Julie was hurt. She thought she had done something wrong. Sure Peter had been nice to her when she arrived, but it wasn't like him to take off to his room.
As Julie was lost in her thoughts, she was startled when Davy came over and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hey, are you ready to begin?" Davy asked.
"Yeah sure," Julie said.
As Davy explained some different dances to her, he demonstrated them also. Julie tried to follow along, but she just wasn't getting it.
Davy was frustrated, but he didn't let it show as he calmly instructed Julie to watch him closely and try again.
From beyond the bedroom door, Peter could hear Julie's frustration as her and Davy's conversation consisted of nothing but "ouch" and "sorry".
Julie stepped on Davy's foot once again as he hollered, "ouch!"
"I'm sorry," Julie said.
"Uh that's ok. I'll be right back," Davy said as he limped to his room.
"It's not going too good is it?" Peter asked in disappointment.
"No Pete, she dances worse than you," Davy said as he slipped off a shoe and rubbed his sore toe.
"Wait, that's it," Peter said.
"What's it?" Davy asked.
"You're such a good dancer that Julie probably feels a little intimidated, no offense Davy," Peter explained.
"None taken," Davy told him.
"May I try something?" Peter asked.
"Be my guest," Davy said.
"Great, I sure hope this works," Peter said with excitement. As Peter entered the living room he saw Julie sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. She seemed very frustrated.
From the
bedroom Davy listened closely, curious to find out what Peter's big
plan was.
"Hey Julie, are you having some trouble with those dance moves?" Peter asked.
"Yes, I'm a horrible dancer," Julie said sadly.
"We're going to try something different. I want you to forget everything Davy taught you," Peter said.
"What!" Davy thought angrily as he shot up from his bed. He calmed down after he heard what Peter had to say.
"The Waltz, the Foxtrot, and the Tango are nice for dance competitions, but nobody really does those anymore. At parties and school dances you're just supposed to have fun," Peter explained.
Davy hadn't looked at it like that before. He smiled, impressed by Peter's suggestions.
"Ok, what do you want me to do?" Julie asked.
"We'll start off with a fast dance. You don't have to move your feet so much, you just have to put your body into it," Peter told her. He then turned on some upbeat music and began to show her what he meant.
"Ok, just listen to the beat of the music and let your body go. Bounce your knees and sway to the beat," Peter said as he began to dance. Soon Julie was swaying exactly like Peter was and a smile came across her face.
"Ok, get your arms into it and move your feet just a little," Peter said. Julie did just as he instructed her. She soon began to laugh.
"This is fun. How do I look?" Julie asked.
"You look like you're having a great time, and you're catching on quickly," Peter commented.
"This is how I always dance," Julie told him.
"Well then, you knew how to dance all along. It's not so hard," Peter said. The music soon stopped and Peter went to change the record. This time he put on something slow and pretty.
"Ok, let's try a slow dance," Peter said. "Just feel the music the same way you did with the first song. Now place your arms around my neck and my arms will go around your waist." Julie brought her arms around Peter's neck and she suddenly felt a million butterflies in her stomach.
"Now what do I do?" Julie asked.
"We just sort of shuffle our feet back and forth and sway to how the music moves us," Peter explained.
Davy, still listening, was very proud of the way Peter was handling things. He suddenly heard Julie yell, "ouch, and then heard her laugh.
"I'm sorry," Peter said. "I'm not too graceful."
"That's ok; I could do this all day. Besides you're a very good teacher," Julie said.
"Thanks, I would like to be a teacher someday. Nobody thinks I'm smart enough though," Peter said a bit sadly.
"I think you're smart. You were smart enough to figure out the best way to get me dancing," Julie commented.
"That really didn't take smarts. We're quite a bit alike so I used a method that I thought would be easy for me and you both," Peter said.
"You mean you and me don't you? Just don't teach grammar and you'll be fine," Julie said with a smile.
"I thought you said you didn't know how to act around a boy," Peter said.
"I thought you said you were shy around girls," Julie said.
"I am, just not around you. You're easy to talk to," Peter said.
"Thank you, you're easy to talk to as well. You let me be myself so talking to you is natural," Julie told him.
"Why should you be anyone else? You're a great person the way you are," Peter said as he looked into Julie's eyes. He slowly leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Wow, my first kiss," Julie said as she placed her fingers to her lips.
"I'm sorry, I probably should have asked first," Peter apologized.
"Shh, I liked it," Julie said as she returned Peter's kiss. While they were kissing they heard someone clearing their throat. They turned to see Davy, Micky, and Mike standing in the doorway, grinning like Cheshire cats.
"So, is this how you handle all your students?" Micky teased.
"No wonder I wasn't getting anywhere," Davy said with a smile.
"Why don't you guys go spend some time together? Julie, I hope we were able to help you. I think your confidence was in you all along. It just took good ol' Pete to bring it out of ya," Mike said.
"Am I really ready Mike? I'm afraid I'll mess something up," Julie said worried.
"No, you're ready," Mike said with a wink.
For the next hour Julie and Peter walked through the neighborhood. They talked about everything they found interest in and discussed a few aspects of life they didn't quite understand. At one point in their conversation Julie became quite serious. She had a question to ask Peter, but she was a little scared.
"Peter, may I ask you something?" Julie asked.
"Sure," Peter said.
"Would you, well, I was wondering if you would be my date for the prom?" Julie asked.
"Me?" Peter asked as if he couldn't believe it.
"Of course you Peter. I really like you and can't imagine going to the prom with anyone else. You're so sweet, funny, and sincere. I enjoy your company," Julie said.
"Yes, I'd love to take you to the prom! Oh this is great. I gotta tell the guys. Hey guys guess what!" Peter hollered as he ran toward the pad.
"Oh Peter," Julie laughed as she shook her head.