Decorated in blues and golds, the school hall had been utterly transformed into a ball fit for a fairytale.

Several pairs of eyes glanced towards our direction as Nico and I walked inside. His hand pressed against the curve of my waist and the heat from his touch radiated all the way to my toes. Paula waved at me from across the floor as she danced with a cute junior I didn't know, and JJ sent me a wink from the bar and raised his glass.

Before I could suggest that we find somewhere to sit, Sutton, with her blonde hair in perfect curls and in a striking, red cocktail dress, appeared beside us and reached out to hug me quickly. "Thea! That dress is amazing."

"Hey! Thank you, yours is too. The place looks really great. You guys did amazing." And out of politeness, to get rid of awkward introductions, I instinctively reached behind me and grabbed Nico's hand to pull him forward. "You probably both know each other, but I want to introduce you properly and officially anyway. Sutton, Nico. Nico, Sutton."

He held out his free hand. "Sutton. Pleasure to officially meet you."

The blonde grinned as she shook his hand, but her smile faltered a bit as she glanced at me with question in her eyes. "Likewise, Nico. Thea, um..."

"Later," I promised, knowing she wanted to ask about Faust's absence.

She nodded immediately. "I've got a table saved up for you guys and the gang, so both of you can grab your drinks. I still need to work on some things, but the punch tastes exquisite."

Nico grabbed the drinks after guiding me towards the table first, nearly tripping on my own heels had he not taken ahold of my arms immediately. Once he came back, he handed me a glass before settling on his own seat, and the brush of his knee against mine made my pulse jump. I mumbled a quiet thank you before bringing the drink to my lips.

Setting his glass down, Nico shifted in his seat so he faced me, his body leaning closer to mine. The corner of his lips turned up as his eyes bore into my own. "Some dress," Nico murmured, reaching forward to toy with the hem of the skirt. His fingertips brushed my thigh and left a trail of goose bumps in their wake.

I tilted my head to the side. "You like it?"

"You bought it with Faust in mind."

My teeth pulled my bottom lip in. "That doesn't matter anymore."

"Yeah," he breathed, thumb still caressing my skin, "you're here with me."

Nico said it like he couldn't believe it.

"So I see you two are together," JJ piped up as he neared the table. Nico retracted his hand and threw an arm around the back of my chair instead. "Care to explain?"

"It was a last minute thing," I answered quietly, quickly glancing at Nico. His eyes never left mine. "Also, you know Faust and I broke up."

"Damn, I was actually planning to hit on you."

"I'll piss on you," Nico warned, voice threateningly low. "I'll really fucking piss on you."

JJ grinned and raised his hands in surrender. "Take a joke, hothead. It's indeed a surprise to see the great Nico Romero at an actual school event. Great job, sweetheart."

I blinked. "Uh, thanks?"

Paula came over and pulled my arm, a wide smile on her face. "Come on, Thea!"

With a frown, I let her help me up. JJ chuckled and Nico stared after us as Paula began leading me towards the full dance floor where the upbeat music was the loudest. My eyes widened. "Oh, no, no, no. I don't, I mean, I can't—"

"Just dance, Thea. Don't think."

With a moment of hesitation, I followed Paula's lead, going with the beat of the music and bouncing on my feet to the tempo. The cheerleader raised my arms to the air and yelled over the noise in encouragement. Gradually, I began to ease into it and relax, laughing whilst Paula grabbed my hand to twirl me around.

All the while feeling as though a pair of green eyes were watching my every move.

I didn't dare look at Nico. Not even when the song ended and a slow one started up. Breathless, I pulled Paula in for a hug before I left the dance floor—but I wasn't able to make it to three steps before there was a tap on my shoulder.

Looking back, I came face to face with Justin Ellis—tall, bulky, basketball player, and one of the guys who had contributed to the disgusting comments about me which were posted on our online publication for everyone to see.

I raised an eyebrow. He smiled at me. "Thea, hi. You look amazing."

"Thank you."

My curt response didn't faze him one bit. "Listen," he started, tucking his hands inside the pockets of his slacks. "I just wanted to ask if maybe you want to dan—"

"No," I answered coldly. "No, I don't want to dance with you."

He narrowed his eyes. "Damn, you're harsh. Is this about the comments? A month ago?"

"A no is a no, Justin."

"You got me suspended from games, Thea. Least you could do is dance with me."

The fucking nerve of this guy. I turned around and headed back to my table. Nico was already watching, and his expression and posture told me he was ready to step in any time. "I don't owe you anything. Fuck off."

Justin followed me and snatched my wrist. "It's just a fucking dance. Hey, I'm still talking—"

I yanked my arm away and gave him a sweet smile. "I will kick you in the balls if you touch me one more time. No is a no. Okay?"

Finally, he seemed to take the hint. Begrudgingly, and with a scowl, he stepped back and melted back into the sea of couples who took up the dance floor.

I exhaled heavily and turned back to grab Nico's hand. "Dance with me."

The green-eyed boy wrapped his fingers around mine and led me to the dance floor without a word.

Suddenly, he pulled me to him, and I squeaked in surprise.

"I was going to ask you," he murmured, lowering his forehead against mine as he shut his eyes and snaked his hands around my waist. "That was hot."

I smiled. "What was?"

"Telling him to fuck off. I'm glad you've realized you don't owe anyone your yeses, princess."

"I'm glad you didn't step in," I said softly, relaxing into his hold and allowing him to pull me closer. I settled my hands by the nape of his neck, and my fingertips grazed the softness of his hair. Leaning forward, my head laid against the broadness of his chest as I swayed along with him and listened to the fast beats of his heart. I was pretty sure my heart was beating just as quickly and loudly. "And that you trusted me enough to handle it."

"I may not have that much self-control the next time," Nico admitted, "and I may not always be understanding of the situation. But I'm willing to try."

I nodded, feeling warmth spread through me. "I know. That's enough."

Nico's hands moved from my sides and slid towards my back, and his breathing hitched. "Damn," he groaned, looking down at me as his palm slid down my back, checking to see where the fabric started and making me shiver from the contact. "Baby. You're really trying to kill me."

My heartbeat quickened. "I'm sorry..."

Nico shook his head and ran his fingers up against my skin again, and back down. "Don't be. Just...give me a second."

I didn't know what the hell that meant, but I nodded anyway, continuing our sway in silence against the slow rhythm of the music while our bodies pressed flush against each other. Couples around us were doing the same, but I barely noticed them—not with Nico standing this close, smelling this good, holding me securely around his arms and touching me in a way that made me feel safe. Treasured. Loved.

"I've wondered about this."

"About what?"

"Having your heart beat like this for me," he whispered, lips against my temple. "Holding you like this. It's surreal."

"Nico," I breathed, pulling back to look at him. The green in his eyes held the sincerest of feelings. "What does a while mean?"

He took a deep breath and leaned impossibly closer. "It means four years."

My lips parted in surprise. "F-four years."

Nico smiled. "Yeah. Four years."

I searched desperately for something to say, but I couldn't find the words. Instead, I pulled back, just enough for me to look him in the eyes.

And his eyes looked at me like I hung the moon and stars.

And in a snap, the moment had been ripped off of us when fingers wrapped themselves around my wrist and pulled me firmly. The protest died on my lips when I was met with my brother's angry graze.

Oh. Shit.

"I'm really fucking confused right now, Thea," he said lowly, tightening his hold, "but I won't cause a scene. Finish this song with me and explain."

Nico narrowed his eyes. "Theo. She'll talk to you when she wants to. That wasn't necessary."

"It's okay," I quickly interjected before my brother could bark out a response, forcing a smile onto my face that would hopefully assure Nico. "I'll talk to him. I'll find you later, okay?"

The green-eyed boy clenched his jaw and stared at me for a second before turning away.

Theo faced me with his eyebrows drawn. "Explain."

"Dance with me first. You look like you're going to punch me."

"I would never fucking do that."

I rolled my eyes and forced his hands on my waist. "It was a joke, brother. Calm down."

His dark eyes impossibly glowed darker as he started to sway with me. "So? Where's Carter?"

I swallowed hard. "See, here's the thing..."

"Thea."

"We broke up."

Theo's muscles tensed up. "And whose fault was it? Were you messing with Romero behind his back?"

I pushed him away and gritted my teeth. "How could you even say that? You think I cheated?"

"I don't know what to think! I see you here and Romero having an intimate moment and—"

"And nothing," I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest as I gave him a glare, "you assumed shit. We broke up weeks ago and it was because Faust was cheating on me. Lying to me. That's it."

My brother regarded me with wide eyes. "I...why didn't you tell me?"

"I was supposed to. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner—that was a mistake on my part."

Theo took a deep breath and reached up to massage the lines on his forehead. "You do know that you can't stop me from doing anything to him now, right?"

Shaking my head, I answered, "I don't need your big brother act right now. What I need is for you to understand that what you said was wrong."

"Everyone was looking at you and Romero, Thea," he hissed, moving forward to grasp my arm. I blinked up at him, confused. "What the hell else was I supposed to think? Does everyone know you and Faust broke up?"

"I—that's none of their business—"

"Whatever the case," Theo continued harshly, "everyone's going to be thinking the same thing. And you know what that is?"

I couldn't give him an answer. I felt like I was choking on each breath I took.

"That you're moving from one basketball player to the next."

He could've slapped me and I would've felt the same.

"That you're—"

"A slut?" I whispered, feeling anger swell up from inside my chest. "Easy game?"

My brother released my arm slowly. "That's not what I meant."

"That's what you were going to say."

"Thea."

"At this point, I don't fucking care what everyone else says or thinks anymore, so if you think that I am a slut, easy game, a puck bunny, whatever—then that's yours and everyone else's problem. Not mine. I'll see you at home."

Theo was smart enough to let me leave him without a word. I spent the rest of the night with my friends by my side, and if Nico noticed a change in my attitude that I really tried so hard to hide, he didn't say anything.

Not even when we were alone in the car and on the way to grab some food.

"Choose."

"You're evil."

"Baby, it's just between nuggets and a burger. It's not a hard decision."

"It is to me," I mumbled, nibbling on my bottom lip as I slumped back against the leather seat. "Burger. Oh, wait, no. Nuggets. Yes, nuggets."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"...yes."

He hummed. "Alright."

While we waited for the car in front of us to finish up their order from the drive-thru, I took my heels off and raised my legs up to the seat, wrapping my free arm around my knees. "I'm tired," I whined.

Nico let out a laugh. "How could you not be? You danced and partied the whole night. You even refused to eat."

"I wanted fast food."

"Yeah." He scoffed. "I know. Which is why we're here." Nico moved the car forward once the space was empty and rolled the window down.

And while he was talking, my eyes stayed transfixed by our intertwined hands even as Theo's words consumed my mind. In my haze, I didn't even notice Nico had gotten me both nuggets and a burger, alongside fries and a chocolate sundae until he handed the bags of takeout and I stole a peek inside.

"I told you I was going to pay for my share," I mumbled lamely, looking up from where I'd opened one bag. "I can't finish all of this."

"That's a lie," he muttered, taking a right as he exited the restaurant joint. "You can pay for the nuggets. The rest is on me."

"That's not how it works, Nico. I feel like I'm robbing you of your money."

"Is there something wrong with wanting to spoil you a bit?" he demanded suddenly, giving me a sideways glance before returning his attention back to the road. "We can always split bills during dates if that's what you want, Thea. And if you really don't want the burger and the fries and the damn sundae, then give them to me instead. I apologize if I crossed a line."

I stared at him for a moment. Then a moment longer.

"What?" Nico snapped.

My lips widened to a genuine smile as I scrambled for his hand. "Were you always this sweet?" I teased, pressing a soft kiss to his wrist. Nico visibly shuddered. "I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all...with all these feelings. I can't seem to stop myself from thinking about how easy it is to love you."

"Don't say that," he breathed, slowing the pace of his driving, "don't...don't say that yet. We still need to talk and I have to be honest with you about everything. With the way I'm acting, it feels as if I skipped that part and I'm sorry—"

"I agree that we do need to talk," I said, playing with his long and slender fingers, "but you don't need to apologize. I think...I think I've always known I liked you. And I just didn't want to acknowledge it yet. I'm kinda drunk on you, Nico."

The green-eyed boy laughed. It was a beautiful, beautiful sound. Just as beautiful as the rest of him. "I'm very drunk on you too, princess. May I be shameless for a second?"

I nodded.

Nico looked at me. "Please ask me to stay with you. Tonight."

Without a second of hesitation, I did.