A/N; I decided, through reading some reviews and thinking about it, that I really want to continue this. It's basically going to be a series of drabbles or vignettes, centered on Amber. There may be some pairings involved in some, but mostly it's just Amber. This is really similar to what I did in my Grey's Anatomy story Bound By Love, if anyone's read that. Anyway, here we go.

And thanks so much to EVERYONE who reviewed; all of you were so nice!

"Five, six, seven, eight!"

The dancers on the Corny Collins show twisted, mamboed and mashed-potatoed their way across the dance floor, Corny standing to the side clapping the rhythm of the music and calling out dance steps.

"That's to the right, Shelley, the right! Lou Ann, move over, you're going to knock someone over. Fender, get that out of your pants!"

Corny heard groans of frustration coming from the group as they adjusted to his directions and finished out the dance, all of them falling immediately to the floor.

"Okay, okay, we're done. I'll see you all after school on Monday for the show, don't be late!"

Corny retreated to his office and the group started to move, congregating towards the benches where they had put down their jackets, bags and water.

"This is insane." Brenda muttered, taking a long drink of water.

"I know! How can he make us rehearse on Saturdays?!" Shelley sounded equally annoyed.

Amber walked over to them to get her things, forcing a smile and keeping her head high even though she was just as exhausted as the rest of them.

"Well, we wouldn't have to if some people would actually learn the dance steps correctly." Amber said sweetly, sending daggers at Tammy with her eyes.

"It's not fair!" Tammy whined from her position sprawled across the bench. "How come you don't practice at all, but you always get the steps right?"

Amber shrugged, pulling her bag over her shoulder, "I guess it's just natural talent."

With that, she left the group, a smile playing on her lips. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

XXX

"You've almost got it, just turn on your right foot instead of your left." Corny stood on the dance floor watching Amber attempt the steps, smiling as she finally got them correct.

He sighed, "Perfect. That's it."

Amber slouched forward, "Thank God. I thought we'd never be done! Why is this so hard?"

Corny laughed, "It's not, you just need a little more…work than the others."

She glared at him, arms crossed. "You let a word of this get out to anyone and I'll personally attack you. I'm not kidding."

"Lighten up, Amber; it's not a big deal. So what if they know you come for extra dance lessons? It's making the show better."

"You wouldn't understand," she said, rolling her eyes at him, "I have a reputation to uphold."

Corny scowled. "What, the reputation of being the daughter of the world's biggest pain in the-" he cut himself off, noticing the hurt flash before her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"No, it's fine. You're right."

She turned on her heel and walked quickly towards the door, her heels clicking on the tile.

"Amber, wait! I didn't mean to insult her."

"You think I care about that?" she whipped around to face him, eyes burning, "It's true. She's a total bitch."

"Then what-"

"I can't turn out like her. I won't let myself turn out like her."

"Then maybe you should stop insulting the other dancers." He suggested, then paused, "And everyone else in the world."

When she didn't answer, he stepped closer. "Look, Amber, at this point, what your mother thinks doesn't really matter to me. She's wrong about a lot of things, and if you're going to turn out to be a decent human being, you have to learn not to listen to her."

She shrugged, "I guess."

He smiled at her, hoping that she'd use his words for good.

"See you next Sunday?" she asked weakly, smiling slightly.

He nodded, watching her turn to walk away.

"And Amber?" he smiled again, "You're getting better. A lot better."

"Well, I'd better be. There are so many things I could be doing instead of being stuck here with you."

He shrugged, "Name one."

She stuttered for a moment, trying to find an answer.

"Well, look at that, I've rendered a Von Tussle speechless."

"Hey, wait-"

"See you at the show tomorrow Amber."

"But-"

"3:30 sharp."

"Argh! You are so impossible!" She screeched, rushing out the door.

Corny simply laughed, walking back to his office. "A day in the life of a Von Tussle…"