Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  "I get some of that, well, I did when school was in," Kristin said.

  "Harvard will be different. Those snobs won’t be impressed," Tom grinned.

  "Until you come visit and they see what a hunk you are," Kristin joked.

  They leisurely worked on the competitive programs for Tom, Allison, and Ryan and Amy throughout the early summer. Ryan and Amy also needed programs for the Pro-Am—they were going to the Canadian one. Since those weren’t ‘serious’ programs, they mostly planned to do those themselves. However, one day Amy cornered Warren and Sophia.

  "Hey, will you guys take a look at our rhythmic program for the Pro-Am? It’s kind of up your alley."

  "Sure," Warren told her. He and Sophie went and stood by the rink and watched Ryan and Amy.

  He was kind of surprised by the choice of music: Ricky Martin’s "Living La Vida Loca." He guessed that this was Amy’s choice, as Ryan had never skated to anything like this with Courtney. Ryan, however, was plainly having a ball skating to it.

  And Warren and Sophie quickly realized something—this was one hell of a program.

  "That was marvelous," Warren told them when they finished.

  "It’s pretty simple choreography, well, compared to you two at least. But it works," Ryan said.

  "It’s not that simple," Sophie argued.

  "Well, what I was wondering is—is it too sexy?" Amy asked.

  "It’s very sexy," Warren laughed, "but not over-the-top. It’s more just hot than suggestive. Is this a problem?"

  Amy looked down. "I don’t know how Eric is going to react to it."

  "Why would he care if you’re being sexy?" Sophia laughed.

  "Because I’m on the ice being sexy with Ryan, not him."

  "Ah," Sophie said. "You know, I think Eric understands."

  "It worries me. We’ve only been together, what, a month and a half? About that."

  Just then, he walked in. "ERIC!" Amy said.

  "Hi, honey. Want lunch?" Eric asked her.

  "Sure, in a bit, we need to work some more."

  "OK," Eric said, and settled in next to Sophia and Warren in the bleachers.

  "Amy, show him." Sophie said. Amy shot her a look. "Trust me."

  "Uh, OK." She and Ryan headed towards the center of the ice.

  "What is she showing me?" Eric asked.

  "Their rhythmic program for the Canadian Open. They did this one themselves."

  Living La Vida Loca started, and Ryan and Amy started dancing. Warren watched them—but Sophia was watching Eric. And Eric’s jaw was hitting the floor.

  Halfway through, Sophie giggled and said to Eric, "Close your mouth, little brother, the flies are getting in."

  "Uh, well, I can’t believe how good she looks."

  "She was afraid you wouldn’t like it."

  "Why on earth?"

  "Because it’s rather hot."

  "I noticed," Eric smirked, his eyes still riveted to the ice.

  "Yes, and because she’s out there being hot with another guy."

  "Oh," Eric said. "Well, Ryan’s her partner. I understand all that. I don’t worry about that." He smirked again. "And even if I worried about Amy, I know who Ryan’s girlfriend is. And what she’d cut off if he ever went after Amy."

  Sophie cracked up. "Right you are." She sobered. "I think Amy’s a little insecure."

  "I don’t know why."

  "Well, I have an idea. Just a guess, mind you. But, I saw when you walked in. She got all enthusiastic to see you. You were much more subdued. I know that’s just your personality."

  "Well, it’s not just that," Eric said. "I’m less outgoing than she is—but what you see isn’t so much subdued as it is overwhelmed."

  "By Amy?"

  "Yeah," Eric said with a little grin.

  Just then, Ryan and Amy ended the program. Amy skated over to where Eric was sitting, obviously worried. Eric dispelled the worry with a big, "WOW!"

  Amy lit up. "You liked it?"

  "Loved it. It was awesome. You’re awesome," he told her.

  She squeaked happily, and reached over the boards to hug a surprised Eric. Then she let go of him, grinned, and said, "I’m going to go get changed, then we can get lunch."

  "OK," Eric said. She bounced off to the dressing room.

  Ryan, watching, laughed. "You are so gone, it’s amusing," he said to Eric.

  "Uh-huh," Sophie agreed. She turned to Warren. "Snugglebear, I think you’re going to have competition for the most pussywhipped human on the planet."

  Everyone laughed at that. Warren said, "To be pussywhipped, you first have to get pussy. I don’t believe Amy and Eric have gotten to that point yet."

  "No, we haven’t," Eric admitted, "but I don’t think that’s necessary to be whipped."

  "Probably not," Sophia grinned.

  Amy came out then, and she and Eric headed for lunch.

  In early August, Liz Cushman landed at the airport for her week of choreography. Crash came with her. Warren and Sophia met them at the airport, and Liz said, "We have a surprise for you." She then held out her left hand—and showed them the diamond.

  Sophie squealed, and Warren gave Crash a congratulatory hug.

  "When?" Sophie asked them.

  "Next summer. Will you be a bridesmaid?" Liz asked. "My sister’s going to be my maid of honor, but I’d love for you to be a bridesmaid."

  "Of course, I’d be honored," Sophie told her.

  "And you, of course, will be the best man," Crash told Warren.

  "A natural role for me to fill," Warren smirked.

  "When did you do this?" Sophia asked.

  "A couple of weeks ago," Liz told her. "We wanted to wait until we saw you in person to tell you."

  "My parents don’t even know yet," Crash laughed. "We’re going to go tell them now."

  After Liz had left, Brett and Andrea came. They were upbeat and happy, and had a ball with Warren and Sophia, choreographing their new programs.

  After a couple days, Warren was with Sophie at their house. "So. Brett and Andrea. Are you seeing what I’m seeing?"

  "That they finally figured out that they were nuts about each other? Looks like it," Sophia laughed.

  "Yep. It’s hard to choreograph with all that mooning going on. And, jeez, what did it take them—eight, nine years?"

  "I know," Sophia laughed. "I think Brett had to grow up a little."

  "True. It’s funny—when I first met them, Andrea barely tolerated him."

  "That’s been gone for a while," Sophia said, "Andrea’s been mooning over him for the last few years. I think he had to get over her previous scorn."

  "Right. Looks like he got over it. I thought they were going to start kissing in the middle of a spin today!"

  By the second-last week in August, everyone’s programs were set, including their own. That was good timing, as Warren and Sophia got in their car and drove to Rochester, NY.

  Chapter 157 - Good Love

  Going to Caitlin and Paul’s wedding was an interesting experience for Warren and Sophia. They’d been to a few weddings, including their own, but this was the first where neither the bride nor groom were a family member or a skater.

  What this meant was that, at this wedding, Warren and Sophia were the ‘token celebrities.’ They actually worried about this. "You guys are supposed to be the center of attention!" Sophie said at the rehearsal dinner. "People aren’t supposed to be asking a bridesmaid and an usher for autographs!"

  Caitlin laughed. "Ah, we knew this was going to happen."

  "It’ll be worse at the wedding, when there’s more people," Papa Bear grinned.

  Papa Bear wasn’t kidding. When Warren and Sophia walked down the aisle, they heard the ‘recognition gasp’. The reception was, if anything, worse.

  At one point, they were dancing, and Paul and Cait were right next to them. "I wonder if my aunt finally recovered at meeting her favorite ice skaters in the flesh," Cait teased.

  "Ah, stop it," Warren said.
<
br />   Even with the minor celebrity interruptions, the wedding was a huge success. Caitlin was a breathtaking bride, and all there had a great time.

  Since Warren and Sophie had bought a house, Eric had been offered the Basement Pad. Kate was offered it first, but she turned it down. "I’m settled in my room, besides which, I’m at school 8 months out of the year. Eric’s still got 2 years of high school left, let him take it."

  He moved down in August. He told Amy about it, and she was hoping she’d get invited down there. She was ready to take the next step in their relationship. But, a few weeks had gone by, and Eric hadn’t made a move. They kissed, a lot, but that was it.

  Eric didn’t want to say this, but he was worried—about school. He was all Amy had, really the only friend she had in Oceanview. He was worried about what would happen when such a pretty, vivacious girl got set loose at Oceanview High.

  And, what was worse, he wasn’t there for the first two days of it. He’d come down with a horrible flu, and missed the first two days of school. And Amy had called him up every night, telling her how much she liked it.

  When Eric got to school on the third day—his first—he walked into his nightmare. There, in the courtyard, was Amy—holding court. She was sitting on the wall at the edge of the courtyard. Three of the Popular Princess types were sitting next to her. A gaggle of jock-type guys were gathered around, eagerly sopping up every word out of her mouth. Amy looked happy and animated.

  Eric looked at her, and felt the dull thud in the pit of his stomach. He was torn whether or not to walk away, or what. The choice was taken from him when Amy spotted him.

  "SWEETIE! You’re back!" she yelped, and immediately fought her way through her clutch of courtesans to wrap him in a bear hug. "How are you feeling?"

  "A lot better, thanks," Eric said, trying to hide his amazement.

  "I’m glad," she said. "My first two days of school here without my sweetie weren’t that fun."

  "You looked like you were having fun." Eric said.

  "Ah, not like with you." She called over to her erstwhile admirers. "Do you guys all know Eric, my boyfriend?"

  The Princesses just looked at him with amazement. And the studs looked jealous.

  That’s when something clicked in Eric’s brain. And he made a resolution.

  Jessie had spent two months in complete bliss living with Ryan. She liked her new job, she was in a good place with friends, and having a total, complete, no hesitation relationship with Ryan was everything she had dreamed of.

  However, here in early September, she found herself ill. She was lethargic and had a stomach bug. Ryan was a wonderful nurse, it turned out.

  She was sitting next to Ryan, when, all of a sudden, it struck her. "Ryan, honey?" she said. "I just had a revelation. This isn’t the flu. This is what happened last time."

  "Last time?" Ryan asked.

  "I think I’m pregnant," she said quietly. "This is how it felt, you know, before."

  "Have you missed a period?"

  "It’s due day after tomorrow." Jessie sighed in frustration. "This is ridiculous! Why do I even bother taking the damn pill?"

  "Sometimes it fails."

  "Twice in, what, four months? Ryan, you have to believe me, I take it faithfully! I’ve never missed a day!"

  "Jess." Ryan grabbed her chin and tilted her face until he was looking into her eyes. "Jess. It’s OK. If you are, it’s OK."

  "Easy for you to say, you didn’t just miscarry."

  "You’re scared."

  "Damn right I’m scared! We just got back together, we’ve been living together all of two months, and I just had a miscarriage."

  "Well, it’ll be OK, but we need to find out for sure."

  Four days later, Jess was two days late. They went to the pharmacy and got an early-detection home pregnancy test. They came back to their apartment and Jess took it.

  She walked out of the bathroom. "Positive," she said simply.

  Ryan was sitting on the couch. He beckoned her over to him. She sat next to him, and he pulled her into his arms.

  "Ryan, tell me everything’s going to be OK," Jess pleaded.

  "Everything’s going to be OK," he assured her. "I promise."

  "Now what do we do?" she said.

  "I have an idea about that." He leaned into her, and whispered into her ear, "What do you say we fly to Las Vegas and get married?"

  "WHAT?" she blurted, turning to look at him.

  "Las Vegas. Married. Look, you told me once you didn’t want a big wedding like Warren and Sophie had, that you had no interest in it. Now, if you’ve changed your mind, we can wait, and you can have that. But, if not—let’s just go do it."

  "You’re serious," she gasped.

  "Completely. Totally. Jess, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. We’re going to have a baby. Let’s do it."

  Jessie’s face broke out into a giddy smile. She started giggling. "Really?"

  "Really."

  "Oh, God. YES!" she shouted, and then hurled herself into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time. After they had settled down, she said, "Oh, God, I love you so much."

  "Love you, too. So, do you want to do this on the QT, or should we tell people?"

  "I want to tell my parents. I want them to come. Warren and Sophie, too."

  "OK, then I’ll call my parents." Ryan’s parents lived in California. He called them right away, and they were thrilled. "They want to come, so, once we arrange it, I’ll have to let them know. They’ll probably drive. They can’t wait to meet you."

  "That’s funny—you knocked me up, we’re getting married, and they’ve never met me!"

  Jessie then called her parents, and told them to expect her that evening. She called Warren and Sophie, too, and told them to meet her there.

  When Jessie and Ryan showed up at her parents’ house, Warren and Sophie were already there. "Ok, so what’s the big mystery?" Mrs. Reidel asked them once they got in.

  "Well, it’s like this," Jessie said. "Obviously, me and birth control just don’t get along—because I’m pregnant again."

  "Oh," Mrs. Reidel said. "Is this OK?" she asked tentatively.

  "Definitely OK," Jess smiled.

  "Better than OK," Ryan agreed.

  "So, anyway," Jess continued, "this is the plan. As soon as we can arrange it, we’re going to Las Vegas to get hitched. Anyone wanna come with?"

  The room was silent for a good minute. Finally, Jessica’s mother broke the silence. "Did you just say what I think you said?"

  "We’re getting married, ASAP," Jessie said. "I don’t want any big fancy do, so we’re going to go to Vegas and do it. We’d like you all to come, though."

  Mrs. Reidel stared at them for a minute, and then squealed. "You’re getting married?"

  "Yep."

  "I guess we’re going to Las Vegas," Mr. Reidel said with a grin. "You sure you don’t want a traditional wedding, honey?" he asked Jess.

  "Nah," Jessie said. "But we want you guys there."

  "We’ll be there," her mother said.

  "Us, too," Sophia grinned.

  Saturday night, two days after Eric had gone back to school, he and Amy were out on a date. They had just left the restaurant and Eric was driving away. "So," Amy laughed, "my dear partner’s in a mad scramble to go to Vegas so he can get married."

  "That’s funny. I’m happy for them—I’ve known Jess forever." He chuckled. "I just hope they stay married for longer than Britney Spears did."

  "Tell me about it," Amy laughed. "So, the night’s young, what do you want to do now?"

  "Uhm, I want to talk," Eric said.

  "OK," Amy agreed hesitantly. Eric wanted to talk? This didn’t sound good at all.

  Amy was surprised when Eric pulled up in front of his house. He took her into the basement by the direct entrance. When they got into the little apartment, Amy sighed, "Wow, Eric, this is really nice!"

  "I know. Sophie and Warren really did a good job dow
n here before they moved out. And they bought a lot of new furniture so they left me most of it." He pointed toward the couch. "Sit down." She did, and Eric sat next to her.

  He took a deep breath. "Look, I suck at this. But something happened this week. When I came off the bus Thursday and saw you surrounded by the Beautiful People, and them all enthralled by you, my heart was in my throat."

  "Eric--," Amy tried to interrupt.

  "No. Let me finish. This is hard enough as it is. Anyhow, I saw you like that and I was worried. And then you saw me, and yelled after me, and left them to come see me. I can’t even describe what that felt like." He took another deep breath. "And that’s when I realized it. Amy, I’m in love with you. In fact, I love you so much it hurts sometimes."

  Before Eric knew it, Amy had launched herself onto his lap, clutching at his shoulders, and crying. "Amy?" Eric asked.

  "God, hold me!" she sputtered. He did, until she calmed down. "God, Eric, I thought you were going to break up with me!"

  "Why would I do that?" he chuckled.

  "God, I don’t know. Just because."

  "Amy—I love you."

  That’s when it really registered. "Oh, Eric, I love you too," she sighed. "Sometimes I worry. I mean, I don’t know—sometimes I don’t know what you’re thinking."

  "I know. Hey, this is confusing. And scary, to be honest."

  "Scary for me, too."

  "It is?" Eric was amazed.

  "Yeah." She took a deep breath. "There’s something you need to know. I’m not a virgin."

  "OK," Eric said.

  "That doesn’t bother you?"

  "Well, only that I’m jealous of whoever it was," Eric said with a little laugh.

  "Don’t be. You’re ten times the person he is. Which is why this is scary. It was a couple years ago, at Junior Worlds. He was a Russian pairs skater. We had a wonderful two weeks. I thought I was in love—until he told me about his very steady girlfriend back in Russia."

  "Oh, Jesus," Eric hissed.

  "It’s OK. I’m over it. But it taught me to be cautious. The problem is, I haven’t been able to be cautious with you. I just plunged into this, because my feelings were so strong. And that’s been pretty scary."