Woolfish

My story title came from a song. I’m drawing a blank who sang it though O.o. It belongs to the rightful owners!

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Chapter One: This Does Not Bode Well

“What are you doing here?” Vivian was astonished. Why was the golden boy and musician extraordinaire Caleb gracing his presence in the dance studio?

“Um,” Caleb wanted to ask the same question to himself. “I need your help.”

“On what?” She wrapped the towel she was drying herself with around her neck. The girl had to hear this.

“Well, I accidentally signed up for dance as my P.E.”

“No. Really?”

“Vivian, let me finish.”

“Well, I’m all ears.”

Vivian eyed the boy carefully. They weren’t exactly friends but the two of them are civil to one another when they pass each other in the halls. A simple wave, a nod, and a cordial smile were all the communication they did.

But now…

“Y’see…”

It looked like Caleb was about to ask for a huge favor.

“I’ve been told repeatedly that I have ‘no sense of rhythm’ by Professor Quodrado.”

“Oh, Mr. Q? Yeah, he’s a tough teacher.”

“Anyway, he told me if I don’t ‘shape up’, he’s going to fail me.”

“Uh huh… Not once you considered dropping his subject? Choosing another PE?”

“I can’t. Well, not now. It’s way too late in the semester.”

Truthfully, she still didn’t see where she would fit in all of this. Vivian clicked her tongue (a bad habit but it helped her think) and placed her hand on her hip, still looking closely at Caleb.

“Okay, so you’re stuck with it,” The boy groaned inwardly. He was convinced that Vivian was purposely making this very vexing for him. “Aaand, you need my help… why?”

“Geez, Vivian,” Caleb took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. “I thought that somehow you can… ‘Tutor’ me.”

“I don’t think having two left feet can be cured.” She said with a laugh. “Nice try.”

“Awww! Come on, Vivi!”

“Vivi? Okay, the cutesy nickname isn’t going to convince me.”

The boy was growing desperate. He was seriously considering going down on his knees and beg. No, grovel was the more appropriate word.

“Vivian, please!” Well, it couldn’t hurt to try his luck. “What do I need to do? Be a worm and grovel at your feet?”

“Err, it’s a start.”

“Bow? Offer a human sacrifice?”

“Caleb—“

“Wear a coconut bra, a grass skirt, and then do the hula?”

The girl threw her towel at the boy; chuckling while doing so. “If you’re going to do the last part, you wouldn’t be here at all.”

“Yeah, true… By the way, why did you throw your towel at me?”

“To shut you up.” Vivian yanked the towel back and hanged it over a nearby chair. “I don’t know… Besides academics, dance classes pretty much eat up my time.”

“Then… when you’re free?”

“I have to ‘tutor’ you on weekends?!” She pretended to gasp. “Caleb, you’re poking a hole in my social life.”

“Do you even have social life?”

She now acted that she was shot in the chest. “Ouch. That’s harsh.” Vivian flopped to the floor and imitated how cartoon characters feign death. “Tell my mother that I… left the stove open.”

“Vivian,” Caleb fought back a grin before grabbing both of her wrists and hoisted her off the floor. “I’m dead serious. I really, really need help.”

Vivian saw that his expression was earnest and sincere, much to her dismay. “Okay, okay,” she sighed. “Tell me the where and the when.”

“Finally!” He took out a scrap of paper from his jean pocket and took out a pen that was tucked inside to his shirt collar. “Here’s my cell phone number. I’ll send you a text message with the details.”

“Well, okay so—“

He slapped the paper into her hand and then mock saluted the girl. “It’s a date!”

“Caleb, no! It’s not a date!”

“I’ll see you Saturday!”

Once the boy was out of earshot, Vivian said to herself somberly, “This does not bode well…”