(Note: High School AU, warning for some language)

Cinder's arms were aching as she pushed the desk down the hall. She'd spent nearly the entire day putting it together for her step-mother, and no doubt she'd be given something else to do as soon as she was finished. She just hoped that whatever followed didn't involve pushing heavy things through the entire apartment.

Now, there was just the problem of getting it through the doorway...

"Cinder!" At least it wasn't Adri shouting at her. "Cinder! I need you," Peony drawled, nearly crashing into her step-sister as she ran down the hall.

Her back was sore as she straightened, popping it as she moved. "What's up?"

Peony was bashful now, her hands clasped behind her back, swaying on her feet. "Uh, so, um, prom is coming up…"

Of course, Cinder thought. "Is it? I must've missed the posters at school."

The corners of Peony's mouth dipped down. "I really want to go…."

"You're only a sophomore. You know you can't go until you're a junior without an upperclassmen escort."

"Which is why I'm asking you!"

Cinder groaned. "Help me get this thing into your mom's room." Pouting, Peony moved to the other side of the desk and pulled while Cinder pushed and maneuvered it. "Don't you have a friend who can go with you?"

She frowned. "Iko and Scarlet both have dates, and Cress is going with an upperclassman, and Winter has a boyfriend, but they're not going anyway!"

Cinder furrowed her brow. "Really? I figured, if nothing else, they would go and they'd be crowned King and Queen."

Peony tittered, "Except that Levana and Kai have that on lock! Which is another reason you should go. Kaito Huang!" She said his name with an air of wistful grace and Cinder rolled her eyes, as if that was supposed to make her want to go.

"Congratulations? I'm not surprised that he's going? Aren't he and Levana going together?"

"Oh, no. Didn't you hear they broke up? We're in the same lunch and she practically announced it to the entire cafeteria and cried the entire time. It was totally fake. But who cares? Please take me to prom, Cinder. Pretty please?"

Cinder moved the desk into place and brushed her hands on her shorts. "Bribe someone in one of your classes to take you. I'm not going to prom."

Peony let out a whine and then latched onto one of Cinder's arms, nearly knocking them both to the floor. "Please? I'll even help you pick out a dress!"

"I don't want to pick out a dress. Besides, Adri will never give me money to buy a ticket, let alone a dress. I'm not going."

"I've got the costs covered. Mom won't let me go alone, and Pearl thinks I'll just ruin her night. Please, Cinder?"

Cinder prayed for patience. "For all of the stars, Peony. Yes. Fine. I'll go."

The dress was too loose in the chest and the heels of her shoes were a bit too big, standing at a height of three inches, about two and three quarters of an inch higher than Cinder would have preferred. The dress was black, which Cinder liked, but it was sequined–a compromise Peony forced her to come to.

"You'd look like you were going to a funeral otherwise," she'd explained.

"It'll be my funeral," Cinder had replied.

She planted her hands on her waist and twisted in varying directions as she stared into the mirror. She was every kind of unattractive, her dress every kind of unflattering, her hair every kind of horribly boring. It would never hold a curl, would never hold a bun, would never be anything other than too thin and too messy. Frustration welling inside, she questioned for the fifteenth time in the last hour why she was there, why she'd agreed to go.

Maybe, in the back of her mind, knowing Kai would be there had convinced her just a bit.

Not that he would notice her. Not that he'd ever noticed her. They'd had a grand total of four classes together since they were freshmen and he likely didn't even remember her name. She was the weird recluse who was really good with her hands, and he was the hot-shot rich, intelligent, pretty boy who also happened to be unwaveringly, unbelievably sweet. It was a cruel, cruel world indeed.

"Cinder! C'mon, we're leaving!" Peony yelled from the living room.

She glanced at herself again, screwing up her face in disgust. "Coming."

It was too late to go back now.

Peony was a jumble of anticipation as they stepped out of the car. They'd managed to hitch a ride from their friend Cress, whose new boyfriend was driving her. Cinder felt bad for imposing, but he was nice enough. The boy practically towered over Cress, but they were a cute couple nonetheless.

"Oh my gosh," her step-sister squealed. "We're here! I made it!" She turned to Cinder. "You're the best," she said for the millionth time.

Cinder just pressed a smile.

The atmosphere was chaotic and exciting and Cinder felt absolutely nauseous. This was not her scene, nor would it ever be her scene.

She slipped off her heels–something Peony had informed her that every girl does once they get inside–and took a seat at the table they picked. She wouldn't dance, she was only there to watch, more a chaperone than a student.

Well, until Peony dragged her to the dance floor. Cinder had been completely content just people-watching and playing on her phone, talking to Scarlet and her date when they passed, spotting Cress dancing with hers on the dance floor, trying to avoid looking for Kai. He was probably dancing with some girl. Besides, he was popular and could have any girl in their graduating class of 821, so there was no reason for him to want her, a loner and, she wouldn't have been surprised, a loser.

The DJ was half-decent at her job. Cinder wasn't really into popular hits, but she could keep rhythm with them well enough as they boomed from the speakers. She started getting into it, the excitement infringing on the mounting anxiety, and she did a twirl. She spotted Kai looking at her, dancing with his friends only a few feet away, and smiling and it was heart-stopping and she assumed she was only seeing things.

A few more songs passed, in which Iko abandoned her date for them for a quick dancing session, and then the DJ slowed it down. The couples all began to converge once again.

Dread sank into Cinder's stomach as she backed out of the crowd. Peony rolled her eyes and just shrugged, motioning that she was going to the bathroom, and Cinder decided to head back to their table.

Before she got three steps away, someone brushed her arm. When she realized it was deliberate, she stopped and turned.

"Hey, Cinder." She was met with a dazzling smile and copper eyes that pinned her to her spot.

She tried to keep herself calm, returning his smile, though she was certain hers was not nearly as gorgeous. "Uh, hey, Kai."

He looked back at the dance floor. There were couples littering the whole space. His eyes met hers again. "Would you like to dance?"

Her mouth fell open. Closed again. She worked her jaw. "I, uh, I-I-I d-I don't… I don't know how to dance."

"Nonsense. You were dancing just now!"

She mindlessly scratched at her wrist. "I don't slow dance."

"You'll get the hang of it." His smile was nearly blinding her now. He was so handsome, especially in his well-tailored suit. He probably hadn't even had to rent it. "I've been dying to dance with you since you got out on the floor."

Her stomach turned over. She could've hurled if she'd eaten anything before they left. "O-okay."

The song was already on its first chorus by the time he led her back to the dance floor, taking one hand in his and resting the other on her back; she was hyper aware of its placement, every small movement of his fingers, the heat of his skin against her dress. Cinder was only going through the motions, her heart beating in her throat, her fingers locked on his shoulder.

They swayed at first before he willed her forward, and they began to dance like she knew what she was doing.

He cast a glance down at her dress. "You look lovely tonight."

She blinked. "I didn't even do my hair or makeup."

Kai chuckled. "You don't need to. I mean, I don't think anyone needs to, necessarily, but you… you look beautiful just as you are."

Was this really happening? Was he really flirting with her right now? It had to be a joke. A terrible, sick joke.

She looked past him, her lips pursed. "How much was the bet?"

He licked his lips. "What?"

"How much did your friends bet that you wouldn't ask me to dance?"

His steps faltered–they nearly stumbled over one another. "Oh, Cinder. It's not like that."

She realized that he knew her name. How did he know her name? Four classes, three years. 3500 students in the school. How did he remember her name?

The song would be ending any time now, she figured, so at least the embarrassment wouldn't last too much longer. And besides, she could feel all of the girls standing off to the side of the dance floor glaring at her. None of them were hiding it, either.

He tightened his arm that was around her. "I know I have a hell of a way of showing it, but I've always found you to be quite interesting."

She rolled her eyes. "Interesting? Like a mistreated, caged animal is interesting, right?"

"No." The corners of his lips quirked upwards. "Like a pretty girl is interesting."

She groaned. "It's really cruel to build a girl up and break her down, you know. If I were anyone else–"

"–It's really not like that, Cinder."

She met his gaze again. "So you've waited three years to say it, and all because you wanted to ask me to dance?"

"Things with my ex were complicated, and you honestly seemed really out of my league."

She stifled the urge to push him away and just leave. She'd walk home if she had to. This was far more embarrassing than that would be. "Hm, let's see." Her grip on his shoulder was tight, and she knew–hoped–it was uncomfortable. "The most popular guy in school, check. Rich and smart, check. Mind-numbingly handsome, check. Too nice for someone in his position, check. Out of the loser loner girl's league? You lost me on that one."

"You've got a really fucked up sense of self-worth, you know?" His voice and his expression were gentle, or maybe he pitied her. She couldn't decide.

She shrugged. "It happens."

The song finally ended and she dropped her arm away from his shoulder. He didn't let go of her. "Like I said, I have a hell of a way of showing people how I feel. I have a lot of expectations on me, you know, and I just–"

"–You just what? You think I'm a really good way at getting back at your parents? 'Look, mom and dad! I broke up with Levana, even though we're actually from the same social class, and now I'm dating a total loser! And she's poor! Aren't you so terribly disappointed in me?'"

He looked hurt. "I broke up with Levana because she's manipulative and emotionally abusive. It took a long time to end that relationship, Cinder. I've been dying to get away from her. And, for the record, you're not a loser. And I don't really care about how much money you have."

"Don't have."

"I don't care about what my parents think or want, either."

The pop songs had returned again and people were starting to return to dancing wildly, though a lot of them were staring at the mismatched couple now. She pretended not to notice.

She wet her lips. "What do you want from me, Kai?"

"I don't know, Cinder. I don't want anything from you, I guess. I just wanted you to know how I feel."

"They'll be announcing King and Queen soon," she mumbled, pulling out of his grip. "Have fun dancing with your ex. I'm sure that'll be interesting. Like the scene of a freak car accident is interesting."

She turned on her heel and walked away, passing the tables and going straight to the exit of the dance hall. The bathroom was right there, and she wondered where Peony was. Maybe she was at the table. Maybe she saw everything. Maybe she saw nothing.

"Cinder!"

Her shoulders tensed. She heard the music in the other room stop, and someone was saying something into a microphone. "That sounds like your cue," she said, not turning to look at him.

"I meant everything I said."

Her head rolled back and she stared at the ceiling. "My god, Kai. You aren't going to let up, are you?"

She was glad no one else was around, aside from a few indifferent chaperones, everyone else inside waiting for them to announce the King and Queen, as if they didn't already know the outcome.

Cinder turned around to look at him. He had his hands shoved in his pockets. She crossed her arms. "What?"

"I really–I wasn't lying."

"Doesn't mean it wasn't a bet."

He dragged a hand down his face before depositing it back in his pocket. "My friends know that I like you. They bet me that I wouldn't tell you. So yes, it was a bet, but not in the way you think."

"How long?"

"How long what?"

"Have you 'liked' me, or whatever?"

"Two years."

She threw her hands in the air. "Two years!"

"I've been with Levana for longer, though. Unfortunately, I'm sure you knew that. Like I said, things were complicated."

She rubbed the back of her neck, pity in her heart, stubbornness in her head. "Yeah, I know all about emotionally abusive relationships."

He frowned. "I'm sorry."

"Stop. Just stop. This is ridiculous. You and I are not on the same wavelength, Kai. Not even if we wanted to be."

He raked his fingers through his hair. "I like you, Cinder. Don't you get that?"

She crossed her arms over her chest again. "I don't even know you. I know what I've heard, and that's it."

A small smile played at his lips. "It's a start, at least."

"That wasn't me agreeing to anything."

He sighed, though his smile didn't fade. Cheers erupted from the dance hall. Kai turned to look and Cinder looked past him to see Levana climbing onto the stage.

"They'll be announcing you next."

"I don't care." He turned to look at her. "Let them all realize I'm not in there and come out here. I'd tell the whole school how I felt if it would do anything to change your mind."

She was blushing now, she knew. "How can you possibly like me?"

He stepped closer, his eyes piercing her. "I don't know that, either. I just know that I do and I've never been able to deny it."

Confused chatter was starting to leak through the open doors that lead to the dance floor. People were shouting his name.

Her stomach churned. "Is this a prank?"

He was laughing now. "You really don't believe me."

"Not at all."

A few people rushed out from the dance hall. "Hey, Kai! C'mon, bro, they're crowning you."

He looked at them like they were a nuisance. "Pass. I'm busy."

Her nails were digging into her forearms, likely leaving marks. What was he doing?

"Levana's going to be pissed," one of them pointed out.

"She doesn't know how to be anything else," Kai replied. "Seriously, I'm busy here."

They all turned to Cinder. One of her nails cut through her skin. They passed glances between each other, before looking at Kai. Another person spoke this time. "We'll let them know."

When they were alone again, Kai seemed to relax just a bit. Cinder tapped her foot anxiously. "You gave up the prestigious title of Prom King. What ever will you do?"

"Give up my seat in the Student Government, probably."

She feigned a gasp. "Oh, but Kaito! Everyone would be so disappointed!"

He chuckled. "This whole conversation is just us throwing out what-ifs and buts, you know. It's not very fair to not give this a chance just based on what might happen."

She chewed her lip. "Didn't I mention that I hardly know you? And you hardly know me."

"We can fix that."

Cinder wiped away the little drop of blood that trickled out from where she broke the skin with her nail and then dropped her arms, fiddling with her dress. "You and I could never work out."

"How can you know if you don't ever try?"

Her heart was palpitating. She held her chin up and met his eyes with all the confidence she could muster. "I just do, Kai."

"No, you don't."

He shook his head and a piece of hair fell into his eye, begging to be brushed out of the way–

No, she wouldn't think like that, she couldn't. He just looked so vulnerable, standing there with that desperation in his eyes and a pathetic grin on his face.

She began to look around, glancing behind her, glancing at the ceiling and at the floor, her gaze addressing the corners and light fixtures with care.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Trying to find the cameras."

"What cameras?"

She met his eyes again. "This is clearly some sort of prank show."

"No cameras," he said. "No games and no tricks. I'm not promising that there's no one around watching us right now," he shot a meaningful glance towards the door, and Cinder saw quick movements from behind the door frame, "but that doesn't make me a liar."

Her heart seemed to cave in on itself. A small smirk crept across her lips. "You're right. I suppose it doesn't."

He made another tiny step towards her. "And what was it you called me? Devilishly handsome?"

"I believe my words were 'mind-numbingly handsome'. 'Devilish' doesn't suit you."

"Cinder," he said softly.

Her heart was pounding, she realized. Her voice came out stronger than his. "Kai."

He moved closer again. He was right in front of her. She could smell his cologne. Fingers brushed her elbow.

"Is this part of the bet?" she breathed, knowing she should stop him, wanting desperately not to. Her heart was winning over her mind this time around.

"My own little addition, actually."

His lips were soft and warm, and she was sure hers were awkward and tense. He pulled away only briefly, adjusting so that he was holding her this time. She detected every small movement of the fingers pressed into her back, the way his lips moved around hers with ease and an evident desire to do so.

This time, they were broken apart by a chaperone. "Come on, you two," she warned.

They both laughed and decided to go sit outside and soak up the warm night air. They found a bench in a small garden area not far from the parking lot and sat down. He grinned at her. "That was an interesting turn of events."

"Yeah," she said. "Interesting like dancing with a prince at the ball is interesting."

He quirked a brow. "Did you just compare me to a prince?"

"I also compared prom to a royal ball. Don't flatter yourself."

He tucked her hair behind her ear. "Enough with the analogies," he whispered. "Wouldn't want to ruin the moment."

Her gaze dipped to his lips before meeting his eyes again. "Of course not."

Then, she slid her arms around him and kissed him. It was the most out-of-character thing she'd ever done.

Interesting. Like a caterpillar's metamorphosis into a butterfly was interesting.

Author's Note: So many flashbacks to last summer, when it wasn't uncommon for me to start writing something at midnight and then have it finished by 4 AM. Oh, Spring Break, you are working wonders for me. I don't know if this is that good, but it was late and I was tired and everything is adorable when I'm tired. I reread it like 4 times and I don't hate it, so that's got to mean something... I don't know. I'll let you guys decide. I'm gonna shut up now!