may-i-lead-this-dance/chapters/chapter-02.md

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title: Dance Lessons
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Dame Dorin's School of Dance was a small studio on the corner of Apple and Oak. It used to have a reputation of a great dance school but time and scandle had whittled away at its reputation until it was just another old building with too much paint and creaking floor. The lessons were still good and the price enough for Galadin's parents, so for the last month, he had been going once a week to learn the proper footing and hands of the dances at the presentation balls.

His mother stopped at the entrance. She looked up at a nearby clock tower and hissed between her teeth. "I'm late. Go inside and behave."

"Yes, mother."

She gave him a perfunctionary kiss on his cheek before crossing the street.

Galadin watched her until a trio of mechanical vechicles roared down the street, obscuring everything in a cloud of sharp-tasting steam. He turned and headed up the stairs.

"Gal! Wait for me!"

HHe turned as Kalir, one of his friends, bounded up the stairs. He wore a leather jacket with an embossed symbol of the Tarsan Navy. Unlike Galadin, Kalir had a letter of commission as a junior officer. As soon as the summer ended, he would be heading to the naval base a few leagues along the coast for at least ten years of service. Like all officiers, he was expected to bbe married before he gained more than a few ranks. The presenstaion balls wwere the perfect time to find a wife.

"How are you doing? Usually you beat me here."

"Well, I want to claim Missun's hand for practice."

Galadin shrugged. "You can dance with whoever you want."

"But she's the prettiest."

He couldn't explain that he had no interest in either of the girls that took classes at the same time. They were nice and friendly, but everyone was uncomfortable with their futures to be set at the balls, not in a dance hall.

"You can have Talin," Kalir said patted Galadin's shoulder. "She's pretty enough."

Kalir ran his hand through his thick hair and smiled. Galadin could see why both Missun and Talin acted more like a lady around him.

A surge of guilt rose inside Galadin and he looked away. He knew he was supposed to be flirting with the girls. He spent his time watching Talin instead and he knew that wasn't right. When his cheeks began to grow flushed, he cleared his throat to distract himself. "Usually you beat me here" before he realized he had already said that.

"I got distracted and almost forgot to show up." Kalir glanced over his shoulder as a second man started up the stairs.

The newcomer was just over six feet tall, despite hunching over and having his hands buried into a pair of plain functional trousers. He had a deep tan with just a hint of red, someone who had spent much of their days out in the open. He wasn't quite slender nor was he fat, just thick with the flex of muscles with every step he took to join them. He also wore a Navy jacket, though this one also had a First Lieutenant insigna.

Kalir twisted his face and gestured to the door. "Come on, we're late."

The other man chuckled and then gestured for Galadin to go ahead through the narrow door.

Galadin stared at him for a moment, a strange fluttering growing in his stomach. "Um, I'm Galadin."

"Benard, Kalir's older brother."

Kalir glared before storming inside.

Benard grinned. "I'm afraid my younger brother doesn't care for me. Don't take it personally. I think he doesn't want to be seen with me."

"Oh," Galadin said before he headed up the stairs. "Why?"

"Probably the same reason most of my famly hates me: I like men instead of women."

Galadin froze, his world spinning with his fingers only inches from the closing door. Like men? That was an option? Did he really mean like? As in attraction? Or just friendship like his two uncles?

Benard reached around Galadin and pulled open the door. "Here, let me."

Nervous, Galadin look at him. He didn't know what to do to calm his rapidly beating heart. He wanted to ask questions, starting with "why?"

The naval officer inclined his head and then smiled, his lips curling and drawing Galadin's attention. "Don't worry, it isn't contagious."

"No... I... I didn't think... sorry."

Benard gestured again. "Please, don't worry about it. Let's enjoy an afternoon of triping over our feet instead?"

"Okay," Galadin said in a distratcted voice. He felt hot and dizzy. His stomach fluttered as he dwelled over Benard's words. Like men?

Inside the studio, Dame Dorin paced back and forth. "Three? I can't work with three men. Where are the women?"

Kalir looked disappointed. He turned and peered out the window.

Dorin rolled her eyes. "They aren't coming, Besire Kalir. All three of them had a case of... bad food and are too sick to learn how to dance. Damn the Couple, I can't reschedule this."

Benard stepped up next to Galadin. His body heat washed over Galadin, sending little flutters from their closeness. "Then you be a partner."

She narrowed a glare at him. "I know of you."

He shrugged and smiled. "I earned this, Dame. You know that."

She stared at him for a moment. Galadin could see her resolve cracking.

"We can switch leads, its better than nothing. You and I trade places with the boys." He had a smirk that Galadin couldn't tear his eyes away from.

"That is improper."

"Blame me then. That's how I got here, isn't it? By the way, how are your brothers? I heard they just got out of hosptice."

She took a deep breath and let it out, her body shaking with the effort to calm down. When she spoke, her voice was calmer. "You don't have to remind me that earned that commission, Besire."

He inclined his head but said nothing.

Galadin frowned as he looked back and forth.

"Not more than a few minutes at a time, I don't want you giving them any foul ideas."

Kalir held up his hands. "I'm not dancing with my brother. I'm not the girl!"

She almost lost her temper. "Fine, you dance with me. You," she pointed at Benard, "start with Galadin and switch roles. I'll give direcitons to all three of you."

Galadin's heart beat faster. He turned to his new partner. His throat felt dry and constricted.

Benard smiled warmly and gave a little bow. His smile was hard to look away from. He seemed more comfortable with himself than anyone Galadin had known, as if he was exactly what he wanted to be.

Galadin felt a little jealousy. He didn't know why he felt wrong all the time.

"Now, the first dance we're going to do the Fox Square. Start with Galadin and Kalir in the lead. Lift your right hand up, palm up...."