Seth stepped gingerly into the studio to join Kate. "Hi, Kate. How are you?" He sounded awfully nervous, but not unhappy. This came as a relief to Kate -- she wouldn't want him feeling unhappy about what he had just seen, after all.
"Wonderful, thanks." She gave him a knowing smile, hoping he'd see that she was not uncomfortable with him. Indeed, she felt more alive and contented than she'd felt in weeks, but there was a limit to how much she could share right then. "Ready for class, everyone?" The kids -- nearly all of them present by now -- took their places and Kate stepped to the front. Seth joined her but, she thought, looked a bit like he wished he didn't have to. 'Why should he be embarrassed when I was the one who was nude?' she wondered. But there was nothing for her but to show him she wasn't upset.
And throughout the class, 'not upset' was an understatement. She felt positively giddy with the secret she and Seth now shared. Kate had always been on the shy side throughout her life, so she had always found being seen nude an incomparable rush for as long as she could recall. Even sex itself wasn't nearly as deliciously naughty, since it only came after the clothes were already off. That thrill of being seen without her clothes had always been like nothing else at all. But it had never been quite so thrilling as this. Seth -- shy, perfect gentlemanly Seth -- now shared a bond with her that could never be broken, even if he wanted it to be! Not that Kate gave any thought to the chance that he might want it to be. She was too busy savoring the wonderful embarrassment she had inflicted upon herself, and she wished the pins and needles would never go away.
Kate took her teaching seriously as always, and she focused on the girls and boys as they made their way through the rehearsal. But she found a spring in her step throughout the hour as she anticipated whatever might come next. Whatever that might be, at least she had changed things once and for all. Seth, for his part, looked less uncomfortable as the hour wore on. As usual he was all business as well, helping the girls with their poses without ever touching them, providing plenty of encouragement. Whenever Kate had occasion to make eye contact with him, she thought she sensed his nervousness dissipating a bit each time. By the end of class, he looked more or less happy. But not as happy as she was still feeling with the exhilaration from earlier on.
When at last the class was over with, Kate was elated. "Great job, everybody!" she said, clapping her hands. "Six days to recital! Let's keep up the good work!" She turned to Seth in anticipation of his usual encouragements, but he only waved silently to the kids and took a big swig of water from his bottle. Then he turned and headed for the changing rooms even before the girls and boys had even cleared the studio.
So he was still going to play hard to get, Kate thought. Well, I can play too.
She did not accost him in the changing rooms, though she did toy with the idea of once again leaving hers unlocked. Hoping to catch Seth alone when he was done, she showered quickly, keeping an ear out for the water running in the other changing room so she would know when he was done. She was so quick at it that she did not have time to wash properly and was a bit worried about smelling funny when she was dressed again and leaving. But she did manage to beat Seth to the punch, and she could hear him still rustling around in the other changing room as she turned out the studio lights.
Kate lingered by the studio door until she heard Seth's door open at last. She was ready with a smile when he emerged. "Hey there!" she said. "Cat got your tongue today?"
"What? No! Not at all. I was just, you know, before class...I mean, Kate, you know I always take that room, and haven't you ever heard of locking doors?"
This was not the reaction Kate had expected. She opted to play it cool. "Oh dear, Seth, did I embarrass you?"
"Did you embarrass me! Geez, Kate! What is up with you all of a sudden? Is this your idea of a joke? I mean, what kind of joke is it, anyway?"
They had reached the outside door. Kate lived down the street, Seth lived up. Rather than answer his question, she brushed his hand with hers. "Same time tomorrow, if you're interested!" she said in sultry whisper, and turned to go without giving him a look at her face to wonder about.
Now, embarrassment did set in. 'What kind of man gets offended when you give him a free look at your body?' she wondered. 'The same kind who already couldn't read all your other clues,' she answered herself. 'Of course this wouldn't work either.' Kate was pretty happy with her parting words to him, though. If there was any attraction buried under all that indifference, now she would know for sure tomorrow. And she'd get another rush out of the deal.
Julie and Scott were just getting dinner on the table when Kate arrived. Having gotten over her disappointment, Kate was once again glowing with the memory of the afternoon's thrill. "Boy, you look pleased with yourself!" Julie remarked as soon as Kate was in the door.
"I am."
"Wow, progress with the guy?" Scott asked hopefully.
