The Swan and The Sergeant

by Albertson, Alana

  “¿Que Pasiones? Welcome, everybody, to the new Savoy Ballroom,” he said into a microphone. “I have created this evening in appreciation for the jazz legends who inspired me: Tin-Tan, Cab Calloway, and Lalo Guerrero. Ladies and gentlemen, the music never stops at the Zoot Suit Bash. I also wanted to bring awareness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and the Zoot Suit Riots. Al rato, vato.”

  He waved his arm broadly to the left. The spotlight followed, picking up Latin music sensation Luis Sanchez emerging from the wings.

  Can this night get any better?

  Onstage, Luis, wearing a purple zoot suit, belted out Lalo Guerrero’s song, “Los Chucos Suaves.”

  The girls and I walked up to the bar, and I ordered a margarita, some chips and guacamole, and a few taquitos.

  “Hey, Sel,” Bret said.

  I turned to face him. He was also costumed in head-to-toe 1940s garb—and looking way sexy in the midnight-blue double-breasted zoot suit.

  I couldn’t even believe he was here!

  “What are you doing here?” I said, stepping to the other side of him. “You hate parties.”

  “I do. But I wanted to see you.” He ordered a shot of tequila. “You wanna dance? For old time’s sake?”

  Elizabeth gave me a huge grin. She mouthed, He totally loves you, and then led Jenny away from the bar.

  I scanned the room. “I thought you were done with me.”

  “I was upset. I’m still upset.” He took a deep breath and downed his tequila. He licked a drop from his lips—the lips that had kissed every inch of my body.

  “Oh. Well, in that case, fine.” I held up my plate. “But let me finish my food? I’m starving.”

  Bret laughed.

  I took a big ol’ bite of the taquito and a nibble of a chip smothered in guac and—uh-oh.

  Benny had spotted me stuffing my face.

  I tossed my plate behind a large plant and grabbed Bret’s hand. “No time like the present.”

  Benny was still pushing through the crowd when Bret whisked me away to safety.

  He led me to the packed floor. Luis sang another song. I dug into my purse and popped a mint into my mouth before tossing my bag onto a nearby table. Then I wrapped myself in Bret’s arms. Ummmm. I couldn’t believe I’d gone ten years without these arms.

  He squeezed me tight. “Do you remember that time in Croatia at Junior Worlds when we ditched our sponsor and spent the entire night playing cards with that Icelandic guy, Ingibjörg?”

  “Totally. And we still won the next day.” I rested my head on his shoulder.

  His hands lowered to my hips and he swayed me into him. “Selena… I’m sorry. I couldn’t deal with the fact that Dima took advantage of you. And seeing my name in the tabloids…I just couldn’t handle it.” He pulled my chin up with his thumb and forced me to look at him. “You should’ve told me what happened. You wanted me to join the Corps. I would’ve done anything for you.”

  “Bret, I was so emotional after that night. I didn’t know what happened, so I blamed myself. After I had slept with him, I didn’t think you would take me back.”

  “I would’ve killed him.”

  “Yeah, I saw the way you fought him.”

  “He groomed you, took advantage of you, it’s not okay. He will do it to another girl.”

  “I know.” And I did. I just didn’t know what to do.

  He spun me around to a drumroll. When I landed back in his arms, he squeezed me even tighter. “See that? You can spin away, but you always end up in my arms.” He kissed my neck.

  Good gawd, did this man remember my buttons?

  “It feels so good to have you back in my arms,” he said into my ear.

  The saxophone kicked in, slowing the tempo even more. He twirled me around.

  “I love you, Sel. I never stopped.” He cradled my face and looked into my eyes. There he went, letting his emotions rocket to the moon—and taking me with him.

  I had forgotten how good that ride could feel.

  “I love you, too.” I leaned into Bret, my first love. He embraced me in his arms, and I remembered who I had been when I’d started to dance with him. We’d built our world together. And I’d torn it apart.

  And now I was back where I should be. In his embrace. Swaying to the music as if we had never been apart.

  Bret

  I peeked through the backstage curtains to look at the audience. The place was completely packed, including my parents, Ray and his family, Pierce’s family, and my entire unit in the front row. The producers must’ve arranged it with the base.

  I wanted to puke.

  Twenty-one million people watched last week. Twenty-one million people had watched me gyrate half-naked. I’d even received two marriage proposals. They were from jail, but still.

  Someone get me a bucket…

  I jumped up and down and shook my head and arms to loosen up. Robyn grabbed my hands and gave me a kiss on the head.

  “It’s ours, babe. Don’t you worry. Here, let’s say a prayer.”

  “A prayer? You just said don’t worry.”

  “Shut up and pray, boy.” We bowed our heads and thanked the Lord for all our blessings. “Amen,” Robyn said. “Okay, let’s go show them how it’s done. Boo-YA!” Robyn gave me a high-five.

  A producer hustled into the room. “Everyone in the red room! We’re on in five minutes,” he said. Selena grabbed her ankle and stretched it. Vika propped her leg on the couch and leaned over into a split. Jenny took a big puff on her inhaler as the guys started barking and chest-bumping each other like a bunch of high school jocks. Behind us, Dima and his celebrity partner were kissing on the sofa. Robyn slapped Xavier playfully on the back of the head.

  Selena grabbed her other ankle and leaned toward me. “We made it through the season. Can you believe we’re in the finale together?”

  I nodded, my eyes wide, and then finally exhaled. “No, I can’t believe it. How I didn’t get eliminated that first week, I’ll never know. No, wait, I do know,” I kissed her, “you helped me.”

  Jenny helped Selena get ready. “I can’t believe we’ve been doing this show for five seasons. God help me, Sel, I actually love being on this show. Who would have thought it? And I’m glad you’re back with Bret. You seem really happy.”

  Selena gave her a reluctant nod. “Thank you,” she said. “Now stop messin’ with my ’do and get outta my way, I got a crystal-encrusted dance shoe trophy to claim, be-yotch.”

  “We’re on in three, two, one,” the producer said.

  Matt’s voice boomed over the speakers. “In a season filled with triumph, scandal, and heartache… Now, the final three standing will prove to you why they should be the winners. Tonight, our finalists will come together for a Paso Doble Pow Wow, and the always exciting freestyle. Tomorrow, we will crown a new champion. Ten couples started, and only three remain. Live, it’s the Dancing Under the Stars finale!”

  We all walked out when the intro music started and took our places side by side on the stage, dressed in complementary black and red paso doble outfits. I waved at Pierce’s family sitting in the front row. I knew that Pierce was smiling down on me.

  The cast had to stand there while long clips rolled of each of us babbling about which were our favorite dances of the season. Robyn and I picked our opening night mambo and our Viennese waltz. I watched our clip of the Viennese. She looked so graceful, flying across the stage effortlessly. We skated around the floor as if we were walking on water. Tomorrow, the seven eliminated couples would all come back to dance for the finale, but tonight the producer filled up the airtime by torturing the audience with these videos.

  By the time Dima and Laura and Xavier and Selena’s clips aired, we had been onstage for forty-five minutes. We hadn’t even set a toe on the dance floor.

  “Dancing together in our first ever Paso Doble Pow Wow.” Matt waved his arm with a flourish. “Our finalists.”

  The music ripped through my body. Selena stood onstage with R
obyn on her left and Laura on her right. The men started on our knees and rose in unison. We strutted toward the ladies. The partners swung each of the women around us before throwing them into splits.

  Dima and Laura started their solo, and Robyn, Selena, Xavier, and I slipped offstage, where we watched them from behind a curtain. Laura gave it her all and paraded around Dima. His shoulders relaxed, and he dropped his head toward her, and they pranced around the stage. Her shiny blonde hair reflected off her red satin gown. Dima and Laura collapsed on the floor, arms wrapped around each other.

  Their steps may have been perfect, but I thought they’d been too reserved and never lost control. They sprinted offstage.

  Xavier and Selena started their solo. The mood was totally different—they were on fire. The passion between them was electric, and they moved in unison. Xavier tapped his feet like a matador, and Selena teased him with her dress. She looked so sexy. Totally playing the moment, Xavier swaggered around Selena and then gave in, lowering to his knees. But even there, he stayed in charge. Clutching her waist, he rolled her into his arms.

  Good job—but I knew the audience hadn’t seen anything yet.

  Robyn and I rushed onstage and stood alone on the floor. Two beats into our solo music, I thrashed my cape around, my chest erect. Robyn arched her back in defiance. The music started cascading as I beckoned her to me. Robyn twirled into my arms, and I seized her as the music exploded to full beat. We charged across the floor, bodies perfectly in sync. I felt like I was in a real bullfight, with my eye on the prize.

  Dima and Laura had been flawless, Xavier and Selena had been passionate, but Robyn and I were fierce competitors, and we attacked the floor. The bass vibrated through my body, and I threw Robyn into a death drop. Spinning around, she landed perfectly on her toes.

  This was my dance, my night, my mission. And I was alive.

  The audience gave us a standing ovation. The camera panned to my Marines, who were clapping and catcalling me. Ray held a big sign that said, “Vote for Staff Sergeant Peacock.” That bastard.

  “Now what did the judges think?” Matt said. “Benjamin Brooks?”

  Benny eyed Selena’s outfit like he was scouting out a backup, just in case it didn’t work with Vika.

  Think again, old man. She’s taken.

  “Definitely the best paso doble we’ve ever seen on this show. Dima and Laura—of all the Latin dances, this is where you shined. Your height gave you both a strong presence. Xavier, your feet dragged across the floor, but your posture was strong. And Bret and Robyn—bugger me dead! That was bloody amazing! You’re the team to beat.”

  I picked Robyn up and swung her around. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

  The other judges basically repeated what Benny said. Even though it was a group dance, we were judged individually because of our solos. Parading through the red room one couple at a time, Dima and Laura scored straight eights, and Xavier and Selena got two nines and an eight from Benny.

  It was finally our turn, so Robyn and I headed into the red room, which the other dancers had already vacated.

  Matt interviewed us. “Bret, how does it feel to be in the final on your first season of Dancing Under the Stars?”

  I looked right into the camera and smiled. “Well, it’s such a blessing to have made the final in my first and only season. And I’ve met the most wonderful people on this show. Robyn has been such an inspiration. She’s a brilliant performer, and so successful.”

  “That’s wonderful. And the scores for Bret and Robyn?”

  I held my breath.

  “Ten,” Benny said.

  Karen jumped out of her seat. “Ten!”

  Steve held up the number. “Ten.”

  “A perfect thirty, and in the finale!” Matt said. He stuck the microphone in front of Robyn. “How do you feel?”

  “I owe it all to Bret. He’s the hardest-working dancer here, or anywhere. And he is an amazing man.” Robyn winked at me.

  “And Bret, any final thoughts?”

  Could somebody pinch me? I can’t believe that twenty-one million people all have tuned in to see me. I finally understood why everyone loved this show. And now I loved this show. My life had changed forever. “All I can say, Matt, is that this is the happiest night of my life.”

  Selena popped her head around the corner and shook it slowly, my girl’s smile was better than any trophy could ever be. I love you, she mouthed at me.

  I loved her too. And I planned to make her mine forever.

  And even more shocking, I think I loved dancing.

  Selena

  “Welcome back to the live finale of Dancing Under the Stars. You saw the final three couples battle it out last night. And right now, one of our three finalists is about to be eliminated. Last night, millions of you voted online, called, and texted your votes,” Matt said. “With those votes, combined with our judges’ scores, we can now reveal which of our couples will be the first to be eliminated tonight.”

  Xavier had his arms around me onstage. Tonight was much tenser than last night’s group-dance orgy. No chest-bumping backstage tonight. None of us were ready to fly the white flag now. Bret barely slept last night—I knew, because he kept me awake the whole time, tossing and turning. And I had fretted because I just wanted him to win.

  The ominous elimination music began to play. “Xavier,” Matt said, “last night, Karen said your freestyle was the most creative she’s ever seen, but did the viewers agree?”

  Our freestyle had been amazing. I had strung a medley of Xavier’s greatest hits together, and we’d danced this cha-cha, rock-fusion number. Xavier had flipped me over like a tortilla.

  “Laura, last night, Steve said your Viennese waltz was exquisite, but did the viewers think it was enough for you to win the trophy?”

  Dima held Laura, who, despite the layers of tanning cream, looked very flush. They were out for sure. Her Latin actually really improved this season, but it was her Standard that landed her in the finale. Their Viennese waltz was exquisite—perfect lines, feet, and body posture. And she looked great during the paso doble. But it was her freestyle that killed their chances. She tried to dance a tango/cha-cha combo that just didn’t flow well at all.

  “And Robyn, Benny said you’re the team to beat, and you received a perfect 30. But will the viewers send you to the finish line?”

  Bret and Robyn looked confident and weren’t even breaking a sweat with the hot lights shining in their faces. Her paso had been perfect. But in her freestyle, she went 100% hip-hop, and sometimes the viewers vote against that. But it didn’t seem to faze Robyn. I studied Bret. It was nice to see him smile again. He seemed as happy as he had been when we were teens.

  “The couple in third place is…” Matt paused, and the drum rolled. “Dima and Laura.”

  Yes, yes, yes! Xavier and I were in the final two!

  Xavier threw his arms around me, and I swore I was going to suffocate. When he pulled back, I saw that I’d gotten glitter all over his white shirt.

  “Look pro, Xavier,” I whispered.

  The audience gave Dima and Laura a standing ovation as they walked down the stairs from the stage. Matt embraced them. “Laura, you’ve gone from a teen mom to a dancer. Tell us what this experience has been like for you.”

  Dima clutched Laura to his chest. “It’s been incredible. I met so many great people and learned so much about myself. But the best part of this entire experience has been meeting Dima. He’s changed my outlook on my life, and he’s a truly beautiful person inside and out.”

  Dima gave her a kiss on the mouth. I couldn’t believe he would be so open about hooking up with his celebrity partner, especially since she was a teenager.

  Bret was right. Dima was a creep.

  Matt aborted the interview. “Ladies and gentlemen, Dima Volkov and Laura Benson. Coming up, a musical performance from John Matthew.”

  We headed back to the red room to watch John’s performance. I couldn’t believe t
he producers had convinced him to come on the show. Between Xavier, Bret, and John, I swore I’d been sucked right into some kind of childhood flashback.

  Dima and Vika were huddled in the corner consoling Laura. I sat next to Bret.

  Bret had to win this. I had won twice before—once with a boy-bander and once with an NHL hockey player. Bret needed to win now for Pierce’s family. For himself.

  “You nervous?” Bret asked. He was decked out in a tuxedo with tails. Like a prince.

  “For once, I am. I just want you to win.” John started singing my favorite song, “Careless Kiss.” I closed my eyes and relaxed into Bret’s arms. He kissed my neck, and I wanted to savor the moment forever. I loved Bret. He made me happy. And I deserved to be happy.

  The song ended, and the producer called us back onstage.

  “Here we go,” Xavier said, pulling me up. He jutted out his elbow, ready to escort me like a proper gentleman. I slipped my hand through, and we walked down the long white hallway, right to where John was stepping off the stage. I couldn’t help it—suddenly I was fourteen years old again. John was my dream long before Xavier’s poster went up in my bedroom. I didn’t even care that John was gay; my knees actually went weak standing so close to him.

  “Good luck, love,” John said, touching my arm.

  I’d just touched John Matthew…while holding Xavier’s hand! Could life get any more fabulous?

  We took our place onstage. Bret and Robyn stood next to us, and I rushed over and hugged Robyn. Then Bret and Xavier jumped in, and we all hugged each other. It probably looked so hokey, but that was just how it was tonight. I swirled in emotions. Looking over at the audience, I saw I wasn’t the only one. Bret’s Marines were sitting next to Xavier and Robyn’s kids, everyone looking so proud. Xavier’s whole band had shown up also.

  The place was packed tonight, standing-room only. I knew on television the ballroom looked huge, but there were only about four hundred people stuffed into the crowded soundstage. The cameras panned overhead to create the illusion of a sea of people. I didn’t have to see the millions of viewers at home to feel their eyes on me. This finale wasn’t like any of the others. This one, I really cared about.