Revolution that's been dancing in the rain (Book 1)

12. Dancing in the dark

I go out to the studio, but theres no sign of the boys,
They must have went somewhere to hide from Julie I laugh to myself
My phone let's out a beep and I look down to see a reminder I had set a while back.

*Couple dance due tommrow*

I had forgotten I had been commissioned to choreograph a couples first dance, and I'm to meet them tommrow to do it with them.
It was a sweet young couple I had met at work a few weeks ago, who are planning their wedding.
I had started it that day when I got home from work but never got around to continuing it.

Sighing I pull up the music the bride to be had sent me,
I'm tired but it'll be better to get this done tonight, the try to rush it tommrow.
It's still early enough that Ray won't give out about the music if I don't have it too loud.
I listen over the song as I take my jacket off, put a pair of sneakers on instead of the boots I had been wearing and clear myself space to choreograph the dance.
I look down at the jeans and black lace up top I'm wearing
I should find something longer to wear, to make sure the bride will be able to do it
I think to myself as I make my way up to the loft.
I don't own may long skirts or dresses, and neither does Julie, who prefers pants to skirts.
I do, however remember Ray moving a bunch of of Halloween costumes out here last year to make some room in the linen closet for some of my stuff.
Rooting through a bag full of fairy wings and skeleton costumes and half a dozen different masks that Ray has worn each halloween I have celebrated with the family I finally find what I am looking for.
It's a long darkish red skirt with a black inner layer thats slightly longer, thats laced up at the sides.
Rose had bough it for me, for halloween a couple years ago,
it should still fit I was a tall enough kid and haven't grown much since.
I had mentioned wanting to dress up as a pirate, and a week later I came back after work to a full pirate costume, including hat and accessories left on the couch.
I hold the skirt in my hands, feeling the material between my fingers as I remember going into the house to try pay her back for the costume.

"Jessie, there's no need for that amada" Rose insists placing a hand on my shoulder
"But, you need to get Julie and Carlos's costumes, I can pay for my own. I've been working extra shifts this week"
She laughs her sweet, joyous laugh
"I know amada, thats why I bought it. You deserve to be able to enjoy your favorite holiday without needing to work yourself to death to get a new costume."
"But"
"No buts, every year you insist on wearing one of Julies old costumes, I find out now it was because you could not afford a new one and I won't have it. As long as you live under my roof you will be treated the same as Julie and Carlos, end of."
"You could use the money for trick or treating candy, I can stay and hand it out if you want"
I suggust, feeling guilty about her purchase
"Are you not going trick or treating with us?"
"Julie doesn't want to, she brough it up in class and a boy made fun of her for being too old to go"
She frowns
"Is that why you got detention for hitting a boy"
I look down
"I'm sorry"
Now she'll definitely take the costume back
"Amada" She places her hand under my chin and lifts my head to make eye contact "Violence is never the answer, but thank you for having my sweet girls back" she smiles
"Always Rose, I promise I'll always have her back" I say with a serious face
"I know you will" She hugs me
"Why don't you guys have a party this year, here at the house.
We can decorate the party green and you can invite Flynn and Carrie
and a couple of your classmates.
Might give you a chance to get to know your new classmates,
you'll be in class with them for the next 4 years."
"Really?" My eyes light up
"Why don't you go tell Julie"
I hug her and run up the stairs
"Thanks Rose"

I change out of the jeans and put the skirt on insted.
That had been the best Halloween, and the start of my yearly Halloween partys.
Rose would have been so proud that 250 people came last year, but so sad that Julie skipped it.
I snap myself out of the nostalgia
Okay get back to work
I set up my camera, liking to record myself when cheorographying a dance.
That way if I do something I like but forget how to replicate it, I have it on camera to watch over.
I'm used to having to choreograph dances for groups,
but a couple dance is so much harder to do alone.
Especially a first wedding dance, it's so intimate, the couple dances as one.
So choreographing it by myself as two separate dances then putting them together like I do for Dirty Candy just isn't working, and after 30 minutes I still have nothing but an idea in my head, and no way to see if it actually works logistically.
"What are you doing?" Luke asks as I try to do a turn, by myself, making me fall as I hadn't realised he was there
"Ouch that looked like it hurt"
"Yeah Patterson, it did" I sit up, rubbing my arm
"I'd offer you a hand but" He phases his hand through the stairs "Ya know"
"I'm a bit busy if you don't mind" I say getting up and resetting the recording
"I don't" He says sitting on the couch
I sigh "That's not what I, where are the others"
"Well we didn't end up finding Reggie, I don't know where he's hiding from Julie,
and Alex went looking for his new ghost friend who's been avoiding him"
"Uh huh thats nice" I say half listening
"Sooo what were you doing"
"I'm trying to choreograph a dance but I'm having issues"
"What kind of issues"
"The fact that it's incredibly difficult to do a couples dance alone and Julie's already gone to bed so I can't ask her to help and I need it done by tommrow" I rant
"Why do you need someone else, you do Dirty Candys dances alone right?"
"Yeah but that's easier, people in group dances are separate they have their own spaces.
A couple intertwine with each other, without another body the spacing is really difficult to figure out"
"Makes sense" He gets up and starts looking at the camera "But I thought Julie couldn't really dance"
"She's not bad, she just says that because she hasn't perfected it yet. But even if she was terrible she'd be of help, hell a fucking mannequin would be of use"
I laugh, It's true though. Anything to make sure I'm not hitting my dance partner in the face every two seconds
"Have you?" He asks
"Have I what?"
"Perfected dancing"
I laugh "Definitely not"
"But you get paid for it" He steps towards me
His head tilted in confusion, kind of like how a dog would, and his lip between his teeth
"I mean I'm not shit, I think if you enjoy it, it'll come through in your work. I like dancing, Jul's dosen't and I suppose it shows"
He nods slightly
"I'm no good, but if its just a body you need. Though I don't technically have one of those either" He chuckles
"Are you offering" I look at him confused "to help me with my dance?"
He bits down on his lip harder and I see him slightly wince at the pain
"I mean, if I can be of help"
I look at him, saying nothing.
I could use the help and he's so willing to offer it,
even after preforming earlier although I suppose ghosts don't get as tired.
"Sure, uh that would be great"