Disclaimer: I do not own Sofia the First in any way. This fic is only for my own entertainment and literary practice.

AN: Despite being busy, I just couldn't resist; so I finished writing this and posted as soon as I could.

Chapter 1: Kindle

Childhood crushes—most people would have at least one of these, whether they admit it or not. Arguably, one of the most memorable childhood crushes a person will ever have is their first one. This first one many would mistake as "love," it usually isn't, but who can ever really know whether it is or isn't. What makes it interesting is that what someone does in response to those feelings might not always be rational. It's not just adults who do crazy stuff when they're supposedly "in love." Kids can do the darndest, and for some, the most embarrassing, things in the name of "love." Pulling hair, taunting, calling names, or just straight up clinging like a puppy to whomever they like—there are also a lot who just run away—even though none these things would be considered particularly romantic, it's funny that these are actually done by children, sometimes adults, out of infatuation. But, in due credit, kids can also be the sweetest—some children save allowance to buy a present, would you believe that? These first crush experiences vary greatly, but no matter how different they are, they all then become memories—memories that some people would be able to remember fondly, and leave some to cringe at the slightest thought of it. How does it start? How does it end? Whatever happened in between? Answers vary from person to person, and one little princess unknowingly just might start getting hers.

Sofia's skates landed hard enough on the ice to make a sound audible enough to hear from the other side of the frozen lake even with all the other students jumping and dancing around. She spun violently as soon as she hit the ice, exited with a glide decelerating along the boundaries of the lake.

He was very late, maybe even a no-show, again—not that that mattered to her; she was only worried that he was playing truant in ice dancing practice too often that he might get significant demerits. She even waited for him for a few minutes even after everyone else had already started skating, too—not that she was looking forward to skating with him. They always skated together; there's nothing to get excited about. It's just that he promised to help her get her "Sparkling Fireworks flip" down. Yes, it was just that.

"Is there something wrong, Princess Sofia?" asked Flora as she approached the princess who was about to slow down to a stop. Flora, aside from being an instructor and headmistress of a school, she was also a fairy—she even acted as a fairy godmother a handful of times. She was adept at sensing emotions. But, it doesn't take a fairy of her caliber, heck, it doesn't even take a fairy, to see from how Sofia was skating that the purple skater was clearly in a frustrated mood. "That was quite the heavy landing," Flora added.

"Nope, no problem here, Miss Flora," Sofia smiled her sweetest smile while slightly leaning forwards and with hands clasped behind her, "I just didn't time my flip well."

"Okay, then," said Flora knowingly after a short pause, "Just be careful and take it easy. Ice dancing shoes are very delicate." Flora talked with a tone as if she saw through all of Sofia; and, with all the experience and wisdom she stocked up over the years of her life, she might as well have really done so. "Holding it in is never a good idea; but taking it out on the ice and on your skates might not be the best one, either," commented Flora, slyly as she floated away to the approaching, tardy student she spotted from the corner of her eye.

Flora might not know exactly what was bothering Sofia, but she had a good idea. She intercepted the path of the prince heading Sofia's way. "Late again, Prince Hugo. Class is about to end," said Flora. She passed him without anything else beyond a look saying, "Final warning, don't be late again!" Flora supposed that she could always reprimand him some other time; but precious childhood experiences like developing young and innocent puppy love... she won't get in the way of that, unless she deems it detrimental of course. She watched for a second as Hugo neared Sofia before going to the other students. Flora sighed with blissful reminiscence, she was getting old—it reached that point again, another set of students experiencing for the first time one of the thrills that came with growing up. Oh, to be young again!

"Hey, Sofia!" greeted Hugo over the sound of Flora's voice announcing that class was dismissed. Hugo dropped his ice dancing shoes on the snow and sat down, starting to take off the shoes he had on.

Sofia had her arms folded and crossed, her cheeks puffed.

"Something on my face?" asked Hugo as he put on his ice dancing shoes.

"You were supposed to be here an hour ago."

"Hey, the important thing is that I'm here now."

"Hugo, that's not the point," said Sofia throwing her arms down.

"What is?" said Hugo, cutting Sofia off before she could say what she was about to, "I'm here, you're here, and the ice is still frozen."

Sofia rolled her eyes.

"Come on," said Hugo standing up and extending his hand, "We can still dance."

Sofia put her right hand on her left arm and glanced towards her sister who was still talking and gliding about the rink with her friends, "I don't know. I can't leave Amber and James waiting."

"Amber's still dancing," said Hugo shrugging, "I'm sure they won't mind waiting just a little bit. Besides, you needed help on your Sparkling Fireworks, didn't you?"

Sofia bit her lower lip in thought and loosened up to an unsure smile afterwards, "Okay, maybe just for a moment."

"Perfect!" Hugo grabbed his partners hand, kicked off the ground and hopped onto the ice next to where his partner was already standing, "Let's go!"

"Who-oah," exclaimed Sofia when she was pulled into a sudden burst of speed and almost even losing her balance. Scratch that—she did lose her balance. She slipped on her heel and started falling face first towards the cold ice, "Ack, Hugo!"

Hugo wasn't about to let her partner fall. He pulled her into a twirl and caught her back as she was falling. "Don't worry, I've got you," he stared at his partner's eyes as he supported her leaning posture with his left hand and his right still on her hand. "Put a little more faith in me would 'ya," he added jestingly.

She didn't like him—she really didn't, not in that way. But she couldn't stop feeling her face warm up as the gentle pumping of her heart increased in intensity to what was more like a rapid hammering. She looked away, she couldn't bear to keep eye contact. She might end up grinning like an idiot. Knowing him—especially since it's him, she knew she would get teased. She shouldn't even be ice dancing right now, not when it was time to go home with James and Amber—she hated how easily he could persuade her. He was mischievous, but she always found herself getting caught up in his antics and end up having fun herself.

Sofia snapped herself out of it. She planted a heel on the ice and used it as an anchor to pivot to an upright position, trailing in line just behind Hugo, with her hand still tethered to him. "Here goes nothing," said Sofia as she picked up her speed.

Hugo understood that Sofia was about to attempt her flip and gave her space to speed up and pass him. "Go for it."

Sofia used the edge of her blades to forcefully push herself to greater acceleration while Hugo helped by suddenly jerking Sofia forward by her hand. She inhaled deeply to prepare herself for the jump. She had attempted the flip a couple of times, but she had always seemed to land on her behind. She had more speed this time, it shouldn't happen again. At least, she hoped it wouldn't, because more speed also meant that it would hurt a lot more.

Breathing out, she rolled over her shoe's toe pick and jumped. One twirl, followed by a backflip into a butterfly kick and twist, and ending with a somersault and twirl. She did it—the only thing left was landing on her feet; but, she ended the twirl leaning too far backwards. While she did land on her blades, her center of gravity was outside her base of support; she started falling before she could even do anything about it. She squeezed her eyes shut as she anticipated the inevitable impact—but it never came.

"Caught you again," said Hugo as he pushed Sofia to a stand, "That's close, but not quite. You stopped your somersault too early, that's why you're leaning when you twist and land. Try staying on it for a little bit more."

"O-okay," said Sofia. There it was again. Was she sick? She could feel her cheeks redden. It was definitely cold outside but it felt like the middle of summer. She shook it off once more and accelerated for her jump. She was flustered; she didn't know what she was feeling, she just wanted to enjoy the skate and get her flip right.

"Wait, it's too early!"

Another failed attempt but without penalty. "You know I'll always catch you, but sometimes it looks like you really want to fall," joked Hugo to which Sofia responded to a faux-angry pout. "Take your time and jump when you're ready."

"I have to go, Amber and James are waiting."

"You'll get it this time, I know it," said Hugo, "Just keep your eyes on me like you always do."

She didn't always look at him, did she? She refused to believe so. "I don't do that," Sofia denied.

"You should, though," smirked Hugo as he tugged and released her again to a speedup, "It gives you a reference point." "Gives you a great view too," he added cheekily.

Sofia shook her head to dismiss his remark and sped up. She inhaled as always to steel herself for the jump. Here it came again. Her legs shook as if telling her not to jump. She then found herself looking unconsciously back at Hugo. He was grinning with two thumbs up, mouthing, "You can do it." Rid of every bit of hesitation she had just a few seconds ago, she took a leap and flew.

"I did it!" exclaimed Sofia as she turned around looking for her partner. Her velocity was stopped by a gentle push from behind her shoulders, or rather, Hugo's hand's on her shoulders.

"I'm right behind you," said Hugo, "You did great." He skated ahead of Sofia while she was midair. He knew she would turn around the moment she landed the jump.

Sofia bowed her head down a little to hide the blush that ran across her face from ear to ear, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"A-hem," Amber cleared her throat from the edge of the lake. She already had her ice dancing shoes off. "Are you ready to go, Sofia?"

"Can't she stay for just one more dance?"

Amber was about to refuse until she saw her sister's face; then, she grinned. "Sleep in my room tonight, Sofia. I think we have a lot to talk about," said Amber, "I'll be waiting in the coach, then. Don't keep her too long, Hugo."

"Wait, I'm ready to leave now."

"She said it was okay," said Hugo as he skated around Sofia to face her. "Just one more, please? You know I don't say 'please' often."

She didn't know why, but she couldn't bring herself to say no. Get a grip, Sofia, she told herself—but to no avail; she took his hand. "I'll be there right before you know it," said Sofia to Amber.

What was she doing. She needed someone to tell her to stop what she's doing. She wanted her amulet to glow. Anything. It was getting out of hand. If she stayed a little longer her chest might explode. She concluded that she really might be sick; but, she still decided to stay and dance.

Hugo spun her in front of him as Amber walked away smiling.

oOo

"You said just one," complained Sofia as they walked together to where the coaches were.

"Takes two to dance," replied Hugo, "You're at fault too."

She bumped his elbow.

Hugo seemed to always know the right things to say to make her feel tingly. It was weird feeling. It was uncomfortable. It was like she didn't have enough air in her. When did he learn to do so—did he even know what he was doing? Sometimes, it was painful, like a brief churning from inside her chest—but she can't admit that she doesn't hate the feeling. She was conflicted; how can she both be averse and seeking at the same time. She knew it was crazy but she couldn't help but have a strange longing for more of it whenever the feeling rears its head.

Their knuckles accidentally brushed against each other, and Hugo's hand jolted back in reflex. "Whoa, your gloves are freezing. Why do you wear such thin ones?"

"You don't even wear gloves. Your hands are just as cold as mine."

"Then how about this," said Hugo as he innocently held her hand.

With every little thing he does the feeling grew stronger. It was strange how much it made her feel weak but also empowered at the same time. It's cheesy—but it is what it is. She just wanted to know how and why. Why does he make her feel the way she does?

"Warmer?" Hugo asked, grinning.

At times, crushes start in the most unlikely person you would ever like and it could make you feel things out of this world. It's an irrational thing that can bring down even the most rational of people. She was level headed, smart, and mature for her age, but it didn't make her immune to its effects. In fact, it was only going to get worse. This part of growing up can be quite the ride.

AN: I hope that you enjoyed reading. Help me improve by telling me what you think through reviewing, please.
*Edit (12/9/16): Just some minor dialogue modifications at the end.