When Finn turned around, he found Elena staring at him with her arms crossed. On the table next to her was a small bluetooth speaker. She turned it on, and it made a small ‘bwoop’ sound.
"What are you doing?" Finn asked, though he already knew.
She hit play on her phone. A moment later, music filled the lab. Fast-paced Latin music. He didn’t know the exact BPM, but it was a high number. The lyrics were Spanish and the rhythm refused to stop. Elena began to dance.
Finn didn’t like to dance. It was impossible for him to dance and not look awkward. Elena however, did not seem mind to bethe only person dancing while the other person sat there like a wet rag. She was good at it too. And comfortable, like she had taken her first dance lesson immediately after being born.
Finn though, was thoroughly uncomfortable. He didn’t know what to do, so he awkwardly asked, "Is this... what you listen to? In your headphones?"
Elena nodded, moving to the beat as she returned to her computer. "Among other things. Why, is it a problem?"
"No, just..." He searched for the right word. "It's very... energetic."
"That's the point." She kept dancing as she typed away on her keyboard. "You can't fall asleep to a beat like this."
Finn watched her, fascinated by the transformation. "It feels more like party music than work music."
Elena looked up, eyebrows raised. "Work music? What does that even mean?"
"You know." He gestured vaguely. "Something... calmer. More focused."
"Boring, you mean." She laughed at him. "Music isn't supposed to be focused, Finn. It's supposed to make you feel something."
He continued to watch her as she moved to the rhythm. He was still stiff as a board. And he definitely wasn’t getting any work done.
"You hate this, don't you?" She was watching him now, amusement in her eyes.
"I don't hate it," he said defensively. "It's just not what I usually listen to."
"So what do you listen to? Boring work music? A playlist called: The Accountant’s Song Compilation?"
“For your information, I happen to know many accountants that have incredible taste in music." He pushed at the bridge of his nose as if adjusting glasses that weren’t there.
She leaned forward, intent. "What's your party music, Finn? I'm dying to know."
The challenge in her voice was unmistakable. He hesitated, then reached for his own phone. He connected to the speaker, scrolled through his music, and hit play before he could second-guess himself. An Alanis Morissette playlist. “Hand in My Pocket” started.
Elena's eyebrows shot up. "This is your idea of party music?"
"What's wrong with Alanis?" he asked, defensive.
"Nothing, just… it’s not exactly club material, is it?"
Finn raised a finger at Elena to make sure he got his point across. “Listen, I don’t need to go to any damn club that is too good for Alanis.”
Elena stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. "I had no idea you felt so strongly about 90s pop-rock."
He smiled, swept along by her amusement. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
"Apparently." Still laughing, she held out her hand. "Come on, then. If this is party music, let's dance."
Finn stared at her outstretched hand, frozen. "I don't dance."
"Everyone dances. Some just do it badly." She wiggled her fingers. "Come on. I won't tell anyone."
There was a challenge in her eyes. Her brown eyes he found it hard to look away from. And he found himself unable to refuse her. He took her hand and stood, feeling awkward in his own body. Either Elena didn’t notice, or she just didn’t show it. There was something special about people that made you forget your self-consciousness. And she was one of those people.
She moved to the music, still holding his hand, guiding himinto a simple rhythm. "Just feel it," she said. "Stop thinking so hard."
