Dancing Queen

Chapter 13

In the following weeks, Benny and Frida's lives continued as normal, but at the same time they were completely revolutionized.

They met every week at her studio, but also on her free days or to get an ice cream after his day's work.

It often happened that he kissed her at the end of his daughter's lessons, lingering just enough to say goodbye as soon as Heléne ran away to change, smirking like a scoundrel when she tugged at his sweater and took him to the closet next to the rehearsal room where she stole someother kiss and a bite of his lip here and there.

Sometimes it happened that their hands touched and sought each other during a walk with Heléne, trying to hide.

They were still cautious with Heléne, after all, they were just friends. Special friends.

One afternoon, as unexpected as everything about them, something changed.

Before classes began, Frida heard the front door open, but she didn't pay much attention to it, as her collaborators were around the studio.

"Hello, Mr. Andersson!".

Frida frowned when she heard the name and hurried out of her little office down the hall to have a look.

Except for the first few days, Heléne had made friends with some of her companions and mums and dads took turns accompanying the small group at the beginning of the lessons, only to then be picked up by their respective parents at the end of them. And she knew that it wasn't his turn that day.

"Benny?".

Benny looked up from Karol at the counter and gave her a "Hey" smiling, waving his hand.

Frida approached him and he took a few steps towards her, his hands in his trouser pockets "Why are you here? Was it your turn to bring the children today?".

Benny shook his head "No, no, not today. I happened to be around here and I thought I'd come for a moment to say hello. Heléne won't come to class today" he warned with a slight grimace.

"Oh. How so?" Frida asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

He sighed, running a hand behind his neck "She caught a very very very bad intestinal virus. She's been home for two days now and I came to the nearby pharmacy for some medicines that seem to be unobtainable right now in the whole city" he he said, showing her a little bag he had hidden in his coat pocket.

"Oh, poor baby" Frida said, pouting lightly.

Benny just smiled "Yeah..." and nodded a couple of times, sighing.

Frida was able to notice his tired face, certainly the result of sleepless nights, monitoring his little girl and running to work all day.

She jumped slightly as she felt a sudden senseless urge to wrap her arms around his neck and hold him close to her, relieving him of some of that stress. There, in front of everyone.

"Ok... Well, I'd better go now".

His voice brought her back to her feet and she saw him nod to her.

"See you" and he barely touched her arm before turning towards the exit.

When she saw him walking away, Frida called him back "Benny, wait!" and she approached him while he already had one hand on the door handle "Do you need something? Yes, well... I mean... If you want... I could come by and say hello to Heléne... If... You think it's a good idea" she said almost rumbling. She marveled at the perfection of his arched eyebrows.

"Well... If you like... Don't feel obligated..." he said to her, almost embarrassed.

She snorted "Say one more thing like that and I swear I'll shave your big head" she threatened him in a low voice.