"You're sure it won't be weird for me to start now?" Tugger asked Munkustrap nervously as they made their way to the dance building.
"Nah, there are drop-ins all the time, since Victoria is a popular teacher." His brother assured him. "Most are only there because they think she's cute and don't come back when they realize it's an actual serious class, but she's always polite to them anyway. There are a lot of regulars too though."
"Okay," Tugger muttered, half in answer to his brother and half to reassure himself. He felt distinctly awkward in his joggers and tank top. It was different than his usual gym clothes and considerable less eye catching than his everyday where. In a way, he felt naked without the carefully constructed image he usual create through his clothing. It took more effort to maintain the air of easy confidence he took pride in projecting, especially when walking through the dance building, doing something he would never have considered just a few months ago.
"We're here." Munkustrap told him, nodding to a door. Eyes fixed on the back of his brothers head, Tugger followed him into the studio, mirroring him in setting his bag and water bottle down in a cubby shelf at the front of the room.
"We usually stretch and warm up by ourselves a little before Victoria comes." Munkustrap explained. "You chat with some of the others if you-" he paused, seeing the look on Tugger's face and correctly interpreting it as a no, "Or we could just stretch together over there I guess." Munkustrap featured to an empty corner of the room and Tugger nodded.
When it came to dancing, Tugger felt lost. He had taken a dance class freshman year for a gen ed, but he hadn't paid much attention during it and had probably only passed because he had been sleeping with the TA. Maybe if he had taken it more seriously then he would feel more confident now. If he made a fool of himself, he might ruin Victoria's impression of him. If he seemed like a natural, maybe she would mention him to her brother, or maybe Mistoffelees might pop in during class to see his sister and be impressed by Tugger. It felt like a make or break moment. Looking around the studio, it was clear that practically everyone there was more flexible and had better coordination than he did. Maybe the best he could do was not embarrass himself too much.
Watching the clock above the mirror tick closer and closer to the class' start time, Tugger wondered whether Victoria was usually a bit late to her own class. He wished that she would hurry and arrive so he could stop feeling like he had to hold his breath as he waited for class to start. Just a minute before class was supposed to begin, Tugger noticed a figure through the frosted glass door of the studio. Finally, he thought to himself. But when the door opened it wasn't Victoria. It was her brother.
Misto cleared his throat to catch the attention of the rest of the room, waiting until everyone fell silent to speak.
"My sister, uh, can't come this week." He told the room at large. The other students turned to each other to exchange looks. In contrast to Tugger's own shock and excitement, the other students seemed a bit disappointed. "So I'll be subbing for until she's, er, able to come back."
"Why can't she teach us?" Someone asked.
"Will she be back next week or will it be longer?" Another person called from the back of the room.
"I don't know when she'll be able to come back." Misto said, ignoring the first questioned. "Anyway, everyone find a space facing the mirror, it's time to warm up."
Still talking softly to each other, the students fell into their places in front of the mirror. Tugger was so dazed at Misto's sudden appearance and the thrill of finally hearing him say more than a single word that he didn't notice he was standing too close to someone until they asked him to move. Embarrassed, he shuffled into place.
The warmup was harder than Tugger had imagined it would be. He was in shape, but the fast and precise movements Misto led them through had him feeling oafish and clumsy. He felt like an idiot. At least he was close to the back, where Misto couldn't really see his failures.
It got even worse when they moved into stretching. It was any area of fitness that Tugger had never really thought was important enough to practice. Lunges that the other students seemed to find easy made his quads ache, and that was just the beginning of it. With every new stretch he felt more and more inadequate. As Misto began walking around the room, inspecting each person as they all held a front split, Tugger took comfort that at least wasn't the only one who couldn't do a full split, even if he was the highest off the floor. At any rate, the ache in his legs made it hard to think too hard about it anyway.
Suddenly, Tugger felt pressure on his back hip and looked up to see Mistoffelees standing over him frowning.
"You're crooked." He said, as if Tugger would know what that meant. Before Tugger could ask him to explain further, he put his foot on Tugger's left buttock and pushed down hard. Tugger had to bite his tongue to keep himself from crying out in pain. "It should be more like this. With both hips pointing forward."
Continuing to bite his tongue, Tugger nodded, breathing a sigh of relief when Misto finally released his ass.
"Alright. Warm up is over." Misto called. "Take a quick water break and then we'll start on today's combo."
Tugger struggled to get up, his legs still aching. Munk found him as he was walking over to the cubbies.
"Judging from the warmup, he's a tougher teacher than his sister." Munkustrap commented, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Is it too hard for you? Do you regret coming?"
"Are you kidding?" Tugger laughed. "I've been trying to track Mistoffelees down for weeks and I just had the privilege of him almost breaking my legs and telling me my ass is crooked. I'm definitely coming back next week."
"Victoria might be back by then."
Tugger shrugged.
"Still worth a shot."
The combo Misto taught them was met with failure and frustration from nearly the entire class. Judging from the intense concentration in his brother's expression on the other side of the room, Tugger guessed that it was harder than anything Victoria had ever given the class. Munk and a few other students managed to keep up while missing some of the tricky moves, whereas Tugger and everyone else became flailing messes just trying to keep up. When Misto turned to watch instead of dance it with them, Tugger couldn't help but notice how his mouth tightened in displeasure as he observed their sad attempts to replicate his precise grace. No matter how many times Misto gave corrections and they went through it again, the class just couldn't seem to get it. The closest thing anyone got to praise was when Misto told Munkustrap and some of the other students in the front that they were "starting to grasp the basics." Everyone has exhausted and swimming in sweat, but none of them could seem to get it.
"We're out of time." Misto finally called out when Tugger felt as if he might collapse if he attempted the combo another time. "Thanks for coming, we'll try again next week I guess."
"I'm going to stay and stretch for a bit, would you like to join me?" Munkustrap asked as they waited for the first wave of people to get their things from the cubbies and leave. Tugger's eyes darted around the room until they came to rest on where Misto was taking the out of the CD player and preparing to leave. Tugger turned back to his brother and shook his head. If Mistoffelees wasn't staying neither was he. He hurried to the cubby where he had stored his bag as soon as the way was clear and hurried out the door, hoping he could catch up.
Fortunately, Misto was only a few yards down the hallway. Quickening his pace, Tugger approached him, hoping it wouldn't seem like he was stalking him. He waited until he was just a few steps behind Misto to speak.
"Hey." Tugger said, trying to sound casual. Misto turned his head sharply to meet him, raising his eyebrows in surprise when he saw Tugger.
"Did you need something?" He asked, nonplussed.
"I just wanted to tell you it was a fun class!" Tugger said, even though painful was probably more accurate. "Will you be teaching again next week?"
"Probably." Misto shrugged, then made to walk away.
"Wait!" Tugger called after him. Misto stopped and looked back at him expectantly. "Are you free now? Would you like to, uh, get coffee or something?"
"I have class in ten minutes." Misto said, and then turned and left.
Well, it was a lot more than one word this time, Tugger thought to himself. So I guess it counts as progress.