For what I feel is the first time ever, I timed the drawing of a Sotam pic perfectly with the publication of a Sotam chapter! Please comment what you think!

After the longest school day ever, and what must've been a twenty minute wait, we finally got into the gym, where the dance would be held. Sophie looked absolutely terrified, so I led her to a spot in the back of the room, away from everyone else.

"Relax, Sophie," I whispered, pulling the trembling girl into my arms. "Why are you so nervous?"

"I- I've never done this before," she replied, holding on to me as if I was the only thing keeping her alive.

"Done what? We've danced before, remember? Shoot, Sophie, we've kissed before! What's so different about this?"

"There's people here," Sophie said. "People that we see every day. And they'll see us, and word will get around that we're dating and-"

"And why do you care? What other people think about it doesn't matter. Don't worry about them. Worry about us."

 I pressed my forehead against hers and she smiled. "You're right," she said quietly, fingering the collar of my shirt. I watched her fingers fiddle with the fabric until they stopped, and then I looked up to meet her eyes. They fluttered shut as I watched them, and my heart began to race. She moved closer to me and her lips parted the tiniest bit. I closed my eyes and leaned in, expecting a kiss.

A tiny squeak from nearby made me jerk away. "Linh," I whined.

"What?" she asked, mocking my voice.

I glared at her. "What are you doing over here?" I asked.

She grinned. "I wanted you to meet your third wheel!"

"I'm guessing that would be you?"

 She nodded.

 "We don't need a third wheel," I insisted.

 "Yes you do. Every couple does!" Linh argued.

"Oh yeah? Who's you as Keefe's third wheel?" The question was way out of my comfort zone, but it threw Linh off of whatever little script she had planned.

"Okay, okay. You win. But I'll be watching you."

She slipped away into the crowd without another word. I couldn't help but wonder how often she stalked me without me noticing. I hadn't even seen her come up behind Sophie! Although that could've been because I had my eyes closed.

"Where were we?" I asked, turning back to Sophie.

"Um-"

"Oh, right." I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close, letting my forehead rest against hers. I stared into Sophie's warm brown eyes, mesmerized by the gold flecks that seemed to shimmer, leading a dance of their own, even in the dim light.

"Well," I said, realizing that trying to get a kiss out of her was hopeless. "You wanna dance?"

Sophie smiled. "That's what we came here for, right?"

I smiled back, took her hands, which were no longer shaking, and pulled her further out into the room, where the rest of the couples were dancing. Gently, I slid one of my arms around her waist, taking her hand with my opposite.

And as we started to move with the music, I didn't care that Linh was watching from wherever she was. I didn't even care that she could've been kissing Keefe. I flinched. Okay, maybe I cared a little. But in that moment, even Keefe-Linh lip contact wasn't going to keep me away from my Sophie.

Because I knew I was where I belonged.

I felt bad for the super short, super boring last chapter, so I did two for you guys today! This one's short, too, I know, but only two more short ones until I get back to my normal-lengthed chapters!

~Mia