As soon as he walked through the doors, Sora stopped dead in his tracks. His jaw didn't quite drop, but it definitely went a little slack, and his expression stayed that way as he followed the group farther into the building.

"Our gym," he breathed, partially horrified and partially impressed.

If he hadn't known this was where the New Year's Eve dance was being held, he wouldn't have easily believed this was even the gym. This room definitely didn't look like a gymnasium. It was decked out with streamers and tinsel, lights hung from the rafters and a glowing sign on the wall read, "Happy New Year!" in large, bolded letters. Part of the floor space had been left open and surrounded by colored, flashing lights to provide a dance floor. The rest was filled with round tables, and long rectangular tables of snacks and drinks ran along one wall. The bleachers had been covered over with colored tarps to disguise them.

"Wow." Riku was more impressed than Sora was. "This looks great." If they'd been standing any closer to the dance floor, where fast music was already playing for the students who had chosen to dance, it would have been difficult for his friends to hear him. But they'd congregated around a table where they were draping their coats over chair backs, so they merely nodded their agreement and continued looking around at the decorations.

"Look how cute Demyx and Zexion are," Namine commented, pointing subtly in the direction of the couple. Senior and junior were on the dance floor, Demyx smiling and laughing as Zexion tried not to look embarrassed at his lack of dancing experience. It was obvious the blond was much more in sync with the music, and he had hold of Zexion's hands to try to guide him along with the beat. And as frustrated as the older clearly student was, he was smiling, and every time he looked at Demyx, he smiled a little more, and he was trying rather than giving up. Namine was more than right—the two were cute.

Without saying anything or hardly moving at all, Riku let his gaze slide over to the brunet standing beside him. Seeing the two older students together like that made him want to grab Sora's hand and drag him onto the dance floor. It would be fun. If he didn't do it, he'd spend the whole night thinking about it.

He still didn't do it.

Coward.

Yeah, so? His last move hadn't exactly gone very well and he didn't feel like embarrassing himself at the moment. But he kept glancing at Sora and hell, was the younger boy looking back at him? Did he want to…?

Shaking himself, the silver-haired athlete straightened and jerked his chin in the direction of the buffet tables. "Come on, Brat. Let's get something to drink."

Sora nodded absently and followed the older boy between the round tables, weaving their way towards the snacks and drinks. He probably should have paid more attention to where he was going, but he just followed the sound of Riku's footsteps so he could keep looking back over his shoulder towards the dance floor. The figures of Demyx and Zexion were still easy to tell from the other students—that looked like so much fun.

"Too bad we don't have dates," he commented with false sorrow as Riku picked two little plastic cups and filled them with red punch. "Guess we can dance with Kairi and Namine, though."

A derisive snort was Riku's only reaction, and he turned a moment later to hold out one of the cups. "You can dance with Kairi if you want, but I'd rather go stag."

"So you're not going to dance at all?" Sora took a drink of punch to cover up any disappointment that had slipped into his tone or expression.

"Not unless it's with the person I actually want to dance with."

"Oh."

Oh? Brilliant."Oh." You're a suave guy, Sora. That's the perfect way to get him to dance with you.

Oh.

"Who?" he asked, hoping it wasn't too late for a second response and that his first hadn't put Riku off the topic completely.

"Somebody."

Frustrating jerk.

But Sora hid that reaction and rolled his eyes instead as he took another sip of punch. "Come on, Riku, it's not like I'll make fun of you or anything. Who is she?"

Teal eyes flashed in the dim lights for just a fraction of a second. "Who said it was a girl?"

Admittedly, Sora's heart leaped a little at that. "Who is he, then?"

Riku was quiet for several moments, then he shrugged noncommittally. "Nobody. Don't worry about it."

It was harder to hide the new wave of disappointment but Sora did his best. "Whatever."

For a moment, the two stood there not looking at each other, then Sora refilled his cup and started walking back towards the table where he and the others had left their things. Riku didn't hesitate to follow him and reached the table just a step behind the brunet sophomore.

"Where'd Roxas go?" Sora asked as he set down his cup, and Kairi, smiling widely, pointed towards the dance floor.

"Axel."

True enough, there was his blond brother, probably blushing and mumbling, on the edge of the dance floor with a very easily recognized redheaded senior. Axel was standing behind the sophomore, his hands on Roxas' shoulders as he leaned down to talk next to his ear. Roxas was shaking his head but it was obvious that Axel wasn't about to take no for an answer. In seconds, he'd pushed the blond out onto the dance floor then moved around to stand in front of him, now gripping his hands and trying to guide him out farther as Roxas continued to shake his head but didn't resist in any other way.

"Doesn't he know how to dance?" Namine asked, curious and amused by her blond friend's helpless refusal.

Sora couldn't help the grin that spread over his face. "Nope."

Oh god. Oh god oh god. Ohhh god.

He wasn't—this was not—what?

"Come on, Rox." Axel was grinning at him, weight leaning towards the dance floor. It was all very obvious what he wanted, but Roxas still hung back uncertainly. His hesitation took some of the eagerness out of the older boy. Concern replaced the grin and Axel stepped back towards the blond, still with Roxas' hands clasped in his own. "What's the matter?"

Embarrassment made the blue-eyed sophomore look at his shoes. "I don't know how to dance," he admitted quietly. Axel was forced to lean closer just to try to hear him over the music.

"What?"

"I," Roxas hesitated before raising his voice, "I can't dance!"

It took a few moments for his words to register, then Axel's grin was back and he tugged at the younger boy's hands gently. "That's okay, I'll teach you. It's easy." He paused as the current song ended, then smiled brightly when a new one began. "Dance with me, at least."

Roxas felt his face heating in embarrassment—this new song was slow—and nodded shyly. Smile still firmly in place, Axel gently pulled him out onto the dance floor among the other couples that were already making lazy circles. Nerves made the blond glance around before he stepped up to the taller boy, resting his left hand on Axel's shoulder and letting his right hand sit inside the older boy's. This was dancing he'd had some training in, but he wasn't exactly good at it. He was barely confident that he wouldn't step on Axel's toes or something.

The senior was smiling down at him and Roxas couldn't manage to meet his gaze. But he could feel those green eyes on him, and knew his cheeks were an embarrassing shade of red even if it was too dark for anyone to tell. As they turned, just another dimly lit couple on the dance floor, he kept his focus on moving his feet as an excuse not to look up at his partner. That is, until Axel used the hand on his waist to draw him closer, and lightly squeezed his hand.

"Roxas." Despite the music, it would have been impossible for the blond sophomore not to hear his name being whispered. Now it would have been rude not to look at him, so Roxas took a steadying breath before he lifted his chin.

Holy shit.

They were so close that their noses almost brushed, and their chests were pressed together, and Roxas was pretty sure the older boy could feel his heart hammering behind his ribs. He could definitely feel Axel's, though the senior's was considerably calmer than his own. The other thing he really couldn't help but notice, being this close to the redhead, was that Axel had freckles. They were faint, and there weren't very many, but they were there, hiding behind those upside-down-tear-drop tattoos. Add that to the vibrant red of his hair and deep green of his eyes, the paleness of his skin and his tall, slender figure…well…

Wow. Axel was, for lack of a better word, hot.

Okay, okay, so he'd already accepted the fact that the senior was attractive. There was no denying that. Whatever. But now was different. Now he knew, without a doubt, that he was attracted to him, and he wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that.

It sort of felt like getting punched in the gut. Unexpected and unfair, a shallow blow. But it also made his chest feel tight, and he thought that if he opened his mouth to say something, he'd just squeak. The fact that they were so close was nerve-wracking, and with Axel looking at him like that, smiling just a little and his eyes hooded, he was starting to feel a little weak in his knees.

Part of him wanted to go up on his tiptoes and kiss the senior. The rest of him wanted Axel to lean down and kiss him. A moment later, all of him was embarrassed and flustered, and he looked away from the older student in an attempt to gather his thoughts.

Axel's fingers shifted against his back. "Something wrong?"

They were still moving in slow circles, completely oblivious to the other students around them.

"No…just…haven't done this before." That was true enough.

"Yeah, me neither."

Surprise made Roxas look up again, his expression one of disbelief. "What? Nu uh, you have to have danced before."

An easy grin spread over the redhead's face. "Nope. Not like this."

"Then what have you done?"

The senior shrugged, though his expression was a little smug. "Tango, salsa, samba, some swing. Ballroom, too, but this is…not that."

Roxas swayed his head side-to-side. "Fair enough."

Chuckling, Axel allowed a little more space between them, though Roxas wasn't actually sure he wanted that anymore. The song was nearing its end, and he knew that once a faster song came on, the redhead was going to try to teach him how to dance. And he knew it wasn't going to go well, and that he wasn't going to be able to get out of it.

Eh, at least he was going to be spending time with the senior he was apparently so attracted to.

X

That little brat.

From her place by the punch bowl, Larxene had a much too clear view of her least favorite student. Making big eyes and acting all shy just to get Axel to dance with him. Pathetic. If she hadn't been stuck serving the drinks, she'd have gone over there and shown him what real dancing looked like. She knew Axel was a talented dancer and she knew she was good enough to be his partner. Much better than the kid, at any rate. It was just her luck that teachers were chaperones, and she'd been assigned to the punch bowls.

Waste of an evening. Waste of a dress.

Black with a white lace back, it draped over her frame and fell elegantly to her ankle. The hem was uneven, stopping at her knee on just one side, and the lace came over her shoulders to the heart-shaped neckline. It wasn't as revealing as she would normally have worn, but since she wasn't dancing, and since it was cold outside, something like this was a little more appropriate. Besides, what would be the point in showing off her figure if there was no one around to appreciate it?

Disgusting. She didn't even want to look over and see them flirt. But without anyone to serve punch to, she had little else to focus on. So she watched with narrowed eyes, her arms folded over her stomach, as her Axel took the blond baby he was so infatuated by and spun him then pulled him close. Her eyes narrowed further—had he just kissed the kid's cheek? The nerve! Hadn't she told him what would happen if he didn't drop the brat and come back to her?

I'll kill him. I'll get rid of him once and for all.

Evidently, detention wasn't going to be enough to scare him away from her pet, and it didn't seem to have worked to bring Axel back to her, either. If she wanted the redheaded senior back around her little finger, then she was just going to have to be more aggressive.

X

The party had been going for over an hour and Kairi hadn't danced a single slow song. She'd stood at the edge of the dance floor to watch Axel dance with Roxas, and Sora with Namine once, but otherwise they'd abandoned the floor in favor of snacks and drinks. She didn't mind it, particularly, but she was getting pretty annoyed with Riku. He was standing around like it didn't even occur to him to dance with Sora for any of the slow songs.

Really, what was so difficult about it? All he had to do was ask. That was it. Simple.

He's so stubborn.

Just looking at the silver-haired athlete's stoic expression made her want to roll her eyes. He had to recognize Sora's body language. The brunet had his hands clasped behind his back and was rocking back and forth on his heels and toes. His expression was one of light interest as he watched the other dancers, carefully controlled so it wouldn't be wistful or longing. Everything about him said, "ask me to dance," and it was driving Kairi crazy that Riku hadn't done anything yet.

"He'd better do something," she muttered, just loud enough that Namine heard and glanced at her.

"What?"

Kairi jerked her head just enough to indicate their teal-eyed friend. "Riku. He'd better ask Sora to dance soon, or I'm going to lose my mind."

Understanding lit the blonde's eyes and she glanced furtively at the two males standing beside her. "Do you think he will?"

"Not without a push."

They both looked over this time, not even bothering to pretend they weren't, and watched as Sora paused in his rocking, looked at Riku, sighed, then returned his attention to the dance floor. Eyebrows lifted in exasperation, Namine looked at her cousin and widened her eyes, head tilting forward just slightly as if to say, "Seriously?" Kairi nodded once then slipped behind the blonde, moving past her so she could lean close to Riku.

"Quit being so proud," she hissed, "and ask him."

Riku didn't so much as turn his head. "I'm good, thanks."

This time, Kairi couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Do it or I'll tell him you have dirty dreams about him," the redhead threatened, watching as the taller student stiffened.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Are you sure about that?" Their eyes met; a silent challenge passed between them. Slowly, Kairi smiled, deceptively sweet. "Hey, Sora," the brunet looked at her expectantly, "did you know Riku—"

Before she could get the rest of the words out, Riku cut in front of her and grabbed Sora's wrist, dragging him out onto the dance floor. Though he didn't resist, the brunet cast a confused glance between his two friends as he was towed along.

"Uh…? Riku?"

The older athlete dropped his wrist and turned, glaring slightly. "What?" His tone was surly; he stood there, no longer touching the other boy, as couples danced around them.

"Wasn't Kairi about to tell me something?"

"No."

For a moment, they stood there, somewhat awkward, then Riku sighed and let his shoulders sag a little.

"You wanna dance?" he asked quietly, looking at Sora through his bangs.

Surprise widened blue eyes before his shyness turned Sora's face pink. He nodded, gaze lowered, and started when Riku stepped closer. One of his hands was grasped and lifted, and he was embarrassed to feel Riku take his waist.

"Come on, Brat," the older boy murmured, and Sora slowly placed his free hand on Riku's shoulder.

They eased into the dance, eventually matching the couples around them, and Sora became convinced that they were being stared at. Not because they were both guys—they weren't the only ones, anyway—but because so many of their P.E. classmates were there. Hercules was dancing with a curly-haired brunet. Eric had Ariel; Phillip was with a pretty blond, and so on. He had spotted just about everyone during the previous hour, and he wasn't entirely sure what they would think. That it was weird? That it was about time?

Riku squeezed his hand to gain his attention. "What's wrong?"

Shrugging, Sora focused his gaze on the taller boy's collarbone. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"I dunno. What people are gonna think." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Riku's arm hooked around his waist and yanked so he was flush against the older boy. He could help but take a startled step back, though he didn't manage to go anywhere, and it was a few seconds before he gathered himself enough to look up at his companion. Riku was staring down at him, eyebrows raised, clearly unhappy.

"I didn't realize that mattered." There was an almost sharp edge to his tone that made Sora feel kind of guilty.

"Well, I mean," he stammered out, even more self-conscious now because they'd stopped dancing, and Riku was holding him so close, and some of the other dancers were starting to notice, "I don't wanna get picked on or something."

Riku rolled his eyes. "You think anyone in this school would have the guts? We're the best athletes here, Sora, and not the only guy-guy dancers. Or is it because it's me? Are you embarrassed to dance with me?"

"No, of course not." How could Riku even suggest that?

"Then why do you care what anyone else thinks?"

That brought him up short. Why did he care? Everyone knew they were friends. They flirted all the time. There was nothing wrong with dancing. It just made him nervous because this was slow and close and intimate. It wasn't their usual friendly rivalry, and Sora wasn't entirely sure if this dance was as friends or if it meant more than that.

Forget what everyone else thought. What was he supposed to think? He wanted to ask, but he couldn't get up the nerve. Not with Riku looking at him like that, and besides, he hadn't answered the older athlete's question yet.

Lifting his chin, the brunet managed a small smile. "I guess I don't."

His response earned a grin, and Riku started moving him in slow circles again as the song continued. "Good."