The class erupted into applause. Anna Louise came forward with her hands tapping out a beat in the air. “You’ll have to develop that into a polished piece,” she said, “and present it to us again. What do you say, class?”

The applause grew louder, filling us. I smiled at Ruella who was grinning with such beautiful teeth. She smiled at me distantly, then left the floor. When class finished for the day, I waited at the dressing room until Ruella changed into street clothes. We walked together to the subway.

“I felt something in that dance,” I said.

“Me, too.”

“Funny, isn’t it?”

She looked at me without a word. Then she said, “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“Dance,” I said.

“Yeah,” said Ruella. “I’ve never been that close to a guy without feeling he wants something. You know what I mean?”

“Yes.” Suddenly conscious of how I looked, I brushed off my jeans, pulled my stomach in.

“How do you know?”

“I just know.”

Ruella looked at me hard, her eyes scratching at something. Sunlight glistened in her short hair. My scalp itched with splinters I couldn’t wait to scratch out. “It was strange, but beautiful,” she said. “Real beautiful.”

I started giggling for no reason at all.

“Look,” she said. “Forget what I said just then. I don’t know you, really. You’re charming.”

“No, I’m not. Who wants to be charming, anyway?”

“Well, graceful, then. You move gracefully.”

“Thanks,” I said.

“Are you auditioning for the company, too?”

“I hope so,” I said.

Below us a subway train screeched to a halt. Ruella looked worried. Her mouth grew tight. “Don’t make me miss my train, now.”

“I won’t.”

“I want to be home before it gets too dark.”

“Let’s get together again. To work on that dance,” I said.

“I don’t know, really. It was great, but I’m not sure I can get that high again. That’s why I don’t like improvs, not really. It’s like, well, meeting someone, and after the rush of excitement, it’s gone.”

“What about the beginning of a friendship?” I asked, watching her.

She smiled, then tried to hide it.

“We can work on the dance, at least.”

“Just the dance, Jesse?” Her eyes still searching. “I’ve got to get going.”

“See you again? In class, I mean.”

“Sure.”

“How far are you going?”

“To the West Side. Eighty-fourth Street.” Ruella bounded down the stairs. Then she was gone.