Dance with me.

First Date.

*Andrea’s POV.

I was at the lockers when I heard my phone ringing. “Who is this?” I asked and pull on my black pants. “I had to make sure that you didn’t give me fake number.” I laughed and hang up the call. I wear my t shirt, check the time and ran out of school. I start running to Nick’s school. I made just in time. We walked together back to the car. “How was your day Nick?” I ask him and I messing up his hair to make him laugh. “It was ok. Some kids tease me, because I lost my tooth when I was eating.” He said and showed me his lost tooth with pride. “Well done Nick. We have to tell to mom.” I took him up to my shoulders.

At the parking lot were waiting Jace, Alice, and next to her was Sandy. I am not ready for her games with Nick on my shoulders. So just ignored her and spoke to my friends. “Hey! Guess who lost a tooth at school and will take an ice cream for a gift?” I ask them and listen, Nick’s laugh. Full of pride says to them “me!” I like to make him laugh. They said theirs congrats to him and laugh. “See you later guys, we have to go for our gift.” I said and put down Nick of my shoulders, open the back door for him and I get to my seat at the car.

I was driving when I saw her walking. I pull the car aside the road. I open the window. “You need a ride?” I said and she smiled at me. “You remember where it’s my house?” She chuckles. “Get in.” I said and laughed at her. “Nick, she is Rouz, and Rouz he is my baby brother Nick.” I said and they shake their hands brightly. “What is going on, kid?” I said to him as I keep driving and wait for his answer. “Is she your girlfriend? She is very pretty, I like her. You never let me know anyone of them.” I take a quick look at Rouz. She looks at me back. “No I am not her girlfriend, Nick, not yet. I like you too buddy.” She says to him cheerfully.

I liked that she wants to be my girlfriend. I start smiling to myself and pull over when we arrived out of her house. “I will call you later and I will come to pick you up.” I said t as she open the door. “Rouz!” Nick starts yelling. She stands at the open door and looks at him. “When I will see you again?” he asks. “Nick let her go home we have to get your ice cream.” I said and he sat back quietly. She opened his door. “Hey buddy, take one scope vanilla for me. And really I hope see you again buddy.” She whispers loud enough for me to listen. She gave him a tight hug and closed the door. We take the ice cream and we went home. We start play race until the door. He beats me of course. We start laughing and get inside. My mom looked us brightly. She knows that I let him win. I let my keys on the table, kiss my mom’s cheek, take some soda from the fridge and walked upstairs to my room.

I let my bag to the floor and went to my desk. When I put my phone out of my pocket I found a text.

I think I like your brother :) R

I like him too… I text her back and I start sketching again. I didn’t realize but I was sketching her face. All the lines of her face, her eyes, even her cherry colored, lips was there in my sketch. My thoughts shout loudly to make a move, to tell her that I like her. But I can’t. She thought once I am a player. Maybe she believes that if I make a move. Pull myself together once more. So I grabbed my phone. “Pick you up at seven, and be yourself.” I text her and wait for her respond. The time has passed and she didn’t.

It’s half past six. I stripped my clothes and get for a quick shower. I finished my shower went to the closet. I pick my fresh pair of jeans, a white t shirt, and my red-black shirt. I am wearing my white Vans shoes, fix my hair and ran downstairs. Nick was there with my mom at the small sofa. They are watching a TV show. “You going to see Rouz?” Nick asked with a big smile. “Yes.” I respond at him, happily. “Why you are so happy Andrea?” my mother asks me cheerily. Before I open my mouth, “She is her new girlfriend.” Nick says and I can feel the blush on cheeks. My mother smiles at me. “She is not my girl, Nick!” I said. “I will not be late mom.” I said and messed up my brother’s hair. I took my keys and walked out of the door. And I went to my car.

I was driving on the driveway, with my radio on. And I am thinking of her. After ten minutes I have arrived at her house. I closed the door of the car behind me. I walked to the white porch of the front yard, stopped at the door. I start knocking. A beautiful woman, with brown red hair, green eyes, and nice body form open the door. With a smile which was wiped away when she saw me. “Good afternoon, I am looking for Rouz?” I said. She gave me, a small smile and checks me out. “Please come in, am Amelia Solano, Rosario’s mother.” She said and moved aside for me to pass the door. I walked inside. She closed the door.

“I am Andrea White, classmate of your daughter. You have a lovely home Mrs. Solano.” I said with a polite smile. “Thank you, Andrea.” She says and called Rouz’s name. “Would you like something to drink until she comes?”  I am not sure what is wrong her. Probably she wasn’t expected me here. “No, I am good thank you.” I answer to her and looked the hallway between the kitchen and the living room. She walked in the room. Her hair was up to a pony tail, a beautiful, deep green daily dress and her Vans shoes. She glances at me and her mother. “You meet Andrea that I told you about.” She says to her mother, the blush start on her cheeks. What she told her mom and looked me that way when she opened the door! “Are you ready?” I asked her quite embarrassed. “Yes, let’s go.” She chuckles. Then she kissed her mother and walked next to me and opens the door. “Nice to meet you Mrs. Solano.” I said and walked to the open door. “Nice to meet you too, Andrea! Rosario doesn’t be late, with your friend.” She said to Rouz. And close the door behind us. We walked, to the car. “So are you ready Miss Solano to get amazed?” I asked cheerfully. I start driving.

She was staring outside the window most of the time and given me glances. “What have you plan for me Andrea?” she asked me. She looking so beautiful when she is lost in her thoughts. “I take you for a walk, but it’s not just a walk. You will like it. I promise.” I said and keep driving. I turn the radio on. After twenty minutes we pull over to the parking lot of the small town next to ours. We get out the car.

I took her hand and start walking beside her. “First of all, you have to try the ice cream at Jimmy’s ice truck. It’s Nick’s favorite and mine.” She responds with a smile at me. “I listen when you told to my brother about that vanilla ice cream. And the idea hits me.” I continued. She turned and faced my eyes. That look is all over my face now, that excitement! We walked to the truck. “I would like one chocolate and one strawberry flavor scoop, please!” I said and looked at her. “One vanilla and one cherry flavor, please.” She said to the man on the truck. He gave us, our cups. I took her hand and walked to a bench in front of the lake. We enjoyed our ice creams and watched the last colors of the sunset in the horizon. The sky was almost dark, orange and dark red lines were painting the sky above us. The stars had added to the dark sky. The lights on walkway lighted up.

I checked my clock on the phone its eight, forty five. “You liked your ice cream? Are you ready for our next stop?” I was waving gently my hand in front of her face. She was lost on her thoughts again with a big smile on her face. She turns her face on me with lost eyes and curious expression. “That was really tasty. How did you find out this place?” she replied. “Are you ready for the next stop? I can’t tell you all my secrets on the first…” I stopped talking. Is not a date!  “Our first walk together.” I rephrased.

She stood up and gives me her hand. “Yes I am, lead the way.” She says. I except her hand and walked to the walkway next to her. We passed some nice old houses with big yards, white, wooden fences in front of them. There were big beautiful rose gardens everywhere. The smell of the roses, remind me of her. She smells like roses and jasmine. We walked towards to the square. The music was leading the way actually. The kiosk at the center of the square was wooden. Around it have series of fairy lights on each corner. In the middle were four street musicians. It was crowded. They are watching the festival and some of them swing their bodies to the music. Three couples was dancing, a smooth Bachatta dance. “It is amazing.” She exhaled in excitement and surprise. “It’s the Latin festival this town had every year, for three nights. I thought you would like to spend some time with something familiar. I am not good at it, but would you like to dance with me?” I said and offered her my hand. She took it gracefully and placed my other hand on her waist. I make wrong steps and she laughed at me.

*Rouz POV

Earlier that day

After she brought me home, I get in with a ridiculous smile on my face. My mom watched me from the kitchen. I left my keys on the cupboard, my bag on the floor and walked there. “What happened at school and you look so happy, chica? Who was that, at the black car?” I looked at her with a big smile across my face. I open the fridge to get some water and took my seat at the table. “She was my classmate, Andrea. She saw me walking and gave me a ride. She is the one at the club I told you about. That she stared me all night. She asked me to go for a walk later. She will come to pick me up.” I answer as she served lunch. “She is the one our neighbor Sandy told you, that she is a player. I don’t want you to get hurt again baby girl.” She replied with sad face. I can understand her. The last time I was hardly eat, when someone broke my heart. “She is not like that mom. Sandy made that up, because she dumbed her. She is very sweet and kind. Don’t judge her from her cover. Please!” I said and roll my eyes to her.

I finished my lunch. I took my bag from the floor and walked back to my room. I turn on my cd player with my favorite Latin music. I sat at my desk to do my homework. The time past fast into my books. My phone next to me is buzzing. It’s a text.

Pick you up at seven, and be yourself. –A

I smiled when I read it. I turn back to my books. The time fly fast, when I checked the time was six o ‘clock. I get up, take a towel from my wardrobe and get to the bathroom. I stripped my clothes and I get in the shower. I finished my shower and got back to the room. I open the wardrobe I take my deep green daily dress and my Vans shoes. It’s just a walk I thought. I was swing to the steps of the music for a while. Then I heard my mom’s voice. What time is it? I check the clock. It’s seven. I have to hurry up. I make my hair up to a poly tail, crab my phone and my black jacket and walked out my room. She was standing there and talks to my mom. I like her style, and I love her shoes. A quick thought pass from my mind. I walked towards to stops the awkward conversion and leave the house.

She starts driving. I am looking outside the window. I am so embarrass to look at her. I am thinking about when she was at the ring with Jace. She was so fearless and strong.  Her tan and toned six packs were amazing. I turn my head and she gave me a quick look as she is driving. We stop and get out the car.

I took her hand as she offered and she walked next to me. She is taller than me. We will go for ice cream from a truck. How she found that place. This small town is amazing, so picturesque from another century. The sight of the lake and the sunset’s colorful sky was mesmerized. She stares at me the most of the times when I look at her. “Are you ready for the next stop? I can’t tell you all my secrets on the first… Our first walk together” That was awkward to her. I stood up and told her to lead the way. We were following the music. The festival is very nice. The live music is really good. The atmosphere is amazing so many people and the dancers, it really feels familiar. I took her hand softly and put her other one on my waist. She makes wrong steps. I chuckled to that.

Now

I was close her body, my cheerily face against hers. “You are a very bad Latin dancer Miss White.” I tease her. She smiled awkward. “The first step is on your right foot. And four steps on each side. Follow my lead.” I said and pull her again closer to me. “So you are an expert?” she asks. “I am just good at it, as you are on the ring. Very nice work back there.” She looked down at her shoes, watched her steps. I put my hand at her chin and made her look at my eyes. “You always have to look your partner at the face or at the eyes.” I told her and she smiles back. I make a spin while she finds her steps. And make the right steps again. The song has finish. We stop and take a seat on a table close to us. “When did you learn to dance?” she asked. When we catch our, breathe. “I was dancing Latin since I was a kid. I like the music and the rhythm. I can teach you Bachatta which is easy since you learned the first steps.” I chuckled and she reached my hand. “Hello, what can I bring you to drink?” The waitress came and she let my hand. “I would like a beer.” Andrea says, “And I would like some soda.” I said to the waitress who was staring at Andrea. “That’s all, thank you.” Andrea said nervously. “Every woman is like that around you?” I said with sneaky smile. She takes my hand. “Not everyone!” She chuckles.

The waitress brought our drinks. And give a small piece of paper to Andrea. She saw it and through it when the waitress walked away. “Hey! Asshole what are you doing here?” Jace come from behind her and hit her shoulder. She let my hand and smiled at him. Alice and Sandy were coming also to our table. “Hey handsome, how are you?” Sandy grabbed Andrea’s hand. “Stop doing this Sandy.” Andrea glared and pulled off her hand. Jace sitting next to me, Alice take the seat next to Andrea. She looks relief. I don’t blame her. Sandy took a seat next to Jace.  “So what are you guys doing here?” she asks smiley. “We came for the festival, dufous. Why are you here?” Alice said. A sneaky smile climbed on her face when she looked at me. They chuckled to the awkward moment. One of the dancers came to our table and asked me to dance with him. My laugh wiped away and stared at Andrea’s eyes. “Go, I want you to have fun. I would love to see you dance, plus I will be right here for you.” She smiles at me.

I took his hand we walked to take our place. He put his hand on my waist and takes the lead of the salsa dance. It was very easy to makes my moves, and the spins. He always drives my body to the right direction. I forgot how beautiful dancing makes me feel. He made me the last double spin and pulled close to him. His hand was on my leg which was wrapped around his thigh and my face was an inch from his. I turned my face to Andrea’s direction. I saw her amazement look. The song finished and I turn to leave. He grabbed my hand and pulls me back close to him. Then I saw Andrea and Jace coming very fast, Andrea grabs his both hands and put them back from his head. “Are you ok?” She asks me pissed as she pushes harder his head. Alice ran and took me back to the table. I guess she is afraid of something.

 I couldn’t see what happening, people gather around. Then they pass through the people. Andrea was hurt. I ran towards to her. She gets her arms around me. “Are you ok?” she asks me again and looked at my face. I had some tears. “Yes, now I am. You are bleeding. Let’s go to clean that face of yours.” She smiled softly. Alice was with Jace. He had hurt at his face too. We sat to the table and I try to find something to clean her bleeding wound, at her eyebrow and her bottom lip. “You two idiots can’t stay away from troubles?” Alice start yell at them, when I was clean the wound, Andrea looked Jace and they start laughing. “Let’s get you home.” Andrea said calmly and smiley.

We all are walking together to the parking lot. The bleeding has stopped and she still smiles. As we walked she took my hand spins me and pulls me closer to her body. “You didn’t see that coming.” She joked cheerfully. We start laughing. We went to the car and Jace took her keys and drove us back home. Alice left with Sandy. We were all laughing at the car. And talking about the night we spend.

We arrived outside my house. She walked with me. We were standing outside my door. “Rouz” I heard my name like a whisper, she came closer, touched my face gently her hand and leaned to kiss me. Suddenly the door opens. It’s my mom. Andrea turned her head awkward and tried to hide her face. “What happen to you? Let me see it” she asks Andrea and takes a better look at her face. “It’s nothing Mrs. Solano. Thank you for asking. I will see you tomorrow Rouz.” She responds awkward to my mom and me. “Put some ice and go to the hospital.” My mom’s worried face about her. “Sorry for the bad moment Mrs. Solano, Have a good night.” Andrea said fast and turned to walk to the car. “Good night Andrea. Thank you for the walk.” I said and walked inside the house. My phone beeping, it’s a text.

It’s my pleasure to have a walk with you. –A

I smiled and explained what happen to my mom. She kissed my forehead and told to thank Andrea and Jace for tonight. She was happy about the idea of the Latin festival and that Andrea and her friends tried protect me. She knows that I love dancing and it was hard for me to move. I hugged her tight when she realized that Andrea is a kind and protective person.

I went to my room smiley. I lay back to my bed, in full thoughts of Andrea.