STAND 24

Rain is pouring down still. He walks around the car, using his coat as an umbrella and opens my door. “I said get out”
I raise my eyebrow “I don’t take orders from you”
“I don’t give a shit. I said out!”
I pout and cross my arms. “Nobody has ever used that tone with me!”
“I guess it was about time someone did it!” I can tell his losing his temper. I don’t move.
“Fine!” he stretches over my body to unfasten my seat belt, takes my arm a literally pulls me out of the car. He slams the door closed with his foot and covers my head with his coat “let’s go!” he commands.
We enter the building, the first room is a reception hall. People walking around, a pigeon hall stuffed with mail, a pin-board with lots of ads and flyers, pictures of dancers on the wall. I look around me, “what’s this place?” I hiss
“It’s a dance studio, it belongs to one of my best friends”
“A dance studio?” I say sarcastically. “You should have taken me to a church. What you need is a bloody miracle Doug”
He unbuttons my coat and places near the heater to dry.
“Howard! That is a wonderful surprise!” and a brunette literally runs into his arms. She cannot be more than 16. She’s wearing a pink top and maroon low raise dance pants.
He gives her a bear hug “so good to see you too Jane! Let me look at you! If only I was 20 years younger! How many hearts have you broken this week?”
She giggles “None. Guys don’t look at me”
“I told you to stop hanging out with blind people!”
She blushes and it’s clear she has a huge crush on him “I’ll go tell Paul you’re here, we were talking about you today at lunch time” and she disappears down the corridor.
I cross my arms and I grumble “I want to go home. Jason’s waiting for me”
“We still have time, and I have the car keys”
“I hate you”
“I know”
A man, as tall as Howard walks toward us with his arms spread wide “Howard! It was about time! I know you’re famous again and everything but our ladies in the salsa class can’t stop asking about you! Carlos said he’ll never let you cover for him again! The moment he steps into the dance floor he can always hear 23 disappointed old ladies going ‘ohhhhh’. Marian left a note for you” and takes a pink letter from the pigeon hole. “We all think it’s a marriage proposal!” and winks at him.
Howard hugs him “you know my long term plan is to quit the band and teach ballroom dance with you! If you’d still want me after the tour is over”
“We’ll see mate, we’ll see” and he realizes his ‘mate’ is not alone. He smiles at me, the same way Howard does. “Hi, I’m Paul. Howard has no manners, but maybe he didn’t introduce us because you’re not with him. You’re way out of his league”
I shake his hand “You’re very much right. I’m Titti and I’m here against my will. Your mate and I are in the middle of a huge fight and I would really appreciate if you could call a taxi for me”
He looks at us puzzled “I feel for you” he says to me in a mocking tone “you should not hang around with this loser”
“I’m doing my best, believe me” I say
“Paul…” Howard hisses
And another brunette comes down the corridor and hugs Howard like he’s the only man on the face of the heart.
“You should have called us Howard” she says in a sexy voice. She has a South-American accent, maybe she’s from Argentina. “We just had tea”.
“That’s fine, I was wondering if I could use of your dance-rooms. I need to show her something” and tries to take my hand but I hide behind my back.
I grumble again and she holds out her hand “I’m Kicca, nice to meet you”
I am so pissed at everyone I just lose it. “Nice to meet you too” I hiss “are you another of his ex girlfriends, are you a current girlfriend or you hope to become one of his girlfriends? Because to tell you the truth and sick and tired of his stupid games”
Paul and Kicca laugh “No, I’m not planning on cheating on my husband” she says hugging Paul. “Howard is hot, but not that hot. I’m just teaching him and the rest of the band tango l lessons. For the new show.”
I feel like a total idiot “I’m sorry, it has been a difficult day. I’m usually very civilized”
“No prob” Paul says “I’ve known Howard all my life and I lost count of the times I wanted to kill him”
In the meantime Kicca whispers something in Howard’s ear and giggles. I look at them and say “besides, I would watch my back if I were you. Your mate here seems to have a soft spot for almost all his best friend’s partners”
Howard’s face drops, Kicca takes my hand, “come with me, I need to find you a pair of dancing shoes. What size are you?”
“She’s 5” he says in a low voice.
I walk away and Paul asks him “who is she and what did you do her?”
“She’s Jason’s girlfriend and I fear I lost her”
“I’m sorry mate”
“Me too”

I step inside dance-room number 3. Howard has taken off his jumper and standing in front of the mirror doing some stretching exercises. I can see his muscles through the white t-shirt he’s wearing. He sees my reflection in the mirror, smiles at me and wags his finger. *I should go home, why am I still here?*
“Kicca told me about the salsa class you taught last month. With the Club 60-70 ladies. I’m impressed and scared. You must suffer from a dissociative personality disorder. I hope you’re not contagious”
“Dance with me”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea”
“You fear you might change your mind and find out you don’t hate me so much?”
“I already know that. But it doesn’t change the fact I can’t be with you. I’m with Jason. I was about to leave him for you, twice, and both times you have disappointed me like nobody else has ever done. I need stability. Jason I can count on, he’s…”
“Stop talking about him!”
I almost jump
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell”
I sigh “I know, you never mean the things you do”
He stares at me like I just told him I killed his sister “I deserve another chance. This is my chance and I’m gonna take it. You’ll just have to tolerate my presence for a little more. Then I’ll give up. For the time being you’re mine”.

He takes a few steps until he’s standing right in front of me. He places his right hand on my back, locking his eyes into mine. “It’s my understanding you can dance right?” he whispers
I nod.
“Very good. Now place your left hand on my right shoulder”. I do it and he smiles approvingly. Our other two hands are clasped together near our chests.
“We’re working on a new version of “it only takes a minute girl”. Have you seen Moulin Rouge?”
I nod again, unable to speak.
“Gary’s still writing the new arrangement, we’re practicing on ‘El Tango de Roxanne’.” He looks behind my shoulders “You can press play now”
I turn my face and I see Kicca by the stereo, before pressing play she tells Howard “remember now, you have to hold her like the skin on her thigh is your reason for living. Let her go like your heart's being ripped from your chest. Throw her back like you're going to have your way with her right here on the dance floor. And then finish like she's ruined you for life.”
“I can do that” he mumbles and she leaves.
The music fills the room; he takes another step forward so we’re chest-to-chest.
“Now close your eyes and listen for each major beat, let the music become part of you” he tells me with his husky voice.
I do it and I can feel the passion of the tango seize my body. I focus on the sensation coming from having his arms around me.
“Now look at me” he commands and flexes his leg slight, lowering his height. He straightens it and steps forward, while I move backwards. He presses his right shoe against my right shoe as he’s caressing me. I find it so hard to keep my breathing steady. I’m lost inside his eyes. We’re moving around the dance floor, he pushes his right leg between mine and hooks it behind my left leg, at knee level.
I can’t take the tension anymore. His eyes are going through my flesh like they were a blade. “Who are you?” I ask him
He stops and raises my hands over my head, stretching my arms. I’m almost panting, he is too close, I can feel his breath on my cheek.
“Trust me” he whispers
“I can’t”
He slightly bends the leg he placed between mine so it rests against my groin. I bite my lip. “Trust me, I would never hurt you” he speaks softly into my ear.
My heart is beating furiously “prove it to me, tell me your darkest secret”
He slowly lowers our hands, until his are on my waist “you first” his lips almost touching mine.
I need to stay in control, cannot let him take over. “Fine” I sigh “I’m married”
He brushes his nose against mine “you’re funny. I thought we were supposed to tell no lies”
I place my hands over his “I’m not. I am married, his name’s Gerry”
I can feel his hands turn suddenly cold. He takes a step back and my body slightly jerks forward trying to keep contact with his.
“What the fuck did you just say?” *hu-ho, he’s really really mad at me now*
I try to smile “I’m married but we’re separated…”
“Do you still see him?” His mobile goes off. We ignore it.
“Yes, he lives in my flat”
“I want him out, now”
“Can’t, he’s writing…”
“His obituary. Tell him to get his shit and disappear. I mean it”
“He needs my support”
He throws his arms in the air, opens his mouth but says nothing; he lowers his head and places his hands in his pockets. “What about me? Don’t I …” His mobile goes off again. We ignore it a second time.
I stretch my arm and caress his; I cannot find any word to say to him, I rest my head against his shoulder. “We’ve been separated for months, we’re just friends”
He kisses the top of my head “he has to go”
I cup his face with my hands “he’s my family, I’m not getting rid of him”
“So I guess you won’t have to worry about me bothering you any longer”
*this is going nowhere* “what is your secret? You haven’t told me yet.”
His ring tone again. “Fuck” he hisses.
He walks to the corner of the room and gets his mobile off the floor. Checks the display “it’s Lara” and answers it.
“Yep…she’s here….don’t know… hold on La”. He looks at me and hands me his mobile “she needs to talk you”
I take it. “Ciao Lara”
“Where’s your bloody mobile? Are you deaf?”
“It’s in my coat” and I smack my head “in the other room. Why? What happened?”
“Do you know what time is it?”
“Fuck” I don’t even need to check the clock on the wall, it’s bloody late.
“Jason called me. He thinks we’re together. He said he tried to call you but you didn’t answer. He was getting worried. I told him we lost track of time and you’d just gone to the loo. Now he’s pissed. I told him we were on our way back”
“Thanks”
Howard looks at me, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, we have to go now” I say.
“We’re not done yet. Please”
“Yes we are. I need to go”
I change my shoes while he puts his jumper back on. We walk to the entrance, there’s no-one around.
“You better button up, it’s cold outside” he says to me adjusting the collar of my coat. “You asked me what my darkest secret is…”
“Not now, Howard, please, I beg of you”
“I’m in love with one of my best friends’ partner” and looks into my eyes, waiting for my answer.
I bite my lip and raise my hand, as I’m about to say something. But I need to talk to Jason before this goes any further. I owe him, so I simply step outside. We walk silently back to the car. I can hear him breathing right behind me, I try to focus and walk straight. He opens the door for me and I get in. I fasten my seat belt and wait for him to start the engine. It takes us almost forty minutes to get back to Jason’s house. Howard pretends to be over concentrated on the road, while I trace imaginary lines on the window on my left side. He parks in front of the garden, all lights are off. I sigh. None of us dare to move. After a few minutes I decide to turn towards him and my eyes meet his. He has been staring at me all this time. I am breathing hard and he smiles his sweetest smile as to reassure me. He unfasten his seat belt and leans towards me whispering with a low and sexy voice “We fought almost the entire afternoon but I had a great time” his nose rubbing cheek, his lips dangerously close to the corner of my mouth “we should do it again soon”. I don’t move so he leans over and presses his lips softly to the base of my neck and works his way up it with small, slow kisses. I cannot find words, I moan faintly and I just open my lips a little, inviting him. His lips are wet and warm caressing mine. He’s killing me softly. He goes back nuzzling the nape of my neck, lightly licking it. I draw in a sharp, almost panting breath, and then I practically melt against him as he nibbles my neck and ear. That’s the green light he was waiting for. He pins me against the car door and kisses me. Howard's tongue makes love to my mouth, caressing and exploring it with slow, sensual movements. His hands are clenched at the sides of my seat. Not breaking our kiss he shyly places one on my breast. I moan inside his mouth. He’s becoming more confident, as he massages my nipple with one hand, his other hand travels down my belly and between my legs. It slides over my jeans caressing the front of my thigh, gradually making his way upward. So slow I fear my mind might explode. I open my legs as his fingers find themselves playing with my jeans button. I break the kiss and look at him. I’m flashed and panting “please… not…”
He jumps back releasing me “I’m sorry, I thought you wanted it too. Oh shit! I’m so sorry”. He breathes heavily.
I’m panicking *I meant ‘not here’* but he’s already turned the ignition “You better go, I’ll call you tomorrow” he hisses but doesn’t look at me.
I unfasten my seat belt and jump off the car.