Lead the Way
#ShippingIt
By Chelsea Visser
Hey, do you want to dance?
What did they say this was? I'm new; I only know a couple—
It's a foxtrot. It's easy. I'll walk you through it.
I'd like to apologize in advance for stepping on your feet. Don't laugh!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I won't—come on, quick, this way. See, the floor's nice and clear. Nothing to trip over.
You underestimate me.
Look, we can do this. Your arm goes—here, yeah. Now, step, step, side-step.
Step, step, side-step. Step—whoops, sorry, wrong foot.
Change your weight each time. Left, right—there you go.
How do you keep it all straight in your head? The feet and the way you step and staying on beat?
Practice, kiddo. Lots and lots of practice. It'll help if you try not to look at your feet—yep, good. See how that feels different?
Yeah. Okay, yeah ….
Okay, now I'm gonna spin you—go under—yeah.
Okay, yeah, that's fun. How does that work? I go—
No, not that way—you'll twist your arm wrong. Here, let's switch. You hold your arm up, and I hold my arm up—and I just go under and around.
Oh—oh, I see. Thanks!
You're doing great.
*
So, hey, you're new, right?
Yeah. My roommate's been coming for a few weeks now. Wouldn't shut up about it, and, well, apparently your first two lessons are free.
Who's your roommate?
Sam—over there in the red shirt. Seriously, all I ever hear about is Cuban motion, and staying on your feet, and connection. I almost got hip-checked into a wall with one of those skinny hips.
Oh, god.
Sam is … enthusiastic.
Yeah, I can get that. I had a roommate once who got really into juggling. By midterms, we only had, like, three glasses. For Christmas, one of our friends gave us all sippy cups.
No!
No, I swear to god. I've still got mine somewhere; it was great when I still had a loft bed. Hey, I'm gonna go dance this next song. My partner and I need practice.
Okay!
Okay, wait, sorry, before I forget: I'm Riley.
Oh! I'm Quinn.
Nice to meet you! Thanks for coming and dancing with me. Maybe I'll see you next week?
You know what? Yeah. Yeah, I'll be back.
*
Hey. Hey, Quinn!
Hey!
Hey, you're coming to the social this weekend, right?
Maybe. I have a midterm next week, and chem is kicking my butt, and—
No, come on, you're going. We're gonna go. You've got to get out of your room, or else your brain is gonna get overloaded and you'll mix up carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and kill us all.
Riley ….
Come on, we're gonna go. It'll be a blast.
*
Hey, Quinn?
Yeah?
I was wondering … maybe after social sometime, would you want to go get coffee or something? No pressure, just …. I don't know, I thought I'd ask.
I thought ….
What?
What about your partner?
My …? Oh. Oh! God, no, we're dance partners, not—no, never.
Oh. Then, yeah. Coffee sounds nice.
Okay!
….
Okay, so, I'm going to stop grinning at you now, and we're gonna go dance.
Lead the way.