I do not own Dirty Dancing.

Chapter Sixteen

POV Johnny

Rainy Days

I lowered Baby back into the water. This time, she'd finally been able to keep from falling into the water. It was a good sign. She could do the lift now, another step closer to her being able to perform. I glance down at Baby, who looked prouder than I'd ever seen. I smile down at her, glad to share in her pride, and feeling pride of my own, pride that I had been able to make her smile like that. It seemed amazing how just being around her could feel so wonderful. "That's good," I admit, though I want to say much more.

My hands haven't moved from her hips, though they should've a long time ago. But then, hers still rest atop my shoulders. Did she want me to move them? No. I couldn't afford to think like that. As badly as I wanted Baby, nothing could ever happen between us. Even if she wanted it, too, I wouldn't encourage something between us that could never happen. I refused to hurt her like that.

Baby gazed up at me with those beautiful brown eyes of hers, smiling softly. Whenever she looked at me with those eyes, it felt like she was looking straight into my soul. With Baby it was not an unpleasant sensation. I would've told her anything she wanted to know. In a not so brief moment of weakness, I smile for her.

I was on the brink of falling in love with her. I had been for a long time. There are so many questions I want to ask her. Does she have feelings for me? Didn't she know what she did to me? Couldn't she see how badly I wanted her? How I ached, burned for her every touch, look, and smile?

The words want to spill from my mouth. My lips want to kiss every inch of her skin. I have never wanted to kiss her this badly before. But the one rational part of my brain remembers all too well that kissing Baby, telling her how I feel, crosses one line too many. Than no matter what I, or we, want, it can never happen.

A shriek from Baby was probably what pulled me back to reality, as opposed to the only silver of rationality concerning her that remained. All around us, raindrops hit the water. I laugh at her distress, "Oh, come on, Baby. It's not like we can get more wet than we already are,"

Baby showed just how much she didn't appreciate my response by splashing water in my face. Somewhat childishly, I get her back by doing exactly the same thing. Baby gasped at the cold of the water, and sent a wall my way.

Promptly, I returned fire, and dove under. The water stilled above me, and Baby stood in the distance, confused. Even underwater, I could hear her call my name, "Johnny?" I knew what I was about to do was wicked, but couldn't resist. Grasping her ankles, I yank her underwater.

Baby twisted from my arms and surfaced, me a second behind her. She was not happy, "That was a rotten trick!" Baby shouts, at which I laugh, before explaining my devious ways.

She scowled down at me, yet my grin remained, "Yeah, but the expression on your face was priceless," However mad she is, it's not mad enough to keep her from swimming back to my arms, despite it's being unnecessary for her to be there.

Above, a clap of thunder rang out. It had been raining all day, and I should've had us get out of the water when it started up again. You should never go swimming during a rainstorm.

Baby frowned, and sighed. "I suppose we have to get out, now," Grimly, I nodded. Together, we wade to shore. I simply carried my clothes, having put on my shoes, in an effort to keep them as dry as possible. Baby put on her sneakers and picked up her button down shirt, but left it off.

Once we reached my car, I got the passenger door for Baby, and then went over to the driver's side. After I climbed in, I didn't put on my shirt. My pants were already soaked. Baby had seen me shirtless, and my shirt didn't need to get wet, too.

Minutes later, we were pulling through the parking lot. "Am I dropping you off at your cabin?" Briefly, I look at Baby. I didn't know what she'd told her Parents about where she was today. Maybe her Parents weren't even at their cabin, and she could walk around in wet clothes unquestioned.

She shook her head. I thought not. "No. My clothes need to dry out, first." Baby looked to her shirt and plucked the damp fabric from the taut skin of her stomach, "This is going to be a little difficult to explain when they think I've been at a Chess tournament for the last few hours. Even with the rain."

I nodded. So, she was at a 'Chess tournament' today. That seemed like something Baby would do. But if I couldn't drop her at her cabin, where was I supposed to take her? I couldn't take her to my cabin, or anyone else's for that matter. "Where, then?" I questioned, feeling around for suggestions. As tempting as it was to take her back to my cabin, I wasn't going to risk anyone catching us there, especially in such states of dress as we were in.

"Just the storage facility is fine, I guess." I nod to her words. It was as good a place as any, being as it would be empty for hours, so she could wait until her clothes were dry without prying eyes. I parked in the staff lot, which was really a wide gravel driveway in the back of Kellerman's where the staff left their cars.

I climbed out from the car, and walked around to get her door. She took my hands and stood up. Baby looked like a drowned rat standing there in the rain, with her wet clothes. I had towels in my cabin. I could bring them back for her. Deciding, I tell her, "You go up to the storage room. I'm gonna head up to my cabin and see if I can find you some towels."

Through the rain, I heard her voice. "Which one's yours?"

Mine? She wanted to know where my cabin was? Why on Earth would she want to know that? There was no reason for her to know, other than simple curiosity. Because she genuinely wanted to know. I point in the direction of it. Mine was built away from the others, off in the woods. "That one," Thinking about the storage room, I say, "I'll meet you there,"

After walking in, I immediately leant the umbrella against the wall, finally sheltered from the pelting rain, "I come bearing towels,"

Baby took one almost before I said the words. She presses it to her hair, as I laughed. "Have I mentioned that you're the best?"

Laughing, I answer, "No, but it wouldn't kill me to hear it again. I would've brought clothes for you, but I think we're not quite the same size."

Baby rolled her eyes as she responded, "Not quite. But that would be even worse to explain to my Parents. Instead of coming back in soaking wet clothes, I come back wearing the clothes of a strange man they don't know. I don't even want to picture what they'd say,"

In my mind, her Parents' reaction to Baby showing up in my clothes was not a pretty picture. Of all the ways she could end up wearing my shirt... that was the last one I'd thought about. Drawing me back to reality, I see Baby taking her shirt off. In a span of three seconds I pale, and then go tomato red. She had to be teasing me. "Baby... what are you doing?" I question, trying not to sound nervous.

"I'm taking off my clothes, what does it look like I'm doing? They'll dry faster that way." Baby pulled on her pinstripe shirt, in an attempt to cover herself. I said nothing pertaining to the fact that I could see her bra through the shirt. She took off her jeans, and laid them out on a wooden bench with her shirt. Desperately, I tried not to stare as she knotted the towel at her waist.

Mentally, I curse myself for not bringing my own clothes. They would've gotten dirty from the lingering lake water, as I didn't have time to shower before coming here. That was better than my alternative, stripping down in front of Baby. She was absolutely right that they would dry faster if we weren't wearing them, and going out in the rain to get dry clothes would only reverse any progress I'd made since I put them back on.

The part of me that yearns for Baby takes control. Irrationally, I take off my jeans, and dry my hair with a towel. Baby gaped at me from across the room, and I hid my smirk. She was amazing, this woman I had feelings for. One second she's taking off her clothes. And the next shocked because I'm taking off mine. "You know, you are something else, Baby."

I hadn't expected a response, but I got one anyway. Baby burst into laughter immediately after my words, though I had no idea what was so funny. I smile at her idiosyncrasies, "What?"

Through her laughter, Baby managed to get out, "Can you imagine what people would think if they could see us now?" The thought made me laugh. I couldn't help but picture Neil's face at seeing the two of us, drowned and not wearing much clothing.

"That would be interesting," I admit.

It is hours before our clothes are dry enough to put back on, but eventually, we redress ourselves. Baby's voice came from across the room as I buckled my pants. "Johnny?"

"Yeah, Baby?"

"Am I just a student to you?"

I freeze for a moment. This was a question that I both wanted and feared to hear. How was I supposed to answer this? To lie, was impossible. I wouldn't lie to Baby. But I couldn't tell her the truth, either. Somewhat desperately, I try to laugh it off. To dodge her question. "What? What's that supposed to mean?"

Baby is silent for a long time before explaining. "Well... when this thing first started, we were only doing it for Penny's sake, right?" Reluctantly, I nodded. That much was true. Back then, though I was attracted to her, I only agreed to teach her because of Penny. Her pretty face wouldn't have been enough. "Has that changed? Me... at first I kind of hated you. But now... I like being around you. It doesn't seem like a chore anymore,"

I consider her words deeply. There was only so far I could go in this without admitting I was that close to falling for her. Her words were true. Once I'd gotten to know Baby, it had been more about my feelings for her, me wanting to teach her than Penny making me. Softly, I speak my answer, "Yeah. I guess I feel the same. Now it's become more something I want to do rather than have to. I like spending time with you, Baby." My words were true. But they did not tell all.

Baby stepped over to me, to say goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow," She enveloped me in a tight hug, startling me. A friendly gesture, albeit one I hadn't been expecting. We'd never really... hugged... before. And this, despite being something often done between friends, seemed too... different for it to mean just that. I thought it was wonderful, and even began to return the embrace. I nodded to her words. Each passing day, my feelings for her grew. A decision would have to be reached soon, each day bringing it closer.

"Tomorrow."