Dancing Around the Competition: Chapter 5

The dancing instructor walked around as everybody was trying the next steps in the dance.  She walked by everyone and tried to give them pointers to improve. 

“Don’t be so nervous, move in a little closer.” She says to Kelly and Ryan as she watches them dance with an arm’s length between them.

“Oh that’s fi-,” Ryan began before Kelly crashes into his chest and holds him tightly in her arms.  She smiles brightly up at him and continues to dance. Ryan stands perfectly still looking at the dance instructor. Thanks, thanks a lot. He thinks to himself as he tries to sway back and forth.

“Okay, um Kelly? Maybe not that close, you still want him to dance right?” The instructor asks with a slight smile before checking on the others.

“You know,” Michael begins to say with a smug smile on his face. “I was the best dancer of my class back in the day.” He leans towards to instructor as she walks by.  Meredith lay limp on shoulder due to the fact that she had been spiking her own drink throughout the evening. 

“No! No! No! You are doing it all wrong.” The instructor announced as she walked up to Michael and Meredith.  “And you call yourself the best in your class. I honestly beg to differ.”  She takes Meredith’s position and starts to go through the steps with Michael as Meredith stumbles back to the juice bowl to get a refill.  After the instructor shows him the steps time and time again, he frowns and sheepishly goes and sits down at the tables, mumbling to himself. 

Kevin and Oscar stand side by side commenting on how everybody is dancing. Oscar turns towards Kevin and offers his hand to dance.  Kevin stares at his hand for a minute, as if he was calculating what he is actually asking of me before looking right into Oscar’s eyes and walking away.

 “I was only kidding around… Honestly…” Oscar looks into the camera sheepishly before walking away.  

“You, my little kangaroo are dancing very well.”  Dwight whispered into Angela’s ear as they danced very… professionally.  Dwight stepped back and took his stance as they began to dance once again.

“Not here Dwight,” Angela whispered so that no one could hear her. “You keep talking like that and you will not be getting any cookie later.”  She took her stance again and started to dance again, trying not to blush at what he had just said to her.

The instructor stood and listened to the whole exchange and decided not to intrude because they seem busy, and because the thought of the two of them doing more than just talking like that scarred her deeply.  So she moved on and found Jim and Phyllis dancing perfectly.

“Ah yes, you two are doing it correctly.” She proclaims as she walks over to them.

 “Well that is because I have Phyllis as a partner.” Jim replies with a smile.

Phyllis bows her head with a visible blush slowly displaying itself on her face.  “No Jim, you’re the one leading.  Thank you for dancing with me.” Phyllis replies softly.

“Please, I should be thanking you.” Jim says with a slight nod.  “Thank you very much.” Jim continues as the instructor tells both of them to keep up the good work as she walks away from them. 

“Alright everybody, that is all the time we have for lessons this evening.  Good job.” The instructor states while giving a round of applause for everyone.  “I hear that all of you will be having a prom theme dance. I hope you all enjoy yourselves and have a great evening.”

Everybody gives the instructor another set of applause, as thanks, as she leaves.  “Alrighty Dunder-Mifflinites, Is everyone readying to party-hardy?”  Michael asks as everybody begins to cheer.  The lights dim in the community hall and the music begins to play from the speakers.  Everyone begins to move on the dance floor but Jim stays back typing on his cell phone. 

XXX

Pam is in the kitchen making Roy and the guys’ burgers so they can eat during the game.  She frowns as she thinks about how the dance is starting soon.  Her thoughts start to wander towards him.  The way he would look in a tuxedo, or how his hair would be neatly combed rather than the way it is at work.  The way his smile would probably make her knees….  Her thoughts were interrupted as Roy yelled into the kitchen, “Hey are the burgers ready yet?”  She furrowed her brow as she replied kindly.  

“Just about, I’m thinking about five more minutes.” Pam states as she looks at her phone noticing that she has two new text messages.

            From Kelly           

OMG Pam! The dance is aMazing.  Everyone looks so hot! I took some pictures so you can see them on Monday!           

            -K 

Pam shook her head and opened up the next message.

              From Jim           

19:05 huh? Pretty good PH… The dance is alright; your night missing much.  I hope your feeling better.  Oh, yes we are still friends! Why wouldn’t we be? 

Her heart skipped a beat.  He had seen her username.  She smiled as she remembered how she accidentally hit “H” instead of “B”.  She looked at the text message as a blush crept on her face as she finished preparing the burgers.  Her thoughts went back to the dance.  She wanted to be there, with everyone.  She looked into the living room and made up her mind.   

As she brought the burgers out to the boys, she told Roy that she was going to the gym to workout.  He nodded, half paying attention, as she went upstairs to their room.  She knew that her reasons for going to the dance were wrong.  But she really wanted to be there…with everyone.  She grabbed her sports bag and folded her dress and set it in the bag with her heels.  She threw the shoulder strap over her shoulder and kissed Roy goodbye before leaving for the dance. 

XXX

For him, the dace was just like work, but with everyone dressed up, dancing, and having large amounts of alcohol.  Jim sat by the doors resting his chin in one of his hands and holding a beer in the other.  At first, he eagerly waited to a reply to the text message he sent to her. Now though, he had basically giving up hope.  Sure, it was fun to chat away with everyone, but the real reason he even decided to come to this event was because she actually said yes to him earlier.  That moment made him feel like he could achieve anything in life.  Now he felt crummy because he couldn’t even have a good time.  He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice his fellow employees welcoming someone to the dance.  He was broken out of his trance when someone started to him. 

“So, I hear that you are quiet the dancer.” She spoke with a smile.

Jim could feel his heart stop as he slowly turns around in his chair, looking at a beautiful and beaming Pam.

“Pam?”