Between Us

The Dance (Continued)

Jayden stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where Julio and Zander had disappeared. He couldn't shake the feeling that everything was unraveling, despite it being a night that was supposed to be fun. His chest tightened, and for a moment, the noise of the dance seemed to fade into the background, the lights flashing in a blur.

"Hey," a familiar voice broke through the fog of his thoughts. Jayden turned, surprised to see Nikko standing next to him, his bright, energetic smile a stark contrast to the tension swirling around them.

"You okay?" Nikko asked, his eyes full of concern as he placed a hand gently on Jayden's shoulder.

Jayden opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words. What could he say? That he felt like he was losing control of everything? That the simple choice of an outfit seemed to have caused more drama than it should have?

Nikko didn't give him a chance to reply. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Jayden's shoulders, pulling him into an exaggerated side hug that was typical of his outgoing personality. "Listen," Nikko continued, his tone light and comforting, "I know it's all a mess right now, but you've got to stop letting it bother you. It's a dance, not the end of the world. You look great, and honestly, the people who matter don't care about all this nonsense."

Jayden sighed, trying to let the weight of the night slide off his shoulders. Nikko's words were comforting, but it was hard not to feel like he was at the center of all the chaos.

"Yeah," Jayden muttered, trying to convince himself. "It's just... I didn't want to disappoint anyone."

"You didn't," Konner's voice added, pulling Jayden out of his thoughts again. Jayden turned to see Konner standing beside him, a friendly grin plastered on his face. "Look, man, you've been a bundle of nerves since we walked in. Just relax, okay? It's a party. No one's going to care about your outfit or what's going on with Julio or William. They're all just... distractions."

Jayden couldn't help but laugh softly at Konner's casual dismissal of everything. "I guess you're right," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just wanted to get it right, you know?"

"You've always got to get it right, don't you?" Konner teased, nudging him playfully. "You're too hard on yourself, Jayden. And that's coming from me, the guy who doesn't even worry about half the stuff you do."

Jayden let out a long breath, feeling some of the tension release as Konner's lighthearted attitude rubbed off on him. But there was still a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. He couldn't shake the thought of Julio's disappointment.

"Come on, don't let that stuff get to you," Nikko added, stepping back with a grin. "We came here to have fun. And if Julio's upset, he'll get over it. He's just dramatic, that's all."

Jayden managed a small smile, the warmth from his friends helping to calm the storm in his mind. It felt nice to have people who cared, people who understood him and knew how to get him out of his head.

"You're right," he said, nodding slowly. "I'm just going to... enjoy the night."

Konner shot him a playful nudge. "Exactly. Now let's get you on that dance floor. No more stressing out. We'll make sure you have fun."

Jayden laughed, finally allowing himself to relax. He still felt the remnants of the unease, but the pressure had lessened. With Nikko's energy, Konner's teasing, and the support of his friends, he realized that the night wasn't going to be ruined by one bad outfit choice or one angry conversation.

The three of them made their way toward the dance floor, the thumping bass vibrating beneath their feet.

Suddenly, Nikko grinned. "Alright, you two. Let's show everyone how it's done."

Before Jayden could respond, Nikko grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the floor. Konner followed, pulling him into the chaotic swirl of people already dancing. The lights twinkled around them, the music thumping in his chest, and Jayden let himself go for the first time that night.

He wasn't sure how long they had fun, but at some point, he felt himself truly relaxing. It was easier to forget about the drama, about Julio and William and the expectations. For once, he wasn't worried about what everyone else thought—he was just there, enjoying the music and the people around him.

In the middle of a fast-paced song, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around, only to see Julio standing there, looking a little embarrassed but still as radiant as ever in his winter wonderland dress.

"Look," Julio started, his voice quieter than usual. "Sorry for earlier."

Jayden blinked in surprise. "Julio, you don't need to apologize—"

Julio interrupted, shaking his head. "I just... I don't want to be mad at you. I should have been more understanding. It's your choice, Jayden... I guess. And I shouldn't have tried to control that."

Jayden nodded. "It's okay."

Julio hesitated, then reached out and took Jayden's hand, a soft smile spreading across his face. "Well, next time, I'll let you pick your own outfit. But you've got to admit, I know how to pick a good dress, don't I?"

Jayden laughed, feeling the last of the tension melt away. "I'll give you that."