4 Corners: Dance with Me

Caleigh looked at the mirrors and touched the glass with her finger tips. It just seemed like fate had taken her in.

"I'll be renovating the kitchen and the bathroom over the next few weeks. I'll let you know when I'll be in here. The mirrors will probably come down before I rent out the place again," Richard said, "So till then, what do you think? It's good?"

The soft smile broadened on Caleigh's face, narrowing her already slender eyes. She looked back at her uncle and nodded.

**********

"It's the boss man!" Jimmy Dean called out as Richard and his niece entered his store. He added a raised hand bow towards them.

Richard laughed, "Hey Jimmy. How's business?"

"Business is A-okay, chief!" Jimmy Dean replied with an exaggerated two thumbs up. His wide toothy smile shined through his thin, black features.

Jimmy Dean owned and worked in Wang's Milk and Goods ever since he moved up from Tobago. It was one of the shops on the street front of the 4 Corners.

Richard and Caleigh approached the counter. "We gonna have the usual, chief?" Jimmy Dean asked.

"You know me too well," Richard grinned.

Jimmy Dean laughed and clapped his hands together. He slapped down a whole box of gum onto the counter.

Caleigh arched her brow as she eyed her uncle.

Richard shrugged, "It lasts me a month."

"Juicy Fruits for the boss," Jimmy Dean nodded. Then, turning to Caleigh, he leaned over slightly and said, "And we have a Juicy-Juicy here, as well!"

Caleigh couldn't help but offer an amused smile towards the comically flirtatious look of the amiable shop-keeper.

"This is my niece, Caleigh," Richard introduced, "She'll be using 401 until I get it renovated."

"Ah! She's gonna be in Fred and Ginger's!" Jimmy Dean remarked.

"Fred and Ginger?" Caleigh asked.

"Yeah, you know! The dancers!" the shop-keeper replied. He held up his hands in ballroom position and did a few sliding steps behind the counter, humming a reggae-infused waltz.

Caleigh chuckled.

"Well, they weren't Fred and Ginger," her uncle explained, "ButHarvey and Dorothy Lipman were pretty good dancers themselves. They were teachers and they won a few awards and prizes in competitions before that."

Jimmy Dean added, "They were cool and smooth on the dance floor and then hot and heavy in the parking lot!"

Caleigh blinked. "What?"

Richard cleared his throat. "The Lipmans apparently got quite, um, frisky immediately after competing."

"They danced vertically and celebrated horizontally in their Caddy!" Jimmy Dean detailed.

Caleigh's face was drawn blank soaking in that thought. A blush of pink seeped onto her cheeks. "In the car? Right after dancing?" she asked, amazed.

"A good dance will do that, though, wouldn't it now, juicy-juicy? Get the bloodpumping!" Jimmy Dean said.

"Well, not for Cal," Richard smirked and tugged at his niece's sleeve, "Take it easy, Jimmy. See you in a bit."

The gregarious shop-keeper watched them exit his store.

"Just one good dance," he said out loud.

*********

Things at the studio progressed slowly. Caleigh and August worked endlessly with one another guided by the cool and assured Thalia. They got along well. They're technique was good. Stances and lines showed poise and good form and they had a firm visualization of all the moves and steps of the dances. Still, Caleigh sensed something was holding them back.

During a break, as August continued to work on some steps by himself, Caleigh and Thalia watched him as they leaned against a far wall.

"He's very hesitant," Caleigh remarked, "He looks strong. He is strong. But I don't feel any of that in his holds. He's all stops and starts."

"It's like he's at the edge but then suddenly withdraws," Thalia said, "He ends up holding you too delicately."

Caleigh nodded as she sipped some water from a bottle.

"Caleigh," Thalia said, "You still don't know why I switched you away from Tristan, do you?"

The young dancer didn't reply, just continued to gaze ahead.

"Tristan was like gazelle, just like you," Thalia said, "You danced alike, side-by-side, so graceful."

Caleigh smirked. Thalia was at it again.

"I don't need two gazelles," the choreographer continued, "I don't want two gazelles. Not for the dances I want you to do. I need fierce. I need raw power. I need passion and lust. I need a gazelle and I need a lion. August is my lion."

Caleigh frowned as she looked towards her partner. "He seems more like a pussy cat," she remarked.

Thalia grinned and as she looked at her. "With the right game, any cat can become a hunter."

Caleigh rolled her eyes. "You make me sound like meat," she joked, then added, "Just so long as he doesn't eat me alive."

The choreographer said nothing as Caleigh walked back towards her partner. Her eyes narrowed as she watched her go.

August was balancing on one foot as he leaned forward slowly. He held the position, trying to concentrate. He knew he was having problems with the holds. Dancing alongside Caleigh was fine. It was when he touched her the first time, held her close, felt the energy from within through her smooth, milky skin, that was when he could feel the sweat build in his palms and the strength sapped from his muscles. And it just got worse from there.

He tried to steady his breath as he held his position. Caleigh was his motivation to do this. Having seen her in the past, he had instantly recognized how beautifully she danced. Now, the moment he had been introduced and began working with her, he saw just how beautiful she was as a woman -- her looks, her smell, her touch. No woman had drawn that quick an acknowledgement from him before. He was unprepared for it.

He had just wanted to dance with her, he had to repeat to himself over and over. Just...dance.

His heart thumped hard within his chest and that was enough to shake his concentration. He stumbled awkwardly out of position.

"Dammit," he grumbled, hanging his head down.

"That was good form, August," Caleigh said softly from behind.

He paused at the sound of her voice. Composing himself a little before turning to her he said apologetically, "Can't seem to hold it though."

The young woman smiled and shook her head, "You're doing fine August. I think the dances are coming along. You just need more time to practice."

August put his hands on his hips and looked off dejectedly. Even with her reassurance, she could tell that he continued to beat himself up. He needed to relax, get away from the studio.

Caleigh thought for a moment. Finally she clasped her hands together, rolled up onto her toes, inhaled then said, "I think I have a place where we can practice on our own."

**********

"Hey, it's Barysh-NEE-kov!" Jimmy Dean shouted with a warm laugh as August entered Wang's.

August grimaced and shook his head. "Man, do you have to call me by the name of one of the whitest dancers on the planet?"

The perpetually smiling shop-keeper chuckled, "Yeah, you would have to scrape off a few layers of the smoke at least!"

"Thanks a lot," August replied, a tired grin on his lips. He made his way up and down the single aisle of the store.

It had just been a little over a week since he started to frequent Wang's daily but he and Jimmy Dean were already on pretty familiar ground. He returned to the counter and plunked down his goods.

"Ah you know I'm just teasing your beard, bro'!" Jimmy Dean chimed and offered out his hand. The two men brushed their palms and bumped their fists together.

Jimmy Dean said, "You got your rations for the afternoon, huh?" He started to punch the keys on the register.

"Yeah, two bags of chips, a bottle of mineral water, OJ," August did the inventory and then picked up some cookies, "And a bag of Oreos for the lady."

Jimmy Dean clapped his hands together and laughed, "The dancing queen is the Cookie Monster in disguise, eh?"

August nodded as he reached for his wallet. "Yeah," he sighed, "Can't tell where she puts it all though, can you?"

The shopkeeper winked. "She do cut a fine figure now, huh brutha? She is too sweet," he said then sang smoothly through his grinning teeth, "Hold me closer tiny dancer..."

August couldn't help but look down and smile sheepishly. He certainly had more than his share of opportunities to hold Caleigh's lovely body close to his. "Fringe benefits," he snickered in spite of himself.

Jimmy Dean's eyes widened as the edge of his lips angled sharply. "You sure you got everything?" he asked. He twisted around slightly and waved his hand along a rack behind him. He said, "You sure you don't need a little somethin'-somethin' should things hit the fast lane? Best be prepared, brah.""

August followed the man's fingers as they presented the boxes of condoms displayed on the wall behind the counter. His own smile quickly faded as he winced and shrugged his shoulders. He felt the blood flood into his cheeks as he realized he had been caught up in the moment. Shaking his head, he said adamantly, "Guy, it ain't like that!"

Jimmy Dean remained in position, displaying his contraceptive wares like a TV commercial pitchman. He arched his brows up and down. "You said she liked Oreos? Chocolate cookie is tasty with the white cream filling," he said with a wink, "The cookies don't lie."

August sighed. He picked up his bag of food and made his way towards the exit. Raising his hand to Jimmy Dean he said, "Catch you later. Cal's waiting."

As the door opened and closed shut, ringing the little bells, Jimmy Dean, as usual, got the last word in: "I'm sure she is, brutha!" **********

In apartment #401, Caleigh danced between the breaks of sunlight reaching in through the windows. She moved in the silent room, no music playing, following a rhythm in her head.

Things definitely had improved since she and August brought their practice sessions to the 4 Corners. They were enjoying themselves working hard then taking breaks just to talk, or eat, or, once in a while, taking turns napping in the big, comfy easy chair. They even rented "Dirty Dancing" at a local DVD store and watched it on Caleigh's laptop one evening, studying the dancing and adding running commentary for the corny story and hammy acting. They were having fun.

Maybe it was the more relaxed, private atmosphere. Caleigh smiled. Maybe it was the spirit of the dancing Lipman's guiding them.

There's a thought: The Lipman's performing on the dance floor, appearing impeccable and all the while piquing their arousal by one another's touch and hold and look. Despite the prim and proper image she had of them from the photo, she could just imagine how dancing so intimately could send their attraction for one another soaring to the point where they had to immediately sneak off and release those pent up desires in the back seat of their car outside.

"How were they able to concentrate?" Caleigh snickered to herself.

Thinking about the present again, Caleigh was happy with August's progress. He really was a good partner. He was dedicated, enthusiastic, and really strong technically and just physically in general. She felt he still hadn't really envisioned his own potential. He was still holding back when they came together for their more intimate holds and lifts. Every so often he would flash her the briefest look, some deep dark passion in his youthful eyes, but he would immediately pull back.

There was a ceiling there. If they could only get past that...the things they could do. She looked into the mirrors, envisioned August behind her, his muscular dark tones wrapping around her fair-skinned, fit body. Thalia had been dead on. They would make an attractive couple on the dance stage.

"Just on the dance stage?"

Caleigh broke her step and stumbled slightly on the floor, a sudden incendiary thought snapping her concentration. She stood there, staring blankly at spot on the floor, absorbing a vague feeling germinating in her head, like a ghostly whisper beckoning her.

"Junk food delivery," August piped in as he stepped into the apartment.

Caleigh turned her head, startled.

"What's the matter? See a mouse?" he asked.

After a brief second, she shook her head and smiled. "No, just thinking about something."

"Sound a bit out of breath. Guess you need some of these?" August said as he dangled the bag of cookies in front of her.

Caleigh ran over, her arms outstretched. "Oh yeah! Gimme!"

August shook his head as she snatched the bag from his hand. "Damn," he winced, "Where you gonna pack those?"

The young woman waved a finger at him as she skipped away with her swag. "Don't worry," she said, "We'll be working these off this afternoon. I promise you!"

August winced again, grinned and slowly took off his jacket.

**********

"Elbows off the table!"

"Ow! Hey! C'mon, mom!" August winced as his mother gave him a swift smack on the back of his head.

Caleigh looked up from her dinner plate and snickered.

"20-years old, you've got a decent lady friend over and your manners go out the window?" Mrs.Bailey said as she pawed at her son's head again.

August frowned and rolled his head clearly embarrassed.

Mrs.Bailey wrapped her arms around him from behind and said, "Ooh! Caleigh darling, he's just worried I'm going to mess up his hairdo! He finally put on some decent clothes so he'd look all fine for you."

Caleigh grinned and nodded. August was indeed looking pretty fine wearing brown pinstriped dress slacks and a white polo top which stretched over his broad shoulders and chest.

August winced some more as his mother planted a rough kiss on his temple. He declared, "Hey, I'm telling you, don't mess with the 'do'!"

His mother ended it with a firm nudge to his head as she backed away laughing.

Caleigh smiled broadly and giggled. This was nice, having dinner with August at his apartment. Actually he said it was his mother who asked that she come over one night.

"She's not a girlfriend, mom," August had insisted the day she told him to invite Caleigh for dinner.

"Of course not, silly goat! None of your 'girlfriends' could be a refined dancer such as she!" she teased, "I just want to meet your dance partner and warn her about you and make sure you don't mess up this fine opportunity!"

Mrs.Bailey was a charming and spirited woman. She swayed to and fro and waved her hands when she talked which was often. The only time she really settled down was when Caleigh talked about her interest in dance and her training and performances. The older woman sat beside her at the table and listened intently, hands folded on her lap and her large brown eyes riveted on her. She was easy to talk to.

When Caleigh was finished, Mrs.Bailey leaned back in her chair rubbing her hands on her thighs and blowing out a deep breath. "Ooh my goodness, this girl is aprofessional!" she declared. She nodded towards her son, "What are you doing messing with a hoofer like this one here?"

August rolled her eyes as the two women chuckled.

"Well he's not too bad at all, Mrs.Bailey. Besides," she firmed her jaw, folded her arms and eyed August, "I'll whip him into shape."

"You do just that, Caleigh hon'," she wagged her finger first at the young woman then more sternly at her son. "Alright, alright! Hey, if I knew I was going to get tag-teamed, I wouldn't have shown up tonight!" August wiped his hands and then stood up from the table to clear the dishes.

A glowing smile on her face, Mrs.Bailey stood up, waving her hand at Caleigh to tell her to stay seated while she and her son cleared the table and got the dessert. The older woman, who was still in fine shape, shimmied and tapped her feet as she walked towards the kitchen humming a jazzy tune.

She met up with her son at the sink. "She's a knock-out," she said in her loud-whisper voice, "What a lovely face and those pinched eyes! Is she a mix?"

"I don't know," August replied, "Half-white, half-Chinese maybe? Her last name is Lin. She's a mix of something."

"Lovely, lovely, lovely...mm-hmm,"

"She's not a girlfriend," August repeated with a sigh anticipating his mother's comments.

"I know!" Mrs.Bailey said, her voice rising as her eyes did upward, "Lord couldn't offer me just one blessing, could He?"

"Shh!"

"You don't hurt that delicate flower, understand?" she said clutching at his wrist, "That girl is destined for big things in her life and she's a blessing in yours. You do nothing to hurt her."

"I know mom! I'm not playing around," he insisted.

"You tell that to the all those dirty women you've been fooling with!" she sniped, "Just like your father!"

"I'm not like that anymore! I just want to dance," August snapped and snatched away his wrist, "I'm not going to mess around with Caleigh!"

A soft voice nervously cleared her throat from behind them. Mrs.Bailey and son turned to face the pretty young woman standing at the kitchen doorway, a polite, if slightly anxious, smile on her lips.

"I was wondering if I could help bring out the dessert," Caleigh said.

Mrs.Bailey paused, her mouth slightly ajar as she and her son looked at Caleigh, then one another, then back at her.

"Oh thank you, hon'," she finally said, "You can take the dishes and forks here and August and I will bring out the pie and ice cream."

"Pie and ice cream! Mmmm!" Caleigh chuckled, "How are we supposed to dance if we get fat?!"

Caleigh and Mrs.Bailey walked out of the kitchen smiling. August hung around at the sink. He whipped the towel against the counter then leaned heavily on the edge. He squeezed his eyes tight and shook his head slowly.

*********

"My mom would talk your head off, wouldn't she?" August said apologetically as he walked Caleigh to the train station.

"Ha! Ha! She's really sweet! I like her alot," she replied, "Feisty!"

"That must be why the two of you get along so well!"

Caleigh smiled and nodded. Her round cheeks were blushed red from the cool November air. They strolled along quietly on the sidewalk for awhile. She had become familiar enough with August to know when he was holding back to himself. By now, she cared more than enough about him to mention it.

"I'm sorry about dropping in on your conversation in the kitchen," she offered.

August silently shrugged his shoulders.

"Your mom is carrying some baggage about your dad?" Caleigh asked.

"And she's dumping it on me," he snapped. Immediately he winced, kicking himself inwardly for such a sour reply. He leveled his gaze onto the ground in front of him as he hunkered down, his hands stuffed in his pockets. She heard him exhale a deep breath but he said nothing else.

Caleigh thought about it for a few moments. Finally, she said, "Your dad left?"

August stopped and turned towards her. He rolled his eyes towards the sky and sighed, "Yup. Left her a couple of years after I was born. Mom's a smart lady. Could have had a good career until she got pregnant and married my dad. Gave it all up for him. Then he dumped her. She's smart but she still can't deal with that. She's worried it'll be like father, like son."

There was an acute pause as they stood facing one another. Caleigh saw a weighty seriousness in August's entrancing grey-green eyes. She was staring but she couldn't pull herself away.

He shrugged again and turned and continued to walk towards the station. Caleigh trailed behind him.

"Dad was always about the party, having his fun," August continued, "Left a whole lot of wreckage behind him."

"You don't...I don't think you're like your dad," Caleigh said, stumbling to find words.

"Not like I've given my mom much excuse not to think so," he replied still walking ahead of her.

That wasn't a reply she was expecting. Usually light on her feet, Caleigh lagged further behind August lost in her thoughts. The words said in the kitchen, the implications of what went unsaid, wended their way through her increasingly conflicted head.