This is a story loosely based on my experiences in college. Loose enough that this could be called fiction. Obviously names and dates have been changed. All characters mentioned in sexual references are 18 years of age or older. I hope you love my characters. Enjoy!
* * * * * * * * *
Ash was glad she'd decided to wear a hoodie. It was a chilly night as she and Cheyenne made their way up the gravel to the farmer's fieldhouse. It was a big, wide building at the end of a large parking lot. Ash didn't think it looked like a comfortable venue.
"So a bunch of kids are dancing here?" Ash asked her professor, as they bypassed the front office doors and walked along the side of the large building.
"Oh, yeah," Cheyenne said. "They do this every year. And not a bunch of kids. Just daughters and fathers."
"Right, right," Ash said, as they approached the side door. She was feeling a bit nervous. She didn't want to seem unsure and disappoint her teacher, but she didn't know what to expect. Cheyenne seemed not to notice and as she swung open the door, Ash's confidence grew.
They walked through a short hallway and opened another set of double-doors. Ash gasped when she entered the large spacious forum. The entire area was bathed in a warm blue light. In front of Ash and Cheyenne, there were tables for four draped in cloth. Small bowls of soups and salads were on each table. Across the room was a large open floor where girls aged five to ten were dancing with their fathers.
"Oh, this is so cute," Ash said, as she stared around the big room.
"I know, right!" Cheyenne said, beaming down at Ash.
They moved toward the floor, through the tables, where a few daddy-daughter couples were sitting and eating. Ash looked up and saw Cheyenne was already snapping photos as she walked. Ash hastily followed suit and soon realized this was the perfect opportunity to hone her photography skills.
The lighting was gorgeous in the room. The DJ was playing kid-friendly jams which had smiles on all the childrens faces. Ash played with her settings and her camera's focus, wanting to be sure she captured the excitement.
She was just beginning to wonder how you get an invite to something like this when she saw Cheyenne waving her over. She was standing off to the side of the dance floor with one of the fathers. He was older and Ash thought he had a handsome, silver fox, quality about him.
"Hey, Ash. This is the director of the dance, Charlie Shrowder. This is one of my students."
"Ah, nice to meet you.... Ash is it?" he said enthusiastically, shaking her hand before turning back to Cheyenne. "So, Monica bailed on us this year, huh?"
"She's had a busy senior year," Cheyenne said. "I guess she needed a break. Luckily USI is full of ambitious students."
"Of course, it's still a shame," Shrowder said, looking as though he was reliving a beautiful memory.
"What's a shame?" Ash asked, snapping the gentleman out of his daze.
"Oh ...um Emily ....my daughter...has taken a liking to Monica. That's all," he said, smiling as a small girl came running up to his side. She began tugging him toward the dance floor as the Cha-cha Slide began playing. "Okay, okay. I'm dancing. Thanks again for coming, Cheyenne. Good to meet you Miss Ash."
He joined his daughter and the other fathers on the dance floor. Ash and Cheyenne exchanged bemused looks watching the old, mostly white, mostly out-of-shape dads try to do a dance invented for children. It made for great pictures.
The girls were all in dresses that ranged from cute to spectacular and most of the dad's were in suits. There was a kid-sized chocolate fountain which resulted in some hysterical photos. At one point, Ash was taking a photo of a group when someone walked right through her line of sight.
Annoyed at first, Ash checked her camera screen. The big bearded father was carrying his smiling daughter and the camera had focussed on the two at the last second resulting in a beautiful photograph. Ash couldn't be happier.
The dance ended with applause for the DJ and many people thanking Ash and Cheyenne before they left.
"O-M-G that was so perfect and cute," Ash said walking with Cheyenne back to her jeep.
"Glad you liked it," Cheyenne said, climbing into the car.
They sped off down the road back toward campus, chatting away about the evening.
"It's just like that every year?"
"The chocolate fountain was new."
"Yeah, that was neat," Ash said, still scrolling her pics. "Oh here's that Shrowder guy and his daughter. She was the cutest. I hope I get an invite back next year."
"Sure, why wouldn't you get one? They do it every year."
"Weeellll," Ash started. "Mr. Shrowder seemed a bit hung up that Monica couldn't make it. Whoever she is."
"Mmmm," Cheyenne said, through pursed lips as she drove. "You caught that too?"
"At first I thought he.....I don't know what I thought," Ash said. "Did he make a pass at your student?"
"Hey, I don't know what happened," Cheyenne said, an odd expression on her face. "She's a grown woman. You wanna get a 'ride home' from a married man, gots nothing to do with me."
"Oh... talk about high drama."
"Yeah. Not sure it's his daughter that took a liking to Monica."
"And he's married?"
"Oh yeah. Mrs. Shrowder is the nicest lady. Maybe we'll see her this spring at the Mommy-daughter brunch. "
"That sounds like another super cute day," Ash said.
Ash directed Cheyenne to her dorm and Cheyenne explained when she got the money from the dance she could compensate Ash.
"Thanks so much," Ash said. "I've never been paid for photos. Hopefully I was as good as Monica."
"You were fine, I'm sure. Just email me what you got. I'm glad you had a good time."
Ash smiled and leaned across the center to hug Cheyenne. When Ash sat back, Cheyenne's arms were still holding her sides. She was staring down at Ash, her grey eyes glowing with passion. Ash's eyes widened slightly when Cheyenne leaned forward again and her heart jumped into her throat when their lips met.
It wasn't a french make out, but it was no small peck, either. Ash's eyes opened as they pulled apart. Cheyenne ran her fingers through Ash's short hair before sitting back in her seat.
"I'll see you in class, Ash," Cheyenne smiled. "Can't wait to see your photos."
Ash beamed at Cheyenne before she opened the door and slid out of her Jeep.
Cheyenne gave a quick wave through the window before she wheeled away. Ash walked back to her dorm with a bit of a strut.
'I guess I'm her favorite student too,'
she thought.
* * * * * * * * *