To all of my reviewers… grab your Esteban and come on over and Tango!

…I only know

when he

began to dance

with me

I could have danced, danced, danced

all night

-My Fair Lady

Then there is 'flirtation'.

Maddie quickly tapped her feet as she sorted a stack of snickers bars. Then she moved on to a stubborn pyramid of altoids, humming a song with a Latin beat. Still humming, she twirled around and grabbed a box full of butterfingers, she was about to spin them back to the counter when-

"Maddie!"

Maddie screamed and almost jumped out of her skin. Another scream joined hers. Maddie whipped around.

It was just London. And she was still screaming.

Maddie breathed out in relief then waited for London to stop.

London did. "Why are we screaming?" She asked in a worried voice.

Maddie rolled her eyes. "Because you scared me."

London look confused. "When?"

Maddie stared at her. "Just now."

London looked highly offended. "I did not."

"Yes you- oh never mind.' Said Maddie exasperatedly. 'What did you want to tell me?"

"Oh, right.' Said London in a rushed voice. 'My cousins Natasha and Brent are staying here.' She rolled her eyes. 'They are awful. Daddy says that the only reason they're staying here is because they want to find some way to get in on the Tipton inheritance. Their dad has always been mad that Daddy got all the money and inherited the hotel."

Maddie was still trying to digest all of this new information as London began to prattle on about how awful they both dressed, as if that were an even worse offence.

"Wait, wait.' Said Maddie, interrupting London's long spew about horrible Natasha's 'eggplant like' figure look in the pants she had on yesterday.

'You're related to Brent and Natasha?"

"Yeah,' said London slowly. 'Why? Have you met them?"

"Yes." Said Maddie. 'They just signed up for Esteban's dance class."

London looked horrified. "How dare they go near my candy counter girls and bellhops!' Fuming, she reached for her cell phone. 'I'm calling Daddy. He'll know what they're up to!"

And with that London marched off across the lobby.

Maddie went back to picking up her now scattered box of butterfingers. She had had no idea that Brent and Natasha were related to London. And Maddie had been even more surprised with London's assumptions that they were up to no good.

She could hardly believe that Brent could be a revenge-seeking scam artist. Natasha on the other hand…

Maddie made a face. She knew she couldn't be a very impartial judge on Natasha.

The last few days that Natasha and Brent had been at dance class things had gone pretty smoothly. Natasha must have realized that Maddie was Esteban's friend, because she had started to acknowledge her. But she never offered to dance with Brent instead.

Which was just fine with Maddie. The last few days, she had stayed behind every lesson. Esteban had said that since she was ahead of the class, they should just keep going. Then she could help Brent more when it was class time.

Maddie smiled. She and Esteban finished the waltz the day that Natasha and Brent had arrived. Now they had started to work on a classic cha-cha.

It was such a fun dance to do. She and Esteban could do the quick athletic steps so well now, that he promised today they would put it to music and alter the dance to fit.

Maddie was so excited that she had watched the clock continually for that last hour.

Now as she looked up at it she realized that the little distraction with London and picking up that candy bars had took fifteen whole minuets.

Crucial minuets. It was quittin' time!

CLCLCLCLCL

Maddie rushed into the dance room. Esteban, Brent, and Natasha were already there, stretching. Esteban and Brent looked up and smiled at her.

"You are late Miss Maddie." Esteban said teasingly.

"I know I'm sorry.' She said smiling. 'I got held up at the candy counter."

Maddie quickly bent down and touched her toes.

"Alright.' Said Esteban straightening, 'Let's begin."

Maddie stood up and walked over to Brent. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Natasha sprint quickly towards Esteban.

Brent smiled at her. "How was work?"

Maddie smiled back. "Good.' She said taking his hands. 'Pretty uneventful."

Then the music started and Esteban began to call out counting. Maddie focused on the waltz and on helping Brent remember the steps.

Natasha and Esteban whirled past. Maddie couldn't help but smile inwardly at how Natasha would react if she new that Maddie had extra dances lessons with Esteban after every session.

CLCLCLCLCL

"Bye Esteban!"

Maddie was getting a drink of water from her duffle bag as Natasha skipped out of the room behind Brent.

Esteban walked over to Maddie.

She stood up.

"Well, Maddie are you ready to start?" He asked.

"Of course!' said Maddie grinning. 'Did you bring the music?"

"Of course.' Said Esteban waving a cd in front of her. 'What do you take me for?"

Maddie smiled.

"So what do you mean by 'altering the dance'?" She asked as they stepped out onto the dance floor.

"I mean,' Esteban said as he stuck the cd in. 'we are going to take dance steps that we have just learned, and add what ever we want to it, so that it goes with the music, and conveys a specific mood. Now won't that be fun?" He asked.

Maddie smiled. "What kind of moves can we add?"

"Oh, any moves we want.' Said Esteban with the air of unwrapping a particularly large bar of chocolate. 'We just want them all to be in the same realm, and to go with the music. It's got to be like-"

"I know, I know." Said Maddie. 'Like telling a story, or painting a picture."

"Yes, so why do you keep forgetting?" Esteban teased.

"Well, I'm sor-ry.' Maddie retorted. 'It is a little hard to act out a story when your falling on your butt."

Esteban laughed at the memory of yesterday's events.

"Which you did every five minutes."

"Well, I wouldn't have if you would let me look where I was going!"

"You're supposed to look at me."

"I have to look to see where I'm going!"

"You're not supposed to have to look."

"I KNOW."

"Then when are we having this discussion Miss Maddie, hmm?"

Maddie scowled at him. "Can we start?"

"Yes, please."

Esteban haughtily walked over and started the cd.

Maddie glared at him as he slowly walked back with his nose in the air.

She couldn't help but grin. "Get your butt over here, you cheeky little snot."

"Oh, ho I'm the cheeky little snot now, am I?" Esteban said as he ran forward, and grabbed her around the waist, acting like he was going to throw her.

"Yes, you are.' Maddie said trying not to laugh as he lifted her off her feet. 'Now put me down, and let's dance. Or should I say, 'Act out this story'?"

Esteban unsuccessfully fought a smile. "You, Miss Maddie, are the cheeky little snot."

"Yeah, well it takes one to know one." Said Maddie haughtily, holding out her arms.

Esteban smiled and took Maddie's hands as the music began.