Chapter 26 Going Home

Allie was totally trying to butter up Ellie. Knowing her, she figured Ellie wouldn't be down for a dress right off the bat, so she snagged some pants for her instead.

After Ellie slipped into them, Allie dragged her over to meet this chick in a shiny silver dance outfit. Then she knew that they had two teachers for the class, taking turns showing them the ropes.

Being a newbie, Ellie just got the basics and some do's and don'ts of Latin dance on day one. She practiced a few simple moves, nothing too crazy. Allie didn't bother dancing herself; she stuck around, practicing with Ellie and Ms. Isabella.

The first half hour was chill, but then Ellie started feeling the burn. Her legs and arms were aching, and her toes were killing her. Allie couldn't help but poke fun at her.

"Only half an hour and you're already wiped? You're just as out of shape as I was when I started," Allie teased, taking a few steps before spinning around and giving Ellie a playful wink. "Now, check me out."

Ellie couldn't help but laugh. She had to admit, Allie's posture had seriously improved since she started dancing. It wasn't super noticeable before, but now, in that dance getup, it was pretty obvious.
She was still mulling it over when she noticed Allie tilt her head slightly, her eyes drifting towards Isaac, who wasn't too far away. Clearly, those few steps Allie took weren't just for Ellie's benefit...

Speaking of Mr. Richardson, Ellie wondered if he was still hung up on that bus incident. When she showed up, he was already acting all reserved. On her first day, he didn't even come over or sneak a glance her way.

Ms. Isabella, noticing Ellie was tired, told her to take a breather. Then she clapped her hands and strolled over to Mr. Richardson, saying they were gonna put on a little show for the newbie.

Ellie grinned and headed to the rest area with the other two women, while Allie and the rest spread out around the dance floor. The music kicked in with a catchy beat, and it was Ellie's first time getting an up-close look at Latin dance.

Man, Ms. Isabella and Mr. Richardson had some serious chemistry. Their moves were smooth and powerful, the rhythm was electric, and there was this magnetic allure with every turn and glance. It was like they were casting a spell.

As Ellie watched, she felt her body wanting to groove along with them. Especially when Mr. Richardson turned his head—she caught his profile and couldn't help but think of her husband, George.
How he would do dancing like that...
Ellie couldn't help but smirk, her eyes getting all dreamy under the lights. Every move, every expression, every glance—Isaac caught it all. He loved seeing that dazed, enchanted look on her face, even though he knew she wasn't looking at him.

Before they knew it, an hour and a half had flown by. The vibe was chill, and the teacher was super patient. Ellie started thinking maybe this dance class thing wasn't so bad after all.

From that day on, Allie would hit up Ellie every day before class, and Ellie would tag along if she had nothing else going on. Better than just vegging out at home, right? After class, she'd shower, feel a bit sleepy, and there wasn't much time left for overthinking.

As the weeks went by, Ellie started hanging out with Allie and Linda on weekends too. They'd go shopping, pick up some cosmetics and perfumes, just girl stuff.

Mr. Richardson? Well, the awkwardness had faded a bit after a couple of weeks, but he still kept things super polite. Ellie couldn't help but wonder what kind of impact her words had on him before...

George was calling her every few days, more often than before, which made Ellie think maybe the Director was really turning over a new leaf this time.
With that hope and anticipation, life didn't feel as lonely or dull anymore. Ellie's days were getting more and more fulfilling.
George could totally pick up on Ellie's good vibes and excitement during their usual phone calls, and he was stoked too.
So, after Patrick got back from his week off and got his stuff sorted, George couldn't wait to pack up his own things, planning to follow Patrick's lead.

When Patrick went home, he didn't give his wife, Clara, a heads-up. He called it a surprise. Life needed a bit of flair, and bringing a gift would make it even better!

After almost two months together, everyone on the team had come to trust Patrick. They'd all seen his smooth moves when it came to making his wife happy, and it was pretty eye-opening...

So, George decided not to call Ellie in advance either. When he got back, he freshened up in the dorm, bought a gift, and headed home around lunchtime. He was beat, but his excitement was through the roof. All he could think about was Ellie's reaction when she saw him and when she got the gift...

He'd been away for so many years, always wanting to rush back to see her, but it never crossed his mind to bring a gift, though it was easy for him.