Dancing with Fire (John Pearce/Justice Crew Fanfic)

Chapter 5

Following John and his twin brother inside, dropping my gaze to the other people present inside the room, my inner voice let out a shriek. I didn’t even know that was possible, but thank god I didn’t embarrass myself in front of everyone. The other teens might have known who they were but they were so calm and I have to be calm too.

Shit. This is why Mr. Pearce looked familiar, and so did his twin brother. They were from that hip hop dance crew. For a minute there, I forgot what they were called but then my eyes found a poster “Justice Crew free dance workshop”. It’s actually quite confusing why other students didn’t notice him being part of a dance crew in school, or maybe I wasn’t really listening in to any of their gossips. Maybe it’s one of the reasons why he was the talk of the town, having a dancer as your English teacher is interesting.

Heard about them, I couldn’t say I’m a fan, but I can’t say I’m a hater either. It’s just that I didn’t have time for these things. For the past years, I was a school-home, home-school kind of person. I rarely watch reality shows, and there’s a part of me who wanted to forget about dancing. Knowing talent shows, it would be full of them so I opted not to watch.

Finding an empty chair at the back, I quickly grabbed it. The little girl beside me seems star struck or something as she couldn’t get her laces of her shoes tied up. I think she was about 10 or even younger, but pretty sure around my youngest sister’s age.

“Do you need help?” I asked, irritated at her shoelaces.

“Thanks, but—“

“It’s fine” I interrupted as I grabbed her shoelaces and tied it for her.

She smiled. “Thank you. Are you joining the workshop too?”

“No, I’m just here to watch.”

“Oh well, thanks again!”

After introductions and a few warm up exercises, the dance lessons have started. There were good to be honest and fun to watch. It wasn’t all too serious, the guys were trying to make everyone at ease with the dance moves and making sure everyone is getting the right steps.

Music blasted throughout the room, nice beats. I didn’t mind how loud it was, it actually feels so good, something you’d hear at parties, people having fun dancing around, not grinding.

“Aren’t you joining us?” a voice spoke, sitting beside on my left side. I thought it was the little girl, but it belonged to a man.

He seated beside me, puffing for air and holding a bottle of water with a small towel on his other hand. He was wearing a cap backwards, a white shirt, a pair of khaki shorts, and kicks, waiting for my answer.

“I was just watching. I don’t dance. I probably should go I think I’m disturbing you guys.”

“It’s fine, I’m not asking you to go. You can watch. I’m Emmanuel, but you can call me Eman.”

“I’m Kayla.”

“So, how did you know about this workshop?”

“It’s all over the bulletin board outside. I was on my way home, and then I saw Mr. Pearce.”

“Mr. Pearce?” he repeated.

“That would be John,” a new voice barged in, which belonged to Lenny Pearce.

“Huh?”

“You’re flirting with a high school girl. She’s a student at Ashton. John working as a teacher there, remember?” Lenny chuckled. Why does Lenny think the other guy I’m talking to is always flirting with me?

“Oh” Eman had his mouth making the ‘O’ shape. “His first day?”

“Yeah.”

“Is he good? I mean, how does he teach? Oh man, I wanna be a student right now!” Eman said. I’m imagining him to have that thought bubble on top of his head having an idea of something he’ll do which Mr. Pearce wouldn’t agree of.

“I don’t know. We just had introductions today so it wasn’t teaching.”

“Come on Eman, you just wanna be a student so you can flirt with them!” Lenny teased, we both laughed.

“No! Of course not!” Eman said defensively. “I-I just want to see him teach.”

“Hmm… do you like Mr. Pearce?” I joined in the teasing. Lenny laughed.

“No! I see how it is! You guys are teaming up on me!” Eman exclaimed like a little child, his cheeks turned red. The expression on his face was so funny, Lenny and I can't stop laughing.

Who would have thought they were this funny, and comfortable to talk with? Lenny was funnier than John was, although I barely know him. It was the first day!

The workshop still went on when I left. Watching for an hour made me go home later than planned. I was supposed to go home, but silly ‘ol me got distracted and I thought it was fine. I haven’t really had this much fun for a long time, I just wished my dad wasn’t home or else…