---

"It's a pleasure to see you again Miss Sadie." Gladion took the girl's hand, placing a small kiss on the back of it. Sadie smirked, either from the affection or the baffled look coming from the girl next to him. To make matters worse, she grabbed his arm and began pulling him off.

"Come, young master." She mused "We have much to catch up on."

---

"My Sadie plans on marrying young master Gladion, some day."

Megan felt her stomach drop, but she kept her composure "I-I see. Good for her..."

"Yes, so do me a favour and don't get any ideas with the boy. He is rich, and you are a commoner. You won't him any good, and by no means would he have any reason to fall for you. Why would he?"

---

Scenarios of the ball just kept playing in Megan's head as soon as Sadie entered the room, reminding her that, just like any cliche love story, she had a rival that also wanted Gladion's heart. Of course she was in the lead, for now. However anything could happen, especially since she had no idea how the talk the night to come would go.

Besides, compared to Sadie she was nothing. Even in a casual crop top and shorts she looked like a princess- her hair was still perfect too.

She was flawless. And Megan was not.

How could she compete with that?

"Megan, are you okay?" Sun asked, tapping the blonde-brunette on the shoulder. She was gripping her crossed arms a little too tightly, causing her nails to dig into her skin slightly. She was stressing, all her friends could tell. But only Gladion knew why.

The only thing, could he calm her down? He was supposed to leave her alone...

His arms lifted, ready to pull Megan into them to comfort her. He was going to have to bend their promise a little bit, because he didn't want her to have a panic attack.

"Gladion!"

Or not.

He turned around quickly as Sadie approached, elegant and proper as she stopped in front of him with a beaming smile "It's wonderful that we're in the same class, don't you think?"

Okay, she definitely planned this. With her parents' status, she could get into any college in any country.

But, Gladion wasn't about to accuse her as such. Their families were on good terms, and he wasn't about to ruin that over something that shouldn't affect him. Even though he was almost certain he was the reason she was here.

"I'm... surprised to see you here, Sadie." He chose his world carefully "I didn't know you had a passion for dancing."

"Oh silly, of course I do!" Sadie giggled, holding a hand up to her mouth "My father paid for me to have lessons in tap, ballet and of course, ballroom dancing. That one's my favourite, do you know why?"

"No?"

She inched towards him "Because I get to dance with a partner~"

Oh boy, Gladion was certain Megan was seconds from clawing her eyes out. He coughed.

"Well... I'm looking forward to working with you." He said, trying his best to be polite while also trying to get rid of Sadie. The last thing he needed was her making things harder between him and Megan just before they're able to patch things up. Sadie giggled again, this time placing a hand on his arm.

"Why don't you show me some moves? I haven't seen you dance apart from at balls."

Oh no.

Gladion turned to Megan instantly.

His heart nearly cracked.

The girl was giving him and the girl behind of him a look of fear. It was like she was scared Sadie would snatch him away from her, from the way her hands gripped the fabric of her hoodie and her eyes widened to the point of them being dinner plates.

Did she really think Gladion was going to choose Sadie over her?

There relationship wasn't in best condition, but he wasn't about to give up on her... He wanted her to see that.

So after taking a breath, he hoped he wouldn't screw probably his last chance up "... Actually, Sadie, I was about to talk to Megan about some homework."

Megan's eyes snapped open "Wha--"

Before she could get a sentence out the boy pulled her into him by the wrist.

"Just one freebie." He whispered so only she could hear "She's planning something, I know it."

For some reason that put Megan at ease, feeling his warmth again. Perhaps what made her uneasy these past couple of days was not having him at her side. However that didn't stop her from feeling out of place. With a small huff she nodded, and allowed Gladion to lead her out of the room past a gobsmacked Sadie. When they left she turned to Lillie, arms crossed.

"What exactly is she to Gladion?" She asked in slight disgust. And despite the obvious insult towards her friend, Lillie only groaned and massaged her temple.

"Honestly, I wish I knew..."

---

Gladion had dragged Megan into a dance studio he apparently booked before class, as if he knew this was going to happened, before abandoning her by the door and waltzing over to the speakers. The girl watched curiously, eyebrow raised.

"What are you--"

A soft shush from Gladion cut her off, only adding to her confusion as he glanced at her over his shoulder.

"We're still on hiatus, right?" He asked "I want to stay true to my word as much as possible, even when we're here together."

Uh... okay? Isn't that kinda difficult when there's literally nothing to do?

Just then a song blasted through the speakers. But not just any song, it was Maroon 5's Lucky Strike. It was the song she and Gladion had made a routine together with, which had been in development since after their little warm up dance to Rather Be.

Megan's eyes widened as Gladion made his way to the middle of the room and signalled her over with his head. He wanted her to dance with him? Now?

She didn't have time to question it, as her dancer instincts had kicked in on the third electric guitar strum and she rushed next to Gladion to perform the routine.

They took a deep breath and bowed their heads...

And then they took off.

Their arms shot out sideways, right heels tapping the floor lightly as they looked up to the mirror. Their heads dipped down down to the floor and a hand rested on top of their scalp, as if to pull them up straight and allow them to extend their left arm out in front of them. It swung out behind them and dropped back down, and their left palm pressed against their abdomen when it swayed left and right once before their hips shook. They flicked a hand and leg out, their body turning ninety degrees to follow, and then another ninety back to the mirror where they tapped their heel and bent their knee.

Oh.

Now she got it.

Gladion must have saw Megan was tense, and knew the only way to ease her was through dancing.

He still cared...

Soon enough the chorus came rolling in, which was when things really picked up. The movement would become jumpier and more exhausting, but it made it way more fun for them and hopefully for the audience too. Ideally, this routine would be fit for two guys, instead of one guy and one girl, but Megan was stubborn and said she could handle it.

And boy she did not disappoint.

Another beat dropped, and the duo began the final part of the routine. They jumped around in a 180 degree circle like a child throwing a tantrum, before shimmying and swapping sides twice. Jumping again they jerked their heads left and right and snapped their fingers, before bringing their arms up to the ceiling. They grabbed their right shoulder and swung their arm around, before clapping their hands together and kicking their leg out.

When they were finished, they were so out of breath they could only just stand.

Megan wheezed, holding her knees as sweat rolled down her forehead. Okay, so maybe that routine was a little extreme. But she'll be damned if it wasn't fun to create and perform it.

"Megan."

Shit.

Slowly she looked up, seeing Gladion pull his hoodie over his head to reveal a black tank top. Sighing out in what sounded like complete relief he ran a hand through his sweaty hair.

Shit!

"Remember this." He told her sternly, hand moving to the back of his neck to unintentionally bring up the sexiness levels that were already rocketing sky high!

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!

He walked over to her expression unchanged, looking down at her with confident emerald eyes. In an instant his face was inches away from hers.

"You over her..." he murmured "No matter how many times I'll have to choose, it'll be you. Every single time."

He left without another word, closing the door behind him and walking off to God knows where.

Megan was alone with her thoughts, and the rapid beating inside her chest. Was all of that just to prove a point? Surely there was something else, but Megan just didn't know what.

Perhaps... she should ask him about it tonight.

"Gladion~!"

Ooooor not...

Quickly (but quietly), the still undeniably flustered girl made her way to the door and pressed her ear against it, able to hear the voices on the other side.

She didn't like what she heard.

"Oh, Sadie. What are you doing here?" Gladion asked, which of course made the girl giggle for no apparent reason.

"It Turns out that instructor guy had some business to attend to, which means he ended class early!"

"Instructor guy...? You mean Kuku--"

"Yeah. Him. Whatever. Anyway, I also received a call from my mother about our families having dinner together!"

"I heard nothing about--"

"So let's go right now! We have to make ourselves presentable!"

"But I--"

"Tick tock, Gladion~" Ugh, that stupid seductive voice "We don't want to anger my mother, do we?"

"Well... no..."

"Perfect! Let's grab your sister and go!"

Footsteps. After that only Megan heard was footsteps fading down the hall. She had the sudden urge to cry, again. Not because she felt betrayed this time, but rather she came to a rather horrid realisation.

Even if Gladion would choose her, Sadie would absolutely, no way in hell, not let that happen. She would use everything in her power to make sure of that.

Damn it... why was life so unfair?

...

She needed her therapist.

---

"Soo... basically, from what I can tell, you and your boyfriend both want to continue your relationship, but this new girl won't let that happen?"

"Yeah, basically..." Megan sighed "I'm sorry for dumping this on you right after your family dinner, Rafe. We're pretty much strangers, after all."

Rafe chuckled "Hey it's fine. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on."

"Nope."

"Fine then... an ear to nag in."

"That's better."

"But anyway, feel free to call me anytime you have a problem.' The man told her kindly "I'll be more than happy to--

"Raaaafaaaaaeeeel!"

A large exasperated groan escaped the interrupted man, obviously annoyed at the mystery distant voice "Hey, Megan?"

"Yeah?"

"How do you feel about meeting my little sister?"

"To be honest, I'm not--"

"Great, because she'll be bursting into my room approximately--"

Bang

"Now... approximately now."

"Rafael!" A new, high, somewhat familiar sounding voice squealed, causing Megan to jerk her ear away from the phone to save her eardrum "Guess what! Guess what happened!"

Rafe sounded just as uninterested as Megan was at that time "Something happened between you and your 'boyfriend'?"

"Yes! His hand brushed against mine!"

"Oh be still my heart..."

Same, dude... same...

"Oh wait, who are you talking to?" The obviously female new arrival asked, seeming to have moved next to Rafe by the shuffling in the background "Somebody important?"

"Just a friend, I-- Hey!"

Shuffling, and arguing. Lot's of arguing. That's all Megan could hear.

"Hello?" The girl voice finally greeted "Who are you? Are you my brother's girlfriend?"

Ew. No thank you.

"Oh no, I just talk to him sometimes." Megan laughed nervously, trying to shake off the feeling of possibly hearing her voice before "I take it you're Rafe's sister?"

"What's your name?" The girl asked, completely blanking Megan's question Oh wait, I can just check the ID... Megan?"

"That would be my name."

"Really? I know a Megan, but I really don't like her. She stole my boyfriend from me!"

Megan resisted the urge to roll her eyes "You mean the one you brushed hands with?"

"Who else? This girl thinks she can just take him from me, but really he's way out if her league. She's common, while he's... I'm sure you've heard of Gladion Aether."

Click

"Wait a minute... Sadie?!"

The other line fell silent for a moment, then "You..."

"Why the living heck do you have my brother's number?!"

...

"Hello?"

"Sorry, sorry, it's just..." Megan paused "I never thought you of all people would be Rafe's younger sister."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, I'm just saying it was unexpected."

Sadie growled, and began muttering to herself things Megan couldn't hear before addressing her again "You know, I don't like you."

"Yeah, I kinda got that."

"Gladion wouldn't stop talking about you, he said he needed to talk to you multiple times after dinner." The girl whined "He could have talked to me in that time. But noo, he was too set. On. You."

"Sadie..." Rafe gave her a warning growl in the background.

"Shut up, Brother. I just want to know what Gladi sees in this peasant."

"Peas--"

"Shush. You, girl."

Megan groaned. She didn't need this "What..."

"Stay away from my Gladion, you aren't good enough for him."

Of course, if this was a normal situation Megan would have agreed with her. But of course this wasn't, and Sadie was getting on her nerves. So of course, she decided to spite her.

"But that's not your place to decide, is it? It's his. If you have a problem with me, why don't you talk to him about it? He's your boyfriend, isn't he?"

Oooohoho shit. She was mad, and you didn't even need to see her face to know that. You could just tell, by the glorious sound of teeth grinding on the other line.

"I hate you."

Before she could answer, a bunch of shuffling and another 'hey!' from Rafe could be heard, as well as a door slamming. Then it was silent momentarily, until someone clearing their throat broke it. "So... that was a thing..."

"Yeah..." Megan deadpanned "So, Sadie's your sister huh?"

"She is..."

"So that makes you a Garcìa."

"It does..."

"Huh." Megan hummed "Never would've expected that."

"You're taking the fact I'm from one of the wealthiest families in the country surprisingly well."

She laughed slightly "Well, the thing is that I seem to attract those kinds of people these days. Like, my best friends rich, my boyfriend's rich, my arch nemesis is rich, my love rival's rich, and now my therapist is rich too. So, I'm kinda used to it by now."

Rafe chuckled at that "I suppose you would be..."

A thought came up in Megan's mind "Wait, if you're a Garcìa does that mean you were at the--"

"Aether Ball? Nah, I had an entrance exam that day to attend a University."

"University?"

"Yeah, an apprenticeship can only take me so far. I want to get a degree so I can become an actual doctor. So I can help people."

"Wow. You really have your life figured out, don't you?"

"Well you gotta be willing to work towards your dreams." He stated matter of factly "but back on topic, I'm sorry about Sadie."

"No need. Another thing I'm used to is people not liking me."

"Wow."

"Yeah..."

"Well... do you want me to try and get her off Gladion?"

"Nope." The girl smirked "Call me mean if you want, but she's gotta learn she can't have everything her way. Even if I'm not completely confident in mine and Gladion's relationship, I can just tell he doesn't want her."

"I think all of us can. He was super uncomfortable at dinner when Sadie was all over him."

The two grimaced.

"Poor kid."

"Yup..."

---

Outside of Rafe's room was where Sadie stood, still red from rage as she listened to her brother bitch about her with that peasant. Obviously she couldn't intimidate Megan; she was friends with Rafe and he could protect her from Sadie like a goddamn guard dog. And she couldn't convince Gladion to dump his common girlfriend for her, because obviously he was to loyal and set on her.

So what could she do?

Convince Megan that their relationship was crumbling, so she would break up with him? It would be ideal, but how would that work? She remembered the son of Lachlan Mist saying Gladion's last relationship ended with his girlfriend--

That's it!

Sadie smirked in victory, and began walking down the hallway to her room to tell her accomplice her plan.

"Prepare yourself, little miss Artemus. Soon you'll common little heart will be shattered into a million pieces, releasing its hold on what's mine."

Megan & Gladion's dance: