Play my heart

Chapter XXIV

Good luck pancakes only differ from regular ones because of the chocolate filling. Lee still rejoices in them like a little kid, eating breakfast with Nini happily perched on his lap. His hair is messed up from sleep, his eyes not even fully open yet. Darren sits in front of him and forces himself not to stare too much.

They go their own ways before lunch. Lee has to go help Lisa and the orphanage to set things up, and Darren's promised to hang out with his friends until a few hours before the concert. They meet at Adryan's place, and there's no sign of Dawn around, which is surprising.

"Christmas party!" Connor greets him, bouncing with excitement.

"Oh, I forgot."

He flops on a couch and Caesar hands him a couple of soft gold envelopes. Opening one of them, he finds an invitation to the party they throw every year. Adryan's older sister started the tradition when they were children, and they picked up after she left the city. It's just a square of fancy paper with the information, elegant in its simplicity.

"In case you want to invite someone," Caesar winks, and they all laugh as Darren goes red.

"This is our last Christmas party during high school, isn't it time for baby Darren to dance with someone that's not like, part of our friend group?" Adryan asks, with that annoying smirk of his.

"Absolutely!"

"Absolutely not. If you make me dance I'm not going."

Caesar puts his phone down and flicks him on the temple. "Oh, don't be whiny. We're not even saying you should dance to modern music, because that'd be a disaster, but ballroom dancing you're familiar with."

Connor and Adryan seem to find this hilarious, judging by how they dissolve into peals of laughter once again.

"But wait, what if his partner doesn't know how to dance?" Adryan says.

"Why do you sound like you're talking about someone specific?" Darren tries, but his best friend waves him off.

"We'll teach you how to lead!" says Connor, jumping from his seat with way too much excitement.

The violinist grunts and sinks further into the couch, half covering his face with a hand. Connor goes to stand at the other side of the coffee table in front of the couch.

"Now, I'm gonna need a volunteer..."

"Me, me!" Caesar hollers, only half mocking. "Pick me! I wanna dance with you!"

Both Adryan and Darren roll their eyes, while Connor pretends to mull it over for a second before making finger guns at Caesar and gesturing for him to stand up. Darren gives Adryan a sideways glance, a very clear 'this is your fault' on his face.

"You'll lead?" Connor asks.

"Of course I'll lead, what are you on about."

"Shut up. Get in position then."

Caesar makes a show of bowing and offering his hand to Connor, like they're in some kind of period drama. He then pulls the boy closer, places the free hand on his waist and keeps the other linked to Connor's, raised to the side. The mere thought of imitating them makes Darren's face burn.

"No, no, that's so outdated," Adryan calls. "So formal. Where's the romance!"

"Oh my-"

"You're right!"

The idiots proceed to step even closer—Connor circles both arms around his dance partner's neck, and Caesar holds his waist. Darren makes a gagging noise.