most danced "so-so" since they were only kids) were surprised seeing the dance moves and soon a crowd started to form around her. The girl did not notice. She started to do hand motions, splits, and even break-dancing. The kids started to look around her in shock and surprise how amazingly great she was and how she just seemed to be 'of the music' since she was dancing and moving nearly perfectly to the song.
"Aww yeah, so in love with you
Aww yeah, it's too good to be true
Aww yeah, feelin' so brand new
Aww yeah, eee yeah, eee yeah..."
(Lyrics from Amber "This Is Your Night")
By now, the kids (about 80 of them) that were on the dance floor just stood staring at the girl. They completely stopped their dancing just to watch the girl dance. She was dancing with experience as if she attended dance clubs nightly and attended years of dancing school. She had the energy and vitality of a professional dancer in his/her twenties. To the kids, it was as if they were seeing one of the ultimate, coolest music videos their older teenage brothers/sisters would see on MTV.
Gus' eyes bulged out after looking around T.J. and he stuttered, "Uh guys.... if you thought Ms. Finster was great....you haven't seen her!" Gus pointed behind T.J. and the rest of the gang looked at the girl completely mesmerized that a kid could ever dance like that.
Vince was astonished and mindlessly spoke, "Wow! I thought I was good, but she's definitely got some moves I couldn't do!" Vince was enchanted seeing how cool and amazing her dance moves were.
Gretchen was tilting her head back and forth trying to analytically put the girl's dance moves in a physics situation. She brought out her handheld computer and after a few seconds of typing, she concluded, "I didn't think it was possible for a person to have such quickness and agility dancing but I've concluded that it's something beyond hard work can achieve....most likely it's from her talent."
T.J. squinted his eyes at the girl to see if he remembered seeing her anywhere but he couldn't identify her. In confusion he asked the gang, "Is that even a kid? No kid or adult I've seen can dance like that."
Spinelli tried to help T.J. by looking at the girl too. The dimly lit gym that was illuminated by the holiday glow of the Christmas lights made it difficult to closely notice any facial features from where they were sitting. Spinelli sighed and said, "Sorry Teej. I don't know if she even goes here!"
T.J. turned around and faced the table. He looked around to the gang and quickly looked to the left and right corners of his eyes. "You know what we have to do guys...." T.J. said in a serious mission attitude, "...we gotta go to the dance floor and see who she is!"
The gang immediately tried to stop T.J. from taking them along on the dance floor. Vince loudly said, "Are you crazy T.J.? I mean she's gonna embarrass us on the dance floor!"
Spinelli protested, "Teej, I don't know about you but my dance moves ain't that great! Okay?!?"
Gretchen joined in, "I must concur....my dancing ability is far below the standard for kid hipness."
Mikey added, "I've only danced for the fine arts, remember last year?" Spinelli rolled her eyes in disgust over remembering the time she and Mikey danced for Madame Paavlova and the school last year. Mikey put his hands on his cheeks and cried out, "How ever shall I dance non-artistically?"
T.J. did not expect that his friends would be so critical on themselves. T.J. knew that they, as was he, were not the best dancers but they could keep up with the beat, except for Vince, who knew some pretty good moves and was one of the best in Third Street. Yet since the girl came....she set up a whole new, higher standard than Vince could keep up with. T.J. saw how reluctant his friends were to go onto the dance floor and he decided to not bother finding about who the girl was since he could see his friends were intimated going up there. He empathically spoke, "C'mon guys.....we're here to enjoy the party remember? I'm not that good dancing but who cares? We're here to have fun!" The five thought about it for a few minutes, but their thoughts were rudely interrupted.
"Hey Ashley S" said Ashley A warmly whispering in Spinelli's right ear, "how come you're like not on the dance floor?"
"You're not scared that we're gonna like dance better than you?" said Ashley Q slyly in Spinelli's left ear.
The gang lifted their heads and focus from on their table to the Ashleys behind Spinelli. Before Spinelli could even react to grab their necks down, Ashley A and Ashley Q quickly lifted their heads up to avoid her grasp. Ashley B and Ashley T laughed hysterically seeing how upset Spinelli had become. Spinelli tried to pull her chair out so that she could get up from it and clobber them, but Ashley B and Ashley T put their feet just behind the legs of her chair so that Spinelli couldn't back her chair out from the table.
The Ashleys continued to giggle and they squealed, "Scandalous!" Spinelli was squeezed in between the chair and the table and she couldn't get out.
Ashley B rudely teased, "Guess like we know how Santa feels going down a way too small chimney." Mikey crossed his arms and gave a mean look to the Ashleys. Spinelli tried to get out of the squeeze like a wild animal trying to get out of a cage. Spinelli was kicking the heavy table and the dishes, silverware, cups, and centerpiece began to shake and wobble.
Gretchen tried to calm down Spinelli, "Spinelli! Just calm down! Otherwise we'll get in trouble if Randall or Ms. Finster sees us!"
Spinelli yelled, "Calm down?!? CALM DOWN?!? They got me pinned here tighter than some of the wrestling moves I've seen on TV!" Spinelli continued to struggle. Ashley B and Ashley T continued to hold their feet's positions.
Ashley Q sighed and looked at Spinelli as if she was some ignorant yapping dog that a person would notice walking down the street. "We'll like see you on the dance floor...if you dare!" Ashley A and Ashley Q giggled walking toward the dance floor while Ashley B and Ashley T swiped the chair's back legs that made Spinelli to fall forward on the table. Spinelli caught her balance and before she could turn around to face them, she had lost sight of the Ashleys in the mass number of students. The others of the gang watched silently to see what Spinelli would do next.
Spinelli hammered the table with her fist in anger; the silverware, plates, and cups shook violently by her stern attitude. She grinded her teeth yelling, "C'mon guys...we're all going...NOW!" The others from the gang just looked at each other in both nervousness and fear after seeing Spinelli's raw emotions just spill out of her. The others quickly got up and soon walked beside Spinelli while they were heading to the dance floor.
They arrived at the dance floor and slowly walked a little bit inside of it. The others, even T.J., was feeling lost on what to do next. They just stood there and looked at Spinelli for guidance on what to do next. Spinelli just stood there thinking as hard as she could on how to dance, but her anger and competitiveness toward the Ashleys clouded her thinking. The others were beginning to feel embarrassed being on the dance floor and being the only ones that weren't dancing. Gretchen looked around in nervousness. T.J. and Gus would look down at their shoes while Mikey and Vince sighed and were waiting patiently. Spinelli finally gave up on what to do next. She turned around, faced Vince, and asked, "So Vince....what we are to do?"
Vince was caught off-guard that Spinelli would place the gang's dancing success on his shoulders. His mind froze and he protested, "Me?!? Spinelli, you were the one that took us on the dance floor!"
Spinelli didn't back down. "Hey! I thought you were the dancing machine! Right?!?" The girl who impressed the kids on the dance floor slowly crept though the groups of kids on the dance floor and noticed the gang's dilemma. She curiously came closer and closer toward them.
"Well, I guess so..." said Vince cautiously, "...but learning how to dance takes time! It's not like you're able to learn it in 5 minutes!" The girl arrived and immediately T.J., Gretchen, Gus, and Mikey noticed that she was the girl that was dancing out-of-this world. Their eyes bulged out in astonishment. Spinelli and Vince though, were too busy arguing.
"Why I can't believe it!" Spinelli yelled in anger. She noticed Vince's expression of surprise on his face, she then looked at the right to see the others' facial expression, and Spinelli very, very slowly turned her head in the left direction. Spinelli was taken back that the coolest dancing kid on the dance floor was right there! She kept blinking and opening her eyes wider to see if it was really her.
"Hi guys! How are all of you?" said the girl in a warm, friendly, childish voice with a smile, "Um....you guys look like you needed some help. You don't mind if I help you guys out, do you?" The gang's facial expression didn't change a muscle they just nodded in response.
The girl slightly giggled seeing their reactions. She slowly started off saying, "Okay...um...why don't we form a small circle so that way I can see how each of you guys are dancing!" The gang came back to their senses when she requested them to move.
Gus, feeling more intimated than ever, jittery asked, "What's...a.....your.....name?"
The girl thought about it for a while and the gang looked toward her face mysteriously since the girl was taking such a long time to answer. She saw how the gang was reacting and looked back and forth. She dismissingly and nervously responded, "Oh, just call me Renee." She knew she had to say something about her delayed response. "....sorry, I was just reminded of something..."
T.J. curiously asked, "What's the next step Renee?"
Renee looked toward the deejay and sighed. She teasingly replied, "Now we just wait for a song." She mumbled to herself, "It better be good." The next song played up and began...
"Yo Come On Move This..."
"Yes! A great song!" Renee whispered silently to herself while clenching her hands in excitement. She looked optimistically happy at the gang and slightly teased, "Are all of ya ready to 'move this'?"
"Shake That Body
Shake That Body..."
The gang smiled in humorous anticipation since they would be 'shakin' it.' They all responded, "Sure!"
"People don't you know, don't you know it's about time
Can't you hear the jam is pumpin while you taste the piece of mine
Many different flavors and the bass is strong
Get into the hot stuff let me pour a little on..."
Renee smiled again seeing their faces and instructed, "Okay. Now first listen to the beat and just sway with it." The gang slowly caught onto the beat and swayed back and forth. She saw that they quickly caught on. "That's great guys! All of you already got the rhythm! Now just bend your knees a little, put your weight on the balls of your feet, and turn your hips side to side!"
"Baby let me show you how to do this
You've gotta move this
You're doing fine
There's nothing to it
You gotta move this
Come on and move this
Shake that body for..."
The gang especially Gus and Gretchen were cautiously turning their hips side to side to make sure they were dancing right. Vince, on the other hand, was showing off by dancing fast and adding new moves. Renee slyly commented about Vince, "Well...looks like somebody doesn't need my help."
"People don't you know, don't you know it's about time
Can't you hear the jam is pumpin while you taste the piece of mine
Many different flavors and the bass is strong
Get into the hot stuff let me pour a little on..."
(Lyrics from Technotronic "Move This")
Renee checked on the nervous five, who were dancing pretty well, and added, "Okay, now the last step! Give some attitude with the dance and you got the basics down!" Renee walked around the gang and noticed T.J. She teased, "You gotta shake your hips more! You gotta work it and not be so stiff!" T.J. smiled and blushed over how Renee was coaching her to be cool. Renee walked up to Spinelli and started to lightly tisk, "You got to enjoy the music more....it shouldn't be like homework!" Spinelli was initially upset over the criticism but she slowly let go of her competitiveness and began to enjoy the music with her friends. Renee approached between Gus and Gretchen and noticed how flustered they were. As the rest of the song played, Renee closely taught the two and eventually they started to enjoy and 'flow' with the song.
When the song ended, Renee looked for Vince. She smirked, "Hey guys, where did your dancing machine friend go?"
Spinelli was confused for a moment, but then she remembered who Renee was talking about. Spinelli sighed, "Oh! You mean Vince, yeah ...a he went a little closer to the center of the dancing floor." Spinelli continued with a whimsical sarcastic remark, "You know, him being too good for us."
Renee enticingly remarked, "Let's see how he dances with me!"
The five of the gang and Renee walked slowly through the crowds and saw Vince. Vince's dancing was already forming a crowd of about 10 to 15 people around him. Renee walked up to Vince assuringly with a slight teasing, seductive voice she gave a silly face and proposed, "Are you ready to dance with me now?"
Vince did not want to initially since he saw how good she was, but after he saw the anticipation in the kids around him for both of them to dance.....it was a bet he couldn't refuse. Vince cockily replied, "I'm ready if you are are." Vince was absolutely nervous and never really danced with a girl if you did not include family gatherings. His cool reputation was on the line and his mind tried to remember the dance moves he used to see his parents use. He questioned himself again and again on which dance moves to use because he did not want to appear geeky on the dance floor like his older brother Chad. Vince sighed in embarrassment remembering how Chad was a regular Steve Urkel on the dance floor.
Renee faced Vince and took his sweaty hands. Her eyebrows rose up in surprise. She toyed with him, "I....a...thought you were ready for me...it looks like your hands aren't." She began to snicker.
Vince maintained his cool attitude. "Oh, I'm ready...let's start it."
Spinelli cocked an eyebrow and looked at T.J. puzzled, "What's gonna happen Teej?"
T.J. knew what was going to occur and he just casually answered, "You'll see Spin." Spinelli just raised her shoulders and eagerly looked back at Renee and Vince. The five from the gang and students near Renee and Vince were anxiously looking forward to what Renee and Vince would do. Vince and Renee slowly held each others hands and danced slowly. Renee gave another silly face to Vince, but this time to 'break the ice.' The deejay played the next song...
"You're my love, you're my sweetest thing
Don't shy away, don't shy away
Every night makes me hate the days
Can't get enough of your love..."
Vince and Renee both stopped in their tracks hearing the song while the beats rushed on. It was the farthest thing from their minds that the song being played would be a love song. They both laughed and looked at the ground in shyness. Vince looked up at Renee and joked, "Nothing more than a dance right?"
Renee tilted her head back and forth humorously and remarked, "Duh! Of course!"
"Am I wrong, am I so unkind
Show me the way, don't turn away
I can't hide all these thoughts in my mind
Every moment I was thinking of you..."
(Lyrics from Gina G. "Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit")
Throughout the song, to both of their surprises, they danced amazing well together. The gang and the students nearby just stood there blown away by how they seemed to dance almost flawlessly well together, but actually there were some times where they either misstepped or walked on each other's foot. The crowd around them did not notice them because Vince and Renee danced so quickly together. By the end of the song, Vince and Renee were exhausted.
Renee complimented Vince, "You're really good. I never thought I would have to keep up with you."
Vince sighed and rolled his eyes from Renee's flattering. He pointed out to Renee though, "Yeah, but you were doing all those cool, fast dance moves!" Vince and Renee were both about to meet up with the rest of the gang when Renee just froze seeing a boy about 15 feet behind them. Vince was halfway toward the gang when he turned around and looked at Renee. Renee couldn't blink because she was in such shock seeing this boy....it was like as if she saw a ghost. She couldn't believe that the boy was right there!
Gretchen observed Renee's behavior and questioned, "Um...Renee what phenomena has caused you to stop facial functioning?" Renee didn't listen to what Gretchen was saying. Renee just stood there while she received a cold, deathly stare from the boy.
The six of the gang just looked at each other wondering what Renee was thinking. Spinelli snapped her fingers and tried blocking Renee's view, "Hey earth to Renee! Is there a brain in there? Hello!"
Renee shook her head and smiled nervously to the gang. With a shaky voice, she told them, "Guys....I'm sorry....But I got to go right now."
Gus called out, "But you were only here for about 30 minutes!"
Mikey sadly and softly asked, "Why must your presence leave us?"
T.J. suspiciously questioned, "Yeah, why do you have to leave so soon?"
Renee realized how much fun she was having and wanted to stay badly, but with one glance, at a far, toward the boy behind the gang, the happiness vanished and fear soon seeped inside her. Renee carefully moved her eyes to the left and right to see if she could avoid meeting up with the boy. She responded, without looking at them, "Thanks guys, but I really have to go!" Before the gang could say anything more, she quickly ran toward the left and slouched down low to get lost in the crowds.
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The Party Continues…