No one POV
"Everyone can choose their seat but be quiet. We don't want to disturb the others" the teacher said before entering the theatre.
Mikey sat next to his friends and honestly he didn't care one bit about the show but he never refused a school trip.
Then, when the show was about to start, Harvey sat next to him.
He seemed excited, his eyes were shining from how happy he was and his leg kept bouncing, Mikey didn't get it.
"You don't seem excited" Harvey pointed out.
"It's just a show..."
"No, it's not a simple show. It's The ugly duckling, one of the most beautiful ballets"
Mikey found that excitement cute even though he didn't understand how a 7 years old could be so excited over a ballet.

The light dimmed down and the theatre went pitch black, the show was starting.
The dancers moved flawlessly on stage and Mikey didn't expect it, he was hypnotized.
There was something in the ballet that moved him, maybe the fact that the duckling got left behind or maybe cause there was a beauty in the choreography that even a 7 years old kid could sense.
Harvey noticed that Mikey was getting emotional so he slowly grabbed his hand.
His hand was sweaty and that made Mikey's sweaty but even though it was slightly weird the touch was tender and they stayed like that for the whole ballet.
Whenever there was an intense moment Harvey would squeeze the hand and Mikey rested his head on him at one point.
The magic of everything disappeared when they turned the lights back on and Mikey pulled his hand away.
"So you changed your mind?"
"I- yeah it was a nice show..." Mikey felt weird.
"Ok, I'm glad that you think that" Harvey smiled.

-nowadays-
"Remember that tonight we have a show, don't be late"
"Liv, just because that guy gave you tickets it doesn't mean that you have to drag me there..." Mikey complained while packing his bag.
"I go to gay clubs with you every time"
"Ok, whatever" Mikey rolled his eyes.
Then he left to go to work.
Everyone was convinced that Mikey would have followed a classical academic path but he ended up being the CEO of some international company that earns way too much money for no reason but Mikey didn't care, he was just doing his job.
He was too selfless anyway to live the millionaire life, he loved giving so whenever there was a chance to help he does whatever he can.
Back to the show, he doesn't hate ballet it's just that the majority of the time he finds them boring but Liv was right, she did come to all the gay clubs with him so...

The day passed by quickly thank god and Mikey was already at Liv's place to pick her up.
When they entered, she was starstruck.
The golden ceilings, the red velvet chairs and all those people dressed in elegant dresses...the room smelled of rich.
"I'll go say hi to him be right back"
And in two seconds Liv disappeared.

The show started and it was the Ugly duckling, Liv was only waiting for his boy to appear on stage while Mikey just watched, not impressed.
The dancers were really good, he had to admit but one caught his eyes...the Ugly duckling.
He looked like he was flying, effortlessly on the stage and at the end of the show a tear rolled down his cheek.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Mikey never felt like that before, he's not a cold person, it's just that it's hard for him to get emotional this easy.
"Amazing. Just amazing! How do you guys do it?"
Liv dragged him backstage to talk to his boy...again.
"A lot of tears and practice" he said with a kind smile.
"Well it was amazing even Mikey thought so and he doesn't love ballet"
"Who doesn't love ballet?" The Ugly duckling chimed in.
"Emm..." Mikey didn't expect him to hear it.
"Well, I'm glad I was the first one to change your mind" the boy winked.
"What is your name again sorry?"
"Mikey..."
"Harvey"
And Mikey couldn't believe his eyes, Harvey...his classmate that held his hand at the theatre when they were 7 years old was in the ballet company of London and in front of him.
"Oh my god" was the only thing that his mind could think of.
"You're in the company..."
"Yeah...? You just saw me on stage" he laughed finding Mikey's confusion cute.
"I-I didn't know...like wow"
"Was our show better than the one we saw when we were kids?"
Mikey couldn't believe that he remembered it.
"Mmm...I don't know, to be honest, probably you guys need to improve a couple of things..." Mikey joked and Harvey smiled.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but if you wanna join me and Liv at dinner for us it's ok"

So they ended up at a restaurant altogether.
It was weird being around Harvey after all that time, he changed a lot, both of them did.
"So how is it going for you?" Harvey asked while sipping his wine.
"Good. Have my own company and try my best to live life without major dramas"
"So no time for relationships?"
"Not really, I mean I could find the time but still haven't met someone..."
Harvey nodded.
"For me, it's the same. I dated a couple of people but they always complain about my busy schedule"
Well it's your work, it's not something to be mad about"
Harvey was so happy that someone else shared his idea, he forgot the feeling of it.
"So you really remembered about the show we saw at school?"
"Of course. Why do you think I'm the Ugly duckling? Only for you" the blonde boy laughed.
"You're an asshole"

So Mikey ended up going to all the replays of the ballet bringing flowers to Harvey each time cause you know...it's a thing people do right?
Harvey never complained, on the contrary, he always dragged Mikey to dinner.
Once they got so drunk after a show that they fell asleep in Mikey's apartment and in the morning they both had to rush to work hungover.
It was weird but in a good way.
With Harvey, Mikey was able to joke, have fun but also be serious and do adult things...everything was balanced with him.
"So what's the deal with Harvey...Carlos told me that he can't stop smiling whenever you text him" Liv teased knowing well what was going on, she could tell whenever her friend was in love.
"We are friends and maybe my texts are just funny"
"Sure...if you say so...but for real what is going on between you two? You can tell me"
"Nothing...we are great friends. I bring him flowers after shows and he brings me to dinner, is that simple..."
"I don't think he wants a relationship..." Mikey added.
"Or maybe you don't want a relationship..."
Mikey wasn't following Liv.
"Maybe you're too scared..."
"I'm not scared. Ok, I'm not an expert about relationships but I'm sure of it...maybe..."
Mikey hated Liv cause before he didn't have any doubt, now he didn't even know what to think.
"Listen...you don't have to overthink, it's ok. I think you guys would be really cute together but if something happens between you two then great if no, it's ok anyway" Liv gave Mikey a reassuring smile.
"I hate it"
"What?"
"Having to think and feelings and all that stuff" the boy plopped down on the sofa, tired of life.

For a while, he tried to come up with a text to send Harvey cause he knew that the company was having a break from the shows, in fact, Carlos went on a small trip with Liv leaving Mikey all alone.
The boy ended up going to the theatre cause he knew Harvey would be there, he was always there.
And Mikey was right, the blonde boy was on stage practicing.
He looked flawless and it was like his feet had wings.
The boy stood there a bit watching him cause he didn't want to interrupt but also cause he was enjoying admiring him.
"You looked amazing"
"Jesus...you gave me a heart attack" Harvey stepped back, his breathing uneven from dancing.
"Sorry..." Mikey nervously laughed.
"...passed by to say hi. I knew that you have a break so..."
"Yeah but I have to stay in shape" Harvey chucked down his water.
"Yeah sure...I-I totally understand..."
Silence feeling the whole theatre.
"...I was wondering if...em I don't know do something...together?"
Harvey didn't expect that invite but deep down he hoped for it.
"Sure...I-what do you wanna do?"
"There's this art show that could be interesting..."
"Sure, I just have to stop by at home to shower and change but you can come with me...obviously if you're willing to wait"
"Y-yeah no problem"
The conversation was slightly awkward but only cause they were nervous.

So Mikey ended up waiting for Harvey on his couch.
The apartment looked fancy and luxurious, apparently, the company paid well.
"It's not exactly my style but the company gave it to me and I was too lazy to change the furniture and stuff" Harvey said drying his hair with a towel, another one around his waist.
"Emm...yeah no, it's nice...looks classy"
It was the best Mikey could come up with, his brain wasn't functioning.
Finally, Harvey was ready and they headed to the art show.
Mikey always found museums boring but he knew Harvey would appreciate it cause it was about dance.
It was fun, probably one of the best days they ever had in a long time.
"Thank you" Harvey said once they stepped out in the cold air.
"Thank you for coming with me"
Mikey didn't know why silence was always following them like a shadow but it was.
"Do you wanna go back to mine and eat something? I can cook..." Harvey proposed and Mikey couldn't say no.

"How do you not find uncomfortable the tights you have to wear?!"
"They can be uncomfortable after a lot of hours of wearing them but I got used to it" Harvey sipped his wine slowly.
"I could never..."
"I thought that too before but ballet is about sacrifice I guess"
Mikey looked at the empty wine glass.
"Come on, I'll show you a part of the choreography of the ballet" Harvey got up and offered Mikey a hand.
"You had too much wine...I'm not a ballet dancer"
"No...but I can teach you...I will guide you"
Somehow he convinced Mikey and they ended up in the middle of the living room trying to attempt a lift.
"You just have to trust your partner then go" Harvey explained but Mikey wasn't sure.
"I promise that I'll catch you...you just have to jump and move upwards, lean high"
It probably wasn't a good idea but Mikey trusted the boy so he just went for it.
Harvey's hands gripped tightly his waist and pulled him up towards the ceiling while Mikey tried his best to remember all the instructions he was given before.
The boy's grip was strong and secured so Mikey wasn't scared to fall but something went wrong and he ended up falling into Harvey's arms, their faces almost touching...the tension between them was unbearable and Mikey really wanted to lean in but something inside stopped him.
"I...fuck" he mumbled.
"I think I have to go..."
Harvey still had his hands on Mikey's hips but the boy slipped out from his hands like sand in an hourglass.
The mood was weird, it wasn't how Harvey pictured the evening and the old Harvey would have let it go but he changed, he changed since Mikey arrived.

"Mikey!" Harvey's voice cut into the night.
Mikey turned around revealing his worried face.
"Wait...I..." the boy was out of breath due to all the running.
"I didn't mean to scare you...I just wanted to spend a great night with you and I'm sorry if I crossed some lines...I-god, I'm so bad at this..."
Harvey couldn't even look Mikey in the eyes.
The other boy, instead, was staring at him, he looked at how the wind ruffled his hair, at his pajama bottoms that he put on as soon as they got home and at how perfectly not perfect he was.
"You're not bad at this..."
Mikey got closer taking off his jacket to give it to Harvey since he was just in a t-shirt.
"You know...I always hated ballet cause it was boring and twice you proved me wrong...now I'm scared, scared to fuck up but a part of me wants you to prove me wrong again. I trust you like I trusted you before with the lift"
Harvey tried to hide his smile and blush but failed miserably.
He started to hum a melody and grabbed Mikey's hand leading him into a dance where their bodies moved as one.
The moon was up in the sky and she watched the two lovers dancing, falling in love.

-years later-
"Cantwell on stage in 10" the stage manager said and Harvey breathed in.
He rarely was nervous before a ballet but it was an important solo for him and not having Mikey there with him made it worse.
"I'm coming, just a sec" Harvey said when someone knocked on the door.
"Sorry just have a surprise" a way too familiar voice said and a toddler ran straight to him.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Harvey couldn't believe it.
"We would never miss your most important ballet"
Mikey kissed him lovingly.
"And what are you doing here miss, didn't you have a ballet too?" Harvey bopped his daughter's nose.
"We finished early, the other girl that had the solo was sick" she said slurring some words but it was understandable.
"Did you really think we wouldn't have come?" Mikey massaged his shoulders which were very tense.
"No, but I knew you had to be somewhere else..." Harvey turned around to look at him.
"Thank you though...cause I'm shitting my pants"
"Language...she's right on your lap" Mikey scolded him.
"Sorry baby" Harvey kissed Lydia's head.
"We will go seat, I know that you'll kill this" Mikey reassured his boy and picked up Lydia, her pink tutu taking up most of the space.
"Love you"
"We love you more"
Mikey winked before exiting the changing room.

___________________________________

Note*
More than 20 days passed by since my last update but I was lacking of creativity and felt like all my stories were awful.
I don't even know what this story is but I had to upload something...I'm also working on the requests, just need a bit of time.
Will try to be more active. 🦢