She had been watching him, from across the room, at every rehearsal and show for the past three weeks. The way he moved when he danced, his wink, his heart-melting smile; everything about him made her lose her concentration.

"Amber," Shelly hissed, mambo-ing her way over, "Pay attention."

Amber brought herself back into reality and tried to focus on the steps, realizing that she'd been falling behind. Knowing her mother's ways of persuasion (and threatening), the camera was probably on her, meaning that she had to look as if she at least somewhat knew what was going on.

"And…cut!"

The taping ended and the dancers slouched, letting their camera-induced smiles fade away. Exhaustion set in and Amber followed her friends to the dressing room, where cans of hairspray and bags full of extra clothes and makeup were strewn all over the counters.

"So, Amber," Tammy started, a smirk forming on her face, "You were staring at him again."

"Staring at who?" Amber asked, attempting to play it off as best she could as she gathered her things.

"Link." Tammy giggled, "You've been drooling over him ever since he came on the show."

Amber averted her eyes, "I have not. You're obviously seeing things. He's…not my type."

"Right…you keep telling yourself that." Shelly chimed in, giving her a knowing smile before walking away with Tammy.

Amber sighed. This was getting out of hand. She had to deal with the fact that he thought she was invisible and move on before another on-camera slip up.

XXX

"Oh, I'm sorry, didn't see you there." Link flashed his trademark smile as Amber grasped out to a chair to keep from falling over.

"Oh, that's okay, I was in the way." She said, her face turning red. "Well. Um, I guess I'd better go. The show starts soon, so…"

"Right, good idea."

They started to walk in opposite directions when his voice caused her to whip back around.

"Amber, wait. Would you…maybe…like to go out with me sometime?"

Everything in her froze. "Um, I…uh-"

"It's really okay if you don't want to."

"No!" she half-yelled, almost too eagerly, "No, I'd love to go."

"Well, good, then. I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven?"

She nodded, unable to form words, and when he was far enough out of earshot, she didn't bother containing her girlish squeal.

XXX

"So, why did you decide to audition for the show?" Amber asked, shifting in her seat across the table from Link.

"Well, I love to dance, obviously. I'd been watching the show since it started airing in September, and when they announced that Thomas was moving over Christmas break, I figured it would be the perfect time to get in."

She nodded, and a silence fell over them. "Did you…audition, or…" he trailed off, unsure of what words to choose.

"Or did my mom just put me in?"

He nodded.

"It was all my mom's idea, really. She's kind of…obsessed with making me what she couldn't be, so I'm stuck with it. I still had to audition for the producers and Corny, but with my mom controlling their salary, there was really no way around it. I know I'm not good enough. I shouldn't be on the show. But…there's nothing I can do about it."

Link smiled sympathetically. "So, you really don't like dancing at all?"

"I did, before I was forced into being the best and always being in front. I liked having fun, messing up and having no one notice, being in the back joking around while the camera was on someone else. Granted, that only lasted for a few weeks until my mom took control over everything, but before the show started, I loved to dance. Now…it's more like a chore. Like I'm pretending to be something I'm not."

"Dancing shouldn't have to feel like work, Amber. You should be having fun, showing who you are." He paused for a moment, scanning the room around them, and smiled. "Come on." He said, jumping up and taking her hand to pull her along after him.

"Where are we going?" she asked, struggling to keep up.

"You'll see."

He reached into his car when they reached the parking lot, turning on the radio. A ballad was playing, the music flowing and swirling around them. Link took Amber's hands in his and she realized that they were in position to dance, right there in the middle of the parking lot.

"Link, what are you doing?"

"Showing you that it can be fun if you let it."

She let her arms find their way around his neck as he placed his hands on her waist, swaying back and forth to the music. As the song progressed, her head had ended up leaning on his shoulder, his arms wrapped around her. The song ended abruptly, sooner than she'd wanted, and she broke apart reluctantly.

"That was…fun." She said, smiling, "I didn't feel like people were watching me. Judging me."

"That's how it should feel all of the time," Link replied, smiling back at her, "It shouldn't be a chore."

They moved to sit in the car, slowly, and Link began to drive towards her house. They sat in an awkward silence most of the drive home, both thinking about the evening and the dance.

They reached her house and he walked her up to the door, Amber regretting that the night was coming to a close.

"I had a great time," she said, "Thank you for…everything."

"I had a great time, too." He answered, shifting back and forth awkwardly.

Gradually, he moved forward, inching closer to her, until their lips me in a soft and tentative kiss. It began to feel more comfortable and she felt him take her hand in his, smiling against her lips as they broke apart.

"Well, I guess I'll see you in school tomorrow. Goodnight, Amber."

"Goodnight, Link." She replied, almost inaudibly, and she stood on her front step watching him drive away, raising a hand to touch her lips. She smiled, turning to go inside.

She had always put on a great façade of having knowledge and experience in every area imaginable, and she vowed that no one, her own mother included, would ever know her secret: that had been her first real kiss.