The Not Knowing is What Gets You: Part 3
by Alystraea
"He's the bad business man, does his business while he can..."
The club's small swing band blared out their own version of a Squirrel Nut Zippers' song. It didn't sound like the original version, but it was music and the people on the dance floor didn't seem to care too much. As Rahne and her friends entered the club, they paused in the doorway to slowly scan the room.
This isna too bad, Rahne thought to herself, It's nae as dark and seedy as some dance clubs I've heard about. Still she was a tad bit hesitant. The fact that she had no idea how to swing dance didn't help her nervousness.
"I think I see a table over there," Dani pointed out out an empty table in the small corner of the club that wasn't dedicated to the dance floor.
"Why do we need a table?" Bobby asked, "I thought we came here to dance." He grabbed Tabitha by the hand and they shuffled out onto the dance floor. Their friends watched for a moment as Bobby and Tabitha blended effortlessly into the crowd, seeming very much at home. Rahne sighed. When did they learn how to dance like that? She shook her head and followed the other as they occupied the table.
"Oh come on Jimmy," Theresa pleaded, "It's not that hard. All ye have ta do is follow my lead."
"Terry I don't know I..." James glanced over at the dance floor.
"Come on," Theresa pulled him reluctantly onto the floor and soon had him doing something that vaguely looked like dancing, that is if one didn't count the times he stepped on her feet.
"Well," Dani laughed as she sat back in her seat, "It might have been worth coming out her just to see James dancing. Poor Terry, she might regret having actually gotten him out there."
"Oh I don't know," Sam said, "I think he's getting the hang of it." They all laughed though when James stumbled backwards into another couple.
"Bobby and Tabitha are certainly cutting a rug out there," Rahne commented as she watched Bobby twirl Tabitha around. "I wish that Douglock was here. He downloaded some swing files off the net and was dancing all around the lab for weeks."
"How is Douglock?" Sam asked her.
“Good,” Rahne smiled softly, “He’s still getting use tae human emotions, but I think he’s doing a fine job.” She felt a little twinge of home sickness, but it passed quickly as a loud pitched squeal of delight broke over the crowd. They all turned to see Bobby grab Tabitha by the waist and spin her around. Rahne held back a sigh of envy. They made it look so effortless. Glancing over she noticed a dark expression on Sam’s face but it passed quickly.
He smiled as he caught her gaze. "Wanna give it a try?” he asked her with a half laugh.
“Oh Sam I dinna know how.” She said as she found herself all of a sudden being pulled out of her chair and led on to the dance floor by a grinning Sam.
“I don’t know what I’m doing either.” He told her as he took her hand and slipped an arm carefully around her waist. “So I guess we’re the perfect partners then, huh?”
Rahne found herself blushing and hoped it wasn’t too noticeable. There was a strange flutter in her stomach. She'd had a crush on Sam long ago, but had thought time and distance had diminished it. Maybe she had thought wrong.
They had jumped in mid song and stood there for a second unsure of what to do. Rahne waited for Sam to lead. The music was fast and as they really began to dance Rahne’s long red hair fluttered wildly about her face. She wished she had pulled it back with something more than a headband. They certainly weren’t the best dancers on the floor, but they at least managed not to trip each other. As they watched the other dancers out of the corner of their eyes, they were able to pick up a few steps here and there. Rahne couldn't help but laugh at Sam’s serious look of concentration.
“What?” he asked her.
“Oh nothing,” She teased him, being vague on purpose.
He glared at her playfully, which caused her to laugh harder. Still, she felt like her heart was racing a mile a minute. “Now if you’re going to be like that...” Sam twirled her out so hard the her hair flung out straight in a whip like movement. When she twirled back around she found herself pressed close, very close, to Sam’s face. Her blush deepened and she was left speechless.
“Rahne...” Sam said so very softly, then paused as if he too had lost the capacity for words. The music in the background suddenly switched, oh so conveniently to a very slow beat and the other couples around them moved closer together. Rahne felt trapped, not sure if she wanted to run or stay.
“I think... I think I need I breath of fresh air.” Rahne darted for the door, her hands covering her cheeks.
Outside the cool evening air hit her like a chill wave after the warmth of the dance club. She ran over to the other side of the street to lean against a metal railing. From her vantage point she could see the bay off in the distance below her. It was very calm and peaceful. The moon was just peaking out from behind a soft wisp of clouds. She took several deep breaths of air and tried to calm her racing heart.
“Rahne,” she almost cringed at the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned to face Sam.
“Are you all right?”
“Aye,” she nodded softly, trying to avoid looking him directly in the eyes, “I was just getting a wee bit light headed, that’s all.”
“Yeah, it was kinda hot in there, and all that dancing,” he leaned on the railing next to her one knee propped up on the bottom rung. Rahne nodded again and placed her hands on the railing. This was Sam, one of her oldest and dearest friends, there was absolutely no reason in the world why she should feel nervous around him. So, then why was she?
“You know, it's nights like this that make me start thinking about the past,” Sam said, as a little breeze rustled his hair. Rahne wished for a moment that she had a sweater with her. “We’ve been through a lot haven’t we?” He glanced over at her.
“Aye, we certainly have.” A little laugh escaped her lips. They had experienced more, before they had turned twenty, than most people would in an entire lifetime.
“Sometimes I wonder what I could have done different, you know what I mean,” Sam continued, “I think there are a lot of things I’d like to change.”
“Ye canna change the past,” Rahne said glancing at the past, “Ye have tae learn tae accept it an' go on. I think I learned that the hard way.”
“Yeah,” Sam muttered absentmindly, “I think you’ve grown up on me, carrot top.”
“What do ye mean?” Rahne asked amused.
“I use to see you almost like a little sister, you seemed so much younger than me. Now...” he trailed off.
She turned to face him, blushing again. This blushing was starting to get annoying, she thought.
“An' now...” She repeated.
“Well,” he half chuckled “You're obviously not a little girl.”
Rahne turned her head quickly, not sure how to take that. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but what ever it was, it was happening too fast.
“I’m sorry.” His hand was on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I didn’t mean it like...”
“It's okay Sam.” She slowly turned around to face him. “I just...” She paused, not sure what to say at all. She felt as if at any moment she was just going to faint or do something equally as embarrassing. They simply stared at each other, both very unsure of what was running through their minds. Rahne swallowed hard and resisted the urge to bite her lower lip. It was then that Sam leaned forward and placed a tiny, hesitant, kiss on her lips. Rahne was too surprised to even react. She was sure she had to be dreaming.
“Sam, Rahne.... Oh!” a slightly surprised voice said suddenly.
They leapt apart like guilty thieves, to find a wide eyed Tabitha staring at them.
“Tabitha...” Sam said a little sheepishly.
“We were... just wondering what had... had happened to you two.” Tabitha forced a laugh, her face was a mask of pure shock and confusion. "I guess I walked out at bad moment. I’ll leave the two of you alone.” She stared at them for a moment longer her eyes flickering back and forth. “Yeah” she muttered softly, and walked back into the club.
“Rahne I...” Sam started. He looked very troubled, but Rahne cut him off before he could finish.
“Do ye want tae dance some more?” She asked quickly. “I think I’m starting to pick up some of the moves.”
Sam’s face lightened and he gave her a huge smile, “Yeah, let’s go.” He took her by the hand and lead her back into the club.
To be continued...