Kelly learns feminine charm

“S-sorry. I’m just nervous.”

Tami rolled her eyes. “It’s a miracle you’re cute, because I think it’s the biggest reason you were accepted.”

“Come on, just do as I do.” Cherry smiled over to him, her hips flowing with each elegant step as though she’d simply moved that way since birth. The girl smiled as she lifted and lowered her arms with intent, as though following a beat nobody else could hear.

Granted, that made sense. She was a dancer after all. But while every shift and jingle of her bracelets sounded like she was making her own music, Kelly felt like every clink was just going to draw the suspicious glance that would out his lie completely.

Tami circled around him, tapping his hip and then right above his rear. “I’ll say you’re nervous. You move like a scarecrow. Loosen up. Sway in the wind.”

Cherry nodded, sweeping into his line of sight. “Be like water, cast away your inhibitions. Dance to have fun, and everyone else will too!”

By any gods that were listening, Kelly was embarrassed. Girls moved a certain way, and he wasn’t sure if he was even walking right let alone having to dance.

Loosen up? His sword instructor had once used that phrase. He’d been gripping the sword tightly, trying to perfectly replicate the example done at the lesson’s beginning.

“You’re too focused on doing it PERFECT. Simply do the motion, and improvement will follow.” His teacher’s words lingered even now.

Well, this was likely not what he meant, but the was a battle for his safety and finding a way to warm Lord Rosenburg, so he’d try it nonetheless.

Making an effort to simply follow the idea set forth by Cherry, Kelly tilted sideways, and took a step while letting his hips just…move as they wished.

“That’s it. Now, she’s getting warmed up.”

Kelly didn’t let the praise distract him. He had little clue what he was doing other than emulating Cherry.

“That’s it!” Cherry was suddenly in front of him with a smile. She posed with her hands, a foot positioned pointedly forward in a way that popped out her hip. “Mirror me, ok?

Kelly flushed a bit, getting into the same pose as best he could.