by Jo Cotterill
‘Mari . . .’
She gave him a playful shove. ‘Stop flattering me. You know I don’t like it.’
Megan caught the look of frustration on Sean’s face and felt sorry for him. ‘You are good, Mari,’ she said, moving over to join them. ‘You should stop putting yourself down.’
‘That’s what I keep telling her,’ he said, with a rueful grin. ‘But she won’t listen to me.’
‘That’s because you’re an idiot,’ said Mari, jokingly.
Megan grimaced on Sean’s behalf. How could Mari talk to him like that when he was clearly so fond of her? A car beeped outside. ‘I should be off. Think that’s my dad’s car out there.’
‘Found them!’ Jackie stood up, dishevelled but happy, brandishing a keyring.
‘Thanks for lending us your garage,’ Mari said. She turned back to Megan. ‘And please thank your mum for the skirts, Megan. They’re going to look amazing.’
‘I will.’ Megan smiled at Sean. ‘Nice to meet you.’
He grinned back, his whole face lit up with the smile. ‘You too. Mari says you’re a bit of a dance diva.’
‘In a good way,’ Mari said hurriedly.
Sean’s expression was comical. ‘Oh God, yes. Not diva like being all stroppy. I meant diva like goddess-type thing.’
Megan laughed. It seemed Sean had the same ability to put his foot in it as Mari. Which only made them even better matched, surely.
She wondered why Mari didn’t make the most of what she’d got. Sean wasn’t going anywhere, was he? So why was Mari still keeping him at arm’s length?
Chapter 17
I think I made a bit of a mistake
‘HAIR UP OR hair down?’ wondered Mari, standing in front of Megan’s mirror and holding her hair in a makeshift ponytail. ‘See, I think up is better for the jive, but down is better for the salsa.’
Megan laughed. ‘I don’t think it reallymatters, Mari. And it’s not as though we’ve got different costumes for the salsa and the jive. This isn’t a competition.’
‘I know,’ said Mari, ‘but I’m still excited. It’s like being in a play, only scarier.’
‘Is your friend Fliss coming?’
‘No, she can’t. But Victoria said she might be there.’ Mari grinned. ‘Can’t wait to see the look on her face. She’ll never believe what I’ve been doing.’
‘Maybe you could talk her into joining the class next term,’ suggested Megan, trying to apply mascara without poking herself in the eye.
‘I’ll try,’ said Mari, ‘but I know what she’ll say. It’s not really her thing.’
‘It wasn’t yours either to start with,’ Megan pointed out.
‘True!’ Mari made a decision and started to pull her hair into a high ponytail.
‘I think I’ll wear mine up too,’ said Megan, doing up her belt. ‘Then it won’t get in the way. We’re doing salsa first, right?’
‘Yup. Corinne said we should because it’s a salsa class. So salsa first, then she does a little speech thing, then there’s drinks and nibbles and some free dancing, then jive about an hour later, then everyone dances again and we all say merry Christmas.’ Mari giggled. ‘Sean was worried we were going to play salsa music all evening, but I told him there’d be some disco stuff too.’
‘You invited him then?’ Megan tried not to sound too interested.
Mari shrugged. ‘Had to, didn’t I, after he saw our practice? I’d told him it was for some in-class thing, but he kept on saying he wanted to come along and watch one day. I was terrified he’d just turn up at class, so I told him about the party. I really thought he wouldn’t be interested but he said he was up for a laugh. So he’s coming.’
‘That’s great!’
‘Yeah, well he’s an even worse dancer than I am, so maybe having him there will make me look good.’ Mari caught the expression on Megan’s face. ‘Uh-oh. Go on, then.’
‘What?’
‘You’re dying to say something, I can tell. Go on, spit it out.’
Megan took a breath. ‘Well, I don’t want to interfere. And it’s really none of my business.’
Mari laughed. ‘We’re friends, Megan. You can tell me.’
‘All right. But don’t be mad at me. It’s only that . . . I wondered . . . why you’re so mean to him all the time?’
Mari’s eyes opened wide. ‘Mean to him? What are you talking about?’
‘Well, you put him down all the time,’ said Megan, wondering just how honest she could be. Even though Mari had said it was OK, she didn’t want to upset her. ‘When I asked you what he was like, you said he wasn’t very good-looking.’
‘He’s not!’
‘I’m not sure I agree with you,’ Megan said slowly. ‘I mean, he’s not drop-dead-gorgeous. Not in a traditional kind of way. But when he smiles, it’s like he’s all warm and comforting. Don’t you think?’
‘He is a bit,’ admitted Mari. ‘Like a cosy blanket.’
‘And that sort of makes him good-looking, as far as I’m concerned,’ said Megan.
‘Hmm,’ said Mari, staring at herself in the mirror. ‘I suppose you’ve got a point.’
‘Do you like him, Mari?’
‘Of course I do.’
‘Then how come you don’t tell him?’ Megan pressed.
Mari sighed. ‘We’ve been through this, Megan. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea. I don’t know how I feel about myself half the time, let alone him.’
‘But you can tell him that too,’ Megan suggested. ‘If he cares about you, then he won’t mind if sometimes you’re a bit unsure.’
Mari bit her lip. ‘If I tell you something, you promise you won’t tell anyone else?’
‘Of course.’
Mari looked down at the floor. ‘I don’t understand why he likes me. When I’m – I’m fat.’
‘What?’ Megan’s mouth dropped open. ‘What are you talking about? You are not fat!’
‘My mum says I am,’ Mari said miserably.
‘Your mum’s wrong.’
‘But I’m not skinny like you,’ Mari pointed out. ‘Boys are supposed to like skinny girls, aren’t they? Like all the ones in the magazines.’
‘Sean likes you,’ said Megan. She couldn’t believe she was hearing this. Confident, bubbly, loud Mari was really insecure about her looks!
‘But why?’ wailed Mari.
‘Because you’re funny,’ Megan said, taking her hand. ‘You’re hilarious. And you care about stuff. You’ve worked so hard at this dancing, when it hasn’t come easily. You don’t give up. You’re a cheerful sort of person; people like being around you because you make them feel better. And from what I’ve seen, Sean is the same sort of person. I think you’re a perfect match.’
Mari pulled a face. ‘How come you’re the expert all of a sudden?’
Megan let go of Mari’s hand. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately,’ she confessed. ‘That thing with Danny – it opened my eyes. I got a bit swept away by him. But it made me think about what I should look for in a boyfriend. What any girl should look for.’
‘And what have you decided?’ Mari was looking less miserable.
‘Well,’ said Megan, suddenly feeling rather embarrassed, ‘I think he should be kind. That’s the most important thing.’
‘Kind to you?’
‘Kind to everyone. I don’t want someone who keeps getting into trouble because he’s rude. I don’t want to have to apologize for him upsetting people.’
Mari nodded. ‘Sounds good. So, item one: helps little old ladies across the street and buys you flowers.’
Megan laughed. ‘You’re not taking this very seriously, Mari.’
‘Sorry, sorry. Go on. I’m all ears.’ Mari put her hands behind her ears and pushed them forward. ‘See?’
‘I’m going to ignore that,’ Megan told her, trying not to smile. ‘OK then. Secondly, he needs to like things I enjoy doing. And I need to like things he enjoys doing too. I mean, we need to be prepared to try out
new stuff.’
‘I thought that was the problem with Danny,’ Mari commented. ‘You tried out all this new stuff and didn’t like it.’
‘I did like it,’ objected Megan. ‘But he didn’t enjoy anything I loved. I mean, remember the time I took him to the theatre? He didn’t even try to like it. I see that now.’
‘OK. So, item two: common interests. You have to enjoy doing stuff together.’
‘And I also think,’ said Megan slowly, ‘that you have to feel completely comfortable talking to him. He has to be a good listener.’
Mari rolled her eyes. ‘You’re starting to sound like a magazine. Top Ten Things to Look For in a Boyfriend.’
‘But it’s really important,’ insisted Megan. ‘Danny never really listened to me. He didn’t ask me questions about myself. He talked about himself all the time. And if I told him anything, he was always thinking about something else.’
‘Remind me why you went out with him again?’ Mari stuck out her tongue.
Megan laughed. ‘You’re right. I have no idea. Swept away, I guess. And I was a bit lonely.’
‘Missing Jake?’ Mari raised her eyebrows.
Megan looked down at her hands. ‘Maybe a bit, yeah. And now here’s something you can’t tell anyone else. Mari, I think I made a bit of a mistake.’
‘With Jake?’
Megan got off the bed and checked her make-up in the mirror so that she didn’t have to look at Mari. There was a hot feeling in her stomach. ‘I think maybe you guys were right. He . . . we might have been perfect together.’ She blushed. ‘I haven’t stopped thinking about him for the past two weeks. Which is stupid, isn’t it? I mean, it’s too late. I can’t go out with someone who lives so far away. And he probably doesn’t feel that way about me. I mean, he’s never – we’ve never . . . I never thought about him like that until recently. He probably still thinks of me as a friend. And it’s not something you can ask someone over the phone. So it’s crazy even thinking about it – I mean, when are we actually likely to be face to face again?’
Mari opened her mouth and then closed it again.
‘What?’ The hot feeling was making it hard to breathe. Megan couldn’t quite believe she’d said it out loud. Would Mari tell her it was all pointless?
‘Oh, nothing,’ Mari said, but her eyes looked strangely excited. ‘I was just thinking . . . what would you say to him? If you saw him, I mean?’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ replied Megan. ‘He lives in Yorkshire. It wouldn’t work.’
‘But if you had the opportunity,’ persisted Mari, leaning forward. ‘What would you tell him?’
‘I don’t know. What I just told you, I guess. That I wished we’d had a chance to go out together – like on a date. Not a dance class, or a competition, or at school. That he’s always been my best friend, and it wasn’t until I moved away that I started to think that maybe he meant more to me than that.’ Megan shook her head. ‘Oh, what’s the use? There’s no point thinking about it now.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘Come on, we’re going to be late.’
Mari leaped up. ‘I’m really nervous!’
Megan smiled at her fondly. ‘You’re going to be fine, Mari. It’s a real shame your mum can’t come. She’d be so excited to see what you can do.’
‘She’s most excited about the fact that I’ve lost four pounds.’ Mari rolled her eyes. ‘Still, at least it means she’s keen for me to keep coming to salsa next term.’
Megan smiled. ‘That’s great, Mari. And you’ll have Victoria there to watch you. And Sean, of course. He’s going to be gobsmacked!’
‘That makes it worse,’ said Mari glumly.
‘You are impossible!’ Megan exclaimed. ‘Sean is lovely! He’s sweet and kind and interested in you – in fact, all the things I just talked about! He doesn’t care that you’re not a skinny size nothing. He likes you just as you are – and you’re just messing him around! Mari, if you’re not sure you like him enough, then you should break up with him.’
‘Break up?’ Mari looked shocked.
‘Yes. Don’t keep him hanging on like this – it’s not fair. Now, have you got everything? Let’s go.’
Even from the outside, the hall looked inviting. Purple and silver heart-shaped balloons were blowing in the breeze, attached by curling ribbons to the porch roof. Fairy lights framed the doorway, twinkling in the dark. Megan felt a little thrill in her stomach.
‘This looks lovely,’ said Nicola in appreciation. ‘Someone must have spent quite a lot of time decorating this.’
Megan and Mari exchanged guilty glances. Jackie and Alys had volunteered to help Corinne with the decorating, but had said eagerly that any other helpers would be most welcome. ‘I’m about as artistic as a blind beetle,’ Mari had declared. Megan had been about to volunteer when Mari had asked, ‘I don’t suppose I could get ready at your house, could I? Only my mum has to work and so there’ll be no one at home . . .’
Jackie and Alys, whether they’d had extra help or not, had certainly done a fantastic job. As Megan and Mari went into the hall, they gasped. ‘Pretty!’ cried Owen, running past them and straight into the middle of the room.
Around the edges of the hall were tables and chairs, arranged in groups. At the stage end was a long narrow table already groaning under the weight of the various dishes and plates of food. ‘I’ll go and add mine,’ said Nicola, taking her tray of vegetable lasagne across. More purple and silver balloons decorated the tables and windows, whilst silver tinsel and fairy lights were strung across the beams. And by the door, where they had just come in, stood a large white Christmas tree with silver and purple butterflies pinned to it.
In the centre of the hall, a large area had been left clear for dancing. And above the floor, right in the middle of the ceiling . . . a large, beautiful, glittering mirror ball! Two carefully focused spotlights sent little star-like reflections dancing across the walls and the floor.
‘She got it!’ breathed Mari, staring up at the mirror ball. ‘I can’t believe it . . . she actually got it!’
‘It’s pretty,’ said Owen, pointing. ‘Look, stars!’
‘That’s an impressive piece of kit,’ said Bryan.
Megan turned to smile at him. ‘I’m so glad you could all come.’
He smiled back and tugged her ponytail. ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world, chicken. It’s you dancing, isn’t it?’
As if on cue, someone switched on the sound system, and music came pouring out of the wall-mounted speakers. Corinne, wearing a full-length turquoise dress, came over to meet Bryan and Nicola. ‘Your daughter is a great teacher,’ she told them. ‘Dancer too, yes, but she’s managed to get them all doing exactly what she tells them.’
‘Gets it from her mother,’ said Bryan. Nicola trod on his foot. ‘Ow!’
‘And I’ve been very grateful,’ Corinne went on, ‘because Megan has been a huge help in the class. With all her experience, it’s been great.’
Megan blushed as her father squeezed her shoulder.
‘Megan is a very good dancer,’ Owen told her solemnly.
‘I know.’ Corinne bent down to him. ‘Do you dance too?’
He nodded. ‘But only at home.’
‘Well, maybe you should think about coming along to one of my classes,’ Corinne said, amused. ‘I run ballet and tap classes for children your age.’
Owen frowned for a moment. ‘I’m not sure,’ he said. ‘I really want to do breakdancing. Like when you spin on your head.’
Corinne burst out laughing. ‘Wow. Well, I’m afraid we don’t do that in ballet or tap. But maybe you could start off with something a bit easier than spinning on your head?’
‘I’ll think about it,’ Owen promised. ‘If I don’t find anything better.’
‘Mari.’
Megan and Mari turned to see Sean standing in the doorway, looking rather awkward. ‘Hey,’ said Mari. There was a pause.
‘You look great,’ Megan said, trying to fill the silence. ‘You�
�re wearing a tie!’
Sean tugged on the multicoloured tie at his neck. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Thought I should make a bit of an effort, you know. You look really nice, Mari.’
To Megan’s intense delight, Mari was blushing. ‘Thanks.’
‘Uh . . . we’re going to get sorted at a table,’ Nicola said, tactfully dragging Owen and Bryan away.
‘Yeah,’ said Megan. ‘Um . . . I’ll come with you.’ She left Mari and Sean standing staring at each other on the dance floor and followed her family over to a table.
‘Is that Mari’s boyfriend?’ Nicola asked in a low voice.
‘Yes,’ Megan whispered back, ‘but it hasn’t been going very well.’
‘Looks like it’s OK now,’ commented Nicola, nodding towards the floor, where Sean was shyly taking Mari’s hand and leading her over to a table.
‘About time,’ said Megan, feeling very happy for Mari.
The hall was filling up by the minute, and Megan could see Corinne glancing at her watch. The girls from the salsa class had all arrived now, looking really smart in their jive skirts. Each girl had chosen a plain-coloured top to go with her black skirt, so they were a whole rainbow of colours. Megan was pleased she had chosen a dark green top to wear; she knew it brought out the green in her eyes. ‘You girls all look lovely,’ said Nicola, following Megan’s gaze. ‘The skirts have turned out really well.’
‘Thanks so much, Mum.’ Megan gave her a hug. She glanced over to Mari and Sean and spotted a tall slim girl with beautiful dark skin and long black hair just joining them. Mari squealed and jumped up to hug her. That must be Victoria, Megan thought. She felt a lot happier that Mari had friends there to support her.
Corinne waved at Megan from the middle of the dance floor. ‘It’s time,’ Megan said. ‘We’re going to do the salsa we’ve been practising.’
‘Can I come?’ Owen asked.
‘Sorry.’ Megan bent down. ‘It’s just the girls from the class to start with. But you can join in afterwards.’
‘OK,’ said Owen, losing interest. ‘I’m hungry anyway.’
Megan and the other girls took up their positions on the dance floor. Some of the parents and friends hadn’t noticed what was happening, but as soon as Corinne turned up the music and hit ‘play’, they turned round.
