"What do we think?" Duke asked.

Holly peered around the corner, taking in the scene of the reception. Round tables, covered in empty plates, silk table clothes and lavish center pieces, filled the ballroom. Wedding guests, dressed in pastel colors mixed with the assortment of black slacks and button down shirts, sat clustered around the tables, champagne glasses only half empty. On the dance floor the bride swayed back and forth in the arms of her father.

Holly pulled her head back, the tips of her blonde bob tickling the bottom of her chin. She turned her dark blue eyes on to Duke. Chocolate brown ones, standing out against a handsome dark face, looked back at her. Though in his late thirties, he didn't look a day over 26.

"It's not a drinking crowd, so that makes it slightly more challenging," Holly said.

"Yes, but we're party pumpers, we've dealt with more rigid groups than this one. Remember the Adam's wedding."

Holly stifled a laugh and nodded.

"I've know walls with more personality and carefree spirits than that lot. Okay, plan of attack?"

Duke looked around the corner, running a hand through his short head of curls.

"How's the group at your table?" he asked.

Holly thought it over for a second.

"Younger, early twenties, about my age. They have moments of being on the livelier side. I could manage to get them on the dance floor first. How about your table?"

Duke smiled, a smile so full of charm and charisma a girl felt herself agreeing before she knew the request.

"I have a large amount of women at my table, shouldn't be too hard to get them on the dance floor."

"Good. Assessment of the bride and groom?"

"Happy, but in need of encouragement."

"Okay, once I have my lot on the floor, I'll get them moving. You want the bridal party?"

Duke looked out again, his gaze wandering over the long table at the center of the room. He nodded, looking back at Holly.

"I'll move in once you have the bride and groom out. See if you can't encourage some of them as you pass by."

"Sounds good. Into the fray?"

Duke smiled, but the gesture wasn't as excited as Holly's. He moved, but Holly stopped him, her expression worried.

"Hold on. What's up?" she asked.

Duke shook his head.

"Nothing."

"You know that doesn't work with me. We have been partners for three years now, I know when you're holding back."

"And somehow I still see the awkward 19 year old that I started training."

Holly scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Please, I've grown up since then. I don't trip over myself. I could get this party dancing all on my own if I needed to. You've taught me well."

"You could indeed. Always remember that. Come on," Duke said.

Before she could stop him, Duke stepped back into the ballroom, moving to his table. Waiting, Holly smoothed down the front of her gold dress before counting to ten and following. She cut her way through the dense setup of tables and slipped into her empty chair. She shared smiles with the rest of the table's occupants. The bride left the dance floor and the volume in the ballroom rose, as conversations were taken back up. An upbeat song, that was the sound of the summer, started pulsing through the speakers, reaching up to the tall ceiling. Holly lifted her glass.

"To a great party!" she said.

Her companions shared glances before raising their glasses and taking sips of their drinks. The music flowed through the room and Holly moved to the rhythm. She stood, her hips swaying in time.

"Let's dance!" she said, her eyes bright with excitement.

Without even waiting for them to respond, she grabbed the hands of a two girls sitting around the table and pulled them up. Bobbing her head, Holly led the parade of slightly baffled girls to the dance floor. She looked back and saw the rest of the table following suit.

She danced, keeping her movements playful, but easy. The girls watched her, mimicking her steps, learning. It only took a few seconds before the group was getting into it, putting their own spins on the dance moves. Holly laughed, the sound infectious.

"Let's grab some guys!" she shouted over the music.

The cluster of girls looked at her, their smiles tightening with nerves.

"Come on!"

Holly moved off the dance floor, the girls willingly following. As they went on their search Duke brought his group on to the dance floor, filling the empty space she had created. They exchanged smiles before moving back to their tasks. Holly stopped at the closest table, and grabbed the hand of one of the younger men. He was a few inches taller than her, had an athletic build, careless black hair and brown eyes that matched her playfulness.

"Dance with me, handsome!" Holly said, pulling him up.

Girls dispersed, finding partners and leading them back to the dance floor. Holly spun around as she got onto the dance floor, the music coursing through her, sending every nerve buzzing with energy. The guy stayed with her, keeping up as she danced, matching every move, his manner relaxed.

Before the guy got a chance to get too close, Holly grabbed a girl at random and spun her into the guy's arms. The girl laughed and swayed along with him as Holly disappeared. Face beaming, she moved to the bride.

"Let's see those moves!" Holly said, taking the bride's hand.

As she passed the groom, she took his hand as well. Walking back down the wedding party table, she smiled at the occupants.

"It's a celebration!" she said. "So let's celebrate!"

Bridesmaids and groomsman looked at each other before joining the procession. On the dance floor, Holly twirled the bride once and then nudged her into her husband's arms. She smiled.

"Now dance like you actually like each other!"

They laughed and moved closer, falling into the rhythm of the song. Holly looked out on the ballroom. More guests were standing and making their way to the dance floor, the boisterous scene pulling them in. She danced around the edges, helping those who were a little more tense lighten up and pairing people off.

By the time the second song started playing half the guests were on the dance floor, laughing and smiling. Holly's smile never left her face, the sight so inviting it brought smiles to those she passed and interacted with.

As she was making another pass around the floor the guy from earlier stepped from the crowd. He meet her gaze, his eyes brimming with laughter. Without hesitating, he took her up in his arms and danced with her. Holly laughed as they spun, impressed at how well he moved. The guy smiled wide at the sound, the look enhancing his already attractive features.

"Who are you? Where have you been all my life? And how can I find you again?" he said, leaning close to her ear.

Holly laughed and spun away.

"I'm only a good memory," she said.

The guy gave her an odd look. Before he could say anything else, Holly disappeared among the crowd of dancing bodies.

*************

With a tray of coffee cups, Holly pushed through the heavy glass doors and stepped into an large open building. Couches on either side of the entryway were accompanied with end tables covered with wedding magazines. Holly stepped up to a white curved desk, pulling out one of the coffee cups.

"Hi Edith," Holly said.

The receptionist looked up, her eyes brightening behind red oval glasses. She took the cup of coffee, inhaling deeply.

"You're a love, you know that," Edith said.

"You're welcome," Holly said. "Duke in the conference room?"

Edith nodded, taking a sip of her scalding drink. Holly moved around the desk, walking further into the spacious office. She stood out in her simple hoodie and jeans while the rest of the employees wore pencil skirts and silk blouses. Glass walls divided offices. Sleek white desks with large computers dominated the rooms. Wedding paraphernalia dotted the scene, pictures of extravagant wedding dresses, cake designs and floral arraignments.

Holly pulled open a door to a back room and plopped into one of the plush chairs. Duke looked up from his phone and snatched one of the coffee cups. For a long, peaceful moment they sat in silence, sipping their coffee. Beyond the clear walls the office was a flurry of motion, employees talking excitedly to blushing brides and eager mothers.

"Last night went well," Holly finally said.

Duke nodded.

"It did. You did an excellent job getting the crowd going. There is nothing left to teach you," he said.

Holly looked across the table at him. She gave him a small smile that, though lacked the brightness of the one's given the night before, was genuine.

"That maybe true, but I would still be lost without you," she said.

Instead of responding, Duke's expression fell as he leaned on the table.

"Listen, Holly," he said.

The smile slipped from Holly's face.

"I have something to tell you," Duke continued. "I'm not going to be staying around much longer."

He looked up meeting Holly's startled look.

"How much longer?" she asked.

"I've already given my two weeks notice. I will be leaving at the end of next week."

The news hit Holly like a punch to the gut. Before she even had time to process or even respond, the door to the conference room opened. Holly looked over and got the second shock that morning as the handsome black haired guy from the night before walked in. He gave Holly an easy smile, his eyes laughing, his hands tucked into the pockets of his slacks.

"Hi, I'm Colby," he said. "I'm your new partner."

******************

Hi!

This story is about a party pumper and how she deals with having to train someone new while dealing with her own struggles with relationships and never letting anyone get too close.

My brother had a friend who was a party pumper. They go to parties and get everyone dancing. I thought it would be an interesting story because guys would fall in love with this energetic, bubbly person, but they would later discover she's actually just normal and kind of quiet. I imagined what kind of life that would be, always the exciting one when in a crowd but lonely and quiet when no one else is there. Thinking about how people wouldn't ever stick around long enough to get to know the real her.

So what did you think? Did you see the ending coming? Would you continue reading?

Vote, comment, follow! Let me know your thoughts?!