A/N: In this story, Sofia is 14 years old and Amber and James are 15 years old. I hope you all have a Happy New Year.
The ballroom was decorated for Amber's New Year's Party. Sofia walked in.
"Wow, Amber. You've really outdone yourself" Sofia said. "Everything looks amazing."
"I know" Amber said. "It's a big deal. We haven't seen our friends in so long. They were all excited when I invited them."
"It's going to be great" Sofia said.
"And one person in particular was really excited to come tonight" Amber said, excitedly.
"Who?" Sofia asked.
"Hugo" Amber said. "He told me he couldn't wait to see you."
"Me?" Sofia asked, confused.
"Oh yes Sofia" Amber said. "He really likes you."
"Yeah, we're really good friends" Sofia said. "I've been to his ice shows many times since graduation."
"Oh Sofia, you're so silly" Amber said. "It's so obvious he likes you as more than a friend."
"I don't think so" Sofia said, blushing.
"I do" Amber said. "And judging by that rosy tone in your cheeks, you like him as more than a friend too. I mean why else would you go to all of his ice shows?"
"I haven't been to them all" Sofia said.
Amber rolled her eyes.
"Anyways" Amber said. "You better get ready for that midnight kiss. Now, I must get ready."
Amber walked out of the ballroom as James walked in.
"Hey Sof" James said, walking up to her.
Sofia was distracted.
"You okay?" James asked.
"Yeah" Sofia said, unsure of herself.
"What is it?" James asked.
"Can I ask you something?" Sofia asked.
"Of course" James said.
"Amber seems to think that Hugo likes me" Sofia said. "As more than a friend."
"Oh he totally does" James said. "I think he felt that way long before we left Royal Prep."
"Really?" Sofia asked.
"Yeah" James said. "Don't you like him too?"
"No" Sofia said, getting defensive. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you've been to all his ice shows" James said. "It seems pretty obvious."
"I got to go" Sofia said. "I still have to get ready."
Sofia walked out of the ballroom.
Sofia was in her room getting ready. She had her navy blue dress on and was putting on her lipstick. Miranda knocked on her door and opened it.
"Oh Sofia, you look beautiful" Miranda said.
"Thanks mom" Sofia said.
"Are you excited to see your friends again?" Miranda asked.
"Mm-hm" Sofia mumbled.
"Sofia, what's wrong?" Miranda asked.
"Amber and James both seem to think that Hugo likes me as more than a friend" Sofia said. "And what scares me even more is I think I feel the same way."
"Well that's wonderful" Miranda said. "Hugo is a very nice young man and handsome too."
"What if he wants to kiss me at midnight?" Sofia asked, panicking. "I've never kissed anyone before. What if I'm terrible at it?"
"Alright, slow down" Miranda said. "You need to know that you don't have to do anything you are not comfortable doing. Anyone who cares about you will respect that. But, if you feel like you are ready, then allow for it to happen."
"Thanks mom" Sofia said. "I feel better."
"Good" Miranda said. "Now, get to the ballroom. The party should be starting soon."
Sofia hugged Miranda and walked out of her room.
The ballroom began to fill with the kids and they were all mingling. Sofia was with Amber, Hildegard, Clio, Vivian and Jun. While James was with Desmond, Zandar, Jin and Khalid. Hugo walked into the ballroom and Sofia immediately turned to face the door.
"Sorry, I'm late" Hugo said.
"You're right on time" Amber said, walking over to him. "And I must say, you look dashing."
"Thank you Amber" Hugo said. "You look very beautiful."
"I do, don't I" Amber said, dragging him over to the girls. "Girls, look who's here."
All the girls started fawning over Hugo; all of them except Sofia.
"Sofia" Hugo said. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you too" Sofia said, shyly.
"You look beautiful" Hugo said.
"Thanks" Sofia said, slightly embarrassed. "You look very handsome."
There was an awkward silence. Sofia could feel her cheeks getting hot. She couldn't believe she had just told Hugo that he was handsome in front of everyone.
"Well I'm going to go catch up with the boys" Hugo said.
Hugo walked toward the boys and Sofia looked at the girls, who were all smiling. Ruby and Jade entered the ballroom.
"Excuse me" Sofia said, walking over to Ruby and Jade.
"Sofia" Ruby exclaimed. "This all looks amazing."
"Well I can't take credit for it" Sofia said. "Amber arranged everything."
"There's James" Jade said, excitedly. "Doesn't he just look dreamy?"
"He does" Ruby said, glancing over at James.
Sofia rolled her eyes. She couldn't blame her friends for having a crush on James. Sofia had once had a crush on him. But, she still found it slightly weird that her friends had an obsession with her step-brother. James walked over to them.
James walked over to Sofia, Ruby and Jade.
"Ruby. Jade. I'm glad you could make it" James said.
"We wouldn't have missed it" Ruby said.
A slow song started playing.
"Ruby, would you like to dance?" James asked.
"Me?" Ruby asked, in disbelief.
"I'd like it very much" James said.
Ruby looked at Jade, who nodded.
"Okay" Ruby said.
Ruby and James started dancing while Sofia looked at Jade.
"That was nice of you" Sofia said. "Letting Ruby dance with James. I know you wish it was you dancing with him."
"Yeah" Jade said. "But, I wasn't going to prevent Ruby from dancing with him. Plus, I need to know more about that prince in the green cape."
"That's Prince Khalid of Khaldoun" Sofia said. "He's really nice."
"And very good-looking" Jade said. "Is he dating anyone?"
"Well you got over James fast" Sofia said. "And no. He is very single."
"Can you introduce me?" Jade asked.
"Come on" Sofia said.
Jade followed Sofia over to Khalid.
"Khalid" Sofia said.
"Sofia, it is so good to see you again" Khalid said.
"It's good to see you too" Sofia said. "How have you been?"
"I've been good" Khalid said.
"Khalid, I wanted to introduce you to my friend Jade" Sofia said.
"It is lovely to meet such a beautiful young woman" Khalid said.
"You're quite the charmer" Jade said.
"Do you like to dance?" Khalid asked.
"I love to dance" Jade said.
"Would you like to dance with me?" Khalid asked.
"I would be honoured" Jade said.
Khalid guided Jade to the dance floor.
Hugo walked over to Sofia.
"Ruby and Jade seem to be over the moon" Hugo said.
Sofia looked at her friends dancing really close to their partners.
"I think it's a dream come true for them" Sofia said. "I know Ruby has wanted to be with James for as long as I can remember. And Jade and Khalid look really good together."
Sofia and Hugo looked at each other.
"Sofia, would you maybe like to, um, dance with me?" Hugo asked, nervously.
"I'd like that" Sofia said.
Hugo escorted Sofia to the dance floor and wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Sofia loved how it felt. The two of them started swaying to the music.
"It's almost midnight" Hugo said.
Sofia looked at the clock to see that it was 11:55pm. Hugo brushed a strand of hair out of her face and Sofia felt her heart race.
"I need some air" Sofia said.
Sofia ran out of the ballroom.
Sofia was outside the castle when she felt a jacket being draped over her bare shoulders. She looked back to see Hugo standing there.
"It's cold out here" Hugo said. "I figured you could use a jacket."
"Thanks" Sofia said.
Hugo looked at Sofia.
"I'm sorry" Hugo said.
"For what?" Sofia asked.
"For clearly making you uncomfortable" Hugo said. "That was the last thing I wanted to do."
"I know" Sofia said. "And it's okay. I just…I don't know."
"Sofia, I like you" Hugo said. "I really like you. I thought you felt the same way."
"I do" Sofia said. "I'm just overwhelmed, I guess. I mean there's so much pressure on New Year's Eve. Find someone and kiss them at midnight. The truth is, I've never kissed anyone before. I was nervous."
"Sofia, I don't want you to feel pressured into anything" Hugo said. "I wanted to come to this party to be with you, but I don't need a kiss at midnight if you are not ready. I am okay with whatever you want to do or don't want to do. I like hanging out with you."
Sofia hugged Hugo and then the fireworks went off, ringing in a new year.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Sofia said, pulling out of the hug.
"Not nearly as beautiful as you" Hugo said. "Happy New Year, Sofia."
"Happy New Year, Hugo" Sofia said, kissing his cheek.
Hugo wrapped his arm around Sofia's shoulders and pulled her to his hip. She looked up at him, staring at the fireworks. Sofia leaned into him and he smiled.
"Hugo, I would like it if we could maybe go on a date sometime" Sofia said, hopeful.
"I would like that a lot, Sofia" Hugo said.
The two of them stood there watching the fireworks.
A few minutes later, Hugo and Sofia walked back into the ballroom, hand-in-hand. All eyes looked at them. Hugo and Sofia smiled at each other and went to their separate groups.
"Sofia, did you and Hugo kiss?" Amber asked, excitedly.
"No Amber. We didn't" Sofia said.
"What?" Amber asked, in disbelief. "But, it's New Year's Eve. You two clearly are a couple."
"First off, Amber. We are not a couple. Not yet anyway" Sofia said, glancing at Hugo and flashing him a smile. "And second, I wasn't ready for a kiss at midnight and Hugo was very understanding of that."
"Well, if you're happy with it, that's all that matters" Amber said.
"It is all that matters" Sofia said.
Sofia walked over to Ruby and Jade.
"Sofia, guess what" Ruby said, excitedly.
"Um" Sofia said.
"Oh I can't wait for you to guess" Ruby said. "James kissed me. It was absolutely everything I ever dreamed of. And I have dreamed about it a lot."
"I'm happy for you" Sofia said.
"He even asked me on a date" Ruby said. "Can you believe it. Me going on a date with Prince James. It's like a fairytale."
Sofia smiled.
"And Khalid was a perfect prince" Jade said. "He asked if I wanted to kiss him and I told him that I really wanted to, so he kissed me. Sofia, thank you so much for introducing us."
"You're welcome Jade" Sofia said.
"And how did things go with you and Prince Hugo?" Ruby asked. "Did you have a magical kiss like we did?"
"No" Sofia said.
"He didn't kiss you?" Jade asked, somewhat angered.
"I think he really wanted to" Sofia said. "But, I wasn't ready for it so he respected that."
"A perfect prince" Jade said.
"But, we did agree to go on a date" Sofia said. "And one day, I'll be ready to kiss him. It may not be at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, but that's okay. It will be on our timeline."
Sofia looked at Hugo, who smiled at her, so she smiled back.