Ok folks. Same drill as before: REPOST of my original story with tweaks and edits. Enjoy the first training session! New chapters starting at 25.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Dancing with the Stars. Well, shoot!
BPOV
Why was I so nervous?
Oh, it couldn't be the fact that I was about to go into a dance studio, for the first time since I was about six, with the most gorgeous man I had ever seen in my life as my instructor and dance partner who basically took my breath away when we only met just a few days ago. No, that couldn't be it.
Geez, Bella. Get a grip with yourself. Edward is just a guy. Period. He's going to help me learn how to dance and get through this crazy thing that I had agreed to.
These last four days I had been busy with my usual writing and editing that needed to be done, but I was also spending a lot of time on YouTube so that I could see what the hell it was that I was expected to do. I started watching full episodes because the little clips I had seen here and there weren't enough. The first time I had seen Rosalie take the floor on my computer screen, I thought I was going to be sick. She was beyond beautiful and her moves were flawless and confident. She was simply amazing. I couldn't do that and wear what she was wearing while doing it. Show that much skin. I didn't have the body for this.
Then I watched recordings of Edward. Wow. He moved effortlessly and damn, he did look good in those open shirts and fitted pants. The way he caressed his partners, held them to his chest, twirled them. I started to hyperventilate. Angela had to grab me a glass of water and practically ran back out of my office when she realized I was going to ream her out so badly for allowing me to do this.
I couldn't do this. I just couldn't. Edward didn't have a chance at winning while I was his partner and for that I was so sorry for him to be stuck with me.
I was standing outside of the dance studio where I was supposed to work with Edward. I had to mentally prepare for two things: one, Edward himself. That was a HUGE mental preparation, to ensure that I didn't drool and that all of my sentences came out of my mouth complete. And two, the cameras. Oh yes, the camera crews were to begin their filming today for all of the couples, to capture all aspects of me falling on my face. Well, all aspects of our dance practices and interactions so they could compile a video montage for the shows each week. Lovely. It was still going to capture me falling on my ass…a lot.
I couldn't make out the music that was coming from the other side of the wooden door, but I knew it was some kind of piano piece. I let the music fill me while I took a deep breath and opened the door. It swung open and I couldn't help but release that breath I had taken.
Edward was lying on his back on the floor. He didn't appear to be hurt, but my heart started to pump a little faster as I couldn't help worrying that something might be wrong. He was in black warm-up pants and a white t-shirt that had the sleeves cut off. His arms, which weren't bulky but definitely defined, were across his eyes and along the side of his body. His fingers were tapping on the wooden floor, as if he were playing the piano along with the music. It was then that I recognized the tune.
"Claire de Lune?" I called out. Edward immediately sat up straight as a board. I didn't mean to startle him, but it appears I had. I blushed.
"Bella…" Oh man. The way he says my name, it just gives me chills. I hope he didn't see my slight shiver.
"Uh, yes. Claire de Lune. It's one of my favorites and I like how Debussy uses such a simplistic tune to convey all the emotions that run through the song," he continued. It was clear that he had a passion for music. It made my heart speed up even more.
"It's one of my favorites as well," I stated simply. He smiled a crooked smile and made my breath hitch. He hoisted himself off the floor much more gracefully than I could have and jogged over to the stereo in the corner. And that's where the camera man had been set up. I knew he was going to be moving all around, but I didn't immediately notice him there. Not due to the Greek God standing anywhere in the vicinity.
"So, are you ready to learn how to dance?" Edward asked, clearly excited.
"Do I have to?" I tried to keep it under my breath, but he had a smirk on his face as if he had heard me. Crap. I went to the opposite corner and dropped my bag. It's now or never, right?
"Alright Bella." The smirk was gone. He was all business now. Double crap. "I'm going to put on some music and I want to see what I'm working with. We'll start with something simple. I want you to tap your foot to the beat of the music."
"Ok," I gulped. I could do that right? Of course I could. I tapped my pencil against my desk when a catchy tune came on the radio…but did I do it on the beat? I hope so…Lord, why did there have to be someone taping this. How embarrassing!
The music switched from the soothing piano to a heavy beat, almost techno in style, but not really. I didn't recognize the tune, but I don't think there was a true tune. Just a beat. I took a second to listen to it and made sure I had what I thought was the beat before I threw myself under the Edward bus.
My foot started to tap on its own. I bit my lip and looked up at Edward. He had a look of concentration as he watched me. His head was nodding to the beat and if he was right, so was I! That crooked smile began to creep back onto his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Good, Bella. Now, in some Latin dances you have to dance on the 1, or the offbeat, instead of the 2, or the down beat. I'm going to switch the music and I want you to tap your foot on the off beat. Do you think you can do that?"
I nodded, not as confident as before.
The music changed and I struggled for a second longer than the first song. I could feel Edward's stare on me, along with the camera lens focusing in on me, which only flustered me more, but I tried to focus. I found what I felt was the downbeat and focused that much harder to nab the off beat. My toe began to tap once more on its own and once I felt fairly confident I looked up and met Edward's eyes.
"Not bad, Bella." He was smiling again. I'd do anything to keep him smiling.
"T-thanks," I stuttered.
"Usually it takes a lot longer for a novice to pick up a beat like you did."
"I did take dance classes when I was six," I teased.
"Oh really? My mistake then. Maybe you should be teaching me, oh prima ballerina!" He edged himself closer to me. We were laughing, the music pumping in the background and we were in our own world. I then caught a glint of light reflecting off of the camera lens and it was as if I had been electrocuted. I jumped back and blushed. Edward looked over at the cameraman and smirked. Great.
"All kidding aside, Bella. It was very impressive for someone without a dance background. Have you had any musical training?"
"Um, no. I just like to listen to music. Any kind. It's helpful when I'm writing to have a soundtrack going in my head. Puts moods behind scenes, helps when creating a character. I always have music playing in my office or around the house."
"That could explain it," he said, walking back over to the stereo and stopping the latin beat.
The camera man took down the camera from his shoulder and began to talk to Edward. I walked around the studio, taking in the atmosphere. There were a lot of mirrors, of course, as well as floor to ceiling windows that had the California sun streaming in. It was beautiful outside. I loved the sun. Why did I live and work in Seattle again?
There was minimal artwork on the walls, just a print here and there to add some color. It looked like your traditional dance studio. I started to feel less intimidated. Sure, I couldn't really dance but I just needed to loosen up and have fun. I would have never in a million years decided to do something like this on my own and while I'm sure I'm going to regret things that happen during my time here, I can't help but feel a little excited to step outside my comfort zone…but only a little.
"Bella, come over here." Edward called me over to his side, snapping me out of my wandering daze.
"This is Tyler Crowley," he said as he motioned to the cameraman. "He'll be with us for the next few weeks at least, but hopefully he'll be with us to the finals."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully we'll be here that long," I said with a smile and shook his hand.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be fine. Edward here is one of the best."
"Yeah. I know. No pressure, right?"
"Well, Tyler just likes to stick with me because, according to him, I get the most attractive partners." That cute smirk graced Edward's face again as he shrugged. I couldn't help but feel my smile falling.
"Oh, sorry Tyler. I wish I could help you there, but you're just stuck with me." I was playing with my hands, looking away from the two men in the room. It was quiet for a little while until I decided to look up. Both Edward and Tyler were looking at me like I had sprouted a second head. Tyler broke the silence.
"Right…haha! Edward, she's definitely going to give us some good footage this season. She's got some humor in her." Tyler turned back to me. "Bella, you are a good looking girl. Please don't take offense, but damn, if I didn't have a girlfriend who I adored, I would definitely be asking you for your number!"
I blushed. What a Bella type of response. I looked at Edward who still had a sour look on his face. I knew that he didn't believe Tyler. I mean, Tyler was sweet for saying that, but it was definitely not true.
"Tell her, Ed!"
I couldn't help looking into Edward's eyes. The sour expression left his face and it softened slightly. I braced myself for the gentle letdown that would be gracing his perfectly formed lips.
"You're beautiful." Simple and quiet. Blood filled my cheeks again. I could feel my eyes become slightly teary and I swallowed to hold them back. I wish I could have believed him. I knew he was just saying that to make me feel better and feel less awkward, but deep down I wanted to actually believe that I was pretty.
"Eh hem…" Tyler interrupted the quiet moment. "Moving on. I think we should get back to filming, yeah?"
"Right," Edward agreed.
"Sure," was the only thing I could say at this moment.
The camera was back on Tyler's shoulder and he had it pointed at us. I could see a red light on, so I'm assuming he had already begun to film again. Yay. I was hoping to move on from my looks, seeing as I really didn't want another conversation like we had just had caught on tape. I was not as lucky as I had hoped.
"Bella, I hope you won't take offense to what I'm about to ask but I need you to do me a favor."
"Sure." What could he possibly want from me?
"I need you to wear tighter clothing." WHAT!?
My eyes bugged out of my head and I began to blush, one more time, just for good measure. I couldn't possibly wear tighter clothing. I can't show him more of my body. I had specifically worn my sweat pants and a slightly oversized long-sleeved shirt from my college days so that I would be comfortable, not only while moving, but around Edward. I know I didn't look my best right now, but damn, did I really need to watch what I was wearing!
"Um…why?" I really wanted to know. I started to get defensive and I didn't want to go all Bellzilla on Edward.
"Bella, I need to see how your body is moving. The judges are going to be looking for how you hold yourself, your posture, how your hips move, footwork, everything like that. In those clothes, I can only imagine how your body is moving and I can't correct you if I can't see what you're doing." I guess that would make sense, but I still wasn't comfortable with wearing clothes like that, even in my own home.
"I can tell that you're uncomfortable with this idea." Can he read my mind? "But, I really need you to do this for me. For us. T-shirts are fine, as long as they are fitted a little closer to your body. Pants are fine as well, but maybe not sweats. Try yoga pants or something like that. I need to see the lines that your body can make."
He slightly blushed at that comment. That or he was getting aggravated that he had to ask a woman to wear tighter clothes. Hell, I'm sure most women that work with him strut around in practically nothing. Poor man, he's got the only woman in the world who wants to cover themselves up around him.
"Oh, and also…start bringing heels."
Death traps. Shoot me now.
This is going to be a fairly long story, so hang in there. And please review. I love hearing what you all think about the story or if you have any thoughts on what you would like to see happen. Reviews are like hugs, and I love those!
