Phil snorted and looked up at her from his homework. "Yes, something very nice to talk about while we're studying in the library." A glare from his friend told him that she wasn't kidding and he sighed. "What's wrong with having a Christmas Dance?"
"I don't know - for one thing, I may be one of the most popular girls in school, but - " she paused, stared at Phil, and flushed. "Never mind."
"Oh, come on, tell me!" Phil teased, pushing the chair closer towards the table. "I won't tell anyone!"
Keely grinned. "That's probably 'cause you don't have anyone else to tell." He looked at her, offended, then she shook her head. "All right. Don't tell anyone - " Phil nodded fervently and she had to smile again at his eagerness, " - but I, uhm, I can't dance."
His eyes widened. "What!" he cried.
"Shut up!" Keely said, waving her arms frantically. The glare and loud 'shhhh!' from the librarian went unnoticed as he stared at her, looking baffled. "You can't dance?"
She smiled sheepishly and looked down. "Guilty as charged."
"And - does anyone else know about this?" Phil asked. She shook her head. "Tia?" he tried again and once again she responded in the negative. "Whoa...why did you tell me, then?" he questioned.
She smiled up at him and reached for his hand. With a grin, he threaded his fingers through hers.
No reply was needed.
-
They were walking home together, in a discussion about the enraged tirade from the school librarian when they'd left the place, when it hit him. "Hey, I could teach you how to dance!"
"Wha - what?" she was caught off gaurd from the sudden change in topic.
"I could teach you dancing!" he repeated, a full-watt smile on his face. "I know how! Dance lessons were compulsary for Pim and I because our dad wanted us to be 'well-rounded'," he explained. She stared at him questioningly and he shook his head lightly. "Don't ask." She laughed and, pleased, he continued, "I could teach you how to dance!"
Keely shook her head slightly. "I don't know, Phil..."
"Come on, Keel! It's not like it can kill you or something!" He seemed so enthusiastic that she had to shrug.
"Okay, okay, fine," she gave in reluctantly. "But just so you know, I am not happy about this."
"Oh, I know," Phil said with a laugh.
-
"Okay, Mom, Dad, gotta go!" he called as he hurried to the front door. "I'll be back by...I dunno, five or six-ish?"
"Hey, where're you going?" Pim asked as she tried to catch up with him.
"Over to Keely's. I'm gonna teach her how to - " he paused and shook his head. "Never mind. I promised I wouldn't tell!" He leant into her and whispered. "Not even Tia!" He left the house grinning widely, as was Pim.
-
He entered the house and, walking straight towards Keely's room, he waved to Keely's mom as he passed by the entrance of the kitchen. He placed both his hands on the door and knocked 'The Knock'.
"Come in, Phil!" Keely called. He opened the door and went inside. "Hey!" she greeted cheerfully, switching off the television in the room.
"Hi," he said back. He walked over to the VCR and pressed the eject button. "What were you watching?" He turned over the tape in his hands and smiled. "You kept it?"
"Of course I did," she said. "Why wouldn't I?"
He shrugged. "I just thought..." He shrugged again. "Ah, never mind."
She watched him silently for a moment. "I asked our teacher for the tape later that day. He told me that I have gem of a best friend there. And I agree," she said with a bright smile.
He returned it and set the tape on top of the tape-recorder and turned around. "All right, you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess," Keely said with a nervous smile. She hesitated in front of Phil. "I'll apologise in advance for the number of times I'll step on your foot."
"Ah," Phil shook his head and waved his arm in a not-caring manner. "You can't be that bad."
Boy, was he wrong.
-
"My toes hurt."
"I know! I'm sorry!"
"My toes hurt, and my arms hurt."
"Phil!"
"Ahh," he cried, and collapsed on the bed. Keely rushed up to him. "Sorry, sorry, sorry," she mumbled repeatedly.
"Hey," Phil said amusedly, pulling her up so that they were eye-to-eye. "You already apologised."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she said, then clapped her hands to her mouth. "Oops. Sorry, sorry - "
"Oye, stop," he said with mock-irritation, and she smiled sheepishly.
"Sor - "
It was his turn to clap his hands to her mouth. "Shush."
"My God. I do talk too much," she said laughing.
"Yep." He nodded in agreement. He got up and opened the door. "All right - so, ah, when's the Dance coming up, then?" He started walking to the front door and Keely followed close behind.
"This Saturday."
"Oh." He shook his head. "I don't think you'll be able to get this straight in three days," he said teasingly.
She nodded seriously, although she knew Phil was just kidding. "Hey - maybe you can go with me," she said, with a sudden flash of inspiration. "I'll try extra hard not to step on your feet because you're worth the effort." She grinned widely.
"I was already planning on asking you," he said and grinned at her.
"So we're going together?" she said once they'd reached the door.
"Of course," he answered, and hugged her once. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Mrs Teslow smiled when she heard the conversation in the background. It broke out into a more mischevious one soon enough. There was probably a group already backing it up, and she would love to be a part of it.