“Is everybody here?” Meredith asked us for the thousandth time.

“Yes” We all answered together in bored tone, just because we had answered that same question during the last 10 minutes.

“So…Well…I am going to tell you now so when you receive the proper notice you won’t have a heart attack.”she laughed and was interrupted by our oldest brother, Brian.

“Oh my God, Meredith! Are you pregnant? Congratulations!” he yelled with and affected voice.

“What? Where is your little boyfriend’s address? I need to cut his manhood out” James, our second oldest brother, said and everybody burst into laughter. Except Meredith and, of course, our cousin Joanne.

“No” Meri said firmly, trying to force a friendly smile “I’m not pregnant, and you aren’t going to cut anything out of anybody, James”, she said slightly irritated.

James kept on laughing and mom slapped him.

“Like I was saying and going directly to the point” she took a deep breath and completed “Tyler asked my hand in marriage and as he knows that you, daddy, are a bit old school, he is going to ask officially my hand here at a dinner, with family and friends, next month”, she finished her speech, probably tested million times. It was noticeable in her robotic voice.

“But why is he going to come here only next month, Meri?” daddy asked with a big smile on his face.

“He’s a bit busy working in his father’s company this month and he said he wants to set aside time to meet the whole family.” She couldn’t help but smile, certainly thinking how sweet her boyfriend is. She was anxious for sure.

“He is such a gentleman” mom rushed to hug her youngest daughter; probably she was very proud of her and the title that comes along ‘Mother-in-law of the next biggest businessman of England’

Pathetic, I know.

Tyler Richard. A stuck-up rich guy, snobby as hell, for sure, that found a partner, equally stuck-up and snobby as hell, to tie the knot. The difference between them is that Tyler has money to be snobby, Meredith don’t.

I have never seen a picture of this guy, let alone seeing him personally. Always that he came to visit us an ‘unfortunate event’ used to happen and I couldn’t make it.

“It seems that we’ll finally meet the Mr. ‘The world just orbits around me’ Jennifer whispered in my ear and I laughed.

Jennifer Campbell, my best friend (but you can read ‘sister’ instead). We possibly have been friends since maternity. She always tells me that if she was a man she would be my soul mate and then she would avoid all the wrong choices of boyfriends I had done in my life, but we’ll talk about this later on.

“If it was up to me up, I would jump off a cliff before that happened.” I said while we were walking to the line that was formed to congratulate Meredith. I don’t care if she has any consideration for me or not. I’m still her sister.

“Oh, come on, Jessie! You cannot avoid that one day you’ll have to meet him. He’s soon to be your brother-in-law.” Jen said pointing her finger at my face.

“I have nothing against him…I think” I pretended indifference and shrugged my shoulders “The thing is, I don’t think I will survive a dinner with these two self-centered.”

“Come on, it can’t be as bad as it sound. Besides, Daniel, Ryan and I are going to be here for you.” She said in a confident way.

“You don’t think is bad just because you’ve never had to listen one of their ‘one hour and a half of duration’ conversation, in your bedroom and on your own phone.”

“I bet that if envy could kill, somebody would be already gone, wouldn’t it Jessica? A calm and high-pitched (and smirking) voice joined the conversation. “Get over the fact that your youngest sister was able to get someone decent before you!”

“Besides everything that you are already, have you decided to be an inconvenient one too, Joanne?” Jennifer said smiling in a fake way, if there was anyone that didn’t know us, this person would thought that we were all best friends.

“Don’t try to steal your sister’s fiancé as you had tried to steal her ex-boyfriends” She said ignoring Jen’s question.

“I’ve never tried to steal anyone’s boyfriend, unlike you, ‘Jojo’” She was surprised but then she was with her ironic face again.

“Don’t call me Jojo. You know I hate it. But I’m not going to discuss who had done what with you, just stay away from Tyler, honey.” She pointed her finger in front of my face.

“You didn’t even need to ask, sweetheart…Jojo.” I blinked at her and walked towards Meredith.

Meredith is the little sister; she’s a year younger than I am. She always had the need of being better than I am, at everything: from gaining attention to getting boyfriends. I don’t even know why, she’s always been the best child, anyway.

We really used to get along when we were younger but since Joanne moved here (because her parents were always fighting and couldn’t raise a child properly) it has completely changed.

Meredith, however, isn’t that devil, she’s just a little stilted and spoiled by our mom, who thinks that her little daughter is a princess, saint and virgin.

Not anymore, mom.

“Hi…Jessie” Meredith said with a surprised/scared face when I got close to her.

“Hello, Meredith. You don’t need to be afraid of me, I’m your sister, not a cannibal and that’s why I won’t bite you while Joanne isn’t with you.- I joked and she gave me a relieved smile.

“Right…so you aren’t mad at me ,are you?” She asked me a little insecure.

“Who?Me? Should I?” I was very surprised with her question.

“Well...You know…I’m going to marry, I mean…you're older than me,you should wear mom’s wedding dress first and then give it to me, not the opposite.- she was nervous and blinking many times before looking at me.

The truth is that she's still that snobby and show-off girl that loves rivalry but she's also that innocent and fragile girl that I loved to be with when we were younger. The snobby Meredith only appears when Joanne is around. In this point, I conclude there was a lot of time I don't talk with Meredith without Joanne.

“Don't worry. I'm happier with you getting engaged than if it was me. Certainly, I will be more honoured if I wear that dress after you.”I truly smiled at her after years.” Oh, and congratulations. He's a lucky guy.”

She gave me the brightest smile and thanked me. And then ‘Jojo’ appeared.

“I was talking to Jessica ‘how to be a fine person while Tyler is here’” And there we go back to the ‘snobby one’.

I took a deep breath, rolled my eyes, Joanne gave me a false smile and I walked out of the room to wait for Jennifer in the garden.

After that we would have a walk with no destination. As usual.

Jennifer congratulated Meredith and said she got to pee, so I came back inside to eat an apple. However , I was interrupted.

“You will come , won't you? I mean…my engagement dinner.” Meri was holding my arm “You won't come up with stupid reason to not come,right?”

I didn't answer because I wasn't in the mood for this dinner.

“Well, you have one month to give me an answer,if you don't come I will suspend the dinner until you appear.” She let go of my arm and hugged me. I wouldn't hug back she was being real.

“Meredith, where are you?” I heard our mom shouting and then our hug was finished.

She smiled at me and reminded me “one month” and she ran into the living room.

This engagement is changing a lot of people. I could come to this dinner, who knows? Little did I know what could happen to me within one month.

Tyler’s P.O.V.

“Congratulations, master!”-Susie, my secretary, entered the room with a cupcake that had a little burning candle on it.

“Susie, today is not my birthday, and you must know it very well” I stood up and walked towards her, who had a big smile on her face.

“Of course I know it, boss, but I also know that a certain boss and friend of mine has just become engaged” Susie said still holding the cupcake while she was propping her glasses on her nose. Those glasses give everybody the impression that she is a serious person who uses the expression ‘to become engaged’.

“I’m ignoring your formality, so I would like you to ignore the need of calling me your ‘master’ or even ‘boss’. We have been friends since university, after all.” I gave her an impatient smile.

“Oh, I would never lose the chance of seeing you being taken by impatience” she handed me the cupcake “Bossy guy” she blinked funnily at me “Now, blow out this candle once for all, make a magic wish” she rolled her eyes “And eat up this cupcake at one go, because I still have to check your appointment schedule for today.

“You can go to check” I said trying to take the cupcake from her hands.

“Blow out this candle right in front of me, NOW.” She said between her teeth

“Okay, okay” I blew that thing (which was still in her hands) very fast because, you see, it’s not every day that Susie becomes angry.

“Great”- she finally gave me the cupcake, propped her glasses on her nose (again), dusted off her clothes and put her biggest smile on her face “Have a nice work, master”

She left the room and let me alone with that tasty cupcake, which now has my special attention.

*******

“Master? May I come in?” Susie put her head into my room.

“Sure, Susie” I said tired ignoring, as usual, the ‘master/boss’ thing.

She walked towards me and sat in the chair in front of me with an enviable tranquility (even a little bit annoying), took out her glasses and said:

“Anything you are doing, stop and pay attention to me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I took my eyes off the paperwork, which was in front of me, to turn my attention to her.

“Every day you’re getting more and more like your father, more serious, busier…”

“More boring” I said smiling and interrupting her.

“This is what you’re saying” she pointed at me with a naughty smile “What I’m trying to say is that you’re no longer the two months ago Tyler, let alone the Tyler that I’d met. Do you get what I mean?” she asked firmly “You’re not the naughty, rebel and light person anymore. It seems that you only live to work, work and work…come on.” She gestured.

“It happens, dear Susie, that I wasn’t soon to be married two months ago” I said in a monotonous voice tone. “And, yes, I have fun in my free time” I frowned displeased.

“Drinking beer while playing video games or watching adults channels isn’t exactly an idea of fun.” She raised an eyebrow “You are engaged and 24 years old, not an old guy, who only has adults channels and beer to satisfy yourself”

“Can you please leave my adults channels out of this? Thanks.” I said annoyed, but still comfortable talking with a friend, not a client, Meredith or my father, as usual.

“The point is: you need to relax.” She stood up and put her hand on her waist “Meredith intend to marry a nice 24 years old guy, not a tedious and charmless old man. She will dump you in 5 seconds.”

“Okay, okay, got it. Do you have any suggestion, Ms. Boucher?” That made her calm down and to sit again on the chair.

“Have you ever thought about giving dance a try?” she said in a ‘let’s-steal-the-answer-key’ tone.

I laughed at her question and she banged her fists on the table demanding attention.

“Is it a prank? Where are the cameras?” I asked incredulous.

“No, this is serious. The brother-in-law of a friend of mine was becoming like you” she provoked- “And after him had got into dance classes he seemed a 20 years old guy, not a 30 one.

I was looking at her, still waiting for her to tell it was a joke. However, it didn’t happen.

“Look, Susie” I said feeling a bit awkward. She was just trying to help, I know but… “I don’t think dance would solve my ‘problem’, that’s it. I don’t think dance has something to do with me, but thank you” I smiled sincerely.

“Argh! You’re so stubborn, Tyler.” She put her glasses on again and looked for a piece of paper in her skirt pocket. “If you change your mind, at least drop by the academy and participate of a trial class” she put flyer of a ‘London Dance Academy’ on my desk.

”Oh, and don’t forget to stop at a gas station to pump oil in your car on your way home, or you will go home on foot.” She said a little disappointed with me “I’m going home now.”

“Alright, thank you for the advice and have a good rest!” I organized the paperwork on my desk, while she was walking towards the door. “Susie” I said and she turned to me “Do you really think I’m charmless now?”

She gave an incredulous look, opened her mouth one or two times, but in the end she only smiled at me suggestively and got out of the room.

I stored the paperwork and finally prepared myself to go home

*******

“Damn it!” I banged my hands against the wheel after the car had stopped and turned off definitively. “This cannot be happening.”  I tried again once, twice, three times and nothing.

The car only turned on the on-board computer showing a “lack of oil in the engine. Please, refill to start the engine again” message.

Damn these technological cars. They could just notify that they were with lack of oil and continue working, until they finally break, but no, they have to stop. Now I’m in an unknown neighborhood, probably commercial (with lots of people, during the day, at least) with lots of thieves (during the night) at 8 p.m., awesome!

The only thing I am sure is that the only gas station near here is further away from my own apartment. Great!

Then, I grabbed my only and last hope: my cell phone. Now, guess… That’s it, ‘No Service’. Now it’s perfect.

I heard many people my age laughing out loud, coming from the subway on the other side of the avenue. They passed me and entered a building, which I only noticed in that moment.

“London Dance Academy” informed the red neon sign.

You must be kidding me. God must have a good sense of humour or Susie is a real bastard. I choose the second option.

“It won’t hurt, will it?” I sighed expressing my doubt. I checked my clothes that I had changed when I was leaving work: a dark pair of jeans, a sky blue polo shirt and sport shoes. That was enough for them to not recognise the ‘Richards’ heir.

Then I entered the building.

I climbed up the stairs, hearing immediately the sound of the ballroom dance song. For a moment, I really wanted to run. I’ve never cut a rug in dancing; I always try to win a girl before we get on the dance floor.

When I got on the top of the stairs, I could see through the mirror, many couples, young and elder ones all mixed up dancing under the instruction of an unhappy teacher, despite the fact, everybody was perfectly synchronized. She seemed to notice my presence, told the people to keep on dancing and came up to me.

“Hello, dear” she said changing her discontent expression as if I was a relative she haven’t seen in a while. “Did you come for a trial class?”

“No, I just…”

“Talk to Jessica, dear. She will help you with the class” she simply said “Jessica! JESSICA! We have new people here” she shouted and went back to the dance room exactly when the people were in the last sequences of steps.

“I am going, Jane” a female voice said, probably Jessica.

I walked slowly toward the voice, and I found a tall girl with an untangled, curly, and waist deep hair, whispering with a tall and strong guy, who had an incredulous and angry face. He seemed to be her boyfriend; otherwise, he wouldn’t be with his hand on her waist.

“I’ve just told you that I will talk to you later, Ryan.” She said removing his hand.

He gave her an arrogant smirk, nodded and walked toward the stairs. He passed me, looking at me from top to bottom.

She, in turn, turned to me, as if (I don’t know how) she knew I was there for a while. I didn’t even have time to feel embarrassed because of the shortness of breath that hit me as soon as I looked at her.

*****

Jessica’s P.O.V.

I already knew what that malicious and a little bit drunk face of Ryan meant. I wouldn’t go home until the next day.

I turned myself to attend the client that Jane asked me and, wow, I was a little surprised in noticing he was an elder one with a poor health, on the contrary, he was guy who has probably my age, and he seemed healthy enough, huh? God, forgive me.

 “Hello, I’m Jessica” I said analysing his wild hair (purposeful, perhaps), his deep green eyes and I extended my hand to greet him.

He somewhat woke from a trance, possibly thinking why I was much younger than he must have thought or something like that.

“Hm…I am… Jason. Jason Stanley.” He held my hand and gave me a shy smile.

“Jason, alright…so you, probably came here for a trial class” I analysed his clothes, which were suggesting that he appeared there by mistake. “I guess”

“Yeah, yes” he said in a hurry, making me discard my judgement, for a while.

“Break time! 10 minutes only!” Jane shouted, as usual, leaving the room.

“Well, this room is overcrowded, as you can see” I scratched my head “But you can always ask someone to take turns with you” I pointed at the exhausted girls that were drinking water.

“No way, sweetheart.” Jane scared me, coming from nowhere and put her hands on my shoulders. “You’re going to be his partner tonight. What’s your name, dear?” she said calmly.

“But Jane, I was going...”

“My name is Jason. Jason Stanley.” He answered Jane.

“Nice to meet you, James, I’m Jane…”

“Are you even listening to me?” I said a little bit angry.

“Of course I am.” She said like she was talking with a five years old girl. “You said that you were going to somewhere.” I looked at her with a questioning face, waiting for her to continue. “You were” she emphasised the word “You’re not going anywhere now and you’re gonna be Jack’s partner.” She pointed at Jason and smiled.

“It’s Jason, ma’am” he whispered.

“But…Jane…Ryan…You know what happens…” I gave up trying.

“He won’t do anything wrong. If he does I will root it out once for all” she hugged me.

I could be sure Jason was more lost than my phone in a ball pool.

“Now, choose your place in the room and ‘Vamos a bailar’.”

*****

Tyler’s P.O.V.

I didn’t understand anything they were talking about, to be honest.

After I’d got a few minutes into a trance, looking at Jessica, who, wow, was much younger than Jane (and I think that’s her name).

When she asked my name, I couldn’t simply say ‘I am Tyler Richards, nice to meet you’. I didn’t want any special treatment or benefits. I was lucky nobody recognised me yet.

No, I want and I will be a new person, different, less snobby (in Susie’s words). I would be Jason Stanley, and I’m hoping I won’t forget this name.

After, I’d apparently gained Jessica’s apathy towards me (because she had to stay and to be my partner) I prayed hard for not to be a revengeful person let alone a rancorous one.

Jessica, who was wearing a black off the shoulder blouse, with a grey top under, a black pair of leggings that had the academy logo, in her feet there were a pair of a Nike Air sneakers, which she replaced with low-heeled shoes and then she put an improvised skirt on.

“You could win the lottery, huh handsome one?” One of the girls Jessica waved before said.

I didn’t know what she meant and then her partner said with a smile:

“To have your first dance here with Jessica, you have to be extremely lucky.” He pointed his head at Jessica’s direction. “I, personally, just achieve this goal after I had been here for one year.” He said with a nostalgic face “I’m Mason and she’s Melissa” he pointed at the girl beside him. They extended their hands and I shook both.

“Good luck!” Melissa said with a large smile “I think we all will get along”

I only could remember Susie’s voice in my head telling me to sit down my ego when I talk about ‘common’ people because they are a million times worthier to talk with than the bastards that I know.

One more time, she is right.

Melissa pulled Mason, but he still whispered in a way only I was able to hear.

“Enjoy the dance and the dancer. It can be a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. Or not because you’re lucky as hell.” He blinked at me and Jessica stopped by my side dusting off her clothes.

Her perfume is addictive and astounding, for sure.

“Have you ever dance before, Mr. Stanley?”  she asked as if she was checking thing for a trip.

“Nope, it’s my first time and please just Jason.” I looked at her, who was facing the mirror like it was vital source “Aren’t you mad at me, are you?” I asked curious and anxious for an answer.

“Do I have reasons?” she said serious.

“Well, I don’t think so” I said in a low and hesitating voice.

“That’s what I thought” she sighed and finally looked back at me. Her eyes are even brighter from close up.

“I think you relaxed a lot, now you’re able to dance for more two hours nonstop, don’t you think?” Jane shouted from the middle of the room and the whole class, except for me, shouted a ‘yes” back.

“Is this serious?” I must admit I was scared.

“She’s just joking, soon you’ll be back to your previous destination, when, by mistake, you got here” she patted me on the back.

“Enough talking” Jane said and put a random song to play.

“Can I…?” I attempted to put my hand on her waist.

“If I would stop you, I would have already done it, Jason” she rolled her eyes.

I put my hand on her waist, still unsure of what to do, when she put her one hand on my shoulder and put the other hand in mine.

She noticed I wouldn’t know how to start; she started to lead the steps.

“I’m not here by mistake” I lied, getting the hang of the dance.

“Of course not!” she mocked. “Okay, let’s try something: you can keep on pretending you really believed that I’m not mad at you and I pretend that you’re here because you want, not because something unexpected came up.

“That’s fine, however…” I gently spun her and then pulled her to fall in my arms “You are mad at me. It’s a fact.” Therefore, I pulled her to a standing position again “But I expected to be here tonight”

“Yes, you can continue to fool yourself” she said and I spun her again in a way she was with her back to me.

“If there is any person who is mistaken, it’s you” I said in her ear and I turned her again to me.

“Are you sure this is the first time you do it?” she said surprised, changing the subject. Point for me.

“If you allow me, dancing with you is like I’ve been born to do this. The dancing only gets easier.” I smiled and she blushed.

“Thanks, I think. Let’s say it was a compliment, you aren’t trying to flirt with me, are you?” she raised an eyebrow.

“To be honest, no.” I pulled her as close as I could “But if it was the case, what would do about it?”

“Well… if it was the case” she emphasised the word with an ironic voice “I would love to frustrate your plans and to reveal you that I have a boyfriend, just to see your pretentious smile disappearing” she blinked at me and took a little step back “Exactly like it’s happening now. Don’t get me wrong.”