Another set of starting flashbacks that I was so excited to write.

Year Four: Two Left Feet

Five Years Ago - Somewhere in the Upper East Side

Angela was always happy that Xavier and Britney were together. To the surprise of the other cheerleaders, it never put a real damper on their friend group nor did Angela feel like a third wheel. Britney's still one of her best friends, even before Xavier had a crush on her (although he'd say something different like how he does not like her that way but she knows how he looks at her, he's wrong).

The only time she despises them being together is when Xavier would use his relationship as leverage. Sometimes, Angela thinks it's because Xavier is the son of the family and the maybe-forgotten twin, but she believes it's because her parents fear Britney.

Like today.

Xavier took the car after football practice because he wanted to take Britney out on a date. After arguing, Angela had to find her own way home after cheerleading.

Angela was walking through town with her headphones in, heading for the subway. She takes them out and wraps them up in her hand when she notices she's passing James's private school. Angela checks the time on her phone, about to call James to see if he's still nearby. She'd check the student parking lot for his car but the boy owns a bunch and drives whichever one matches his mood.

To her luck, Angela sees James walking out of the building with some classmates. She crosses the lot and when he looks her way, James immediately says goodbye to the other boys. He gestures over to his car and they meet there.

Angela would've never guessed the white convertible.

"What are you doing here?" James asks as he unlocks the car and throws his bag in the back.

"I was on my way home since Xavier decided to take Britney on a freaking date somewhere," Angela says. "I was in the neighbourhood and wondered if you were still around. Are you busy?"

"For you? Never. Get in."

Angela puts her bag in the back beside James' before she slides into the passenger's seat. He turns on the headlights before heading out onto the street to join rush-hour traffic. Angela opens the convertible's roof and her hair flies around her, sticking to her lip gloss even when she pushes her hair back.

"So, going on any dates or have you already dated everyone in your sister school?" Angela asks.

"Funny," James responds without laughing. "The better question is why are you so interested in my dating life?"

"It's interesting and messy, certainly more than mine or the lack thereof. Nobody makes moves on Xavier's sister."

James glances at her. "You're just saying that. I know you believe in love and a happily ever after but you're just saying all that because you never tried it with me. I will happily make a move on Xavier's sister. Fuck bro code bullshit since he's breaking it first with Britney."

Angela raises a brow. "Oh, really?"

"I have many exes who will tell you I was a great time."

"Get over yourself."

"Heartbroken. I'll just get over you instead."

Angela grins. "I'd like to see you try."

Hours on the road later with no rush to get home, Angela and James finally make it to her house. It wasn't until they pulled in that they notice how dark it got. Aside from congested traffic, they got lost in conversation while sharing stories and gossip about James' extravagant dates and Angela's cheerleading routines. Words were cut when they approached the bridge, making them holler and laugh as if they were on a rollercoaster and not a route they've been on their whole lives.

"I got home before Xavier," Angela says happily when she notices her and Xavier's car still not in the driveway, "thank god."

"Should I walk you up?" James asks.

"Do you have somewhere else to be?"

"I told you I'm always available for you." James leans back in the driver's seat. He turns off his headlights and lights up one of his hands to avoid being in complete darkness.

"Does it feel like anything?" Angela asks. When James looks at her with one brow up, Angela points to his glowing hand.

"I've actually never thought about it," James says, looking at his hand. "I can feel it when it starts, obviously, building up in my body before shooting up into arms and then hands. My body prickles like small hornets flying around their hive. It's like adrenaline struck by lightning."

"Well, if you do that then how am I supposed to hold your hand?"

James holds out his non-glowing hand. "I have another one."

"Tempting. You do this with anyone else?"

"I don't do this with my dates, just you."

Angela hopes it's too dark for him to catch her blushing. She's in trouble…

-o-

Four Years Ago - James' Bougie Private School Prom

James doesn't know how he got to this point in his life, specifically with Angela Rogers as his girlfriend and his prom date. They had already gone to her prom and they were now at his prom where all eyes were on them. Or mostly on her.

And he can't blame them.

She looks like a princess that always appears in his dreams. Her blush-pink dress is long and entirely made of a flowery tulle, even the corset and shoulder-less sleeves. Her blonde hair is pinned up which makes her pearl earrings pop against her bright blue eyes. Not to mention that she's in heels, making her even taller than him.

All of James' classmates from both schools were shocked when he started dating someone from, wait for it, public school. It not only took him off the market, but it was Angela Rogers of all people.

He's heard the rumours of Xavier wanting to kill him for dating his sister. It enlightens him since Xavier started dating his best friend's cousin/basically sister first.

"Were you trying to seduce me in this dress?" James whispers into her ear.

"I don't have to try," Angela whispers.

Angela kisses him as she pulls him onto the dance floor.

-o-

Present Day - Edison Residence - 13:03 PM

Angela breaks off their kids and leaps off of straddling him. She lands on her tiptoes, glad they didn't make it too far so she only has to put on her sneakers.

"We gotta go," Angela says, putting on a windbreaker and fixing her hair in his mirror.

"What?" James asks, rolling over in his bunk to face her. "No, we don't."

"If you join me, we can finish this later."

"You're bribing me with sex?"

"Absolutely."

"Nice."

James shrinks and flies out of bed.

-o-

Operations Training Room - 13:24 PM

Since the curriculum for the dance elective had no difference between the weight classes, the two groups were combined. A member of Weight Class A had to partner with someone from B, which worked out well for the most part.

They reviewed all the classic dances and how to control body contact, and certain moves to help scope the room and get closer to other couples without drawing attention. How to be subtle with eyes on your dancing from every possible angle.

"Kinda sucks they don't teach us club dancing," Orchid says. "I can do my job and still bring it down."

Orchid drops it in front of Brody and he holds her shoulders. She falls back so she sits on his feet for a moment. Brody picks her up by looping his arms under her shoulders and hoisting her up.

"Four years of Concrete Beach," Merida states, sarcastically commending Orchid's dancing skills.

"Luckily for Bestie, I'm better at line dancing," Orchid says, winking at Xavier. "My man's got two left feet."

Xavier isn't sure if he preferred being partnered with Orchid or Merida, but he got Orchid while Merida got Brody. Lucky Angela got James, not that he wanted to dance with either of them. Or watch them as they were supposed to practice scoping the scene. He's seen them dramatically dip each other and whisper things way too many times.

He can take an L for this class.

"I'm going to ace this," James says, walking in with Angela's arm around his shoulder. "I love this class."

"I haven't seen you in any classes all semester except this one," Brody says. "I've barely seen you on campus."

"Spends a lot of time in our residence building," Orchid whispers too loudly.

Xavier should've dropped the class but it's mandatory. Merida would've joined him.

"Orchid," Angela scolds through gritted teeth but just gets bouncing shoulders in response.

Before Orchid could respond, their profs tell them to get into formation.

"I can't un-see some things," Merida whispers to Xavier before she walks off with Brody. "I need a lobotomy."

Xavier doesn't want to know more. He didn't even want to hear that part. He hates this class.

The music starts and everyone starts dancing around the training room as if they're in a ballroom, keeping rhythm and close contact with their partner and looking at everyone while not. Xavier catches Merida wanting to be the one to lead Brody and then Angela and James dancing professionally because they're in class. He's seen things at Concrete Beach he wishes he could get a lobotomy to remove from his memory.

"You did that," Merida whispers to him when they cross paths on the dance floor, gracefully pointing an arm at Angela and James.

Xavier glances over and sees his sister and James. The two of them dancing like a fairytale except switch the ballgown and suit for their training uniforms. Swaying back and forth as if they're the only ones in the room but still aware of their surroundings. James then dips her back and holds the back of her leg when she kicks upwards dramatically. Both laugh before resuming their dance.

Xavier thinks they'll dance like that at their wedding, and then he hates that he's thinking of that. But if anyone's getting married out of the twins, it's her.

"I know," Xavier says, smiling a little at seeing them so happy. He knows Merida is just messing with him because of the memories scarred into her brain.

"What does she mean?" Orchid asks as Xavier spins her. She squeals softly as if she's on a rollercoaster.

"I'd like to listen too," Brody says, keeping him and Merida dancing close to them so he could listen.

Xavier can't remember what he did with Britney that day given that the starting moment happened so many times that it could've been any one of them.

"I made her get home on her own," Xavier explains.