Nowhere Safe Page #3

down on this dance card

and at the end of

the evening the woman

would review who she danced

with and who she like the best.

Now, if you guys aren't

familiar, I would like to

introduce our new drama

teacher Ms. Johnson.

She's going to help demonstrate

these traditional dances

which we will then all learn.

Now I'm not talking about the

fast paced sweaty stuff

that you guys do today.

You know the...

What I'm talking

about is dancing.

Okay, so, with dancing there

was real communication.

There was no asking each

other out by texts

or poking each

other on Facebook.

It was just man and a woman,

face to face.

With dancing... dancing was the first time

that it allowed you to hold a woman's hand.

Like so...

Dancing allowed for intimate

closeness...

and private conversation.

Okay, everyone come on up here,

Now we're all going to try it.

You know, Mr. Carlisle, I can't really risk

injuring myself in the off season, so...

If you injure yourself doing

this then I'd highly

reconsider calling

yourself an athlete.

All right, come on

guys let's pair up.

Nick and Ashley, Max and Wei,

Brenna and Patrick.

Come on up.

All right, everyone ready?

Grab your partners like this.

And follow us.

Now back in civil war times

dancing was enjoyed by everyone.

It was a way to forget about the conflict

and the bloodshed for a little while.

Now if you attended a ball or a

dance you were expected to dance.

The whole point was to

socialize after all.

Are you dancing with me or

somebody else?

Jealous?

Don't flatter yourself.

Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

You just moved here right?

That's your question?

What makes you think

that you know me?

I don't. I know guys like you.

What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing. Can we just dance?

No. I want to know.

Okay, fine. I know you lame, self

centered guys who always have to be on top.

You can't go two seconds without

putting someone else down. And why?

Because in some perverse way it

makes you feel better.

I'm not all those things.

Fine, prove me wrong.

You know what? I don't have to

prove anything.

Especially not to

some loner girl.

You're right. Who

cares what I think?

And one, two, three, four...

one, two, three and four.

Very good guys.

Okay. Now look at your partner

and bow or curtsy. Milady...

Hi sweetie.

Hey.

How was the rest of your day?

Um, it was okay.

I had a kid cut himself on one

of the pages of the play.

Are you serious?

Bled a lot for a paper cut. I had

to send him to the school nurse.

What is this?

What?

It came here?

Well I changed our address

with the post office.

Yeah, but mom they could

track us here.

They can't.

Are your sure?

They won't track us here, okay?

They got what they wanted.

Sweetie... It's just junk.

Want to get take-out tonight?

Hey.

What? Are you following me now?

No.

Just saw you coming back here and I

thought I'd see what you were doing.

Just exploring. My old school

didn't have anything like this.

It's just an old building.

I mean, nobody really comes

back here anymore.

That's fine by me.

So... kind of a

loner, aren't you?

Does it really matter?

No.

I guess you probably don't have

a boyfriend though. Do you?

I'm sorry, how is that

any of your business?

I guess it's not. I was just...

because you said you...

Just stop.

Okay, fine. I was just trying

to be nice, or whatever.

Yeah, well you could use a

little more practice.

Why?

Why what?

Why are you being nice

all of a sudden?

Why does it matter to you now?

It doesn't.

Okay, um,

Everyone around here knows me.

But you don't.

So...?

Well, it's like one minute you're getting all

over my case and the next you're helping me.

Am I supposed to

apologize for that?

No. I just...

I don't get why you

did what you did.

Look, I helped you with your math

okay, it's not that big of a deal.

It is that big of a deal.

I mean, I wouldn't have helped.

Oh, I know.

I don't know... it was the

right thing to do.

Yeah... the right thing to do.

It doesn't really sound

like me does it?

You know, people can change.

Seriously? People can change?

Yes, seriously.

People can change.

You know Max, right?

Yeah. So?

Why aren't you nicer to him?

I'm plenty nice to Max.

Oh no you are not.

Okay, okay. Um...

Me and Max grew up together.

We were actually friends.

Then he started getting into all

this tech stuff and I don't know.

That's not really how I roll,

so, we drifted apart

I mean, it's like you said,

people change.

Yeah but there's a difference between

changing and changing for the better.

Well, that's it for today.

Uh, but I do have your

next assignment.

Now, here's what I

want you to do:

I want you to pick a place that

has history. Any place at all.

City hall, a museum,

a monument.

Go there and write about it

and what it means to you.

Um, how long does the paper

have to be?

Just two or three pages.

Ugh.

You can make it longer.

Yeah, right.

Due next week

Oh, sorry.

Go ahead.

Thanks.

I could have sworn my

keys were in my purse.

Did you check your

school stuff?

Yeah, I already did.

When did you see

them last?

Yesterday. I came home, put

my purse down...

And what did you do next?

Uh, what did I do? I...

I got something to drink,

I paid the rent,

made dinner.

Found them.

By the spaghetti sauce.

Of course. Any special requests?

Chips and cereal.

Of course. Okay.

Thanks mom.

Hi.

Hi. Um, Is Ashley here?

What are you doing here?

Um, I was just going to go do

that history assignment.

Have you started?

Um, no.

Well, I had a place if

you wanted to go.

Sounds good. Yeah, you should get out,

You should get out a little bit today.

Uh, I'll go get my shoes.

Was that Ms. Johnson?

Yeah.

So Ms. Johnson is your mom?

Yes. But, don't tell

anybody okay?

Okay.

Thanks.

So, Carrie didn't want to come?

No, she had other plans.

She won't mind?

No. I mean, it's not like this

is a date or anything.

It better not be.

This place is so cool.

You come here a lot?

It's the first time. I usually

just see the planes from the road.

It's the first place I thought of when

Mr. Carlisle gave us the assignment.

So, what's your story?

My story?

Yeah, I mean, I don't know

much about you.

Other than the fact that you're

kind of quiet.

At least until you get mad

anyway. Where did you move from?

Uh, a small town a

few hours away.

Did your mom or dad change jobs?

Not my dad.

So, with your mom.

What?

Your mom.

Taking over for the

drama teacher.

Oh, yeah.

That sucks.

Changing schools in the middle

of the year.

Do you miss your friends?

I'm adjusting.

It's cool.

My mom's grandpa flew

one of these.

Yeah?

Uh huh.

Uh, B-17.

Flying fortress.

World War One.

Wait, what?

World War two?

Uh, yeah, they didn't exactly have

planes like this in World War One.

Yeah, well history isn't

my best subject.

Did he ever see any action?

Yeah, he was flying over

Germany when he was fired on.

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