Page 55 of When We Are Falling

“It was fine. Just the usual stuff. Class is about to start, we should go in.”

He doesn’t look convinced, his brow furrowing slightly, but he shrugs. “Alright. Lead the way.”

We walk into the community center together, heading for the dance and yoga studio at the back. The room is brightly lit, mirrors lining the walls, and a few people are already warming up, upbeat music playing in the background.

“Let’s just have some fun. It’ll be good to let off some steam.”

Ethan still looks skeptical. “If you say so, princess.”

Taking his hand, leading him to the center of the room. We start stretching. He looks so out of place, but there’s something endearing about it. He’s here for me, even though it’s not his thing.

The hip hop dance instructor, Jaz, walks in. She’s a whirlwind of energy with a muscular build, brightly colored leggings, and a tank top that shows off her tattooed arms, her hair pulled back into a high ponytail.

As Jaz calls the class to order, Ethan shoots me another concerned glance. “You sure you’re okay?”

The knot in my stomach hasn’t loosened. “Yeah, I’m sure. Let’s do this.”

We begin with some basic moves, and I catch Ethan glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, trying to mimic my steps.“You’re doing great,” I whisper to him, nudging him playfully with my elbow.

“Liar,” he mutters. His movements are stiff and awkward, and his handsome face frowns.

“Come on, loosen up. Think of it as a workout.”

His eyes narrow, but he nods. The music picks up pace, and his steps are still hesitant, but he soon starts to get the hang of it, his body moving more fluidly until he stumbles over his own feet, drawing good-natured laughs from the others in the class.

He shrugs: “I’m never living this down, am I?”

“Probably not.”

Jaz claps her hands, her voice cutting through the music. “Alright, everyone, keep those feet moving! Remember, it’s all about the rhythm. Feel the music, let it flow through you. Hip hop isn’t just a set of moves, it’s art with your body.”

She steps forward, her energy infectious, and throws her arm out to the side with a sharp snap, then brings it across her body in a fluid wave. “Like this, everyone! Sharp, then smooth. Come on, you got this!” She repeats the move a few times, her body flowing effortlessly to the beat, encouraging us to follow her lead.

She glances at Ethan, who’s stopped in the middle of the room, hands on his hips, looking totally lost. “Come on, Ethan! You got this! Don’t be afraid to let loose. Give me some attitude!”

“You heard her, Mr. Boss Man. Show us what you’ve got!”

Ethan rolls his eyes but can’t seem to help the smile tugging at his lips. “Attitude, huh? Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you all.”

Jaz smirks. “Come on, give us your best diva strut, and don’t forget that arm movement I just showed you. Sharp and then smooth.”

Ethan tries to strut, exaggeratedly swinging his hips while trying to follow Jaz’s routine, and trips again, sending everyone into fits of laughter.

“Okay, maybe not that much attitude,” he says as he gets to his feet.

Jaz shakes her head, still smiling. “You’re doing great. Just keep moving!”

I lean in close to him. “I think you’ve got a new career ahead of you. Maybe a backup dancer for JLo?”

Ethan pauses, catching his breath. “I think I’ll stick to jumping out of planes. But hey, this is actually kinda fun.”

“And you’re getting better. Look at you, Mr. Boss Man. Getting out of your comfort zone. It’s nice not always being the one in charge, right?”

He gives me a sideways glance, his voice dry. “Who would’ve thought?”

As the class progresses, Ethan continues to improve. He’s still the worst in the room, but he’s having fun, and by the end of the class, he’s smiling and genuinely enjoying himself.

When Jaz calls it a night, we thank her and head out together. It’s dark outside, and we both wave and call out “Good night,” to a group who attended the dance class and are heading in the opposite direction.

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