Nick and Charlie

Chapter 3

"Okay, everyone. Since it's coming up to the year 11 formal, we are going to be focusing on ballroom dancing in P.E." Ms. Cap says, and literally all of the boys groan.

"Sorry to interrupt Miss Cap, but I came to see if there was a dry shirt for Nicolas in here?" Mr. Spring, the receptionist, says, walking into the room with a shirtless Nick. Patrick lets out a whistle, and soon the whole class is out of control, the girls mock fainting and waving their hands like a fan in their face, while the boys are comparing muscles with Nick.

I hate to say it, but I found myself staring. Honestly, with his tanned skin and muscles, he was the package everyone wanted. Not me though. Not me.

"Alright class, settle down, settle down," Ms. Cap says as Mr. Spring leaves the gymnasium.

"Mr. Pardini, we seem to not have any spare sport shirts, so you're going to have to continue wearing the wet one," Ms. Cap says.

"Or he could just not wear a shirt at all. We don't want Nick getting a cold," a girl says. I didn't get to see who it was.

"No problem, Ms. Cap," Nicolas says, slipping his drenched shirt over his head. The t-shirt stuck to his body. Either way, we were going to see that six-pack.

"Now, as I was saying, we are going to be doing ballroom dancing today, so I would like you to pair up with someone, preferably of the opposite sex, and we will go through the beats and time of the dance," Ms. Cap says.

"Miss, this dance is sexist. Why can't I dance with Des?" Patrick says, hugging Des, who pretends to cry.

"Miss, I only have one love, I couldn't dance with anyone else!" Des cries, making the class laugh.

"Cummins, why is it so hard for you to follow instructions?" Ms. Cap says, getting up on the stage to the side of the auditorium and putting a disk in the sound system.

"Care to dance, princess Charlotte?" I hear Nicolas ask from behind me.

"Please, I'd prefer to dance with anyone but you," I say, bending over to tie my shoe.

"I'll dance with you Nick!" Emily, one of the other girls in my class, says, taking Nicks hand. He shrugs.

"Uh, Charlotte? Do you have a partner?" Des asks, looking awkward. I smile at him.

"No, I don't. Would you like to be my partner?" I ask, and his face lights up.

"That'd be awesome," he says, smiling.

"Alright, I want everyone to stand in a circle with their partner, and we will go through the moves of the dance," Ms. Cap says, a slow song coming over on the loudspeaker.

Des and I, along with our fellow students, get into a huge circle.

"Now, the boys will place their right hand on the girl's hip, the girls will place their left hand on the boys' shoulder. Your other hands will come together in front," Ms. Cap says. Des looks so awkward, so I give him a reassuring smile and place my hand on his shoulder.

"Ok, once you've done that, I want you all to move in a kite shaped way to the beat of the music. I'll count out the beats," Ms. Cap says, immediately clapping and counting out the beats of the song.

"You're very good at dancing," Des says, and I thank him.

"I'm mostly scared I'll stand on your feet or something," Des says, which makes me laugh.

"So, do you have an idea of who you want to take to formal?" I ask, and he looks away.

"Yeah, but I think Patrick was hoping we would both go solo," Des says, looking at the floor.