When the music fades

The winner of last week's Wonderful Event, Marjie , requested another installment of everyone's favorite dance hall dreamers, Vivi and Wade. Marji, this is for you. Congratulations, and I hope it lives up to your expectations!

As for the rest of my Invisible Friends, we got lots of good things this week! There will be tasty chicken empanadas, a startling confession only the Blond Duck could make and a new edition of Miss Pickles! Also, read my post from yesterday to meet my alter ego....the Duck in Black!

For the previous dancing post, go here.

And now, for Vivi and Wade.....

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With a set to his jaw and a squint of his eyes, Wade jammed his straw cowboy hat on his head and began to stride towards the parking lot.

"No, Wade!" Vivi hissed, grabbing his elbow. "What are you doing?"

He wrinkled his brow. "Well, I'm going to go talk to him."

Vivi turned pale and shook her head so hard that her frizzy curls beat against her forehead. "Oh no, no, no," she whispered, gripping his elbow so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Oh, please, no."

Wade's eyes flashed and he stepped forward. "Vivi," he said in a low voice, "I need to know. Does your daddy--well, is he....what would he do to you exactly?"

Vivi bit her lip and shook her head. "No, he doesn't hit me," she whispered. "It's not like that...it's just...."

"Darling, don't be worried," Wade assured her. "Listen, we ain't done nothing wrong. I'm just going to introduce myself, apologize for keeping you out and reassure him it won't happen again next time."

Vivi felt her insides flutter and her cheeks warm. "Next time?" she whispered, unable to stop the shy smile that spread over her face.

Wade blushed and looked down, scuffing his boots against the rocks. He hooked his thumb through the worn belt loop of his faded blue jeans. "Well, if you want to," he murmured. "I mean, I'm sure you have a boyfriend or something. I just, well, since you like dancing and all, I thought maybe I could teach you to two step."

Vivi beamed, stepping closer to him. His blue eyes stared down at her. It was all she could do to keep the hysterical giggles from bubbling out of her throat.

"I'd like that," she whispered. "And I don't have a boyfriend."

"Just a daddy," Wade said, his confident grin back. "Speaking of Daddy"-- he glanced in the parking lot. "It seems as if Daddy is gone."

Vivi exhaled and felt her shoulders relax. "Thank God," she muttered.

"Now, darling, if we're going to--I mean, if I'm going to teach you to dance," Wade corrected himself, his cheeks flashing pink, "Then I want to meet your folks. I want them to know I've got good intentions and I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. I don't want you to sneak around just to dance."

Vivi steadied herself on the wall. Did they make guys like this anymore? He was so sweet, nice and polite--and he liked her. He wanted to dance with her. She didn't want to think about her dad. She didn't want to think about ballet or the upcoming competition. All she wanted to do was think about him twirling her across the dance floor.

"The thing is, it wouldn't do any good," she told Wade truthfully. "My dad would be furious if he knew. He's had my future mapped out since my mother was pregnant. This isn't in his plans."

"What if you just talked to him?" Wade pressed. Vivi shook her head, and he nodded. He wouldn't press it--for now.

"Let me walk you to your car," he said, threading her arm through his. She couldn't stop the joyful shivers that shimmered down her spine or the smile that spread over his face. They walked across the dark parking lot, weaving through cars and stepping over broken bottles and cigarette stubs. Eventually, they made it to Vivi's beat-up white car. She unlocked it and Wade pulled the door open for her.

"Thanks," she said, stepping inside the car. She set her bag on the passenger side and looked up at him uncertainly. She had no idea whether to sit or keep standing. What if he was going to kiss her? What if he wasn't? No one had ever treated her like this before.

"When do you want your first lesson?" His face was shadowed from the parking light overhead. All she could see was the glimmer of his bright blue eyes.

"My next class is Thursday," Vivi said, peering at his eyes. "That's in two days. Is that too soon for you?"

Wade shook his head. "I'll be here." He took her hand and pulled her towards him. Vivi's breath caught in her throat and her heart stopped in anticipation. He was going to kiss her. She was so scared, but so excited. It felt like her emotions were zinging through her veins in a frenzy. She closed her eyes and lifted her head, feeling as if she was going to scream with waiting.

Instead, she felt herself twirling. She opened her eyes to see the parking lot whipping around her as she twirled on the asphalt. Dizzy, she plopped down in her seat with her keys in one hand. Wade grinned at her confusion.

"See you then, darling," he said. He shut her car door and strode across the parking lot. Shaking herself, Vivi turned her key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot. In her review mirror, she saw him waving from the sidewalk. It wasn't until she was at the stoplight that he faded out of sight.

It wasn't until she pulled into her driveway that she realized she couldn't wait until Thursday. There was something she had to know.