Link didn't find the new steps all that difficult. After he had spent the night practicing them at home, they were already becoming second nature. But it was quickly becoming obvious that most of the others weren't feeling the same confidence. This was especially true of Amber, who kept glaring over his shoulder instead of paying attention. He bit back a curse as she kicked him in the shin for the third time.
"You're not doing it right," she spat at him in a harsh whisper.
"You should try paying attention," he whispered back with equal animosity.
There was a loud sigh from off to the left, and Link chanced a look at Corny Collins as he tried to contain his frustration and maintain his insuppressibly happy demeanor. "Okay kids, that was… better. Let's try it again, only this time, Tracy and Bix; I'd like it if you could dance over here a bit more."
The two dancers obediently moved more toward the center of the dance floor. Link saw Amber's gaze follow the other girl with a look of intense dislike, and it occurred to him that this was what she had been doing while they were dancing as well. His bruised shin throbbed and as he took her hand and pulled her into dance position, he made sure to turn them so her back was to the other couple.
"Alright, let's do it again," Corny announced and began the music, calling out the count to help keep them in time. Link's hand rested lightly on Amber's back, his other held her arm elegantly out to the side. He tried to make eye contact with her but her glare was centered on his chest. He thought briefly of commenting on the little creases she was making in her forehead but the ache in his shin made him think better of it. He pressed gently against her hand to indicate the turn, but she went the wrong way and her foot once again made hard contact with his shin.
"Damn it, Amber!" he growled, losing his cool for a moment as he grabbed his leg and hopped away from her. It was a brief lapse and a second later he was straightening up and pulling his dark jacket even again, adopting a nonchalant countenance as he smoothed back his hair.
At the same time, Corny was reprimanding him for his language; though he could barely be heard over Amber's outraged gasp and the stifled giggling of the other council members. Link didn't know why his eyes shot to Tracy, but when they did he didn't find her laughing. Instead she was looking at him with sympathy in her pretty brown eyes.
"Sorry, Mr. Collins," Link said smoothly, just enough of a conciliatory tone to appease the adult, but not so much as to appear the kiss ass. It was a good thing Mrs. Von Tussle was out today or he would have gotten in a lot more trouble for the slip than anything Corny would ever dish out. Usually the days Mrs. Von Tussle was absent from rehearsal were the best because they were allowed to relax a little and try a few different things. Even if they would never get to perform them on the show, it felt good. Unfortunately, this particular rehearsal only needed the younger Von Tussle to suck the fun out of it completely.
"How dare you yell at me like that," Amber screeched, glaring daggers at him. She made to continue but her sharp reprimands were overridden by Corny as he moved closer and clapped his hands, commanding attention.
"Alright, alright; most of us seem to be having some difficulty with this one, so I want everyone to just line up toward the back. Tracy… Link, you two seem to be the only ones who have this down, so I want you two to come up here and show these guys how it's done."
"What?" Tracy said with surprise and Link couldn't help but smile a little at her tone. It was obvious she was pleased with being singled out for doing well. Honestly, he wasn't surprised. He moved toward center stage and held his hand out to her.
"Wait a minute, you can't do that…" Amber started indignantly but was quickly cut off by Corny.
"Amber, it's just for demonstrational purposes. No one's getting changed up permanently," he said tightly. That happy face gone for the moment, he pressed his fingers to his temple and used them to make small circles against his skull. He seemed to say something else as he walked toward the phonograph, but it was too low to be heard.
It wouldn't have mattered anyway, because Link wasn't listening; Tracy had just put her small hand in his and he was momentarily distracted by the softness of her palm against his. Her hold on his hand was firm and confident, neither overly delicate nor gripping or clingy, and he adjusted his grip to match.
They stepped together easily and he found himself looking down at her. He put his hand gently at her waist and encountered more of that incredible softness, warm against his fingers through the material of her blouse. The thought of it made him feel somewhat overheated and he reflexively cleared his throat. When the music started he went back instead of forward, pulling Tracy off balance, and a second later his arms were full of very soft and cuddly girl. He was holding her up, her breasts crushed against his chest, and she was looking up at him with those dark eyes; seeming a bit stunned. He hoped he didn't look the same way because he certainly felt it.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I thought…" she was saying, but he shook his head.
"No worries, Darlin', that one was all my fault." He realized he was still holding her and gently set her back on her feet. "Let's try it again," he murmured softly near her ear, "we'll show these squares how it's done."