#there's some pride and prejudice vibes here that just came out of nowhere at the end

[wexhappyxfew]

hey!! could i request "enjoying the sun that's warming their face" for whichever character/ship you're feeling? thank youuu 💕

hello anon! thank you so much for stopping by the askbox! and thank you even more so for sending in a prompt - i really loved getting to work with this prompt so so much and it honestly led me to a (1) new OC for MoTA and (2) writing with a new character from MoTA that I wanted to try some writing for! :) SO, i hope you enjoy the first introduction to WAC, Lieutenant Annie Chattaway from Mankato, Minnesota!

It was a wonder to Annie what a Lieutenant bar did to a man.

Not only did she watch men seem to hastily salute in her direction, or shove each other quickly to their feet, but they watched her with a shaky gaze before she kept on moving past.

The bright sunlight above seemed fit for arrival, her transport having dropped her by the entrance to Thorpe Abbotts, with Colonel Harding taking her in for introductions, hand-shaking and flattery. Now, with her belongings sorted out and her bearings gathered, she was in search of a few select names that Harding had graciously offered up.

"Looking for something special?"

The rumble of a military-grade jeep, fumes and all, pulled up beside her in a hurry, screeching to a halt, the breaks in need of a good oiling, and a smiley Major in the front seat. Annie halted for a moment there on the tarmac and offered a sweet smile, from behind the Raybands and her cap and stepped to the edge of the jeep.

"Depends on who's asking." she told him with a smile and a nod, before saluting.

"John Egan, uh, Major Egan," he said, another smile spreading on his lips, tilting his head to the side, "Bucky if you like." More widening of the grin.

"Pleasure to meet you, Major Egan," she said, dismissing his grinny self and stuck out a hand forward, "Lieutenant Chattaway, just in from Fort Des Moines. I've been assigned here, as a translator."

Major Egan made a show of raising his brow from behind his own pair of Raybands and leaned forward, arm up over the passenger's side of the jeep, hand on the steering wheel and smirked.

"Sounds like you got yourself into a nice gig," he said, "….translator, huh?" Annie stared at him from behind her Raybands. Right.

"Can I ask where your mess hall is, sir?" she asked him, side-stepping the translator question, "Colonel Harding mentioned it after introductions."

"Wanna hop in? I could give you a ride over, chat over coffee, hey, I'll even show you where the officers' club is." he said and then scooched back to his side and nodded to the seat, smiling, "Take it or leave it." Annie watched him for a moment and debated her options - ride with Major Egan, possibly get some coffee that he definitely knew the location of, or continue to wander around base looking like a sorry excuse for a bull in a china shop.

"Major."

Annie turned to behind her, following Major Egan's line of sight, and found a Captain walking towards them, his eyes squinting in the bright sunlight, saluting Major Egan and then turning his eyes to her. He watched her for a moment, before she quickly saluted him, watching him quietly from behind her Raybands - tall, large stature, soft eyes.

To think he was a pilot by the way his peak cap covered his head, seeing all the war the planes brought to the air and the sky around.

"Brady, just in time," cooed Egan, jumping up from his seat in the jeep and coming towards the Captain - Brady - wrapping an arm around his shoulder and nodding, Brady slowly looking towards Egan with a tired look.

"This is Lieutenant Chattaway," Egan said with a nod to her, "didn't find the time for a first name, but I know it's there. She's gonna be translating." Brady eyed her for a moment.

"Pleasure to have you here, Lieutenant Chattaway." Brady said, nodding firmly, a quick itch of a smile on his face before disappearing and looking over to Egan, "Major Egan, I've been meaning to discuss with you-"

"Later." Egan said, clapping Brady on the shoulder, "right now, we gotta show Lieutenant 'No Name' Chattaway to the mess hall. Get her some grub." Brady glanced her way again - she stared right back at him through her Raybands and cleared her throat.

"It's fine really, sir," she said quickly, "I can find my way." She smiled slightly.

"Nah! Nah, c'mon, Lieutenant," Egan said, "look, here, Brady and I, consider us your personal tour guides-"

"Major-"

"C'mon, let's roll." Egan said and then gave Brady a clap on the shoulder and a wink and then moved back towards the jeep. The two watched him go before standing in silence.

Annie looked back towards Brady and found him already watching her; when he caught her eyes on him, he offered a small smile.

"You doing alright?" he asked her, the smile on his face soft, the sunlight bathing his face in a golden light; looking up towards him she put on her best smile and nodded.

"Yes, sir." she said firmly.

"He can be…." Brady trailed off and looked over her shoulder and nodded, "….yeah."

"It's fine, really, sir," she said, "seems like a fun guy." Brady grinned at her comment and nodded, before looking down.

"Probably best if we get in the jeep, before he starts well…." Brady smirked, "….you can probably guess." Brady imitated a little circle beside his head - before he starts going crazy, she seemed to finish it off in her mind. Annie smiled.

"Captain John Brady," he said, holding out his hand, "I know Major Egan introduced you as Lieutenant 'No Name' Chattaway, but that's-"

"Annie." she said, meeting his hand - warm as anything, encasing her own, firm, "Annie Chattaway." A loud beep-beep and a rumble of an engine appeared beside them with a slightly, pathetically disgruntled Major Egan in the front seat.

"C'monnn, let's goooo," he said, clapping his hands in front of him, "days changing to night, I think the first leaves of fall have come down." Annie looked back over to Brady and watched the small smile dart onto his face.

"What? Are you going to turn into a pumpkin, sir?" Annie questioned turning to him and moving towards the passenger side, before climbing right in the back, looking over to Egan who was smirking at her - she glanced then at Brady, "Will you be joining us, Captain?" Brady looked to her and then offered her a smile and climbed in the passengers' side.

"What would happen if I turn into a pumpkin, huh?" Egan called over his shoulder, "You hear that, Brady, she thinks I'll turn into a pumpkin!" He started up the jeep.

"I think a pumpkin is being generous, sir!" Brady called back over the roar of the jeep as they moved towards the barracks. Annie smirked to herself and admired the life around base - the Land Army women, the townsfolk, the pilots, the airmen, the ground crews, the sky, the sun, the trees. The world as they knew it.

"So, Chattaway, where you from? Wisconsin? Harding mentioned something or other..." Egan called over his shoulder, "They make cheese right?"

"Minnesota, sir!" Annie called back, "Mankato!"

"Never been!" Egan called over his shoulder, "Should show me how to make The Bootleg - you know….. they said F. Scott Fitzgerald would sip on some of those."

"Really." muttered Brady unenthusiastically from beside him.

"Oh, cheer up, Brady, you could be getting The Bootleg tonight - you'd be thanking me for it, too." Egan called as they pulled up to the front of mess, "Right, we're here." Egan turned to look over his shoulder at her and grinned.

"Liking the view?" Annie offered a smile.

"Thorpe Abbotts is beautiful, sir," she said glancing to the sky, "I'll be excited to see the mess hall." Egan grinned and gave Brady another shoulder slap.

"You'll be pleased as peaches to see coffee," Egan said hoping out and turning to her, laughing to himself, "I mean, I know I always am." Brady moved out and straightened out his pants before glancing over his shoulder and turning towards her.

"It's nothing more than watered down G.I. coffee, but it's something," he said as Annie slowly shifted forward, "Major Egan just gets excited when there's still extra by midday."

"Don't be telling my secrets now, Brady," Egan said pointing to him, "it's a precious commodity, we don't go saying that around here." Annie smiled to herself and then slowly stood, placing her hands on the edge of the jeep before noticing a hand appear.

Looking up, Brady was stood there, watching her with the sun warming his softened face. She smiled at him, gratefully taking his hand, letting him help her step down onto the ground. It was only a few seconds more before the two were dropping their hands and Major Egan was making a show of pointing up to the mess hall and going on about something or other about a beer bottle being thrown at the wall - but as Annie followed quietly behind both Egan and Brady, she noticed the clench of Brady's hand there.

The one that had touched her own.

[where-dreamers-go]

“Sweet One” Spn Gabriel x plus size! Reader

(A/N: Requested by @bubblegumfanfics for love confessions galore! I hope you like it! I had rewatched Pride and Prejudice the other day and uh…had to reel back the confessions a bit. Warnings: Tiny angst and fluff Word Count: 943 words)

~~~

Good music. Good vibes. Good baking!

The relief and bubbling joy to have time in your schedule to bake was almost tangible. You loved it.

Baking was a science. An art! It didn’t matter where someone was or what they looked like — they could experience baking in some form. Hopefully.

You, for one, were putting another dessert into your experience. Hence the cooling pan that held a chocolate cake fresh out of the oven set away from your next task.

It looked good. But so did you.

Readjusting your apron, you smiled at the fabric.

This is so cute, you thought. Totally worth it for the pockets alone.

Who said aprons had to be boring?

You had every right to look and feel cute while baking. Maybe highlight your favorite features and curves. You were a human not a cardboard cutout or edited picture. Personality and shape made a person.

Perhaps not a certain archangel’s preferred shape of human.

But he’s my friend. No downside there.

You could accept that.

A falter in your smile slowed you only a little.

There was cookie dough in the refrigerator that needed to be sorted for baking and plenty of counter space after the dishes you had finished washing. No time for sour thoughts that’d get you nowhere.

Besides, you thought as you opened the fridge, these cookies are for Gabriel. There’ll be more than a dozen this time.

Cold bowl of dough in hand, you turned back to the counter, only to find the very archangel you had been thinking of. Never a coincidence.

Gabriel was busying himself by sniffing the chocolate cake.

A smile pulled on your lips.

“Hi. Did you nose bring you here?” You inquired with a light laugh, shutting the fridge door.

“Partially.” He tapped his fingers across the countertop.

“Uh-huh.” You set the bowl down beside the baking sheets.

Golden eyes looked up and held your gaze.

“And I wanted to see you.”

“Ooo.” You placed your hand over your heart. “That is incredibly sweet.” Picking up a scooper, you added, “And I may have something sweet for you in return — if you don’t eat the dough.”

Hands up in defense, Gabriel promised, “I’ll wait. I did just say why I came, remember, sugar?”

“Yeah.”

Brushing off the term of endearment, you started scooping the cookie dough into small spheres. There was an after thought to make them bigger, but you challenged yourself to stick to the plan. Anything to keep your thoughts in place. You couldn’t exactly say the same on the fluttering in your stomach.

“Chocolate chip cookies.” Gabriel hummed in approval as he made his way to the other side of the counter.

“I know it’s one of your favorites.”

“Anything from you is my favorite.”

Grinning a little bashfully, you replied, “Thank you. That’s really sweet of you to say. I do save the best ones; hide any burnt cookies or crumbled brownies.”

“Now who’s the sweet one?” Gabriel leaned against the counter and lightly poked your shoulder.

“It’s all the baking, I guess.”

The heat creeping up your neck was almost as distracting as the feel of Gabriel’s honey-colored gaze.

Just make sure there’s chocolate chips in each one, you instructed yourself.

Doing your best to focus was usually so simple when baking. A fun activity to zone into. At that moment, you were unsure.

Behind you, the string on your apron had moved. Hardly noticeable. Yet you knew why.

“Are you entertaining yourself or are you trying to signal for a piece of cookie dough?” You peered over to your friend.

“I was thinking.” He dropped the fabric from between his fingers.

“Okay…”

You set aside the scooper and turned to Gabriel.

“I love your baking.”

You grinned briefly.

“And I,” he swallowed, “I’m grateful for your friendship and kindness and you.” Standing upright, he continued, “You make existing worth something.”

Upon opening your mouth to respond, no words came. Your mind was a fuzzy mess with most words blocked by you trying to sort out how you felt about his words and if you were about to overthink it all.

“You still don’t know, do you?” Gabriel asked softly.

Your brows pinched in curious confusion.

“Apparently not,” you noted.

Did you dare allow yourself to hope? To think he just might like you with your caring personality and unique curves as more than a friend?

You dearly hoped you weren’t reading him wrong. Either way, you were certain to hear something from your dear friend.

“What are you trying to say?” You asked, ever cautious of the thumping of your heart.

“Truthfully?”

“Yeah.”

“I love you.”

His words resonated in the quiet of your home. Neither of you rushing to fill the air.

Closing your eyes for a moment, you breathed in deeply to center yourself.

This is real. Does he—

“I love you so much it’s almost ridiculous,” Gabriel continued. “I don’t know where to even begin.” He took a chance and grabbed your hand. “This is real and I hope I’m not a complete fool for thinking you might feel the same. Even a little.”

“You,” you covered a joyous laugh, “I’m ridiculous.”

He titled his head.

“I thought you didn’t like me that way.”

Stepping closer, Gabriel poked your nose, stating, “You are ridiculous for thinking that. How could I not fall for you, sugar? I have literally tripped when you’ve smiled. Not that I minded much.”

You shook your head with a fond smile and took hold of his other hand. Sighing, you confessed warmly, “I love you too.”

Honey-colored eyes had never appeared so bright.

~~~

(A/N: If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful. coffee

Best wishes and happy reading.)

~~~~~

DreamerDragon Tags: @

Supernatural Tags: 

**Let me know if you would like to be tagged in insert readers, either through replies, ask, or message.**

[pinkhairedlily]

Alone With You

For #KakaSaku Month 2021

Week 1, Day 4, Same Age AU

Rating: G

Pairing: Haruno Sakura/Hatake Kakashi

Summary:

Kakashi was the misunderstood pariah, and she was the school’s takane no hana. He comfortably pined for her from afar until prom when all he wanted was – at most – a dance.

Note: Takane no hana is translated as flower on a high peak. It depicts someone as out of anyone’s reach. This AU is loosely inspired from Hibi Chouchou.

Maybe it was the long scar on the left side of his face or the atrocious beauty mark. Maybe it was the menacing way he looked at his classmates or the sarcastic quips he gave in conversations. It couldn’t be his hair – silver, smooth, and the length of a mullet. They should have loved him for that, but instead, they set him a level above eccentric bordering on deviant. Nonetheless, he was their school’s pariah.

And what can a pariah actually do to get close to a takane no hana? Haruno Sakura - pink hair, jade eyes, rosy cheeks, and plump lips. She was a cherry blossom tree growing in the highest mountain, and to get there one has to go through multiple quests and surrender treasured items. He would have set on this journey a long time ago if not for her making it clear that she didn’t intend to date. He remembered her announcing it in the middle of general assembly when a guy confessed to her on stage for the umpteenth time. So that was how it came to be, stealing glances and moments she doesn’t even know of.

He had this hiding spot in the shrubbery and the big camphor tree beside their building. No one bothered to go there because someone got bitten with a snake some years ago so he took advantage of its notoriety. He made it his sleeping abode, his reading nook, or his eavesdropping spot. That was where he also had his first interaction with Sakura.

------------------------

She just jumped out of nowhere and into his lap where a book was still open for his consumption. Red flush took over her cheeks, but she stayed where she was, and hands went to his mouth when he attempted to say something.

“I swore I saw her run towards this area.”

“You’re so stingy. Her actions were pretty clear that she didn’t want to hear your confession.” She was visibly annoyed, her brows furrowing and meeting in the middle, but even so, she was a sight to behold. Her hair was done up in a bun, but stray locks escaped during her unintended rendezvous, and they curtained her striking jade eyes and softened the glare on them.

“I don’t even want a yes. I just need a definite no.”

This other voice was mocking. “I don’t want a yes, but you kept on pestering her for weeks.”

“My pride was hurt. Everyone told me I was the most handsome and yet I got rejected? I had to make sure she wasn’t blind.” They heard further shuffling of feet and then several dejected sighs. “Yeah, she’s not here. Maybe I should set my eyes on another school’s muse?”

Kakashi eased down her hands still clamping his mouth shut and peeked at the retreating figures. “They’re gone now. Maybe you should also rethink what provocations this position has.”

Sakura slid down to the ground next to him and pulled her knees closer to her chest. “Thanks.”

“You don’t see me as part of your cult following?” He surveyed his already crumpled book – he was just getting to the good part.

“If you have, you would have kissed me by now.” She wasn’t pulling punches. She was straightforward as a line, and she startled him with a direct, unwavering gaze. “Hatake Kakashi.”

“Congratulations. I’m guessing you noticed my calling card.” He pointed to his scar, almost sure of his assumptions.

But she smiled at him – spring blooming in indian summer. “We ride the same train every day.” Shock must have been apparent on his face since she started to leave, but not without chuckling within his hearing.

After that, he finally noticed her – a pink blob in the morning crowd. Sometimes, she was far away from his seat, but more often than not, she was just on the opposite side. Earphones in, hair undone, and in joggers instead of skirts. The first time he saw her disguise, if she could even call it like that, he laughed out loud. The people around him shifted nervously, but it was her reaction that amused him. Her eyes widened, questioning him a few feet away what the hell did he see. Every time they reach their school’s station, however, he lost her, and he knew better than to loiter. She was the takane no hana.

Across the school terms, he made sure to keep her within his sights and out of the prying hands and attention of boomers and men with no self-respect. He intervened only when she would signal, but truthfully, he didn’t need those. He just needed to see her eyes. His attention during his morning train rides shifted from the books in his bag to the pink-haired girl bopping her head to music.

In the middle of winter finals, she sat beside him and shared her other earphone.

Isn’t it odd the way we try to tell ourselves we got limits?

You’re beautiful, but you just don’t see it sometimes

And I don’t know why, you’re the shape of my days

Oh, you’re my holy place

And I know everything’s good, everything’s just as it should be

When you’re alone with me

Everything’s good, everything’s just as it should be

When you’re alone with me

When I fall, I’m fine

All I wanted was your time

Everything’s good, everything’s just as it should be

When you’re alone, alone with me

“Hmm. You should stop doing this.” Kakashi took off the earphone and gave it back to her. A glimpse of disappointment flashed across her face. “Because I might just fall in love with you.”

He proceeded to move away from her and into the end of the compartment. He still got her in his periphery, and it didn’t escape his notice that she smiled, the red flush creeping into her cheeks, the winter cold serving as a good excuse. He hoped then and there if he could bet everything on that one expression.

She didn’t have her earphones on when they met again for the next school year, but she made sure to be within his proximity, the distance closing in every train ride – two seats apart, an arm’s length, and finally shoulder to shoulder.

“I wonder why I don’t see you in my afternoon train rides.” She also stopped wearing joggers.

“I work part time after class.”

“Is that why you try to catch some reading while traveling?” Her eyes pointed to the opened book on his lap, the passage swirling in his thoughts, and he read instead the many phrases in her eyes.

“You’re oddly distracting,” he murmured and shoved the book bag into his bag.

“Well, sorry. It’s because you’re not talking to me in school.” In all honesty, he heard the pout in her voice, and his heart only further melted into a pool of adoration. “I need some book recommendations though, and I’d appreciate it if you would pick them with me in the library.”

My God, she has become braver. Kakashi looked at her and saw the pointed lip and furrowed brows. “Are you serious?”

“Classics because I need more than a Romeo and Juliet.”

In the afternoon, they met in the library in between dusty shelves and long forgotten volumes of books. He gave her the usual – Pride and Prejudice, Tale of Two Cities, Wuthering Heights, Scarlet Letter, Little Women, and his favorite and definitely not a classic yet – The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro. Having done what he was asked to do, he took his leave, quietly and quickly, not wanting to associate with her in this open space.

The next few weeks she immersed herself in those books and did not enjoin him in conversation. When she finally did, he was caught offguard.

“Does that have a violent history?”

He gestured to his scar and she confirmed it with a short nod. “It was from a cat.” She laughed out loud when he gave that answer, earning weird looks from other passengers. “Aren’t you gonna ask me if that’s true?”

She was still reeling from his reply and gave herself a few seconds to calm down. “No. it’s very typical of you.”

“Huh?”

“I bet you just carried it and hugged it like you would a dog.”

“That’s why I’m a dog person now.”

“What’s its name?”

“Pakkun.”

Again, she laughed, unrestrained melody intertwining with the noise of the crowd, the screech of the rails, and the whistles of the train.

When summer came, she cut her hair short, but that only made her more beautiful. It emphasized her jawline and brought more focus to her eyes. But his hair was long, almost a mullet, and some strands were disrupting his vision. It didn’t help at all in this heat, but he’d rather maintain that odd reputation of his. She quietly tapped his shoulder and gestured for him to turn around. He did so within the limited space they were allowed, and she tied his hair up for him.

Before he could glance back and thank you, the train suddenly stopped, and she was pushed forward and against his back. He hoped several times now and yet he hesitated. What more certainty was he asking for when he could literally hear her heartbeat. For a moment, he imagined her arms enclose around his waist and pull him in, safe in the wall of the crowd, alone with each other’s feelings. But it was nothing more than a brief respite from a faraway dream.

Last year of high school, and he has yet to resolve his feelings, let alone confess. When prom season dawned, he wished he didn’t have to go to school. There wasn’t a day that she wasn’t being confessed to or invited to be someone’s date, but Sakura stood her ground and rejected all offers. That made his chances dwindle down to zero as well. After all, what did a takane no hana have to do with a school pariah?

------------------------

“Kakashi.”

He looked up from his book and saw her nervously twirling her fingers. “Sakura.”

“Are you going to prom?” she asked, her voice ladened with faint insecurity.

“Not my vibe,” he replied. He turned to another page, and another, and he finally finished it. Yet she still hasn’t reacted. “So do you have a partner yet?”

She smiled at him. “I guess I’m going solo.”

“Your suitors not up to your standards?”

She shook her head and scrolled through her phone. She opened a picture of her trying out her prom dress and showed it to Kakashi. “Too bad I really wanted to dress up.”

She embodied a princess with an agenda, the front almost a heart-shaped bralette with butterfly sleeves and the back with a low cut, ending just above her waist. The bottom was a mermaid’s tail with colors blending in shades of green. Dear God, please have mercy on me. “Have fun, Sakura.”

He should have just kept his mouth shut because when the prom day itself came around, he decided to go for it, especially after seeing the downcast look on her face when he told her to go have fun.

Indeed, she went alone, with a dignity like a takane no hana only has. She was distant even to her friends, and she put on an air of defense that drew everyone away from her sphere. He wondered what expression she’d wear if he closed in that gap.

And then, he heard the whispers, the gasps, and the not-so-subtle pointing fingers.

No use in hiding now. Kakashi stepped out from the back, donned in white, his silver hair tied like how she did it, and walked towards the still unsuspecting Sakura.

His steps fell in tune with the opening song – the one that made him bet everything on that tiniest possibility. At most, for tonight, he only wanted a dance.

“Is he serious?”

“That’s Hatake Kakashi, right? He’s that handsome?”

“Wait, I don’t want to see this. He’s gonna ask Sakura for a dance.”

“The secondhand embarrassment is real.”

All I want is your time. “Sakura.”

Her breath audibly hitched in her throat when she heard his voice. She turned to him with an intensity that almost made her fall, but he caught her in time in his arms. “I was just about to ask you for a dance. This saves me time, I guess.”

“About time, you slowpoke.”

Kakashi smiled at her and led her to the center of the ballroom, his feet and arms guiding her in the dance, amid the gasps of onlookers, and the conversations that spread like wildfire. But with every step, he pulled her closer to him, slowly muting the noise with the sound of her heels, the rush of her train, and his own loud heartbeat. “I wonder if this is all right.”

She closed whatever gap was between them and laid her head across his chest, her nose on his collarbone, and almost, almost, he could feel her lips on his skin. “What’s all right?”

“You, takane no hana and all. Me, pariah and all.”

“I made a plan in my head – that the next time I see you, I’m gonna confess.”

Kakashi chuckled nervously, almost choking on his own saliva. “There was a minute possibility of the off chance that you liked me.”

“Because I do. I really do. And you didn’t make it any easier. Avoiding me, only talking to me in the train? I shared my favorite song with you, for goodness’ sake. I don’t care about takane no hana. I don’t do half-hearted feelings, and I’ve been trying my best to meet you halfway.”

He brought her closer, not anymore dancing, but hugging in the middle of the room, unaware of anyone. “I mustered whatever courage I have to stand beside you today in this crowd. I’m sorry it took this long.”

Sakura briefly loosened from his embrace, and in the midst of those dim lights, and cacophony of shoes, glasses, shutter clicks, champagne pops, and gowns, she recited a quote off his favorite book. “It would be the saddest thing to me. To walk separately from you, when the ground will let us go as we always did.”

“That would make for good marriage vows.”

“That….escalated a lot more quickly than I expected.”

“Come here.” He pulled her in back to his embrace, and they danced with such abandoned happiness – so evident that the strangers backed off, and everyone started to accept as such.

And when the confetti fell and the dim strobe lights turned off momentarily to give way to the bright light, Kakashi searched for her lips and found them waiting just below his chin.

“I was aiming for the beauty mark.”

“You’ll get more chances later.”

[listingmovies]

Top 5 DANCE moments in non-dance movies

Because why not start dancing unexpectedly even if we’re not making a musical? Movies and dance. What could be better than this?  Come on, I dare ya!

5-      Mean Girls, Mark Water (2004)

MOST GIRLY

Ah the cult teen movie! Where Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of their “queen’’ Regina George. And this scene takes place during the school’s Christmas talent show where the girls are presenting the same routine they do every year, but this time with Cady. And the whole vibe the scene conveys is just so ridiculously hilarious. The girly shallow superficial world of this movie can be summed up with this dance only. A dance that shocks innocent Cady’s parents, while Regina’s mother knows all the steps by heart. Pathetic dance, but we just love it! If you don’t, then #youcan’tsitwithus.

4-      Pride and Prejudice, Joe Wright (2005)

MOST FRUSTRATING

Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy. But Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with her, while she’s beneath his class. The scene is a sequence typically representing pride... and prejudice (Gee! What a coincidence!), subtly expressed through dance. It is a lovely playful seduction game, based on back and forth movements of Elizabeth and William, approaching each other, escaping from each other, slightly brushing each other, while other guests keep separating them, then reuniting them again, through the tradition of a 19-century ball. The frustration that is stemming from this sequence is almost suffocating. The brief shy looks that they exchange portray the romantic mood of that century and convey the discreet flirting floating in the air. *Sigh* Compare that to dancing in a hot disgusting nightclub, with lingering odors of smoke and alcohol, and strangers trying to get you to dance with them. Oh boy, things really were different in my time.

3-     High heels, Pedro Almodovar (1991)  

MOST ECCENTRIC

Becky returns after 15 years to find her daughter, Rebecca, has married one of her  mother's old boyfriends. They try to mend their broken mother/daughter relationship and deal with their common lover. We, movie lovers, are all familiar with Almodovar’s crazy vibe. But I judge this one - and I allow you not agree with me - to be the most insane one. When Rebecca goes to prison, many women unexpectedly come out of nowhere, they form a group and they start dancing on a sudden music. They’re all wearing joyful and colorful clothes, and the weird choreography follows a vivid rhythmic music. I don’t know what came through Almodovar’s mind when he decided of this scene, but I kinda like the fact that we don’t get any explanation whatsoever. This scene is like a parenthesis to the story. We don’t know why it’s here, and we probably never will. But that’s the goal itself of this brief colorful eccentric dance moment.No reason. Just dance. 

2-      Little Miss Sunshine, Jonathan Dayton - Valerie Faris (2006)

MOST ENDEARING

A family determined to get their young daughter Olive into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. And it’s a wrecked family who goes to the extreme, against all obstacles, out of love for their little girl. Each of them carry their own personal baggage, but we follow them onto this crazy journey. Through the whole film, we always hear of Olive practicing with her grandpa on her routine for the pageant. But we never get to watch the dance until the end. The build up of unfortunate events getting in their way naturally makes us expect something outstanding at the end. Plus, the story is so close to the heart, and the characters so endearing that we get attached to them; so when the fatal scene is here, we are ready for anything. And while we're waiting for something spectacular, we know deep inside that something unusual is going to happen, given the family’s natural attraction for troubles. Olive scandalizes and horrifies most of the audience and pageant judges with a burlesque performance that she joyfully performs. When the pageant judges demand that she gets off the stage, the whole family gets on the stage with Olive as a sign of protest. And this is what makes the scene a magma of sweetness and humor... A sad exhausted family reunited in love and tenderness, standing together through that grotesque dance against the world. I don’t know about you but I’m not sure my parents would have done the same for me. Nevertheless, little Olive’s dance dedicated to her dirty-minded grandpa is the cutest sexy dance (weird combination) I’ve ever seen.

1- Scent of a woman, Martin Brest (1992)

MOST ELEGANT

A prep school student needing money agrees to "babysit" a blind man, but the job is not at all what he anticipated. For me, the story reaches some sort of climax with this sequence. Actually, this scene fully embodies the extent of Al Pacino’s talent. Don’t ask me how that’s possible but his starring blind eyes manage to be both empty and expressive. The way he guides the beautiful woman with the movements of his body gives the scene an elegant awkwardness. He holds on to her on every step, loosing and gaining balance, while her fear of him slowly becomes blind trust, along with happy giggles. The beautiful tango music wraps them up in a cozy soft dance moment which gives the movie a sprinkle of bittersweet surprise. And here I am, still waiting for my Al Pacino to ask me to dance, when I’m in a random restaurant. This is just sad.