Dance Or You're Grounded

*Nicoli*

Nicoli minded his way across the checkerboard floor, doing his best to keep his eyes down. He didn't want to make eye contact with any of them lest that trigger an onslaught. But to his discredit, they seemed to have other plans.

The boy could barely place another cherry-colored shoe step on the next tile before it'd happen again. A girl in some billowing dress would jump in his way. Forcing him to have to look up to meet their curtsy.

I should have guessed this would happen. Nicoli grimaced, seeing a girl with a purple bow do just that now. Another girl in green quickly followed suit behind her. And behind them, Nicoli could already see the line of jittery faces form.

All waiting to have a chance with him- just like riding a horse. 

Oh geez. Nicoli mentally rolled his eyes with a huff through his nose. He pressed up another dry smile at the newest contestant for his affections.

"Prince Nicoli," The girl in purple fluttered her lashes. Her face was painted white and pink to simultaneously make her look pale and blush.

She reminds me of a clown. Nicoli had to swallow a laugh. The next one up didn't look any better, her face splotchy in some kind of variations of green. 

"Your Majesty,"

"Hello-" Nicoli nodded with a sidestep, hoping to avoid more talking, but they were prepared following his move. 

"How are you?"

"Would you care to dance?"

Hells, they are persistent, aren't they?

Nicoli put his hand up to stop them.

"I must see my mother." And he smiled for effect.

"Oh, the queen?"

 Both seemed to droop slightly, but they made no more argument. The excuse seemed good enough. They stepped aside. So did the rest of the girls that piled behind them. 

But that didn't mean the staring stopped. Nicoli could feel their eyes follow him like a fox on a rabbit-very unnerving.

 Nicoli gave a little shudder before making his way to the platform- letting out a heavy exhale before dropping that smile when his back was turned.

It's hard to keep smiling like this- Nicoli was already half exhausted and couldn't wait for the party to be over and the girls to go home. It was beginning to weigh on him. And all the more because he knew why they were here now.

I'll wait here till they're done. Nicoli thought with one last shot back. His eyes darted over the formless mass of dress before catching the white one- the only one amongst everyone's desperate cry for attention by color. 

It will be over soon. Nicoli told himself, filling his chest with one more taxing breath. The sight of Ana dancing with their father created some ease. 

After that, I won't leave Ana's side again. Nicoli vowed, finding something to hold him over till then, just as his foot hit the marble platform.

"Mother," Nicoli greeted, plopping down to sit on the step.

"Nicoli?" She raised a brow but never broke her beautiful continence. 

"My child, what are you doing over here?"

"I just wanted to see you." That wasn't a lie. He did want to see her, more so because it meant the girls wouldn't bother him. But he tucked that little note to the side.

Belinda smiled warmly and reached to hold his hand.

"See me? No, my darling- go down and dance." His mother said with a look around the room.

"Don't you see- they are waiting to dance with you- all these pretty girls."

"Do I have to?" Nicoli retorted, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.

"You don't want to?" 

Nicoli shook his head to bounce his curls, making his mother tut.

"Nicoli- dance." Belinda turned up her painted lips with encouragement.

"I will-" Nicoli replied with a rushed sigh. " When Ana's free again."

"Her Empress?" The queen replied nastily, twitching a perfect brow.

At that moment, she turned to look down to find both Ana and his father still dancing. Her smile lessened.

"Nicoli, don't be haughty."

She snapped her fan to flush air to cool her face. The room, despite its high ceiling and open windows, was starting to swell in heat. The summer night was not much of a change to the day. 

"I didn't raise you like this." 

And after a moment of fanning herself, she curled her lips as if inspired by something.

"How about you dance with Her Majesty?"

 Nicoli didn't even need to think before answering that. 

"NO." He rang firmly. "She is the LAST one I want to dance with." 

"Nicoli-"

"I just want to dance with Ana." Nicoli folded his arms over his chest with a pout. Why was that so hard for everyone to comprehend?

Behind him, his mother sighed, vexed.

"Nicoli, you are being rude."

"So? I didn't invite them." Nicoli jutted up his chin. This, however, seemed to be the wrong choice. His mother's smile dipped at the corners. 

"Well, I did- go find someone and dance." She snapped closed her fan with a good whip, making him flinch before she continued dropping an octave to an ominous ting.

"Or I will have you grounded."

"Grounded!?" Nicoli was up to his feet wide-eyed. 

"Mom, you don't mean that." Nicoli went, instantly putting on a smile. But this time, it didn't work.

She only narrowed her icy-grey eyes to shape slits. Oh, no, his smile wasn't going to work. She was beyond it- he needed to change tactics- fast!

"Fine." Nicoli rushed but couldn't resist a low grumble, stepping back to the floor. 

It didn't take long for Nicoli to spy the giant standing near one of the food tables. Her height alone was easy to find- let alone she was dressed in so much yellow that it'd make a canary jealous. But it didn't make him feel any better when he did.

His feet dragged over the stone tiles before stopping to greet her.

"Hidi," Nicoli sighed to see the giant turn to meet blinking green eyes.

"May I-" Nicoli shifted his jaw as the urge to drop to the floor and play dead came and went.

 No, it was easier just to do this than fight with Mom- the lesser of two evils.

"-have this dance?" Nicoli finished, holding out his hand. 

The giant blond blinked a half second, looking at him. And then smiled.

"Of course." Hidi eagerly took it. Her hand was so big it swallowed his.

"Right," Nicoli mumbled, half hoping she wouldn't break a bone before turning back to the floor.

I don't know where my hands should go. It quickly dawned on him that the height difference was more of a problem than he first thought. 

How were they supposed to dance? He'd have to extend his arms all the way to take her hips, let alone the small of her back.

How will I- But Hidi seemed to understand the problem without saying it.

"Like this, your majesty." Hidi guided one hand to the side of her hoop skirt as she held his other.

"Shall I lead?" Hidi smiled. 

Nicoli furrowed his brows.

"I guess." Nicoli conceded, already feeling out of sorts. He felt his face grow hot.

"But just because you're so tall." 

"Then I will." Hidi grinned, not at all offended.

Nicoli was surprised to find her step graceful. They were already in the center of the floor by the statues. It was impressive. He didn't even feel them move.

"You dance well," Nicoli admitted with a slight shrug.

 Hidi moved to give Nicoli a twirl. He frowned immediately. Men weren't the ones supposed to twirl. But then again, it wasn't like he could reach up and spin her either- so…

"You are thinking I must be bulky and heavy-footed since I am so tall, Ja?"

"I, no, well- I mean kinda." Nicoli looked down, feeling his cheeks hot again. But the light laugh made him look up again. It was oddly…easing. 

"I- I'm sorry." 

"Don't be. We hear it all the time." Hidi swung both of them around the muses. Nicoli found them near where he and Ana just were.

"But Almony is tougher. Words are nothing."

"Ah, right." Nicoli nodded, but he was growing distracted. They were getting closer to Ana. And he could see her just in front of them. Just a little closer, and he could reach out and-

"Prince?" Hidi turned to directly block his view. 

"You and Ana danced nicely."

Nicoli blushed at the compliment.

"Thank you." 

Nicoli wasn't lying when he said he'd been practicing since that day. And he'd been looking forward to dancing with Ana since morning. 

"Oh, thank you for doing Ana's costume-" Nicoli remembered to look back at her.

"It suits her. The white, I mean."

Hidi smiled at that but grew quiet again. Her peridot eyes unfocused with thought before she cleared her throat.

"You care for her," Hidi stated calmly. "Even when she is a vampire, I mean."

"OF course I do." Nicoli didn't even need to think.

"I love Ana. She's my sister." 

"I know. I heard and remembered." Hidi moved to give Nicoli another spin. She spun him fast enough this time to make his other horn fly off.

There it goes! Nicoli laughed as he watched it bounce and slide to the floor. 

"You're not that bad at dancing either." Hidi went again. 

Nicoli beamed a new smile at her.

"Thanks."

"So, may we be friends, then?" Hidi asked before leaning down till her face was right before Nicoli's. She was close he could smell her soap -lemon and sage, fill his nostrils. It was a bit jarring.

Why is she so close to me? Nicoli bit back a frown- Is this some Almony thing? Nicoli didn't know. He never studied Almony- he was always bored with diplomatic issues. 

Ana would know, though. Nicoli was positive she would have read all about Almony, and any other country for that matter. She was the one who used to harp on him with his studies when they were younger.

She is undoubtedly always reading- maybe that's why she gets winded so easily. She doesn't bother going outside. She just stays in her room to read all day. 

Nicoli couldn't think of a worse fate. But if Ana liked it, it must not be so bad. As long as the books had pictures- Nicoli could forgive her. 

What a bookworm. Nicoli again tried to steal a look at Ana, but Hidi turned him again. Blocking his sight. Nicoli puffed a little, annoyed- but didn't hold the resentment long. 

"Sure. As long as you don't steal Ana." Nicoli pulled back to make room.

"I won't." Hidi beamed a new smile.

"We can share."

"Share?" Nicoli lifted a brow. 

"But I can't say the same for you." Hidi smiled down at him strangely.

"Heh?"

But Hidi was already twisting him around to twirl once again even faster- too fast. She was spinning so quickly that his eyes ping-ponged against the sockets before abruptly coming to a halt.

Nicoli gasped, holding his chest before glaring back up at her furiously.

"Hells! Are you crazy-" But Nicoli didn't get another word before she turned him around again. Making everything a giant blur of yellow.

"So feisty!" Hidi giggled.