My Kidnapper's Mistake

Chapter 13: Lesson in Dance

Anya's P.O.V.

Three days before the Charity Gala and the pressure was building up. Everybody was a bit fidgety and snappy. My lessons had turned into brutal repetition, leaving me sore and grumpy most of the time.
Julian and I stood pouring over the plans and maps once again, we had to finalize everything and start setting our plan in motion. Although Clive had been a surprise addition to the team his presence came in handy. I was a little worried about his loyalty and that nasty arrogance. There definitely was something as too confident and it was a very dangerous trait. I just had to work with it and so did the rest of the guys even though nobody liked it very much.

"The best chance to take her would be when she is dancing. That way she would have no bodyguards close by." I focused again on the plans.
"That means that you and Clive would have to be dancing too. Try to get Clive dancing with her. Butt in and swap partners if you must." Julian added to my plan. If only he stopped underestimating himself and used that brain of his. He would be able to formulate plans twice as good as mine, was it selfish of me to wish that he never realize his own potential? If he did then I would lose my worth to the team, I would be disposable again. There it was again, that fear. No matter how long I stayed with this group of guys, because as long as I had to hide from the Orginization, I would never truly be part of their family. I would never truly be save.
"Can't you dance?" Julian asked misinterpreting my expression of dread and I didn't have the courage to correct him so I just nodded.
"It's not that hard, come here and I'll show you." Julian pushed the round coffee table to the side and held out his hand to me. I put my hand in his and he pulled me closer. He put my right hand on his shoulder and took my left hand in his.
"It is easy. Only three steps. Follow me. One. Two. Three." He counted the steps and I followed. I knew how to waltz, but I didn't want to blow my cover and have him question me about the dread that had slipped onto my face.
"See that easy. You're a natural. Now let's try in to some music." Julian pulled out his phone and typed on the screen. He set the phone on the coffee table and took me by my waist. It only took a few seconds for the intro of guitars and a saxophone to start up and then only another few seconds for the melody to set in along with the lyrics. Julian began to move our bodies along with the rhythm. My feet followed instinctively, I knew the steps and didn't even need to think about what I was doing. I knew the song, I'll be by Edwin McCain, I had heard it on a movie I had once watched when I had still been a teenager. A Cinderella Story, I think. I remember that the girl had worn a beautiful white ball gown and the guy had worn a midivel suit befitted for a prince. They had danced under a dome entwined with white roses, I had waited for my fairytale moment for so long. I had clutched to that dream of meeting my prince charming, but only a few years later did life snatch away my parents and I had forgotten about it all. I shook the thoughts out of my head. The closest that I would ever get to my fairytale would be dancing in the living room of a strange house with a very charming criminal, both of us wearing comfortable sweatpants and T-shirts. I might as well make the most of it. Instead I focussed on the song and the movement of our bodies.

I'll be your crying shoulder
I'll be love's suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your live

Our steps were in perfect sync. Julian led with the confidence I wish he'd show when leading the team. We glided across the living room floor. Julian twirled me and pulled me back into his embrace. I smiled with delight, the last time I had danced had been with my father when I had been fifteen. My mother had scolded us for breaking one of her vases when we had accidentally bumped into a side table. I looked up into Julian's eyes and felt the warmth of his brown eyes on me. This was better than any fairytale moment I could ever have wished for. I would not trade this for anything in the world and my previous doubt and fears seem so foolish now.

The music slowed and softened. The song was coming to an end and our waltz slowed with the rhythm until we were just slowly rocking on the spot. Pressed together, I could feel his erratic heartbeat against my chest, was that because of the dance or because of me? We didn't stop when the song ended, instead we rocked back and forth to a rhythm of our own. The strength of his hold on my waist never lessened and I didn't try to pull away either, relishing the moment.
"I'd like to take you out tomorrow night." Julian whispered against my forehead.
"Out where?" I acted stupid, knowing exactly what he had meant.
"On a proper date. With dinner and everything." He pushed me away a little bit so that he could look me in the eyes.
"Okay. I'll go on a date with you." A broad smile cracked onto his face and he picked me up by my waist. I laughed at his excitement and braced myself with my hands on his shoulders as he twirled me around. Before he could set me back down on the ground a bright flash went off. Our head snapped to the side and there stood Kevin with a Polaroid camera. Usually he took photos with one of the old untraceable phones the Organization supplied. He cackled and ran off. Julian set me back on the floor and stuffed his hands into his pockets, the mood had been broken and he stared awkwardly at the floor. I knew that he had lost his confidence so I took over.
"You book the restaurant and I'll meet you by the front door at say seven?"
"Sounds great." He smiled at me and I smiled back feeling a fluttering in my stomach. Seems like that skirt might get it's claims to fame after all.

I retreated to my room. We hadn't gotten very much work done when it came to the plans, but in the department consedering our relationship we had leapt a great distance. I felt pride when I thought of how much confidence had radiated from Julian as he had led me in the dance and afterwards when he had asked me on a date. I suppose it was the same way Julian must feel every time I managed to actually hit the target when shooting or what Brian felt every time I landed a particularly hard kick. These guys had crawled in under my skin and all the way to my heart. I just hope that I meant the same to them.