Wonderkind

“This is like the elves festivals,” she mused, taking his hand and pulling him forward. “Come on.”

 

She turned to him, taking his hands and pulling him towards her.

“In this kind of dancing, there’s a lot of spinning and a lot of lifting,” she said, looking up at him and slowly pulling him in a circle. “Try this first.”

 

She laughed, taking his hands earnestly.

“Good! Now there’s no slow elven dances, so we gotta pick up the pace a little.” She pulled him forward and they began to move faster. “And we’ll start trading off partners after a bit.”

 

“Well, no,” she said gently, looking up at him. “Not if you don’t want to.”

 

She beamed at him, taking his hand and setting his wrist against her waist.

“Hear the music?” she murmured, looking up at him. “We need to match it. Tone matches level, and tempo matches speed. There’s a jump coming up. Listen.”

The music sped up and a high note sang from the musicians. Around them, the dancers leaped into the air, laughing as they resumed their spinning.

 

“When the music suggests it,” she said, looking up at him. “Looking forward to a new dance partner?”

 

She slipped her arms around his neck, looking up at him.

“It’ll be fun. Don’t panic.”

 

“Aw, Z,” she teased lightly. “You’re a real cutie.”

 

She paused, looking up at him.

"I think you're so wonderful," she said quietly, her gaze earnest but hesitant.

 

She laughed a little.

“Because you’re my type.”