When the Rhumba Rhythm starts to play(*Josh)

[Eve Mallory]

"Dance with me, make me sway, Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more..." Eve hmmed as she practiced dancing in the common room that evening. Everyone else was in bed so it was safe for her to do so. She knew how to dance. Everything from Ballet to the waltz but then again she had always loved dancing. It was strange for a girl who didn't like to be in front of people she had a beautiful voice, a talent for dancing and was masterful with a pencil or paints.

Even so, she wasn't taking any chances with her "mastery" she wanted to practice dancing for Josh. Well to be honest, she was practicing dancing in anticipation to dancing with Josh, as if it were a dream about to come true she hugged herself and moved about the common room on a cloud, dancing alone with no clue that she was being watched.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh sat on his bed finishing up a bit of homework. After that, he thought about walking down to the common room for a bit and stay down there until he became sleepy.

Once he finished, he put away his things and slid on a pair of socks as he headed down the cold stone stairs to the common room. His trip down the stairs stopped just as he got to the bottom because he heard someone singing and saw them dancing around. Josh was familiar with that voice and knew who it was. A smile set itself across his face and he leaned against the wall casually in his pajamas as he watched Eve. There was no sense in disturbing her as she seemed to be having fun.

[Eve Mallory]

Soon enough however, Eve noticed him on her own. She didn't see him, but rather felt him in the room she paused and felt herself shift until he was behind her then with sudden force she spun around and saw him. Her heart stopped for one brief moment as she took him in, "Hi.."

[Josh Jordan]

He was still standing there as Eve danced around. His amused look was still on his face as he crossed his arms.

When Eve turned around, his smile grew. "Hi," he answered back. Josh took a few steps closer to her. He loved it whenever Eve wore her hair down. "Didn't mean to disturb you," Josh said. "Please, continue with whatever you were doing. I'll act like I'm not even here. Unless of course you want me to. Then I could just step in and twirl you around myself."

[Eve Mallory]

Eve smiled then, she was blushing already but now there was a smile as well, she held her hand out to him, "Dance with me." she beckoned with a grin standing there in her pajamas which he had seen a million times. There was nothing baggy or over done about the simple tanktop and billowy bottoms but the bunny slippers were most amusing.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh chuckled as he finally noticed her slippers. "Nice slippers," he commeted as he took her hand and placed his other on her lower back. He didn't really care what Eve wore, but he had to say that his most favorite thing to see her in was clothes that were not baggy. Josh didn't see what Eve thought she had to hide underneath the baggy things she wore. The baggy clothes made her appear smaller than what she really was.

He moved with her slowly around the room. "So, what caused you to come down to the common room so late and just start dancing?"

[Eve Mallory]

She turned even redder when he mentioned her slippers and she lowered her eyes with a smile, then answered him ,"Just practicing...for you know the dance." she said stepping into his frame as he put his arms around her.

[Josh Jordan]

"I'll let you in on a little secret, I haven't really practiced for it. I was actually just going to wing it, but you're out here practicing now so I suppose I'll just practice with you. Although, I promise to find some kind of amazing dancing skill and pull it off at the dance. I'll talk to Lance about it. I'm sure that we could come up with something." Josh laughed and continued to move with Eve across the Common Room floor.

[Eve Mallory]

She shook her head at him, "I think we move together perfectly Mr. Jordan." she told him relaxing a bit more in his arms, she liked being in his arms, liked it a little too much she knew, but it couldn't hurt...not yet anyway. "You don't have to practice Josh...I'm just happy to be going with you in the first place."

[Josh Jordan]

"That's only because we know each other so well Ms. Mallory. I think sometimes you can predict what I'm about to do," Josh said grinning. "Besides, I do have to practice a little because I want to look like I at least partially know what I'm doing. And, I want you to have a lot of fun. It wouldn't be any fun if I stepped all over your toes."

Josh spun Eve around carefully. "Being able to do this, without causing any kind of pain, is a lot more fun, don't you think?"

[Eve Mallory]

She spun around and came back to his arms her eyes soft with wonder, "It'd be worth all pain." she whispered looking up at him then stopped whatever formal dancing they were doing to lay her head against his chest and put her arms around his neck, she was in her favorite place in all the world. His arms.

"I think the dance is going to be wonderful."

[Josh Jordan]

"Maybe so, but I you might not say that the next morning." Josh grinned at Eve again. He would do anything that she asked him to do, no matter how crazy it was with the exception of leaving her. He couldn't do that, no matter how many times she would ask, however he didn't think that she would be asking him that anytime which was a relief.

Josh let his hands fall to her mid back as she put her head on his chest and her arms around his neck. "Of course it is," he replied. At the moment, he felt that they were a little more than friends, yet not quite dating. Things had always seemed that way, but now it seemed that way more than ever.

"And we'll have fun all night long and dance the night away."

[Eve Mallory]

"That will be...perfect." she whispered dropping her arms just against his chest and leaning her insignificant weight on him.

A song's length of dancing quietly and slowly she was in a languid state. There wasn't words necessary between the two of them, she had never needed to say anything but rather he always understood.

This middle state however was driving her crazy where did they stand in their relationship? After that kiss, now the dance...

[Josh Jordan]

Josh just held Eve against him as they swayed together. There wasn't anything that could break him from her at the moment. The image of them dancing together at the dance came into his mind. Eve dressed elegently, and him in his dress robes, moving along the dance floor together to the beat of the music. Josh could imagine himself leaning down and kissing her in front of everyone. Of course then, he would make sure that she knew that he cared about her deeply and wanted to be more than just friends. If she didn't feel the same way, then that would be alright. At least she would know how he felt, although Josh thought that Eve may have already had an idea of it.

"The dance can't come quick enough," he barely whispered more to himself. He wasn't sure if she heard him or not, but he didn't care.

[Eve Mallory]

They had talked about forever for so long it had become natural for her to dream that way. She thought about this dance now, then when they would dance at the Yule ball...but then again perhaps another dance...in the future of course. She turned and tilted her head upwards to look at his features, so very beloved. Even though he and Lance were identical twins it didn't matter Eve knew. Eve knew him without even seeing him, she could sense him. She always would be able to sense him, she would always love him. She would always want to dance with him, would he feel the same? Did he want to dance with her for the rest of their lives?

She smiled the light reaching her eyes, it didn't matter if he wanted just now, or forever, or even not at all, because for the moment she was in his arms, no wrong or harm could come to her.

"We don't need a formal ball to dance with one another Josh." she said lightly as if offering to dance with him whenever he wanted to dance.

[Josh Jordan]

He smiled and he could dance with her forever. When she looked up at him, his smile widened. Josh would never get tired of looking at Eve. It didn't matter what day it was or the time, he would stop whatever he was doing and do whatever he asked.

"Of course we don't," he said. "So, if I feel like dancing in the middle of the hall when everyone else there, you wouldn't mind dancing with me?"

[Eve Mallory]

She blushed at the thought, no she wouldn't mind at all she might get embarrassed but really she didn't even think she'd get embarrassed if he was there to dance with her the rest of the world would probably just fade away, it sounded nice."Even in front of everyone." she affirmed with a smile.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh laughed quietly. "Excellent," he replied. "I will enjoy dancing with you in front of everyone then. I'm not quite sure when I'll do it, but I'll make sure that it'll be a surprise." Josh grinned and tightened his hold of her. If he could have brought her any closer, he would have.

"You know, dancing with you has been the highlight of my day."

[Eve Mallory]

"Being with you is always the highlight of my day." she said a little breathlessly since he had pulled her close to him, she was also trapped in his eyes and didn't think about what she was saying, what she was *really* saying anyway. She just kept her eyes on his and moved with him around the room swaying perfectly in his arms.

[Josh Jordan]

His ears turned red at her comment. "Of course, its the same for me, but I mean that this time its been highlighted with all kinds of different colors." Josh had a shy look in his eye before they slowly went away. His eyes seemed to be searching hers for something. He wanted to lean down and kiss her again, it would have been the perfect moment for it, but Josh restrained himself.

Josh swayed with Eve and imagined them at the dance. It was going to be perfect and he knew that she would leave him more breathless than she ever had. He smiled and took her hand and took a step back from her, only to spin her around and pull her back to him. "I think that the dance will be perfect."