CHAPTER FOUR

Grace

IfI have one passion - it’s dancing. It was the one thing that my parents blessed me with and the one thing I get joy out of as a career too. I always wanted to be a teacher. I love to see the joy on the girls faces when they manage a twirl or a move that they haven’t completely grasped. I teach all dance, ballet, tap, disco and contemporary. With the little ones, I tend to mix it all in the lesson to see which one they like the most.

I get the studio ready for my class to turn up, I’ll admit some of the children that come here, their hearts aren’t really into it and it’s probably their parents making them do it, which isn’t fair on them but it’s not for me to say...

I watch the man in the suit walk away. Shit, he’s hot. He’s got that swagger down to a perfect form. It’s like he doesn’t even know how sexy he is. The brush in my hand reminds me I have to put up Ella’s hair. I take the silky strands in my hand and brush it through and put a bobble in to make a ponytail, then take my elastic from my other wrist, twist her ponytail to make a bun and secure the elastic around it. “There you go. Do you want to stand at the front for me?”

Ella stands where I tell her to and I clap my hands to the girls to quieten them down.

We start with stretches and quickly launch into kicks and twirls. I watch the new girl, Ella. This is the first time she’s been here and she’s picked it up really quick. We stop for a five-minute break so I go to her. “Hi Ella.”

“Hello.”

“Are you enjoying it?” She nods, but she so expressive and enthusiastic, I love it when they’re like this. “That’s good then. Do you like dancing?”

“Yep. I always dance at home. Daddy lets me dress up in my Belle dress and I dance when I’m watching the dvd.”

“Wow. That’s great.”

“Daddy said that Mummy always wanted a dancer.”

“Ahh. Mummy and Daddy will be proud of you then.” Ella looks at the floor and doesn’t say anything else. “Ella? Are you okay?” she nods so I decide to leave it and finish up the break time.

I always put the newbies at the front so I can see what they’re doing and if they’re following the routines or just the moves. She’s doing so well, I can see she’s going to pick all this up in no time.

The parents walk back down the steps and slowly enter the room. The children get their socks, shoes and one by one they filter out as soon as they see their mums waiting for them by the door. Ella being the youngest of the class waits on the floor. The sex god in the suit walks back in and comes towards us. “Hey baby girl, did you enjoy that?”

“I LOVED IT! Can I come again Daddy, peeeaasse?”

“Of course, you can sweetheart!” I watch him sit on the floor and put on her socks and shoes. She then jumps up and dives at him. She flings her arms around his neck and hugs him. “Thank you, Daddy! I love you! Did you hear dat Gwace, I can come back again.” She claps her little hands.

“I heard, that's great news.” I say happily. He kisses her cheek and looks at her hair.

“What's this in your hair?”

Ella sighs, “Daddy, it a bun fingy...”

“Oh, that told me didn't it.” Oh, my days! Seeing those two together is absolutely adorable... I think my ovaries may have burst. He rolls his eyes as he looks at me and smirks, kind of.

“When's the next session?” His voice is husky but smooth like chocolate, I could listen to it all day.

“Thursday same time and we do Saturday mornings nine till ten. Of course, you don't have to come to everyone, you can pay as you go. I mean not everyone can commit to them all but... it's up to you. I'll...just shut up now.” I give him a nervous smile and move the loose strands of hair out of my burning face, you could probably fry an egg on it right now it's so hot. I risk a glance at him and he's standing there wide eyed just staring at me. Oh boy!

“How much are the sessions?”

“Ohh! Erm, four pounds fifty each or two for eight pounds or three for ten pounds.” I blow out a breath as discreetly as I can.

“Can I do fweee Daddy, can I, can I, can I?”

“Yes, if you want to. Like I can say no. Get down a minute sweetheart...”

He puts her to the floor while he takes his wallet out. He pulls a ten pound note out and hands it to me. “Book her in for all three this week and we'll see how she goes. Is that ok?”

“Ah, yeah that's perfect. Thank you.”

“Bye Gwace, see you later.”

“Bye Ella.” She runs towards the door and turns back.

“Come on daddy. I'm hungwy!”

“It was nice to meet you Grace.”

“Ye... yeah, you too.” I watch him walk away from me and join his daughter at the door. She slips her tiny hand inside his and they leave. She looks back and waves at me, I hold up a hand to wave but they're gone from the room.

I get my heart back to an even beat again then find the CD I want in my huge collection and press play. I usually dance for an hour before I teach the kids and an hour after every session that way I still get my training too. On hearing Despacito by Luis Fonsi start I get lost in the music and dance to my heart’s content.

 

I return home sweaty and tired! I flop on the couch and savour the peace. “Hey Gracey!” The bounces next to me tells me that Meaghan is here! So much for peace and quiet!

“Hi. I didn't think you were here it's too quiet.” nudging her with my elbow, I wink playfully. Meaghan is my roommate, my rather loud roommate. I don't think she knows quiet.

“How were the kids today?”

“Good, one of the girls who's always there on a Monday didn't turn up but I had a new girl start.”

“Oh yeah.” She picks at her nails as she answers.

“Oh, Meaghan she was so adorable! She had blonde hair with bright blue eyes and this cute little nose. She got stuck right in too even though she didn't know anyone and her dad is...HOT!”

Her head snaps my way, “What you mean?”

“What I said, he was H.O.T! He was dressed in a dark blue suit and he had dark hair with a thin layer of scruff on his chin, he was tall too. I’m sure he has an impressive body under those layers. I nearly swallowed my tongue when I saw him, I felt all hot and bothered too, I must’ve been blushing - no scrap that, I was blushing, especially when I saw him looking right at me.” My hand moves back and forth fanning my face as I think about it. “Oh, and in classic Grace fashion, I rambled on like an idiot! Oh my god I must have looked like a right twat…then as he got closer he had these gorgeous brown eyes, like melted chocolate and I died - right there.” I tell her dreamily.

“You're doing it now!” She laughs loudly, putting a stop to my musings.

“But he paid for three sessions though so he'll be back Thursday... oh shit!”

“What now?” Meaghan questions.

“What if he doesn't come back? What if his wife brings her cause I mean he has to be married... there's no way a man like that isn't going to be snapped up!” I look across at Meaghan and her eyes are shut. “Hey, are you, listening to me…?”

“Erm, I was but you lost me at married.” She shrugs, smirking.

“Ugh. Why are we friends again?”

“Because you love me!” She slaps my thigh and stands from the couch. “I'm going out. I'm off to see Ross, I need to get laid! Laters!”

I shake my head at Meaghan as she leaves so I decide on a hot, relaxing bubble bath. Putting a CD on I whack the volume up and go for a soak.