Strictly Love by Julia Williams

babysitter. At least she didn't have to put up with Charlie's ribbing tonight.
    ‘Right, first things first,’ said Isabella. ‘Have either of you done any dancing before?’
    ‘I can waltz after a fashion,’ said Katie, ‘and I know how to rumba. But it's been a long time.’
    ‘Me, I can't dance to save my life,’ admitted Emily cheerfully.
    ‘
Excelente
. We'll put you both in the beginners’ section for now. Katie, if you find it too easy there, we'll think of moving you on. Have you ever tried for any medals?’
    ‘Oh God no,’ said Katie. ‘I'm more of an amateur enthusiast.’
    ‘We cater for all sorts here,’ Isabella reassured them. ‘Though be warned, there are some who take it
very
seriously.’
    Having extricated their fee for the evening, Isabella bustled off to deal with some other new arrivals.
    The women sat down and looked around the room. Predictably, there were more women than men. The dearth of decent ones ensured they all at least had partners. The room was lined with women sitting alone.
    ‘Oh God,’ said Emily, ‘this feels like the school disco all over again. I am so going to feel like a wallflower tonight.’
    ‘You'll be fine,’ Katie assured her. ‘Though I'd be a bit cagey about what you tell people about yourself, if I were you. In my experience a lot of these things tend to be full of sad blokes on the pull.’
    ‘What, you mean like those two?’ Emily nodded towards the door where two men had just entered. One of them was rather plumpish and balding, though the other –
    ‘Actually, the one on the left looks quite dishy, don't you think?’ Katie nudged her friend. ‘If I wasn't married already, I wouldn't say no.’
    The one on the left was tall and dark, and looked ill at ease. Unlike his friend, who strutted confidently into the room and looked around him with a cheeky grin, eyeing up the talent. As if aware of the women's scrutiny he whispered to his friend then turned towards them and winked.
    Katie and Emily snorted into their hands.
    ‘I see what you mean,’ said Emily. ‘Right, my name is Amelia Earhart and I'm a pilot.’
    ‘Aren't you a bit lost, then?’ said Katie.
    ‘You're not the first to say so,’ Emily replied. ‘Come on, I think it's time we got going.’
    Isabella was busy rounding people up and organising them into groups. Katie and Emily followed her.
    ‘God, I hope I don't make too much of a fool of myself,’ said Emily. ‘I have a feeling I might regret this.’
    Mark had been having similar thoughts all day. He had very nearly cried off when he'd got home from a hideous day at work. Despite accepting his decision the previous week to pull out her tooth, Jasmine had put in a complaint to Head Office to say that not only was she unhappy with Mark's treatment, but he had been 'really brutal, know what I mean?’ It wasn't the first time she'd made a complaint, and as she didn't really have any grounds to do so, Mark was intending to ignore it, but it was tedious nonetheless and he could have done without it.
    However, Rob was having none of it when Mark tried to get out of going.
    ‘You're coming out tonight, and that's that,’ said Rob. ‘So quit moaning and get your coat.’
    Mark felt even more ill at ease when they walked through the door and saw the place was heaving with women, many of whom were dancing already. Rob had insisted Mark couldn't go in the jeans and trainers in which he felt comfortable, so he'd dug out a pair of smart trousers he barely ever wore and a pair of ancient brogues. Rob himself was dressed in black chinos, a dark blue shirt and tie, and black shoes with a Cuban heel. He had piled on the aftershave, evidently hoping to make a conquest. Mark looked around the room. There were hardly any other men there, so Rob wasn't likely to have much competition. But it made Markfeel more self-conscious than ever. He was going to stick out like a sore thumb.
    Rob had no such worries. He swaggered through the room,