I do not own Dirty Dancing.

Chapter Thirteen

POV Baby

Dancing Shoes

"What size shoe do you wear?" Penny asked me curiously as we stood in the Dance Studio, Johnny fiddling with the records at the back of the room, in a 'Pretend I'm not here,' Sort of way.

I really still didn't know what I was trying to do here. I was kidding myself if I ever thought I could be like Penny or Johnny. I wasn't anywhere near as good as either of them, and at this point I didn't think I ever would be. Penny was breathtakingly beautiful, you didn't have to be a lesbian to admit that. She had long blonde hair, a tall, thin frame, gentle curves, and long legs. And Johnny was...

What was Johnny? Ridiculously handsome, incredibly talented, very stern. He had this uncanny ability to make me feel like a child, a baby, next to him, and yet at the same time seemed to awaken things in me that belonged to a woman. It made no sense, and it was utterly foolish for me to think that he could like me the same way I liked him. He'd never go for me. And yet... I was noticing things. Things that shouldn't happen if he didn't like me.

"Seven," I answered nonchalantly. Penny strides over to a closet at the back of the room. "Why? I ask somewhat nervously. "Is there something wrong with these?" I ask her, glancing down at my favorite pair of Keds. I'd had already changed into my practice gear for today, pink shorts with white polka dots and a matching bralette. I'd been in my Keds since we started, so I didn't really see the point in changing them now.

"No," Penny answered blandly, shuffling around inside the closet. "You just can't perform in them. We've got about five days left, so you should probably start with the shoes now, give your feet a chance to break in."

"Break in to what?"

"These," Penny said with a grin. She was holding out a pair of shiny silver shoes, with a three inch heel, with a T strap, closed backing and toe straps. The most unusual thing was that the soles were leather- not the smooth part, the fuzzy part. Penny shut the closet door. "From now on, this pair of shoes is your baby," She articulated. Penny handed them to me with a grin. "Try them on."

I sat on the floor and undid the ankle clasp. "What's with the leather soles?"

"They're Ballroom Shoes," Penny shrugged, hands on her hips. "They're all like that. See?" Penny picked up her foot to show me the bottom of her shoe, identical to mine in every way except they hers were gold, far more worn on the bottom, and two sizes bigger than mine- probably because Penny was so tall. Sure enough, they had leather soles. "The leather moves better against the floor, makes turns easier, but still let's you keep control."

"So I wear them to practice and when I perform?" I ask, to make certain.

"Mhmm." Penny nodded, helping me up. "Now, these are Ballroom Shoes. They're not like other shoes. These babies get their own rules."

"Rules?" I questioned with an arched eyebrow. What kind of shoe had rules? I mean, there were a few obvious ones, like, don't wear white shoes in mud, or certain shoes shouldn't get wet, but how would these be any different than other sets of heels?

Penny nodded, "Yes. Rule number one, don't wear them outside. It gets the sole dirty. Rule number two, don't dance in them on carpet. You'll wear out the sole faster that way, and it creates friction on turns. Rule three, bring socks, or nylons, or bandaids to wear with them until they get well enough broken in."

"Why?" I asked the Rockette in a nervous, slightly terrified voice.

"Because you're gonna get blisters."

"Umm..." I began, looking slightly terrified, about to ask if there was a way to avoid the blisters part of this whole ordeal.

"Oh, relax, Baby," Johnny groaned, striding over to where Penny and I stood, arms folded over his chest. "They don't hurt that bad. You get blisters because your feet aren't used to dancing in shoes like these. They fit tighter than regular shoes so your foot doesn't come out in the middle of a song," The tall Dance Instructor explained, brushing an unseen speck of lint from his shoulder. "The blisters are spots where calluses will build up, they protect your feet, so that when you dance, or turn, you don't get blisters. Like what happens to your hands when you do monkey bars,"

"You just said it wasn't that bad," I warily reminded him. Johnny simply rolled his eyes.

"And rule four," Penny began, looking at me with a wide eyed, serious expression, "Wear them whenever you can. Wherever you can. Walk around in them, practice in them, dance in them, Wear them to the parties. Just make sure you don't get caught doing it, or if you do, make sure it isn't someone who would question you having shoes like that. Or make up something to tell your family about where you got them. The point is-"

"Don't let anyone know they came from us." Johnny finished sternly, blue eyes trained on me. It felt like he was looking right through me when he did that. The sensation gave me shivers. "Or we get fired, and all this is for nothing."

"How am I supposed to wear them to the parties without taking them outside?"

Penny shrugged. "Tell your family a lie about where you got them, say you want to keep them clean, walk there barefoot, or in backup shoes, put them on at the party. Or, you could try to walk only on the stone path and the steps. Stay off dirt and grass, and wet areas, mostly, and you should be fine."

"Just make sure that you step in clean, dry areas, and don't break them," Johnny continued, looking down at me. "Shoes like that aren't exactly cheap- a good pair costs more than we make in a day."

"And, in case you get bored of silver," Penny added, reaching back into the closet, "There's these," The Rockette said with an excited grin, holding out a pair identical to the silver shoes I was wearing, only in cream. "They're the same as those other ones, size, shape, both brand new. Your feet will react the same to them. Have fun!"

"I'm going to kill Penny," I mumbled, slumping back again the wall of the dance studio, falling to the floor.

"Oh, come on, Baby. It can't be that bad," Johnny rolled his eyes, lowering himself onto the floor across from me. "Let me see," He insisted, gesturing to my foot.

Begrudgingly, I pick up my left foot and set it in Johnny's lap, my ankle resting against his thigh. Skilfully, Johnny's fingers unlatched the buckle on my shoe to examine my foot. Thankfully, it was only in one spot, the same spot on both feet, the knuckle of my big toe. Johnny lifted the bandaid that was covering it.

"Well, that looks like it hurts," Johnny remarked, eyeing the blisters cautiously. They were angry red as a fresh layer of skin began to form.

"No, you think?" I roll my eyes.

"Believe it or not, those really aren't all that bad. They're mostly healed," Johnny stated, covering the spot back up. "Keep on doing what you're doing, and it'll be completely healed for the Sheldrake, and you probably won't get a new one if you keep up with the bandaids and nylons until then. Those shoes are yours- as long as you want them. Keep using them and eventually callouses will build up so you don't need things like that when you dance."

"You're sure they'll be better by the Sheldrake?" I ask skeptically.

"Positive," Johnny assured me, fingers delicately gracing over the skin on my ankle as he slipped the silver shoe back onto my foot. It was a disturbingly pleasant sensation. "You should've seen the ones I got when I first started dancing- twice as bad, at least. I still have scars on my feet from them. If you ever hear a Dancer talk about having pretty feet, they're either lying or they're not really a Dancer."

I want to ask Johnny about how he became a Dancer, how long he's been doing this, who first taught him. But I don't think he'd tell me if I did. That only makes me want to know more about this stubborn, beautiful man sitting right before me. "Do you think you'll keep up with Dancing?" Johnny asked as he watched me, leaning back on his hands.

I pulled my foot out of Johnny's lap. "Maybe," I smiled. "I don't mind it so much anymore. But my family still doesn't know about this, so it's not like I can just all of a sudden start dancing. They still think I suck."

"I know I really haven't said it," Johnny began with a smirk, "But you don't suck."

"That really helps," I laugh, brushing a curl from my face, body shaking with laughter. Johnny grinned at me.

"I mean it," He smiled, watching me with those blue eyes of his. I swallowed. "I haven't told you enough, but you have more natural talent than anyone I've ever worked with, aside from Penny maybe. You're getting good," Johnny told me. "You could be as good as her one day. And that's not nothing."

I looked across at my dance partner and smiled. "Thanks, Johnny," I tell him softly.

"Don't let it go to your head," Johnny smiled as he stood up from his spot on the floor. He offered a big palm down to me, and I took it. Effortlessly, Johnny pulled me up from the floor. "Back to work, Baby."

Johnny's pulse pounded against his chest, against mine. His hands clutched my hips hungrily while we swayed sensually to the Latin rhythms. Desperately, I try to catch my breath in the moment. I had gotten better at timing my breathing the more we practiced, but more recently, the problem had become less my inexperience than Johnny.

Johnny Castle. Butterflies stirred in my stomach nearly every time I thought about him. He was the most frustrating man I knew. Even though I knew for a fact that he would never reciprocate my attraction to him. Despite the hopeless situation of my crush, he never ceased to take my breath away.

I had imagined what it would be like with him a handful of times. I'd never done it with anyone before, but I wanted to do it with him. One part of me thought that it couldn't be all that different than the first time we'd danced. The other part thought that it would be so much better, all passion and breathless moans, ardent kisses. The sounds of lovemaking would fill the air, my skin on his beneath the sheets, sweat mingling in the darkness.

Johnny threw me back into a dip, pulling me from my inappropriate thoughts. His hand grazed my thigh while I rose. Johnny urged me closer, bodies pressing tightly together, faces mere centimeters apart. I could see passion and hunger swimming in his blue eyes. Desire. Desire for me. Without thought, I tip my head back, feeling his hot breath on my neck and bare shoulders. Johnny pushed closer, lips ghosting over my jaw, touching sweet kisses to my skin.

He looked at me, all but asking my permission. My hand slipped down his jaw, curling around his neck to press into the spot between his shoulder blades. Yes, Is the word I try to convey without sound. Yes. Please.

He closed his eyes, lips drawing nearer and nearer. An inch away. A centimeter. A millimeter, but it is not close enough, and it never will be. Then, I felt the barest sliver of skin from his lips-

"Darling, are you feeling okay?"

Abruptly, I jerk my eyelids open, blinking furiously to wake myself up. Dammit. I'd been fantasizing about Johnny again. Pleasant as it was, I hated doing it. It was so easy to get caught when I let myself slip like that, and it wasn't like it would ever go anywhere, so what was the point?

"Yeah, Mom, I'm fine," I yawn, pulling my book from off my stomach. What had I been reading again? Discreetly, I glance down at the book's cover. Pride and Prejudice? How did I get... that... from Pride and Prejudice? They weren't anywhere near the same realms as far as romance went.

With a swallow, I close the book and set it on the end table, attempting to shake off the dream with a few dozen blinks and a twitch of my eyebrows. Mom leaned over, touching a hand to my forehead. "You don't feel warm..." She thought. "But all of a sudden you just seem to be so tired lately. Could you be coming down with something?"

I shake my head. "I'm fine," I insist, "Really," I wasn't sick. It was just that Johnny's lessons were taking a toll. On a good day, I came back sweaty and exhausted. The worst of it all were the late nights. He didn't always have time for me in the day, so sometimes we'd be up till two in the morning practicing for the Sheldrake.

Mom pursed her lips. "Why don't you stay home from the party tonight?" She suggested, "I know you really aren't enjoying yourself at those things. You probably wouldn't tonight, either. Tonight is supposed to be a masquerade."

I quirk my eyebrows. "Masquerade like costume, with idiots walking around dressed up like the Mummy or Dracula, or masquerade like Mardi Gras, and just masks?"

"The second one. It's a dollar a mask," She informed me. "But I really do think you should stay here. Get some rest."

I swallowed. A masquerade. I could go, and no one would know it was me. Just one night, a break from the lies. "Okay," I agree, even though resting was the last thing I planned on doing.

"Mask, Miss?" The man outside the door asked me. There were a few other tables of masks being sold, manned by what I could only assume were off duty Waiters or Porters. Keeping my head down to be certain no one saw my face, I respond affirmatively, and hand the man a dollar bill.

The man nodded, and handed me a black and red feathered mask, matching my dress. "Thank you," I nod, stepping off to the side to tie my mask on.

"Baby?" A voice behind me questioned. I jerk my head around to gaze upon the intruder, dropping the mask unintentionally, and find-

"Oh, Billy," I sigh in relief. Quickly, I bend down to pick up the mask. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you," He breathed in disbelief. "And... wearing that?" Billy questioned, eyeing my attire up and down. It was a dark red silk dress, trimmed in black lace, something I'd once worn for Freshmen Homecoming, and had grabbed last minute when my Mother insisted upon fancy attire. It was low cut, and tied around in the back, giving it a tight bodice, but it flared out around the waist, allowing for free movement. I'd paired it with the silver dance shoes Penny leant me, fishnet tights, also Penny's, and had put my hair into a nice pleat, which Penny, again, had taught me, and I would wear for the Sheldrake. "I thought you-"

"I know, Billy," I say. "You thought I was the good girl. And I did too. But... the dancing, and the Sheldrake, and I'm just not sure anymore." I look around at all the guests flocking into the ballroom. "Tonight's a masquerade. People are trying to be something they aren't. They aren't dressed like themselves. I'm not..." I hesitate. "I'm not the same person I was when I came to Kellerman's. We both know that. This," I gesture to the dress, "Might be going a little bit far... but I just need one night where I don't have to feel like I'm lying to everyone. Most of all myself."

Remaining stoic, Billy nodded. "I know how you feel about Johnny," Billy whispered. "Promise me that this isn't you chasing him?" I nod. "Good." Swiftly, I turn from Billy towards the doors, tying my mask as I go. Finally, it is secure. "Baby," Billy called again.

"What?" I ask with a small smile.

"You're a knockout," Billy insisted. "And he's going to love that dress,"

I smiled bittersweetly. "No," I shook my head. "He won't," Johnny didn't like me. He could barely stand me.

I see Billy grin as I ran up the steps, and hear him cry, "You're a fool, Baby!"

Not going to lie, I was a bit hesitant to post this chapter, but I enjoy the scene it goes through a lot, and no, it's not done yet. There's another part of this, at the masquerade Baby is going to, from Johnny's eyes.

I kind of wondered if they would interact with each other at dances when Johnny was giving her lessons, and I started to really want to write a scene like that. But they couldn't really be seen together, so I had the idea to make the party a masquerade, since they could dance without people knowing, and it seemed like the kind of thing a place like Kellerman's would do anyway, which is how I got this.

To address a few things from the chapter- I wrote Baby as really conflicted in this section, on multiple points, and I thought a few of you might be wondering why.

On the first count, she was conflicted about how Johnny felt about her. When I write scenes, I have her certainty of Johnny's feelings for her shift. Baby is a teenage girl, she's awkward, and probably hasn't had a lot of boys interested in her. Some days, Johnny is better at hiding his feelings than others, which would be confusing for her. She's bound to be going back and forth on what his feelings might be, especially with the way he acts at times.

For the second count, I wrote Baby most noticeably in this chapter as being confused about who she is as a person. She's young and still deciding who she wants to be, even if Baby thinks she has it all figured out, she's still growing and maturing. And now, she's being asked to do things she hasn't done before, lie, and dance, and keep secrets. That's going to affect her. Now she's doing things she wouldn't ordinarily have done, but she doesn't mind it. She's liking things the her that came to Kellerman's didn't like, and she's changing. Now, Baby's not sure that she's exactly what she thought, so this chapter and the next is a lot of her struggling with that, trying to decide who she really is.