Page 16 of Dance Dirty With Me

“I think you’re ready for these,” announces Penny, and I see her holding out a pair of shoes—ladies shoes, silver strappy things with heels. Heels! I can feel the blood drain from my face as I feel lightheaded. Why didn’t I realise there’d be shoes as well?

“Um, I think I might break my ankle trying to dance in those,” I say with a grimace.

“Just try them.” Penny smiles encouragingly, and I sit on one of the chairs and take off my gym shoes. The sandals don’t feel too bad until I try to stand up. I’m no longer in contact with the floor; I’m suspended over it on a tiny platform. Or at least, that’s what it feels like. I wobble for a couple of steps and Penny grabs my hand.

“It’s easy for you,” I mutter. “You’ve had years of practice. I don’t think I can do this.” I turn to Johnny, who’s been watching me wobble about. “This is not happening. I’m going to fall on you. I declare that I’m an accident waiting to happen.”

He comes forward and takes both my hands. “Walk in them for a while.” After his comment about the skirt his voice is soft and kindly, and when he walks backwards, I follow. It still feels unnatural, but after a couple of circuits of the room I feel more sure-footed.

“Do you want to try to dance, just the basic steps?” he asks.

We don’t do too badly—well, I don’t. Johnny is foot perfect as always, but I feel I could improve so I ask that we try it again, and again. By the end of the afternoon I feel much more secure. I didn’t manage all the turns, and only learnt a basic lift, but we still have a day to practice. It’s a relief to step back into my gym shoes afterwards, and I ignore the ache in my feet as I walk back to my cabin.

“Lisa, I need you to do something for me,” I say two days later.

She looks up from the magazine she’s reading. Since winning the swimwear heat of the beauty competition yesterday she’s been insufferable.

“I don’t have to do anything for you. You’ve spent the last week hiding, you’re up to something. What is it?”

“I can’t tell you.”

She gives me her best big sister look, but it doesn’t work on me anymore like it did when I was ten.

“I’ll tell you after, but not tonight. I just need you to tell Mum and Dad that I’m not feeling well and I’m not hungry. I’ve gone to bed but they don’t need to check on me.”

“What are you really up to?” She tries again.

“Lisa, please?” Now it sounds like a whine. Lisa settles back in her chair with a small sly smile, like getting me to wheedle like I did as a child when she wouldn’t tell me secrets was some sort of victory.

“They won’t be interested anyway.” She gives a flick of her hair. “It’s Robbie’s night off so he’s spending the evening with us.”

“I thought that was over.” He’d lost interest after she hadn’t welcomed his advances, but I’m also dismayed she’s forgiven him.

“It seems becoming Miss Swimwear has its advantages.” She turns her attention back to the magazine. I really need to talk to her about Robbie, but not tonight. I quickly make my way through the guest cabins and into the staff quarters to Penny’s place. The last practice yesterday went very well. I managed to dance the whole routine several times in heels and didn’t fall once. I’m not elegant, but hopefully it will do.

“How does that feel?” Penny asks, standing back and looking at me as she helps me dress for the show.

“Honestly, I feel like a dressed turkey waiting for the oven. How on earth do you wear all this stuff?”

“You get used to it,” Penny laughs. “And it feels nice to get dressed up for a change.

“I’ll take your word for it.” It feels strange to me. I look down at the coral dress I’m wearing. Its full flouncy skirt ends just below my knees and feels unfamiliar against my legs.

“I don’t seem to have much here.” I press my hands against my chest.

“Well, neither do I.” Penny chuckles but she gathers in the material to cover that up. You’ll need these as well.” She holdsup a pair of tights and I try not to groan. There’s something I ought to bring up first before I put them on.

“Do you know what does feel odd?” I say nervously, and Penny tilts her head waiting for me to continue.

“In this dress, it feels somehow wrong to wear my underpants.” I’m not sure she’ll understand, but although my briefs are pretty tight they feel incongruous, wrong somehow. She looks thoughtful for a minute and then crosses the room and opens a drawer. She comes back with a pair of lace knickers.

“Try these.” She holds them out. “Don’t worry, they’re new. Never been worn.”

I take them off her and hold them up. They look a bit like my briefs, but obviously without space for my junk and in a soft-pink lace. I’ve come this far, I might as well try them. Penny turns away and goes to her dressing table, keeping her back to me. I whip off my briefs and pull on the lace knickers. Strangely they feel better than I’d expected and my junk feels more contained.

I pick up the tights and join Penny.

“Thanks, that feels better now. Can you tell me how on earth I’m supposed to get these on?” I say, holding up the tights, and Penny grins.

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