Sophia
My heart was pounding was hard I was afraid someone might hear it.
I stood in the middle of the ocean of dancing guests, my brown eyes staring at him from across the cold, spacious room.
Lucas' black hair was smoothed back like a formal gentleman, his black bangs combed away from his forehead, making his handsome face stand out more. He was clad in a crease-free white polo shirt, a yellow-collared, royal blue blazer, and black slacks tucked into brown boots.
He was dressed as Prince Adam from Beauty in the Beast.
I didn't have more time to react, because the 19-year-old male was heading towards me.
My heartbeat was going bonkers inside my chest. I wasn't sure what to say or what to do, but when he finally stood in front of me and flashed me that disarming smile of his, I blushed.
"Happy Birthday, Sophia," he greeted, doing a small bow, a hand on his chest.
"Thank you," I said in a tone I hoped sounded normal.
Lucas continued to smile at me. "You look beautiful."
I waited for something. The tall male seemed to read my expression,because he asked: "What?"
"I thought you'd finish with 'today'. 'You look beautiful.. today.' Because I'm only wearing this ballgown for one afternoon," I awkwardly explained, making hand gestures at my costume.
A soft chuckle vibrated in his chest. His brown eyes locked on mine. "You're beautiful everyday, Sophia."
I waved a dismissive, yellow-gloved hand at him. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Lucas."
"That's okay. I have my charm,sense of humor, and cute personality to back me up."
I giggled into the back of my fist as I peered up at his glowing face. "You seem happy."
"I feel happy," he admitted, staring into my eyes. "And I'm about to feel happier."
My brows furrowed in perplexity. "What..."
A new song began to fill the chilly air.
Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her everyday...
Lucas gasped, pretending to be surprised, his hand flying to his mouth as his eyes widened. "What are the chances?" he blurted out.
I gained my wits as fast as I could, assembling my cluttered thoughts. "Don't push it," I warned him, arranging my features into a tight scowl but failing miserably. I ended up laughing with him.
Lucas offered his hand to me, and I regally put my right palm onto his left palm, placing my other hand on his right arm, then we started to slow dance.
A flash of surprise registered on his face when I intertwined our fingers together. It just felt right, being in his arms, being this close to him, enveloped in his scent and his warmth.
"Hey, Lucas," I called him while we swayed to the dreamy music.
The black-haired prince gazed at me. "Yeah?" he seemed a bit distracted.
"Do you love your father?" I asked.
Lucas didn't expect that random question to tumble from my mouth. "I do," he answered.
I nodded my head. "That's all I wanted to hear."
"Why did you ask about him?" he inquired.
"No reason." I summoned a cryptic smile onto my pink lips.
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."