The Girl in the Middle

Dancing lessons with Tom

*Amber*

My body has changed a lot since I woke up half a year ago. I has filled out and I can actually fit into Kattie's clothes now. I have developed new shapes and muscles. My arms no longer look like spaghetti dangling from the sleeves and the pants sits close to my legs. My ribs are no longer visible and my collarbone don't stick out as much.

I still have my scars, but they have faded and they seemed to fit my body better now. It just looks much less macabre when my body is healthy and fit. I have dyed my hair a couple of times, to hide the blonde colour growing back. I have thought about going back to my natural colour, but it is to much trouble compared to dying it.

My training is really moving along now. I am still on the shooting range, but now I have started hitting even the moving targets. And I have started the preliminary training for hand to hand combat, which means hitting a punching bag until my knuckles are bleeding and.. Well dancing.

Every afternoon I have dancing lessons for two hours with Tom. According to him it gives me the grace and reaction to my opponent there is necessary the day I go into the ring or end in a real fight on the streets. I need to learn how to read people.

"So are you doing this when you train the young men too, or is it reserved for your female students ?" I ask Tom one afternoon as I walk into the training room. I have a hard time imagining two men dancing like this.

He grins and slowly walk over. "Well so far it is reserved for you". He says softly. "I tried with Kattie, but she wouldn't let me lead. She is way to headstrong".

I blush slightly, not really knowing why, as he grabs my hands, pulling me flushed against his body. "I was thinking you are handling the waltz really well by now, reading my moves really well, so I think we should move on to some latin rhythms. They have more passion, reminds more of a fight or love making".

"Yeah because those two thing seems to have so much in common". I say, avoiding his eyes. Talking about things like s*x still makes me uncomfortable.

"More than most people realise". He say with a sly smile. "But I guess you Will find out soon enough".

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"Fuck.. could you focus Amber". Tom curses when I step on his foot for the hundredth time that day. I can't keep focus on my feet. He is to close, and the way he moves those hips is so enticing.

"Sorry". I feel frustrated. And I don't know what is going on with me. Honestly this has been happening more and more. He has this power to make me all flustered and awkward. But why ? Clay is the one I am in love with, I have no doubt about that.

Tom runs a hand through his hair, looking rather frustrated too. "No need to apologise, just.. well try to focus. You need to be able to keep your focus no matter what. If you lose focus in a real fight, you might very Well lose Your life".

"I am trying okay, it's not my fault you make me..". s**t, I had been about to blurt out how he makes me feel, I can't do that. "It's just not easy learning a whole new set of movements. How come you even know how to dance ?"

"My mother taught me. She was taught to dance when she worked for a very rich family.. At parties her boss made her dance with his business contacts". His jaw gets a tense look, telling me she had to do more than dancing. But I can see it is a sore subject for him, so I let it rest.

I take a deep breath. He is right, I need to learn how to keep my focus and I should be thankful that I now have freedom to choose. "Okay let's go again then. I promise to watch out for Your feet".

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I get better, I learn how to focus and ignore those feelings the closeness causes in me. To not lose my mind over the feeling of his strong body and that sexy scent from him.

I spent my mornings training with the gun, either at the shooting range or one of the paintball arenas if there are any opponents to fight. Then after lunch the dancing and the rest of the afternoon I get my pent up frustrations out by pounding the punching bag and lifting weights. I feel stronger and more confident than ever before.

I have had several run ins with Zombie, but none where I was in danger or close contact with him. I haven't had the chance to fight him. I am always with Tom, Clay, Kattie or KC if I am outside the school or apartment and always in or on some kind of transportation that doesn't let Zombie stop us or get close.

He has come to the apartment a couple of times, but every time the others have reacted before I have even realised that there was a threat. Before I know what was happening Hope always pulls me to the bathroom and lock the door. For that reason we now have weapons hidden in the bathroom just in case.