| Dancing Part 12 by Kass Shakespeare The next day Dawn trained with Jim only for three hours. They both needed to relax before the big event of the weekend. Training too much could be as bad as not training enough. They basically only repeated everything and it went fine. When they came to the part she had showed Spike the other day there were still some difficulties. Jim wasn�t Spike and Dawn didn�t feel what she had felt with him. But she tried to imagine it was Spike who was holding her in his arms and it already went much better. It wasn�t perfect but maybe only they noticed that at all. Dawn was already very nervous. She didn�t know if she would be able to sleep that night. She wanted to visit Spike again but maybe that was no good idea. She really needed enough sleep for once and she didn�t know if she could resist his loving arms and just go home in time. Last night had been wonderful. They had laid arm in arm on the bed, listening to music and he had told her many cool things about those songs. He told her about the fifties, where they started to make Rock n� Roll, about Woodstock and the Flower Power movement, about Punk Rock in the seventies and New Wave in the eighties. He knew more about music than any other person she knew. He didn�t like all of it, basically only Rock and Punk, but he could tell her all that stuff because he had been there, heard those bands in concert or listened to their songs when they were played on the radio. He also told her how the Latin-American music came to North America because he had lived already when that happened. He told her things she didn�t even know about the musical forefathers of Ricky Martin and Dawn was deeply impressed. She had never paid much attention in history classes but when Spike combined talking about political events and music it suddenly all made sense. He told her that without the Afro American influence music like it was today wouldn�t exist and explained the development from Jazz to Rap. For the first time she started to understand what this music meant to the people in the dance club. For them, Salsa wasn�t just nice music they liked. It was their history, their origin, the blood that flowed through their veins. Dawn entered the house and the sweet scent of warm chocolate chip cookies was in the air. �Hello Dawn,� Buffy said and walked out of the kitchen with a plate full of cookies. �I thought you could need something sweet before the big day. Cookies always make me happy.� �Aww, that is sweet of you,� Dawn said smiling. �But I will only eat one or two. I can�t risk being too fat for my dress tomorrow.� Buffy pouted a little. �Well, okay, we can still eat them on Sunday.� Dawn followed her sister to the living room and they sat down on the couch. �Willow and Tara called. I told them they could come to the club tomorrow too, I hope that is okay,� Buffy told Dawn. �Of course it is. I am always happy to see them.� �Oh, and Giles wanted to come too, but only on Saturday for the real contest.� Dawn smiled. �Great!� �So tomorrow it�s you, Willow, Tara, Angel and me,� Buffy said. �And Spike,� Dawn added. �Oh��Buffy frowned. �Oh, he is coming too, right. I should have known that.� Dawn sighed. �Buffy, don�t freak out again.� �No, I�m not,� she said quickly and forced a smile. �Good, because he will come and see me dancing, no matter if you like it or not.� �So, Spike and you�� Buffy hesitated to say the unspeakable words. �Are really together now?� �Yes we are,� Dawn said annoyed. Buffy finally jumped over her shadow and smiled. �Tell me about it.� Dawn raised an eyebrow at her sister, not believing what she just heard. �What do you mean?� �Well, I mean is he nice to you? What did you talk about and so on?� �You really want to hear this?� Dawn still eyed her surprised. �Well, where should I start. Yes he is nice. Very. He makes me feel like a real woman, makes me feel something special.� Dawn sighed happily. �And is he a�gentleman? I mean did he�did you�? �You could still sacrifice me to a dragon if it threatened Sunnydale,� Dawn answered. �Huh?� �I am still a virgin,� she explained. �Oh, I didn�t mean to ask that.� �Yes you did,� Dawn chuckled. Buffy put a cookie in her mouth and they both remained silent for a moment. �So he really makes you happy?� she asked again. �Yes, very,� Dawn answered. �Good, that�s all that matters.� Buffy offered her sister a cookie and Dawn accepted. �And what did you talk about. I hope he isn�t only telling you nasty stories about how he killed the Slayers,� Buffy smirked ironically. �No, we talked about music. He knows a lot about it. Well, he lives long enough to know all that stuff.� �Ugh, Angel only knows about books,� Buffy said. �Good books, although I didn�t understand them.� Dawn laughed. �What else do you like about him?� Buffy asked and Dawn eyed her sceptically. �Come on, tell me everything. I always wanted the day to come that we sit here, eating cookies and chatting about boys, or vampires even.� �I like his kisses. He is a great kisser. Actually the best I ever had.� Dawn was happy that she could finally share all her feelings with Buffy. She told her almost everything and was glad to see that Buffy listened to her. She would have stayed with Spike even if her sister hadn�t accepted it, but now it was much better. It meant a lot to her that Buffy understood her and would be there for her if she needed her. Only one thing was missing in her life to make it as perfect as possible: winning the contest. Dawn was walking up and down the big room behind the stage of the club. She was nervous, more than she had ever been in her whole life and this was only the pre-selection. �How long?� she asked Jim, who was sitting on a chair, seeming totally relaxed. �They will introduce the couples in about ten minutes. Dawn, calm down, okay?� He got up and laid one hand on her bare shoulder. She was wearing a silver dress, which only had small strap on one side. It was rather short and made of a very light fabric, which allowed the skirt to fly when she danced. Her curly hair was held together with lots of hair slides and a single red rose was fixed on the side. Dawn sighed. �Do I look okay?� �You look beautiful,� Jim laughed. �And now stop being nervous. You will be wonderful. You don�t have the smallest reason to be nervous.� �Formation please!� A woman from the organisation team said and the couples were running behind he stage, ready to come out when the moderator said their names. �Hundred couples, and we are number 83. I can�t wait so long.� �We have to,� Jim attempted to calm his partner. They heard the applause of the audience as the moderator got on stage and Dawn just felt like running away. The first couples were already walking behind the stage again. First all hundred couples would be introduced, then the first ten would go to the dance floor again and dance, after that the next ten and so on. It would take hours until it would finally be Dawn�s and Jim�s turn. �I can�t do that Jim, I can�t go out there.� Dawn suddenly panicked. �Dawn, listen to me.� Jim held her by the shoulders. �We didn�t train so hard every day only to run away now. We are damn good and really have a chance, but even if we don�t come under the best ten couples, it was still worth it. You are not the person to run away from problems, are you? If you really want this then go out on the stage with me and show everybody what you can do. Give your best, be you and dance!� Dawn took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second. She hadn�t run away from the problems with Spike. She had been willing to risk a lot for him and even figured out the problems with her sister. This was only a silly dance contest and not as important as family or love. She opened her eyes again and nodded at Jim with a smile. He finally let go of her and sighed in relief. �Dawn Summers and Jim Gordon!� they heard the moderator from the stage. Jim took her hand and they walked out into the brightened room. They both smiled and waved as they walked to the front of the stage to make a bow and then walked to the other side. Dawn looked around the room and found Spike and the others on a table near the stage. She quickly winked at him as they continued to walk behind the stage. Spike jumped up and applauded her fervently and everybody looked at him a little surprised of this reaction. He sat down again and gazed at the ceiling as if he had been sitting on his chair all the time. Soon the music started and the first ten couples went to the dance floor. Spike looked at all the girls there, one prettier than the other, all in tight short dresses. But he didn�t find a single one that was as beautiful as Dawn. He eyed the jury as they made their notes. There was an old fat Mexican woman, which was bad because she would most likely give the highest scores to the ugliest chicks. Then there was an elderly South American guy, which was good because old guys always would give the highest scores to the prettiest girls. Then there were some younger people, most Latinos, and Spike couldn�t find out if that was good or bad and whom they would give the highest scores. He just sighed and sipped his beer. After a good hour the group with couple 80 to 90 finally came on the dance floor and Spike immediately saw Dawn. The music started and they danced. She was perfect. Her beautiful slender body moved in harmony to the music. Her small feet in the silver high-heeled shoes quickly stepped around the floor. One thing was sure for him, she was simply the best dancer of the evening. �She is really good,� Willow said smiling. �Oh yeah, she is. I am so proud of her!� Buffy almost cried. �Aww,� Tara said and continued to watch. �She is great,� Willow said again, �right Spike?� But the vampire didn�t take his eyes off Dawn. �Hello, earth to Spike.� Willow gestured around his face. �What?� he asked, not looking away from her for even a second. �She is great, isn�t she?� Willow repeated. �Yes, she is,� he only mumbled and kept watching her. The music stopped and the couples climbed the stairs to the stage and disappeared behind the curtain. �Oh my god!� Dawn said laughing happily and hugged Jim. �You were so great!� he said. �You too.� She tightened the hug again and then they went to the waiting room and got something to drink. They both were very thirsty after dancing and could use some cold soda. Now they had to wait until the jury would decide who the best ten couples were. Although it would take an hour until the results would be announced the couples weren�t supposed to go to the ballroom. They all had to stay in this room the whole time. Dawn watched the other participants who were sitting and relaxing or walking up and down the room nervously. But she wasn�t nervous at all, not anymore. �Dawn Summers?� a woman from the organisation team suddenly asked and Dawn got up. �Yes?� she asked. �There is someone for you in the hall,� she said and then headed out again. �I�ll be right back,� she told Jim and walked out of the room. �Hey baby,� Spike said and kissed her passionately. �Spike,� she said, pulling free from the kiss. �You shouldn�t be here.� �Oh.� He looked a little disappointed. �I can go again.� �No!� she said and quickly hugged him. �It�s just that this area is only for the crew and the dancers.� �I told them it was urgent,� he smirked at her. �Which it is because I had to see you.� �Aww,� she said and kissed him. �You were great,� he said. �No, you were the best!� �Thanks, but you have to say that because you are my boyfriend.� �No, I really mean it. You were wonderful. I just wished�� �Wished what?� She laid her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. �Well, I wished you I could dance with you like that. I mean I don�t want to dance like that because it would look kinda�� �Gay?� she smirked. �Yeah? And on him it doesn�t look gay or what?� Spike was a little jealous. �Um, it maybe doesn�t look gay on him because he is gay.� She chuckled briefly. Spike made a surprised face. �Oh. I didn�t know that. You could have told me.� �Spike, it doesn�t make any difference if he is gay or not. You don�t have to be jealous because I only love you.� She looked deep into his blue eyes, which looked almost black in the soft light of the hallway. �I love you too,� he said and they kissed again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. �You should better go back now,� she said after a while. �They will announce the winners soon.� �Yes, I should.� He pulled free and slowly walked backwards. �I wish you luck, but for me you are the winner.� �Thanks!� She smiled at him. �Oh, by the way, Jim said you were cute,� she said smirking and walked back into the waiting room. �What?� Spike asked with a frown and shook his head but Dawn was already gone. After half an hour the participants had to get on stage and waited behind the closed curtain. All hundred couples had to be there and there wasn�t even room to swing a cat. The curtain was pulled up and the moderator stepped on the stage, walking around with the microphone in his hand. �And now it is my pleasure, dear Ladies and Gentlemen,� he said with his Puerto Rican accent, �to announce the lucky winners who will participate in tomorrows annual Latin Dance Contest.� Jim pressed Dawn�s hand and smiled at her. They both took a deep breath and listened to the moderator. He opened the envelope with the results. �Couple number 3, Maria Moreira and Juan Lopez.� The two went to the front of the stage, looking obvious happy. �Our second winners, couple number 65, Jennifer Stevens and John Goldberg.� Again the mentioned couple went to the front. �Couple number 38, Garbiela Tuero and Pedro Gonzales.� Dawn got more nervous with every couple he mentioned. �Couple 93, Susan Winter and Ricardo Martinez.� The audience applauded for each couple. Spike was eyeing the moderator nervously. When would he finally say her name? �Couple 79, Juanita Sanchez and Manuel Diniz.� That was already number five. �Out sixth winners, couple 27, Sharon Russel and Enrique Guarez.� The twelve winners stood in a row at the edge of the stage. �Couple 44, Stephania Rodriguez and Sean De Latigue.� They wouldn�t win, but at least they had given their best, Dawn thought. �Couple 52, Gloria DelGardo and Carlos Peron.� Only two more to go. �Couple 36, Flavia Barrichello and Leon Freitas.� The moderator made a long pause. �And last but not least�� Say her name or I am gonna rip you to pieces, Spike thought. �Couple number 3, Maria Moreira and Juan Lopez.� �Bloody hell!� Spike cussed loudly and the people at the table next to them eyed him. The moderator coughed noisily. �Oh, I am sorry, we had this couple already. Last but not least couple 83, Dawn Summers and Jim Gordon.� �Woohoo!� They all shouted at once and got up from their seats. Spike applauded until his hands hurt while Dawn and Jim were walking to the first row. He looked at her beautiful face. She had the happiest smile he had ever seen. �Congratulations,� the Puerto Rican said into his microphone. �We will all enjoy seeing you tomorrow evening performing your dance.� Dawn didn�t stop smiling all the while. She was so happy they had made it. She looked over to her friends and family who were still applauding her and she could see how proud they were, especially Spike. No matter if they would be only on the last place tomorrow, this was one of the best days in her life. |