Beating Him at His Own Game (Reece.)

[Charlie Becketh]

After showering and putting on a pair of black sports shorts, Charlie made her way into the frigid air. A parka was over her tall, slender frame as she made her way to ‘I Love Salsa’ dance studio, a simple white tank top on underneath. The girl had her hair up in a pony tail, which pulled the skin on her face back, making her eyes appear bigger as she passed other people by who were in a hurry to get out of the cold. It was Saturday and she didn’t have to be at work, so she decided to check out the club Reece ran and owned. It wouldn’t hurt to see how good everyone was.

Charlie walked into the studio with that air of confidence she always has. In her mind, she didn’t make mistakes and she never apologized. A small backpack was slung over her shoulder with laundry she needed to do later, like the bright yellow dress she had worn the nice before, and she also wanted to change into comfortable shoes if she was to be dancing. The winter boots she was wearing now were nice, but not very practical.

A familiar girl approached her then, looking a little hungover groggy. Charlie smirked and gave Lacey a small wave, who kept on doing warm up stretches. Anthony was here too, but there was no sign of Laker. The girl set her bag down near the door as she slipped off her boots and jacket, very aware of Anthony nudging Reece to point out who was here. He wasn’t exactly shy about embarrassing his boss.

Looking absolutely unfeminine as she put on her sneakers, Charlie walked over to Lacey and began silently doing stretches with her. Reece would have to say something at some point, she was sure of it.

[Reece Turner]

"It's not my fault he's being stuck up about something that happened way in the past..."
"while you were still dating. Anthony, you're such a moron."
Anthony's eyes flicked up from the glass he was cleaning with a cloth before their Saturday morning staff practice started. Reece had told Manny to stay home that day and while he'd have loved more practice with Aracelli he was certain that she had too much on her plate with finals coming up. Reece was on the other side of the bar trying hard to explain to Anthony that what he'd done to Laker was wrong.

Cheating on your significant other was bad bad bad. He'd seen what it had done to his mom and dad and he'd never allow for such a thing to happen with him and his S.O. ... well when he had one.
"I'd rather have done what I've done then tease Reece."
"What? What's that supposed to mean?"
Anthony put the glass down and moved round to Reece's side nudging him to look up at who had entered. Reece's blue eyes met those brown ones he'd become so familiar with.

Reece frowned deeply at the fact that she was there then frowned to his side at Anthony.
"Did you tell her where we are?"
"The place is popular and you're the one that teased her. You're single Reece. You're allowed to look AND touch now."
Anthony moved acrosss the dancefloor to the sound system pulling off his sweat shirt to reveal a tight white shirt underneath.

Reece watched him walk to the girl's side doing warm ups with them. Reece looked away, blew out a puff of air and slowly reached back to tie his hair with an arm band that had been around his wrist as he, dressed all in black, long tights, tank top, joined the rest of the group.
"Hey there Charlie was it... You know that lesson's only start at 7pm and mine's only on Fridays, Mondays and Wednesdays right?"
Reece said as kindly as he possibly could avoiding her eyes as he started going through the songs on the sound system.

"Oh, I told her you wouldn't charge her. That she was awesome enough to dance with the club."
Reece slowly turned when Lacey spoke and frowned at Lacey.
"Oh Right... Did you offer her a job here as well?"
"Yeah, Reece is right. we could do with a younger version of you here Lacey."
"Shut up..."
Anthony and Lacey smirked playfully at one another making Reece scowl.

"Okay, let's get started then... "
Reece headed toward Lacey but just as quickly, she'd gotten taken by Anthony so in slight embarressment he held his hand out to Charlie.
"Do you know how to Salsa? "
The music filled the air and Anthony and Lacey already began to move and dance and yank and pull and press against one another making Reece fight to ignore it.

[Charlie Becketh]

Charlie was bent cleanly in half, touching her toes as she warmed up her muscles. It didn’t take long for Anthony to join both her and Lacey, and that’s when she stood up to stretch out her arms. Reece didn’t look impressed, but Charlie glanced away from him before he joined the group. She looked at him again only when he was talking to her, but he wasn’t even looking back. What happened to the spicy man at the club last night? It made her feel like she wasn’t invited here after all.

“I can leave if you want,” she offered, but then Lacey spoke up, making Charlie smirk as she glanced to Reece for approval. She laughed at the group’s antics and raised her hands in surrender. “Look, guys, if it’s a problem I’ll leave,” she glanced at Lacey, ignoring Reece now, “wouldn’t want anyone to get fired, I’m not looking for a job.” Charlie crossed her arms in front of her then. She didn’t take offense easily, unless it was an outright insult. “I stand by what I said about that stick up your ass though,” she offered to Reece, looking past him instead of at him. What was he going to do, kick her out?

Agreeing to start, Charlie watched as Reece reached for Lacey and was subsequently beaten to the punch. The offered hand was awkward now, but the youngest of the four took the boy’s hand anyways. “More or less,” she said in reply, flashes of the other two dancing next to them in her peripheral vision. Ms. Becketh wasn’t trained professionally in dance, but she had taken a couple lessons once upon a time. Still, he had seen her dance, in fact danced with her just last night. What was his deal? Charlie kept her curiosity to herself as she wrapped her arms around Reece, looking at his neck instead of directly at him. He was the expert, right? The club was called ‘I Love Salsa’, surely he could fill in the gaps she was missing.

He would have to lead though, and the boy seemed completely not into her. A dance like salsa wouldn’t work if there was no chemistry. Charlie would have no problem leaving once the song was over if Reece couldn’t lighten up. He obviously had other things on his mind; he couldn’t even remember her name. Perhaps this whole thing had just been bad timing, but she didn’t want to make his day worse, even though it had only just begun.

[Reece Turner]

Reece took the thin, beautiful girl in his arms and began the dance like he would do with a new student. This was unknown territory for him. He had invited her, of course, but now suddenly she was part of his rather intimate dance group. It was like she had just jumped into his group and bam, she was accepted without him there to make the decision and he wasn't ready for letting someone new come this close to his personal life. It felt like an invasion and it surprised him. In the first place, she'd never come out to rejoin him last night after her bathroom disappearing act.

In the second place, it was early morning and people were already grouchy from what happened between Laker and Anthony. Reece frowned at those dark eyes dancing for a long moment with her before he decided to talk.
"I thought you lay me off. You never came out of the bathroom. I waited for a long while you know? Or was that just your idea of playing hard to get? It threw me for a loop."
Not that he was really interested in getting with anyone.

All he'd wanted was a dance partner after all and he'd found that last night in her and here she was, tight little form pressed against his, hips moving seductively making it hard for him to keep that disappointed frown between his blue eyes. Making it hard for him to look away from her even. The music kept them close, like it had the night before but his grip already began to tighten on her, because he feared she'd disappear again like the night before, the moment their dance came to an end and the music changed.

"And yet... here you are. You're in a pretty exclusive group right now. This is staff dancing and lucky for you, my regular dance partners aren't here."
Yup, Ex-girlfriend was studying and new waitress had been beat up by meta haters and had been told to rest it off. He would not go back on this one. She had to rest. Manny had to take it easy for a while and when he got his hands on the person who'd beat her up he'd make them believe he was removing their kidneys .... dressed as Jason X.

[Charlie Becketh]

The first steps were stiff but Charlie was getting the hang of it in no time, her hips swaying perfectly even though they were in sports shorts. She was aiming for comfort today, not after good looks. She was trying to learn something here, and she took pride in picking up technique. A nice dress was just the icing on the cake, which wouldn’t be good if you didn’t make the filling right. It took a while, but soon they were dancing, and with a bit of patience, Reece was talking. Rambling actually. Charlie raised an eyebrow. Where did all of this come from?

“Been thinking about me I see. As for last night, you were dancing with someone else when I came out, so I left, there was no one else worth dancing with and I didn’t feel like waiting,” she said, watching where she placed her feet and such, trying her best to follow him and talk at the same time. So, in other words, yes, she was trying to play hard to get. But she wasn’t interested in Reece that way either, not if he was busy with other things in his life. There was someone special in her life, but it wasn't official, and with he too, she was playing hard to get. It was just how Charlie operated. If she was worth it, she would be worth fighting for. Or in Spencer’s case, fighting with.

For someone who was trying to act aloof, he was sure holding her tight. Charlie was bold, and when she became stuck on the next move, she glanced to Lacey for help, and copied the move exactly. Soon she could turn and twist without help and was following Reece to a t. She spun and moved with him at just the right moments, making the practice hot despite how her clothing wasn’t. He was mesmerized once again, and Charlie smiled proudly which could have been taken for seducing. She was just happy to have caught on so quickly.

“I’m interested in what you have to offer,” she said cryptically, her force drawing him out of his thoughts and into the present. He was dancing with a beautiful girl, surely his bright beautiful eyes could see that. “I think you’re the lucky one,” she said, another hip sway in motion, “since without my being here, you wouldn’t have anyone to dance with.” Charlie didn’t know where to draw the line sometimes. She didn’t feel the need to respect Reece until he had proven himself. This club wasn’t worth a thing to her, the most he could do was kick her out. She smiled. Then he would be out of a partner for the day. Besides, she had been invited to this segment by Lacey, she didn’t come here to upset anyone - not that she wasn't having fun.

[Reece Turner]

Reece couldn’t help but smile softly, the moment she said that he was thinking about her. He considered it for a moment, his anger having disappeared as soon as it had come on then he nodded slowly, eyes twinkling at her.
”Quite possibly.”
He agreed to her hint about him thinking about her.

Yes, he’d thought about her. He was a free man now and was allowed to think about other women… or men, if their personalities captivated him enough and young beautiful Charlie was something to think about so he let his mind wander over her a couple of times during the sleepless hours of the night before. Reece gave a sigh and nodded.

That was a good excuse. A nice let down to have so he’d definitely take it on bored and remain single. He had not been dancing with anyone else last night. He knew she was lying to him but after known his mother for all his life, he could tell that Charlie meant ‘Okay, maybe I was leading you on but I rethought my actions and I reconsidered though… I’d love the free lessons.’

Reece licked at his lips and lead her into a quick turn then turned her out and pulled her back in.
”Hmmm. Thanks.”
He muttered softly to her taking it slow once again. She was quick on the uptake though so he was not about to give her free lessons if she wasn’t all that interested in him. He had enough girls trying that trick on him. He wasn’t in the mood for it anymore.

Reece quirked an eyebrow when she indirectly asked about what he had to offer and for a moment, he frowned at her. Boy, talk about mixed signals…Reece smirked just as smoothly and seductively as she’d been doing this whole time. If she wanted to play the mixed signals game then he’d give it a go.
”Oh, what I have to offer.. the best teacher in Pilot ridge. Though it will cost you…Gimme a second…”
Reece pulled from her right in the middle of a step and headed for the bar growling at himself.

He slipped behind and pulled out one of his pricelist fliers from the top of the fridge. Reece moved back to her and held it out to her. Reece put on his business smile, which was flirtatious, fun and sweet and slipped in beside her so he could show her the price list. He could feel looks of disappointment being shot his way but both Anthony and Lacey ought to know, he didn’t sleep around.

If she was interested in that then playing hot and cold would not work. Besides, he doubted right now that she was interested in anything but a booty call and he was not the type. She’d be better off with Anthony it seemed, if she wanted that. He liked the idea of romancing a girl. He liked the idea of a softness, of blushing, of just the right amount of being forward.

He pointed to the sessions he had on offer.
”Now we have a special offer on until Feb. Six month for 15 per session instead of 20. That’s groups though. Private lessons are just a tad more expensive.”
There, how was that for aloof. He felt strangely accomplished after doing that to her. His head tilted at her and he held his closed fist before him.
”And… I would have been fine without you, Charlie. ”
As he opened his palm a bright red rose bloomed to life in his palm sparkling like it had been dusted with glitter to make it bloom from a bud to a fully blossomed red rose.
”The only thing you brought today, was beauty so thank you. Normally the only beauty we have between the beasts is of course Lacey or Emmanuelle.”

[Charlie Becketh]

Charlie liked to think she was very good at perceiving emotions through how people acted and body language. As soon as she mentioned his thinking about her, he lightened up, and she smiled as he tried to play innocent. “I wouldn’t blame you, the dancing was amazing,” she admitted, not being a complete ass about his attraction to her. It was hard not to be when dancing was involved.

She wasn’t here for the free lessons though, she was here to check him out. Charlie just wasn’t very good at verbally flirting, not purposefully anyways.

The mixed signals game was her favourite game to play – it kept people on their toes, with no one having the upper hand, and like dancing, it took skill. Charlie didn’t like being around idiots who couldn’t keep up with her, and so far, Reese was doing a damn good job of keeping up and holding his own.

Then he pulled away from her completely, leaving her dumbfounded. Perhaps it was he who had the upper hand. “Cost me?” She asked to no one, since no one was standing there with her. As Reece made his way to the bar in a huff, Charlie had to wonder if this was how he felt when she ditched him at the club. It didn’t feel good. If there was something she didn’t quite have a grasp on, it was humility. She made a mental note to apologize to him, whether she would remember to do so or not, was another story.

Whatever signals he was getting from her though, were all wrong. He wasn’t just a booty call to her, but if he felt that way perhaps he had been used a few too many times. Charlie made her way to the bar and when presented with the pricelist, she looked it over without actually reading. So he didn’t really like her, not that much anyways. Did he expect her to come by like this every week or something? She wasn’t a user. Charlie wasn’t opposed to romance, but she needed a man too, in every sense of the word, perhaps why she was interested in Spencer.

It was clear he didn’t want her here, and she had to hold her tongue and respect that. He wasn’t a push over she could boss around, not that she really wanted to any more. There was flirting and pushy, and then there was just plain being an asshole. She folded the paper in half and left it on the bar, looking at him straight in the eye, “Thank you for the dance,” she said, deciding to bow out of this fight, “but I can’t afford the classes.” There was that humility that came with being of a lower class. She glanced down at the rose and smiled softly, it was beautiful. She could be soft, like she was now, but admitting to it was hard for the girl.

With that, she stood and made her way to the exit, changing out of her shoes as the other dancers went to speak to Reece. She hadn’t meant any harm, she had only been curious to see how he danced, and he didn’t give that to her. He might have been fine without her, but hadn’t it been better with her? Charlie slipped on her jacket and grabbed her duffle bag about to leave.

[Reece Turner]

Reece's eyes met those stunning black ones when she looked back at him and her whole body changed. Something he'd done, hit a chord then? He was really surprised to see the disappointment in her eyes and it made him wince ever so slightly. Damn. He'd done it. Somehow he'd gotten through to her. He wasn't to be played. He wasn't just some guy. He was something that could be good for her and this treating like trash thing, would not work for him. He'd wanted to make her see that and maybe he just did. He was good at being hurt.

Becca did it enough and this girl reminded him of Becca playing the unobtainable beauty. Didn't she know that he was just as unobtainable too? That he knew what it felt like to have that interest and have the choice whether to dismiss it to play with it? Didn't she get that he was her only the total opposite of her? Becca had at least taught him one thing. How to fight fight with fire. He was good at it as well now, under Becca's hands. He'd learned how to be just as abrassive as Becca was to him. Just as smooth with his words to make them seem cold.

Just as innocently cruel with his actions so when he found that the girl he was being so cruel to now seemed hurt, he felt regretful for what he'd done. She headed to get her shoes and his gang headed over to him. He dodged them though and followed her to the door grabbing her hand before she left.
"I'm sorry. I'm just... you're confusing the hell out of me. I don't know what you're expecting. "
Reece paused and fixed his eyes on the wall behind her for a while feeling two sets of eyes on them. His lips pursed in a soft of smile then he glanced over his shoulder to the two interested parties.

"What are you standing around for? You came her to practice your routine for new years? Step to it. This isn't daytime TV."
Reece watched Anthony and Lacey smirk at him before reluctantly moving to their places to dance so Reece could return his attention to Charlie. His thumb brushed lightly across her hand.
"I don't remember what your stand is on drugs or anything but I could really use a smoke right about now... did you wanna join me for a chat?"

Reece nodded toward the back room where his office was and waited for her to take this one last chance. It was on and off and on and off. He felt dizzy from the ride she'd put him on already. What was next? He had a funny feeling she did stuff like this for the kicks. That was a slight bit annoying but maybe if he just pretended they were friends. Maybe if he didn't flirt with her when she flirted with him things would go smoother. He wouldn't feel shot down when she turned cold so soon after she was hot.

"If I let you walk out, I have a feeling I'm gonna think about you a hell of a lot more then I already did last night but if I let you dance here, I might find a way for you to pay me back eventually in some other way...SOOOOOO many ways."
He said teasingly with a smile.

[Charlie Becketh]

Charlie felt a little like wanting to disappear into thin air as she made her way to the door, letting her hair come out of its ponytail. This was why she didn’t like getting close to people, why she kept them at arm’s length, and didn’t allow herself to really get to anyone. She treated people like the dirt under her feet and she knew that, but for some reason that didn’t stop her from being as hard as the skin she was in. Something about Reece, he had bypassed all that because he had been dancing, and it was beautiful and mesmerizing and something she wasn’t used to. He also had stood up to her, which forced her to change, and she didn’t like it.

She wasn’t Becca, she wasn’t all game without any heart, because in order to win, you needed heart. Charlie was passionate about a lot of things, and sometimes that got in the way of her better judgement. She was honestly hurt, they weren’t playing the same game anymore, and frankly, she was tired of playing, she just didn’t know how else to go about life. The reason she mastered in taekwondo was to defend herself and those she loved, but defence never taught her how to let some people, good people, in.

Reece’s hand captured hers and she was a little baffled. He had won, wasn’t that what he wanted? She hadn’t beaten him at anything, so she slipped her hand out of his and looked at him incredulously. Charlie agreed with him, she was being confusing, but that was sort of the point. She smirked softly at how he treated his crew, and then he tried talking to her again. This guy definitely had a set, at least that much was establish. “I just wanted to dance,” she said, before nodding once to join him for a smoke. She wouldn’t participate, but she didn’t exactly object either. “That’s because I never told you,” Charlie was as quick as a whip. She left her bag inside and followed him, ignoring the looks from the other two.

Dancing and fighting made her happy, maybe that was why he found her so confusing. Had he run into her at her full-time job, he wouldn’t have paid her a second glance. Charlie was an impenetrable rock, and she was here to prove something, she just didn’t know what. She raised an eyebrow at the boy – he was flirting with her again was he? Wasn’t he trying to stop that?

“Seems like you have a lot of bad habits,” she pointed out, standing next to him while looking at him slightly. He was still playing games. “Sounds like you’re thinking about me either way,” she said. “I don’t want to dance here, I just came out of curiosity,” she said, her brown hair framing her face. Charlie laughed bitterly, watching him carefully, “And you think I’m confusing.” It sounded like he wanted her to stay, if she had heard correctly. Then what was that stunt with the classes and what not? It would be too easy to ask what kind of ‘payment’ options he had in mind, it was too obvious.

[Reece Turner]

Reece sighed when she said she just wanted to dance. Oh God. He was such a soft touch. Damn. He remembered the days when he'd walked into that salsa club and that had been all he'd wanted to do instead of the stiff ballet forms he'd been forced to do by his mother. The just so dancing versus the smooth motions of salsa. He knew what it felt like and he couldn't possibly deny her the chance to feel that freedom. She needed that freedom as much as he did and he could understand it. He wouldn't deny her that.

He nodded when she said she had just wanted to dance.
"Okay. Then we'll dance. When ever you feel like dancing..."
He lead her past the bar picking up the pamphlet again and holding it to her as he lead her to the back room where he usually allowed himself to chill.
"My number is in there. You just have to call and we can dance. I might teach you a thing or two as well."

He smiled at her when she said she never told him what her stand was on recreational drugs.
"Well you never told me a lot of things and look where it got us. We should try and work on that right?"
He smirked at her as they slipped behind the curtain and into the darkness. Bad habits? He considered that for a moment as he opened his office door and flicked on the light slipping across the floor to pull open his desk drawer.

"I have a few that are good, a few that are bad and a few that are inbetween but don't we all have bad habits? "
Reece sat down on the edge of his desk having pulled out a joint making sure to roll it nice and tight as he listened to her mention about him thinking a lot.
"Where would you like to dance and up until about ten minutes ago the thoughts I had about you were of something more then what it is. It was my mistake. You're a pretty girl. It was easy to have those thoughts."

He didn't look her way when he spoke about what he was thinking and how he was thinking. He lit up and took a deep breath letting it out slowly before continueing.
"I need lines and boundries and rules and order...."
His eyes flicked to her.
"I'm a hell of a weird guy but I'm worth knowing."
Reece visibly relaxed and reached over to push out a chair for her to sit.

"Sit down. Relax and tell me, Charlie, is your curiosity satisfied and if not, how do we achieve that then?"
Reece flicked his eye up teasingly before taking another drag slipping deeper and deeper into the lazily relaxed state he always got when he had a joint in his hand. He never did it on a constant basis. Just when he felt like he was going to make the world around him melt and burst butterflies from his chest. In other words, when he felt annoyed.

[Charlie Becketh]

Charlie held the boy’s eyes and wondered what he was thinking about when she said she just wanted to dance. It wasn’t her strong suit, she just wanted to try something different, something a little more fluid than what she was used to. Had he caught her? “What?” She tried interrupting his thoughts, “Am I that much of an amateur?” She asked, concern in her voice. Hadn’t he said she was pretty good? Had he been lying?

Looking over the pamphlet, she mulled it all over. “Look, you don’t have to feel sorry for me, I don’t want to waste your time,” she said, being honest. If anyone could take a hit, it was Charlie. But he was so damn insistent on dancing with her. Maybe she was good after all? “We could meet whenever I don’t work and it suits you, you have classes to give, your girlfriend, I understand,” she said, looking over the pamphlet again. Classes really weren’t that much if she had decided to pay for them.

What exactly was he talking about though? Was he trying to ask her out? Charlie smiled softly – she didn’t need help with her communication skills, thank you very much. “Would I have to pay for that too?” She asked, in reference to his wanting to get to know her better, in a completely monotone voice. She was joking now, hopefully he caught on.

“Yes,” she said in response to bad habits. Some of hers included falling for the wrong guys, being too protective, and often too loyal, even to those who treated her badly. Substance abuse though? That wasn’t on her list. He was pretty stupid to be whipping that stuff right out in front of her, but it wasn’t her business to tell anyone so long as he wasn’t hurting anybody. Then she would really have a problem with it. Yet if he could cast illusions, why the need for narcotics?

It wouldn’t be the first time someone had those thoughts about her. Charlie took the seat and crossed her legs in front of her. “I never said you weren’t,” she said with a shrug. Reece was definitely complicated, intricate – most artists were. She smiled broadly then, reiterating something he said only moments before, “Aren’t we all a little weird?”

A little angel poked at her brain, and she sighed. “I want to apologize for ditching you at the club,” Charlie didn’t break eye contact, “that was a bitchy thing to do.” She hated apologizing, she hated saying sorry. But getting to know someone a little better, helped her to feel something for them, feel bad about mistreating them. It didn't feel good to be left just hanging there.

She went over his list again in her mind: lines, boundaries, rules, and order. Charlie sat back a little and surveyed him. “Yes my curiosity is satisfied. You’re a great dancer and very interesting to say the least,” she leaned forward, as though about to put a business proposal on the table, “but what about passion, spontaneity, and you obviously know about breaking the rules.” She gestured towards his joint and smiled in satisfaction. Truth was, she didn’t know where this was going, but did she really need to?

[Reece Turner]

Reece couldn't help but chuckle at her exclaimation of being that much of an amatuer and he shook his head.
"Nope. I'm just aware that this place is heaven on earth and I am the God of dance so I'm allowing all the prettiest angels to be part of my crew."
Reece teased playfully glancing to the side where she was.
"You are pretty good but pretty good comes from the passion for perfection. You have that. That's why you are pretty good. "

Reece shot his eyes at Charlie when she said he had a girlfriend and classes.
"Really? I was aware of having classes but not a girlfriend. Hmm you learn something new about yourself every day don't ya?"
Unless the other two have been spreading rumors about him again. He didn't like that thought and didn't appreciate it one little bit. Reece smirked back at her when she mentioned having to pay for his time. He put on his serious face, crystal blue eyes widening immensely before he inclined his head at her.

"Sweetheart...? You will be paying. I might not seem it but I need loads of attention, a good dance partner and the best conversation with a hint of sarcasm within each word. Hmmm just the way I like it."
Reece joked back shooting her a similarly soft smile. He was glad his little speech didn't scare her off. He hated those little speeches. 'Well, you know. I'm just a little bit like this. A little bit like that and something totally special.'

But he was something else, that was for sure. Where could you meet a romantic dancer that could make your dreams come true then turn around the next day to say... 'Listen princess. I think we need space because you slept over more then four nights in a row and I'm feeling uneasy but see if you went home straight afterward then things would be okay. We'd just be dating and NOT getting serious.' A guy like Reece was supposed to be perfect sof the strong girls that felt attraction to him. Manny, Aracelli... all strong girls.

Well, the only person that was not strong and attracted to him was Thyme.... Ty was just too ditsy sometimes to be anything but comical. Reece's dulled blue eyes flicked to meet hers when she said she was sorry for ditching him and he shrugged then gave a little laugh.
"Don't sweat it. It was a first for me. I'm the one doing the ditching most of the time..."
He spilled the words without caution to his voice. He was too relaxed to care about pretences now. Pft, let the world think what it wants.

Reece frowned when she asked him about spontaneous and everything else. He then smirked and shook his head.
"Oh I can be all those things. I meant in my relationships. Blurred lines are not good for me. It has to be either one way or the other. I start running if it's not. Weird isn't it? See, I can be totally spontaneous and I'm always passionate... Haven't you noticed? I have a whole salsa club."
He assured her nodding slowly.

[Charlie Becketh]

Wow, Charlie thought to herself as she heard what he had to say. He pretty much hit the nail on the head with her being a perfectionist. She smirked at his flirting and was rendered speechless. As far as she was concerned, he could be god of his little club ‘til his heart’s content. He was also completely entranced by her beauty, and she tucked that away into the back of her mind. “Well thank you, I don’t try anything unless I’m prepared to do my best,” she said.

Her broad lips twitched up into a sort of smile before fading. Now she knew he was single without really having to ask. Perfect. If all he wanted was attention and conversation, she could do that. But it really did depend on what the context was: friends? More than friends? Something else she hadn’t thought of that this drug user was fond of? He also needed a dance partner, and she wasn’t totally sure what that meant either. Would she be paying for dancing, by dancing? That didn’t make much sense, but she didn’t ask. She wanted to wait and see what else he had in mind.

He was the one that ditched others most of the time. What respect she had for him was dwindling away. At least she felt remorse, he was willing to carry on with his actions without learning a damn thing. “Okay,” she said, trying to make sense of this man, “so you like shape to some parts of your life while others can shape themselves.” In other words, he liked to be in control of his relationships. Charlie could understand that, and even see a bit of herself in those words. And also like Reece, she didn’t want anything serious, but if it wasn’t serious, it wasn’t much of anything and therefore a waste of her time.

“So you need a dance partner? Or what’s the point of all this?” She asked then. If Reece thought she was a one night stand or anything of that sort, he had another thing coming. Lovers were in short supply for the girl, mostly because she couldn’t feel a thing from them.

[Reece Turner]

Charlie was a little vain. She handled her compliments very very well but what had his mother always said about people who seemed overly confident? That they were hiding how unconfident they were. Poor girl reminded him of Becca a little too much. Which was weird because he'd wanted her close in that club at one point. This tension between them was both infuriating and exciting at the same time which made it strange for him. Normally he had control over things like this but with her it was weird and awkward.

The topic turned to control and Reece gave a heavy sigh. Urgh. His sore point in life. Relationships scared the hell out of him. That was the honest truth but he'd already mentioned as much by telling her that he ran from his relationships most of the time and anything that came close to chipping at his walls. At one point she had nearly chipped at his walls but he'd launched his perfect counterattack and he'd gotten to her before she'd gotten to him. He was safe.

Reece had the idea that no one could get to him. He was safe behind his walls.
"Well, I think you're fun to dance with and you can learn some things from me right? I like teaching only, sometimes my staff let me down and for whatever reason I could use a number to call when and IF any of my girls don't show for a certain event or a class or something. In return I can teach you how to Salsa, Merengue, Tango and whatever else you wanna learn really. What do you say?"

He took his last drag and killed the joint in an ashtray on the far corner of his desk then turned his attention to her waiting for her yes or no. Which ever she'd choose, he'd accept it and move on. He was so not gonna force her to do anything...

[Charlie Becketh]

Walls weren’t the issue, walls were meant to be torn down. Reece had broken through a smidge and they both knew it. Only those with walls could see the others around them. Charlie smiled a bit, her real smile, it wasn’t forced or put on or meant to evoke emotion, it just happened. “Causal staff,” she said, reframing his words, “sounds good.” She wasn’t sure if they were meant to shake on it, or what happened next, so she decided to leave it at that. Things between them had been strange enough. This was a totally different feel than what happened at the club.

“I’ll leave you my number and we’ll go from there,” she said, taking a pen and paper from his desk and writing down her cell phone number in his fast chicken scratch. Charlie glanced up from the paper, watched Reece for only a moment, before standing up. “And don’t get any moronic ideas, that number is not to be abused,” her eyes darkened – and neither was she.

She had to go to work now, but she didn’t have to explain that to Reece. “See you later,” she decided to say before leaving his office. At least that hadn’t been a total let down, and she was excited to see Reece again and dance with him. He was a good teacher, and she was eager to learn. Their time wouldn’t be wasted.