Twice The Trouble

5 Months Later: Part Two

But Lucas was persistent. "Is there something I should know about, Sophia?"

"Shh." I pressed my right forefinger on his soft lips,hushing him. "I'll tell you someday."

Before he could form a reply, I clasped my hands over his hands tighter, drawing him closer to me, shrinking the distance between us, our faces mere inches away from each other.

"You, Sophia Ann Sta. Ana, are hard to predict," mused Lucas.

"The word you're looking for is 'spontaneous' but I'll take what I can get."

Stacy

"They look happy, don't they?" I asked no one in particular.

Standing next to me by the snack tables, Bryce let out an audible sigh.

I craned my neck to frown at him. "What?" I demanded.

So annoying. I never told anyone except Sophia about me dressing up as Cinderella, but this jerk probably guessed my plan of costume for this afternoon, so he came as Prince Charming.

Bryce had his brown bangs side-swept, and he wore a cream-white top with a yellow belt around his cinched waist, dark red slacks,and brown shoes.

"You're doing it again," he said, sounding amused, his gaze distant, his arms folded before him.

"Am not," I snapped without meeting his blue eyes.

"See, I haven't even said anything and you're already defensive." He snickered to himself.

I looked at him crossly. "Did you know I was going to be Cinderella?"

"No." I couldn't determine if he was lying. "Pure coincidence."

"Seriously, Bryce."

"Seriously, Stacy."

"You have a knack for pissing me off."

Bryce grinned at me. "Don't worry. I was also checking you out."

My cheeks flamed in embarrassment. "You.."

"What? Can't think of an insult? That's new." Without hesitation, Bryce grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor.

I didn't argue this time.

Sophia

Oh, you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change

If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same

So don't bother asking if you look okay

You know I'll say..

When I see your face.. there's not a thing that I would change..

Cause girl, you're amazing.. just the way you are...

Lucas twirled me around like a princess, spinning me back into his arms.

"Hey, out of curiosity..." I began, making sure I got his full attention.

"What?" He was smiling as he glided me left and right.

"How many girls have you serenaded to with your guitar?" I asked, biting my bottom lip.

I struggled to meet his brown eyes, and when I did, I caught him suppressing his laughter.

"Stop laughing at me!" All my blood rushed up to my face but he kept on trembling with mirth.

"Just you, Sophia," he answered after sobering up. "I've only played my guitar to you."

I tilted my head, eyeing him skeptically. "Honest?"

"I'm done lying," he said.

"That's a hard call," I told Lucas. "It's in human nature to lie. Even a little white lie."

He gazed down at me with wonder. "What's the last lie you've ever told?"

The 19-year-old male was startled when I held his wrists, sliding his hands down to my small waist, while I snaked my arms around his neck, locking my fingers behind his nape.

I pulled him closer and raised my chin so the tips of our noses were touching.

"Sophia.." he breathed.

I got on my tiptoes and whispered into his ear, feeling him shiver slightly under my touch. "When Stacy asked me if I liked you, and I said no."

Lucas tried to pull back to study my expression, but I hugged him tight and whispered into his ear one more time: "Let me be selfish right now, Lucas."

I arched back, my arms still wrapped around his neck while his hands were cupping my waist.

For a few seconds, we stared at each other in silence. I let my brown eyes travel down to his lips.

When Lucas noticed this, I slowly leaned towards his face, and when I kissed him, he responded.

His lips felt soft against mine. Incredibly soft, as were his kisses. Although it was my first kiss in my nineteen years of existence, it felt as if my instincts took over, and I tilted my head so Lucas could deepen the kiss, which he did, and I felt tingles from the top of my head to the tips of my toes as he continued to move his lips against mine, gently at first,until he kissed me harder and with more insistence, his fingers gripping my waist, my arms tightening around his nape.

We both pulled away, breathless and gasping for oxygen. My chest heaved and my whole face was red-hot from what just happened.

I rested the side of my head on Lucas' chest, and I felt his arms draping around my waist.

"No..." he muttered, panting a little.

I raised my chin to look up at him. "W-What?"

His brown eyes peered down at me. "No, I don't regret meeting you, Sophia." It took me a moment to realize he was answering my question from several months ago, when we were at the police station and he cornered me about my sickness.

I let my head plonk on his chest again. I gave a weak chuckle, uncaring of the people surrounding us.

"Same here," I murmured. "Maybe Stacy knew what she was doing, after all."

"Your sister is crazy."

"I know."

"But if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have met you."

I smiled. "Ditto."

Lucas tapped one finger on the small of my back, making me glance up at him, his brown eyes full of warmth and determination.

"I love you, Sophia."

For many months,I've dreamed of him saying those words to me,and I was on the verge of believing he never would.

Finally hearing him say it, my heart soared.

I beamed at him. "I love you, too, Lucas."