Learning to Dance

the night wore on. She was grateful for Up’s polarizing
presence - even in a tux he looked like the kind of man you
wouldn’t want to mess with - she just wasn’t used to having
to rely on him for that. Normally her reputation spoke for
itself.
“And I hear,” said February, who they hadn’t managed to
escape yet, “That you two are just totally stellar ballroom
dancers, is that right? Like, last year’s state champions?”
How do you hear these things? Did Tripp send out a
press release? Taz wondered, but simply said, “We’re not
really that-”
“Whatever!” February said. “You, like, have to show off,
it’s what we do here! Charles, ask this woman to dance,
before someone else does, will you?”
With a bit of a smirk, Up obediently held out his hand,
and together they moved toward the dance floor. Taz
decided she didn't mind. After several hours of February, a
moment to hear herself think would be a welcome relief.
Up was much improved since their disastrous first dance
lesson, and it was a good thing too, because they continued
to draw attention from all corners of the room. They kept it
simple, a waltz, and took turns keeping an eye on their
target, who seemed to be spending most of his time flirting
with the locals. After a while, Taz stopped concentrating on
her footwork and almost began to enjoy herself. She looked
at Up, and was surprised to find him smiling down at her.
“We’re not so bad, are we?” he said, and she didn’t
know how to respond, because she didn’t know what he
meant: at dancing, at going undercover, at being a couple?
“No,” she said softly. “We’re not so bad.”
They held their eye contact, and it wasn’t hard this time,
it was the most natural thing in the world to be looking into
those blue eyes she knew so well as they spun around the
dance floor. Up opened his mouth, and looked as though he