𝐹𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑒𝑑 (18+)

The Stars and Us

Lifting my head to meet his eyes only to find that he's already looking at me, I'm overcome with an intense feeling of peace and something otherworldly.

"You only want a chance because everybody else got one. You don't actually want me, Luca." I try to explain to him but he just scoffs as if he can't believe me.

"You do not get to tell me what I want and do not want." I try to explain myself but then realise that he is correct. I don't get to tell him what he wants and what he doesn't want. Same way he can't tell me what I am or am not.

"Then what do you want? Tell me what you want." I ask him, genuine curiosity lacing my tone.

"A chance. That is all I ask for." He answers back, no hesitation whatsoever. A chance. Ok... It's just a chance. We'll see how it goes. I don't have to give it my all. I can take it bit by bit and once I am assured that I will not be hurt, I will give it my all. That is if we even make it that far.

Without a single word, I stand up and hold my hand out of him.

"A dance?" And with the grin that lights his face up, I'm afraid I'll fail miserably at 'baby steps.' He giddily arises and bows to me as a true prince would before asking for my hand as he sticks his elbow out. My hand is already gripping his arm before I know it and the only thing convincing me that this isn't a dream is the feeling of his strong muscles underneath his suit. I give him a reassuring squeeze before he leads me away to the main room.

As soon as we start making our way into the main room, the tense silence from before is left behind as the chatter from the ballroom replaces it. Just as we reach the ballroom, we just about hear the last part of Vincenzo's speech.

"-your partners for a slow dance." I can feel Luca's gaze on me and before I know it, I'm being swept away and am now surrounded by different men with their dates wrapped up in their embrace.

"Do you even know how to slow dance, Luca Agosti?" I tease as he smirks at me and leans down until his lips are brushing against my ear, sending a whirlwind of emotions down my spine as I shudder.

"You'll be surprised with my talents, Hadley Burrows." And as unexpected and abrupt as this whole evening has been, our conversation is cut off in the same way when Mia and Sebastian's Theme begins to play as people besides us softly sway to the music.

A/N: I recommend playing the song listed above now.

His right hand lays heavily on my waist while his other calloused hand grips onto mine in a protective yet gentle way as he sways me across the dance floor. With the mask constricting our faces, we stare at one another's eyes as a small smile rests on each of our lips. He lightly spins me around before catching me in those perfect hands of his as he pulls me back up and rests both hands on my waist as I wrap mine around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Thank you for giving me a chance, Hadley." He whispers ever so gently so the others around us can't hear our conversation. A slow smirk begins to tug at my lips as I look up to see his heavy gaze already on me.

"Who says I gave you a chance?" I ask back, knocking him down from his high pedestal. His smirk begins to fade off as he slightly cocks his head to the side in confusion. "Seems to me as if you've only managed to earn a dance from me. Not a chance." He laughs lightly as a dark look drowns the confusion that was present before.

"You're really going to make this hard for me, aren't you?" He asks and although he already knows the answer, I'm guessing he's just teasing me at this point. I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder again and I'm guessing by the way he stiffened, he knows what's coming.