Katie-Jean unpacked the entire next day. She personalized her room by adding pictures of her and her friends from back home. She spread a dark blue comforter over the bed. Her favorite stuffed animal, a large teddy bear that John had given her for their first Valentine's Day together, sat in the center of the bed. Looking at it, she missed John. Her parents had forbidden her to call him on the phone because of the outrageous long distance charges. She decided that she would write a letter to him. Knowing John, he had probably already moved on to Ashley Smith, the prettiest and most popular cheerleader … ever. Katie-Jean didn't know how Ashley didn't steal John away a while ago. After her room was as close to home as she could make it, Katie-Jean jumped in the shower. She pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt while she waited for Violet to come over. A little before 6:30, the doorbell rang and Katie-Jean let Violet in.
"Right this way to my room." The two girls hurried up the steps. Violet went through all of Katie-Jean's clothes. Compared to Violet's stunning purple tights, black combat boots, and short, tight dress with black squares, Katie-Jean's clothes looked old and out of style. As Violet spun her head around, the large black hoop earrings spun with her. "We take the same size. Let's go to my house."
After Violet lent Katie-Jean some clothes, they were ready to go. She loved her new look. She had borrowed an off the shoulder white shirt to wear over a pink tank top. Instead of pants, Katie-Jean wore black stockings and a black skirt. She finished the look with black knee-length boots. The two girls hurried out front when they heard a honking horn. A blue mustang was parked out front of Violet's house with two girls already inside.
"Hey guys, this is my new neighbor, Katie-Jean." The girls waved hello as Violet and Katie-Jean climbed in the car. "This is Sara." Violet pointed to the blonde driving the car. "And that's Emily." The redhead in the passenger turned around and greeted Katie-Jean with a southern accent.
"I'm from Tennessee." Emily smiled as she tipped her cowboy hat. Soon after, they arrived at a Spanish dancing club called La Reina que Baila. Katie-Jean read the name aloud, having no idea what it could mean.
"The Dancing Queen," Sara whispered, dragging her inside. After paying a small fee, the girls began to dance. Katie-Jean just danced like a typical American, bumping into almost everyone. She was having a lot of fun though. She couldn't help but notice an amazingly cute boy dancing near the band. Three pretty Spanish girls were gliding around him. Katie-Jean just stared, completely forgetting where she was and what she was doing. She came to reality when she felt someone tug her arm.
"He wants to dance with you." Violet pointed at a cute Spanish boy (not as cute as the one she saw earlier), but pretty hot.
"Por favor?" The boy asked with a smiled.
"Si," Katie-Jean replied. "That's about the extent of my Spanish."
"It is okay, Miss. I am Miguel. What is your name?"
"I'm Katie-Jean." The music began. It had a fast rhythm. Miguel was a terrible dancer. He was even worse than Katie-Jean (and she was terrible!) As the song ended, she politely excused herself to search for this cute boy. She didn't see him, but she did see Violet and company at the bar. Emily handed her a glass, and without thinking, she drank it. It was good. The girls started dancing again. To Katie-Jean's delight, the cute boy came up and asked her to dance in beautiful Spanish. She replied with a "si" and began moving to the beat with the boy. He guided her and made her feel like an amazing dancer, although she was quite the opposite. As the song ended, she thanks him for the dance before he drifted away, moving onto a new partner. It was getting late, so the girls decided to head home.
Katey was a little concerned at the fact that they didn't return home until midnight, but she let it go. She was glad to see her daughter adjusting. On the other hand, Brooke, the social butterfly, was having a tough time. She didn't get along well with Alessandra or any of her friends and there were no guys her age around. She was distraught without friends or boys.
Katey inquired about Katie-Jean's outing, but was brushed off and ignored. Katie-Jean slammed her door and went straight to bed. Katey also headed upstairs and got into bed. Brooke was in her room, writing letters to all of her friends she as forced to leave behind.
The next day, Sunny woke Katie-Jean up at 9:00 for a walk. She sighed as she pulled on her blue spandex biker shorts and a loose-fitting Mickey Mouse t-shirt. She slipped her old, tattered tennis shoes on over her green and pink socks. She brushed her knotty hair and quickly put Sunny on a leash.
"Mom, I'm taking Sunny for a walk in the park." Katie-Jean was tugged out the door by the anxious pup but soon gained control and was able to guide her three blocks to the park. After a few minutes of wandering, Sunny finally relieved herself and sniffed around. Katie-Jean was afraid to let her off the leash because she was not fully trained. Sunny jolted Katie-Jean unexpectedly. She was hot on the trail of sniffing something and began running, dragging her poor owner along for the ride.
"Sunny, stop. Halt, halt!" Sunny kept running… right into the amazing dancer from last night. Before she could react, Katie-Jean was laying on top of the boy and Sunny and the dog he was walking were happily playing. Katie-Jean rolled off of the boy, obviously embarrassed.
"Yo tengo siento…" Katie-Jean did not speak Spanish well, and she knew that wasn't exactly how to say sorry, but it was good it enough.
"It's okay, Senorita." The boy spoke perfect English, with a hint of a Puerto Rican accent. His smiled was amazing. Katie-Jean just stared into his enchanting dark eyes. She could have stared forever if he had not broken the silence. "I'm Julio Perez. What is your name?"
"I'm Katie-Jean Anderson. I just moved here the other day."
"That's nice. Maybe I could show you around sometime?"
"I'd love that."
"How about now, since our dogs seem to get along so well?"
"Sure." Katie-Jean was exhilarated. She was able to spend time with an amazingly cute boy who actually wanted to spend time with her. "Sunny, come here girl." Sunny came running to her owner, and Katie-Jean picked up her leash. Julio called his dog, a brown and white mutt named Medianoche. He didn't have a leash, but obediently walked beside his caretaker. Julio was an excellent tour guide. He took Katie-Jean all around the small town of San Ricardo where they both now resided. He pointed out all of the landmarks, not that there were many in such a small, unknown town.
"That right there is La Reina que Bailia. It is where I got to dance every night I am free. I'd like to take you sometime."
"Actually I was just there last night with my neighbor and her friends."
"I knew you looked familiar!" Julio smiled. "I remember dancing with you."
Katie-Jean blushed. "I'm not very good."
"The best I danced with last night. Although, Luisa and Maria are horrible dancers too… It's okay, you will improve."
"You might know my friends. Violet, Sara, and Emily? I don't know their surnames."
"Violet… on Tomas Road?"
"Yes, she lives next door to me."
"Si, bien. I'll walk you home. It is getting late and I need to get to work."
"Oh, you don't have to."
"But I just lead you half way around this place. You surely don't know where you are after living here for a few days."
"You have a point." Butterflies flittered in her stomach as Julio grabbed her hand and led her home. She couldn't help but smile and be proud that such an amazing dancer was holding her hand.
"I'll see you at La Reina que Bailia soon I hope."
"Yeah, maybe later this week."
He kissed her hand and winked as he waved "adios" and led Medianoche down Tomas Road. Katie-Jean let out a "woo" as she led Sunny up the front pathway and into the house.
Note: I don't think San Ricardo is a real place. I made it up…. At least I think I did. Please review!
