Sugarcoat squeezed the flyer in her hands, crumpling the edges. “Mandatory attendance?!”

She paced back and forth in her room, then snatched her phone off of the nightstand next to her bed. She unlocked it and saw a missed call from her friend, Sour Sweet, only moments ago. With a tap of her screen, she returned the call, and it was promptly answered.

“Can you believe this?!” Sugarcoat shouted. “Back not one day and the insufferable shenanigans have already started.”

Sour Sweet sat at the foot of her bed reading over a copy of the same flyer. “Yeah, of course our wonderful Student Council just couldn’t think of a better use for anyone’s time than making sure Cinch forces us all to attend an overly extravagant dance. As if we didn’t already have enough pointless celebrations we’re forced into.”

“No kidding. Since when are school dances mandatory? And did you notice that they couldn’t even spell the word, ‘commemorate?’ I’m sure that’s a pretty accurate indicator of how well-planned this nonsense is,” Sugarcoat added.

“So are you just gonna take the social disciplinary points?” Sour Sweet asked.

Sugarcoat sighed into the phone and shook her head. “Unfortunately I can’t. I already took two social disciplinary points for skipping that lovey-dovey greeting card company holiday nonsense and for skipping the stupid egg painting ritual… thing. If I get one more point on my record, I’ll have to take those ridiculous social reforming classes after school everyday. How about you?”

“This weird disciplinary structure Cinch came up with is so annoying. Forcing us into silly little social events isn’t going to make us like Canterlot High. Anyway, look, if you have to go, there’s no way I’ll let you endure that torture on your own. I’ll be there.” Sour Sweet smiled and played with her hair as she walked. “So, do you have ‘properly themed attire?’”

“What exactly would you consider proper attire? An offensive appropriation of Polynesian culture?” Sugarcoat groaned and rolled her eyes. “Do they seriously expect me to waste my own money on stupid clothes I’ll never use again?”

“You’re a basket of sunshine as always.” Sour Sweet giggled. “Ready to go waste our money?”

Knock knock!

Sugarcoat glanced over her shoulder and sneered. “Hold on. Some idiot is bugging me,” she said as she walked towards her door.

She pulled it open to see Sour Sweet standing with a raised eyebrow and a crooked smirk.

“Good to know you think I’m just some idiot.” Sour Sweet scoffed and pushed her way into Sugarcoat’s room.

“I didn’t realize it was you.” Sugarcoat cleared her throat and ended the call before tucking her phone away. “Are you sure there isn’t a way we can just make do with what we have?”

“Of course we can!” Sour Sweet beamed and placed her hands on her cheeks, overflowing with sarcasm. “Let’s mix and match all of our brightest outfits and turn the whole thing into a big arts and crafts project. That sounds like so much fun♪”

Sugarcoat stared with a straight face and lowered her eyebrows. “Fine, fine. Let’s go," she said as she stepped behind Sour and pushed her back through the front door.

The two walked side by side through the glamorous crystal hallway, Sugarcoat with a twisted frown and Sour Sweet with a mischievous smile. Sugarcoat eyed her fellow students with the utmost sense of disdain while they merrily buzzed over the upcoming event. She couldn’t help but notice the seemingly high quality of the colorful dresses some of her classmates were showing off, and before long they reached the courtesy desk near the dormitory's entrance.

“Ooh, look.” Sour Sweet pointed at the bulletin board with starry eyes. “We’ll get to vote on a Luau King and Hula Queen at the end of the event. I’m totally voting for you,” she said, her voice falling flat.

Sugarcoat hissed and tugged her friend towards the exit. “I just want to get through this with minimal involvement. If you want to waste your vote on me, that’s fine, but you don’t have to tell me about it.”

“I think you’ll make a wonderful Hula Queen. We should probably work on your hula-ing skills first, though,” Sour said while performing a mock hula-dance.

“Seriously. Knock it off.” Sugarcoat smack her hand, then held the front door open. “What exactly are we supposed to wear anyway? I didn’t notice anything too specific about the attire in the flyer or on the bulletin board, but it looks like some of our peers are wearing semi-formal dresses.”

Sour Sweet playfully feigned a wrist injury as she stepped outside into the bright sunlight. “I was just imagining you in a coconut bikini top and a grass skirt.”

“Never in a million years will I wear a coconut bikini.” Sugarcoat gritted her teeth and shuddered. “That’s the most ridiculous thing. How did it even come about?”

Sour shrugged and giggled. “Oh look, coconut shells split in half fit over my breasts, so I better strap them onto my chest. Tee-hee look how pretty I am now.”

Sugarcoat covered her mouth and snickered. “That’s probably exactly how it started.”

“So honestly I have no idea what we should buy. Let’s just check out a clothing shop along the shopping strip across the street and see if anything makes sense.” Sour Sweet yawned and pointed down the sidewalk and across the street towards a fine boutique. “We’ll start there.”

Sugarcoat nodded and walked with her eyes lowered as she contemplated the best way to approach the night to come. She loosed a deep sigh and kicked a rock off of the sidewalk, her straight face slipping into a frown.

Sour smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s gonna be fine. This whole thing will be over before you know it.”

Sugarcoat shrugged and looked up. “I know it will. It’s just that… Never mind.”

“What?” Sour asked.

Sugarcoat shook her head and picked up her pace. “Nothing. Let’s just get this over with.”

“Oh come on. You can’t tease me like that!” Sour widened her eyes and pretended to beg. “Tell me!”

“Forget it. I’ll tell you later.” Sugarcoat leered over her shoulder and continued walking towards the street, leaving her friend behind.

Sour skipped up to Sugarcoat’s side, who had stopped at the crosswalk. “Promise?”

“Sure.” Sugarcoat pressed the pedestrian crossing button several times, window shopping from across the street. “How much are you willing to spend? Diamond Boutique, while fashionable, isn’t inexpensive.”

“I’m not sure. Let’s check it out and see what they have to offer.” Sour grabbed her friend’s hand as the signal to walk appeared, and led her across the street.

Sugarcoat stared at her hand while Sour squeezed it, tugging her along. She gulped and shook her head, clearing her thoughts as they approached the entrance. A bell then chimed as they walked into the luxurious clothing shop and were promptly greeted by the saleswoman.

“What can I help you beautiful young ladies find today?” she asked.

“Lay off the flattery,” Sugarcoat said sternly. “If we make a purchase, it won’t be because you’re hovering around us tossing out generic compliments.”

“You’ll have to forgive my friend here; she’s a bit moody today,” Sour said with an apologetic smile, stepping in between Sugarcoat and the saleswoman. “We’re trying to find something to wear to a tropical island themed dance tonight.”

“Preferably something that we won’t be discarding immediately after the event concludes,” Sugarcoat added.

The saleswoman blinked several times in disbelief, then nodded with a crooked frown and beckoned the girls towards the summer apparel section, which was lined with racks of fine clothing featuring the latest trends from high profile designers. “Certainly something here should fit the bill.”

Sugarcoat carefully eyed the apparel, noting each piece’s distinct colors and patterns. Meanwhile, Sour Sweet lifted a bright red and pink colored cocktail dress with elegantly embroidered floral patterns from the rack and held it in front of herself.

“Isn’t this pretty?” she asked. “Eek, pretty pricy I mean,” she added, noticing the price tag.

“Nonsense,” the saleswoman said, wrapping an arm around Sour Sweet’s back and guiding her towards the cash register. “It just so happens that, today only, this item is ten percent off! Lucky you, right?”

“Ah, yes. Lucky me.” Sour smiled and pulled out her credit card.

Sugarcoat rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Come on, Sour. You should know better than to fall for these blatantly obvious sales tactics.”

“Yeah sure, but this is so cute and worth it with the discount.” Sour Sweet winked over her shoulder as her purchase was bagged.

“That thing wouldn’t be worth it if it was fifty percent off.” Sugarcoat rolled her eyes and grabbed an equally high-priced blue and green dress, then headed to the counter.

“I’m afraid your item is full price today,” the saleswoman stated as she rang up and bagged the dress with narrowed eyes.

“Of course it is.” Sugarcoat snatched the bag from the counter and hastily stepped outside.

Sour Sweet nervously smiled and offered a polite nod, then followed her friend outside. Once they were out of sight, Sour cracked up and playfully shoved Sugarcoat's shoulder. “Hah, you really ticked off that cashier, huh?”

“That wasn’t my intention.” Sugarcoat placed her hand on her forehead and yawned. “Well anyway, finding these clothes was easier than I had expected. We still have a couple of hours to kill before we need to get ready for the dance.”

“Yeah, true. Down the block is a cafe where we can grab some smoothies or something.” Sour Sweet gazed down the long sidewalk and shrugged. “Or we can just head back to our rooms and go to sleep until the dance starts.”

“The latter sounds pretty appealing.” Sugarcoat smiled. “But I could go for a smoothie if you’re up for one too.”

“Sure, let’s do it.” Sour Sweet winked and walked ahead.

Sugarcoat placed a finger to her mouth as she walked closely behind her friend, watching her ponytail bouncing from side to side. “Do you think I could get away with pretending to accidentally sleep through the dance, and just say that my alarm didn’t wake me?”

Sour Sweet chuckled and shook her head as she let Sugarcoat catch up to her side. “Not likely, knowing Cinch. Are you really that desperate to get out of this? I mean, sure I get that it sucks and it’s going to be really dumb and boring, but I don’t get how you can hate these things so much that you’d risk dealing with even worse punishments.”

“I don’t get how you don’t hate these horrible events. Or how everyone else seems to like them for that matter.” Sugarcoat huffed and lowered her eyebrows.

“Just cheer up a little. At least for now.” Sour closed her eyes and flashed a bright smile. “If you’re this grouchy before the thing even starts, then there’s no way we’ll be able to survive through the night.”

Sugarcoat straightened her glasses and calmed herself. “Okay. And you’re right about Cinch. There’s no way she’d accept that excuse. Just wishful thinking I suppose.”

“Let’s just forget about the dance for now, and you know, just hang out. I missed you during Spring Break,” Sour Sweet said. “I didn’t miss you sassing me this much, though.”

Sugarcoat cleared her throat and fought back the urge to smile. “That’s to be expected considering how much time we’ve been spending together lately. The feeling is mutual.”

“I knew you missed me,” Sour said with a chuckle. “But I’m a little surprised you admitted it.”

“I figure if you’re capable of handling my honesty, I may as well be honest about everything.” Sugarcoat picked at her fingernails as they walked and lowered her eyes.

Sour Sweet detected a shift in her friend’s aura and steeled herself. “So… uhm,” she cleared her throat. “Was there anything else you were feeling like being honest about? Like that thing you said you’d tell me about later?”

Sugarcoat straightened her already perfectly straight glasses and nodded. “There was something I wanted to bring up concerning these types of annoying social events and how they affect you and me specifically, but I realized mid-sentence that I didn’t have all of the information needed to properly discuss my thoughts. Not a mistake I normally make. I apologize.”

“Oh,” Sour Sweet said with a relieved laugh. “Well you do realize that part of a discussion is adding a different person’s perspective to the topic, right?”

Sugarcoat nodded and took a seat at an outdoor table beneath an awning just outside of the cafe. “Buy me a smoothie and we’ll talk. Orange mango please.”

“Deal!” Sour Sweet twirled around and pulled open the glass door, then headed inside of the cafe, her ponytail cheerfully swinging from side to side as she approached the counter.

Sugarcoat groaned and rubbed her temples, resting her elbows on the table. “Why did you have to open your big mouth?” she muttered to herself.

She closed her eyes and considered her true feelings very carefully. She recalled the way she felt a few months earlier after the Hearth’s Warming party, and how caving into ritualistic nonsense, such as kissing a girl standing beneath the mistletoe, could lead to the warmest and happiest sensations she had ever experienced. Then she considered how adamantly she had shut those feelings out.

A stiff breeze brushed beneath Sugarcoat’s chin and gently lifted her long pigtails, then she opened her eyes, snapping back to reality. She glanced over through the large cafe window and spotted her friend being handed two large cups, who then carried them towards the front door. Upon making eye contact, Sour Sweet winked and stuck her tongue out, and Sugarcoat’s heart skipped a beat.

The bell chimed as Sour exited and took a seat next to her friend, then sat the slushy treat in front of her. “Here ya go.”

“Thank you.” Sugarcoat sipped her beverage and leaned up. “Something crossed my mind while you were in there.”

“Yeah? What is it?” Sour asked, taking a generous slurp.

“I think we can probably return these outfits after the dance and get at least a partial refund,” Sugarcoat said, averting her gaze.

Sour Sweet rolled her eyes and shrugged. “Yeah, probably. But wasn’t there something else you wanted to talk about?”

“It isn’t something I particularly want to talk about, but the longer I avoid it, the more it’ll bug both of us, so…” Sugarcoat sat straight up and squeezed her cup with both hands. “It’s about the Hearth's Warming party a few months ago, when I kissed you.”

Sour choked on her drink and cleared her throat, pounding on her chest. “Oh, that. Yeah, don’t worry about that. Forget it, actually. No big deal.”

“It kind of is a big deal.” Sugarcoat glanced down at her straw and took a deep, long breath. “I thought it was a good idea to just let it go and move past it like nothing had happened, but that isn’t true. Something did happen, and we should probably talk about it at some point.”

“Uhm, I tried to talk to you about it several times. You told me it didn’t matter and…” Sour Sweet lowered her voice and her eyes as she brushed her bangs to the side. “I believed you. It didn’t mean anything.”

“I wanted to believe that myself, because I didn’t want things to change,” Sugarcoat said sternly. “I was quite satisfied with the way things had always been between us in the past. Uncertainty isn’t something I handle well. It’s the reason I hate the Hearth’s Warming parties, and it’s the reason I hate these other stupid social events. I didn’t want our friendship to become something I… that I learned to hate.”

Sour’s eyes glistened and she frowned. “I understand that, but I had feelings about what happened too.”

“I’m sure you still do, and so do I,” Sugarcoat added.

“Why are you bringing this up now of all times, right before this horrible dance that has you in the worst mood ever?” Sour asked.

“This is the most relevant time, don’t you think?” Sugarcoat looked up through her glasses with her head lowered, a look most would find quite intimidating. “I really hate to admit this, but a small part of me might actually be looking forward to this dance in a roundabout way, because I want to be there with you. And that fact is making me angry for some reason.”

Sour Sweet was taken aback. She tilted her head and grinned. “Are you being serious right now?”

“I’m always serious, Sour.” Sugarcoat glanced away and sucked on her straw.

“I still don’t get why you’re looking forward to the dance, or why you brought up the kiss from last year. You’re spending time with me now. I mean, you can spend time with me pretty much anytime you want,” Sour explained. “So what does the dance have to do with anything?”

“It’s because attending this dance will put us in a similar situation to last year’s Hearth’s Warming party.” Sugarcoat slumped down in her seat and avoided eye contact. “Look, I don’t know exactly why I wanted to talk about this, but I’m opening up. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Sour rapidly nodded and wore a wide smile. “Yeah, definitely. And if I’m putting this together correctly, you’re looking forward to the dance because you think you’ll get to kiss me again.”

“That’s not what I meant!” Sugarcoat snapped back and smacked the table. “That’s awfully presumptuous of you, Sour.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it.” Sour held up her hands and shrugged. “You’re the one saying these things. I’m just doing my best to decipher what you mean.”

Sugarcoat groaned and then remained silent for several long moments. She watched the icy liquid crawl up the length of her straw as she took another sip of her drink, then let it sink back into the cup. A gust of wind sent scattered papers and dried leaves skittering across the sidewalk. Sugarcoat looked up towards the sky, noting the many storm clouds brewing in the distance. “Let’s head back, we can talk more in the privacy of one of our rooms.”

“Sure,” Sour said, standing up and reaching out for Sugarcoat’s hand.

Sugarcoat recoiled and looked down at her friend’s outstretched arm.

“First, I wanted to ask you something,” Sour said with a devious grin. “Wanna be my date to the dance tonight?”

“I’ll accompany you to the dance. Let’s leave it at that.” Sugarcoat forcefully grabbed Sour’s hand and walked by her side, sipping her drink. “It’s not like I have many options anyway.”

“Luckily you have the best option.” Sour winked.

“That’s… technically true,” Sugarcoat said as she picked up her pace down the street.

Sour Sweet quickened her steps to match Sugarcoat’s. “What’s the hurry?” she asked.

Sugarcoat glanced to the sky as the sun was blocked out by a towering thunderhead. “It looks like it’s gonna start raining soon. Do you want to be caught out in the rain with our newly purchased, and I might add, rather expensive clothing?”

“Guess not,” Sour replied. “Good call!”

The two jogged down the sidewalk through the rising wind, hand in hand, and crossed the street leading back to school grounds. They then reached the front door leading to their dormitory. Upon entering they were greeted by a fellow student.

“Stepping in out of the wind, are we? Terrible for your hair, really.” a pale white girl with neatly styled rosy pink hair said with an excruciatingly high pitched piercing voice, nodding towards a table set up in front of her. “Don’t forget to pick up your complimentary leis for the big dance tonight! Courtesy of your trusted Student Council.”

“Gee thanks, Fleur. Just what we needed.” Sour snatched two leis from the table and stuffed them into her shopping bag. “Cheap plastic flowers are so in right now, right?”

“What was that?” Fleur called out as they walked away, spotting the Diamond Boutique shopping bags. “Oh I love DB. At least you two seem to have an eye for the nearest fashionable retailers. I guess that counts for something.”

Sugarcoat glared straight ahead and bit her tongue as they continued to distance themselves from the Student Councilwoman pestering them. As they reached her room, she pushed the door open, then latched it shut behind Sour.

“They’re so frustrating! I can’t even stand looking at those prissy Student Council girls,” Sour complained as she dramatically rolled her eyes and huffed. “Only the worst people sign up for that nonsense.”

“Agreed,” Sugarcoat said as she took a seat on her bed and pulled out her new dress.

“Ooh, are you gonna try it on and model it for me?” Sour asked with a teasing smirk.

“I’m going to try it on, yes, but not to model it for you. I need to be sure it fits before it’s too late to replace it. I should have tried it on in the shop.” Sugarcoat stepped around the corner to undress.

“Well, I guess I’ll try mine on, too. Don’t peek, okay?” Sour giggled as she unfolded her outfit and held it up to herself. “Unless you want to,” she muttered.

Sugarcoat slipped into her short dress and examined herself through a body-length wall-mirror. The vivid blue and green patterns were accented by a large yellow ribbon around her waist. She fluttered her lashes and struck a pose, finding confidence in the stylish dress.

“Can you give me a hand over here?” Sour called out as she attempted the reach the zipper on her lower back.

Sugarcoat’s newfound confidence was short lived as she stepped back around the corner to see her friend leaning forward against the foot of her bed, facing away with her ponytail over the front of her shoulder, her back exposed beneath the unzipped gown. She gulped and approached her.

“I’m terrible with these things. Thanks,” Sour said, lifting her bare shoulder to her cheek and smiling.

Sugarcoat nodded, noticing the adorable freckles dotting her shoulders and upper back. She pulled on the zipper, closing the bright red and pink cocktail dress. “No problem.”

“This thing feels great. I think it’s the nicest dress I’ve ever worn. I’m gonna keep it,” Sour said with a bright smile, twirling around and flaring out the bottom. Her face then fell flat she placed a finger on her chin. “Of course, I’ll never be able to zip it up on my own, and I can’t always count on you to run down the hall every time I put it on.”

“I wouldn’t mind too much,” Sugarcoat said with a wobbly smile, then shook her head and cleared her throat. “I just mean that the dress suits you well. I think it makes sense to keep it.”

Sour softly smiled, then tilted her head as she examined her friend. “You look amazing, Sugar. Do a spin," she said as she twirled her finger around.

Sugarcoat furrowed her brow and pushed up her glasses. “I will not do a spin, but I’ll show you the back. Here,” she said as she turned around, looking over her shoulder and nervously flattening down the fabric.

Sour Sweet approached her from behind and tugged at the dress, frilling out the pleats at the bottom.

“What are you doing?” Sugarcoat asked. “Does… the dress look fine?”

“You’re stunning,” Sour answered. “I was just trying to fix the parts of the dress you mushed down. It’s not supposed to be flattened, you know.”

“I know that. I’m not sure why I did it.” Sugarcoat stood straight as an arrow with her arms at her sides.

“You look nervous.” Sour sat back down on the bed and crossed her legs. “Is something else bothering you?”

“I don’t know.” Sugarcoat answered. “I feel strange wearing this. I didn’t think I would.”

“I have a pair of green shoes and matching leggings I can let you borrow. I think they’d go perfectly with that dress.” Sour beamed and clapped her hands, then shook her head and lost her smile. “Maybe not the leggings. Too much green, am I right?”

Sugarcoat broke a half smile. “I don’t know.”

“Eh, who really cares? I think it’ll look good. If you think it looks good, then wear it.” Sour stood up and pulled down her purple knee socks. “Gotta get rid of these, though. They don’t match at all. I need to make sure I’m a suitable date for you.”

Sugarcoat raised an eyebrow and placed her hand on her chin.

“Oh, sorry,” Sour said. “I meant a suitable... accompanying person… companion? Whatever you wanna call me.”

Sugarcoat chuckled and shook her head. “It’s fine. I just don’t seem to have a clue when it comes to stylish color schemes. If you hadn’t said anything, I’d have just worn my school uniform shoes to the dance.”

“Just another reason you’re so lucky to have a friend like me.” Sour winked as she pulled her hair loose from her ponytail and brushed it over her shoulder. “Out of sheer curiosity, are you actually against me calling you my date, or are you just messing with me?”

“Well if you say I’m your date to a dance, that implies I’ll be dancing with you. I have no intention of dancing with anyone,” Sugarcoat explained.

“Oh, definitely. I figured as much.” Sour shrugged her off and resumed her brushing, then grinned and narrowed her eyes. “What if I really, really wanted you to dance with me? Just once.”

Sugarcoat stepped back and shook her head. “No way. I couldn’t.”

Sour stopped brushing her hair and widened her eyes. “Do you not know how?”

Sugarcoat’s cheeks grew hot. “I just don’t want to!” she shouted.

“That’s fine. I was just wondering if you’d be willing to do it for me.” Sour sat the brush down on the nightstand with a loud thud. “Guess not.”

“That’s not fair,” Sugarcoat said, stomping her foot. “I’ve never done it before and I know I’d just make a fool of myself in front of everyone. I refuse to allow that to happen.”

Sour Sweet smiled and stood off the bed. She stepped up to Sugarcoat and gently cupped her hand. “I didn’t say I wanted you to do it in front of everyone. We could do it here, right now. Just the two of us.”

Sugarcoat yanked her hand away and stepped backwards. “I told you; I don’t know how.”

“Has not knowing something ever stopped you from learning before?” Sour asked, offering back her hand. “I watched you learn how to race a dirt bike in a week, this should be no problem for you.”

Sugarcoat gulped and shook her head. “This is different and you know it… How do you know how to dance anyway?”

“My dad taught me how to slow dance when I was younger,” Sour explained. “My middle school had a Daddy Daughter Dance. I’ve never had someone to dance with since then, but, well, that’s about to change, right?”

“Okay, but…” Sugarcoat looked down at her friend’s hand, then back into her wide purple eyes. “There’s no music.”

Sour pulled out her cellphone and brought up her playlist, playing a slow song as she sat her phone onto the bed.

“Why are you so insistent upon…” Sugarcoat groaned and shook her head. “Are you really going to make me do this?”

“Just take my hand already.” Sour smiled, then lowered her eyebrows. “I’m not going to let you out of this without a fight.”

Sugarcoat hesitantly gave in, closing her eyes as she grabbed her friend’s hand.

Sour Sweet moved in closely, interlocking their fingers and placing her free hand around Sugarcoat’s waist. “Put your hand on my shoulder.”

“Right here?” Sugarcoat asked, carefully grasping her friend’s bare shoulder.

“Perfect,” Sour said. She then gently pushed against Sugarcoat’s waist, prompting her to step to the side. “Just step in the direction I’m leading you. I’ll be careful to keep my feet out of your way so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Sugarcoat gave a quick nod and stepped to the right, then felt herself being urged back to the left.

“See? Slow dancing is pretty intuitive, right? Just move with the beat of whatever song is playing.” Sour Sweet repeated the simple steps several times. “If we want to take it up a notch, we can move in a circle instead of just side to side.”

Sugarcoat watched her feet as she stepped, noticing the rotating pattern she was being led into. She then looked up at Sour Sweet with wide, sparkling eyes and a soft smile. “This is easier than I thought. Thank you for teaching me.”

Sour’s heart fluttered as her friend acknowledged her. “I’m happy to. Usually you’re the one teaching me things.”

Sugarcoat spotted a stray thread clinging to Sour’s cheek, and she lifted her hand to wipe it away. Her thumb brushed over her cute freckles as she wiped the string away.

Sour lost herself in the feeling of her friend's soft hand on her cheek, and she felt her breath slipping away as she closed her eyes and leaned forward ever so slightly, her lips slowly parting.

Suddenly the window rattled as a gust of wind thrashed against the building, and each girl jumped, startled.

Sugarcoat glanced to the window to see beads of water trailing down, then poked Sour on the nose and shook her head. “Just so you know, I’m still not dancing in public. Not happening.”

Sour opened her eyes and went cross-eyed while she looked at the tip of her nose, then frowned in disappointment as she turned around to grab her hair-band from the table, swiftly wrapping her hair up into a high ponytail. “So what if participating in the hula dance off thingy is mandatory as well?”

Sugarcoat flinched and frowned. “Then I’ll leave and accept whatever punishment Cinch has in store.”

“Hmm…” Sour placed her finger on her chin and tilted her head. “I wonder how likely that is. Maybe we should go check out the auditorium and see what we can find out.”

Sugarcoat nodded. “Agreed. Plus, if Cinch and the Student Council see us there, we might be able to get away with sneaking out early.”

“Sure,” Sour said with a giggle, grabbing the mandated leis and stepping towards the front door. “Let’s stop at my room on the way and I’ll give you those shoes.”

Sugarcoat took a deep breath and followed Sour into the hallway barefoot, latching the door shut behind herself. She glanced around at the few students that happened to be passing by and hoped they wouldn’t acknowledge her outfit.

After a short and quiet walk down the hall, they reached Sour’s room. "Hold on just a sec," Sour said as she slipped into her room and left the door slightly cracked.

Sugarcoat crossed her arms and couldn't resist peeking in through the cracked door, where she saw a pink girl with vivid green hair sprawled out across her bed, apparently jamming out to some hardcore music that was surprisingly audible even from Sugarcoat's distance. She shook her head and considered the likely possibility of permanent hearing damage that could be inflicted upon the girl.

"Alright. Here ya go!" Sour Sweet said as she stepped back into the hallway wearing bright red high-heels and dropped a pair of glossy blue-green flats on the floor.

Sugarcoat slipped her feet into the pretty shoes and examined them. "You were right, these do match well. Thank you."

"Anytime. We can share them since we're the same shoe size." Sour smiled and wrapped her arm around Sugarcoat as they walked down the hallway. "Not really though. I want these back immediately after the dance."

Sugarcoat smiled crookedly and shook her head. "That's fine."

The two then made their way through the building until they reached the entrance to the auditorium, where the dance was being hosted.

“What time is it?” Sugarcoat asked as they stood outside of the door.

“About four-thirty,” Sour replied, glancing at her phone. “We’re actually not too early. Are you ready?”

Sugarcoat cleared her throat and nodded, pushing down on her dress.

“Hey, stop that.” Sour frowned and tugged at Sugarcoat’s dress. “It’s supposed to flare out. If you push it down it looks weird.”

Sugarcoat pushed Sour’s hand away and groaned. “I know, alright?”

Sour held up her thumb and smiled. “Alright.”

Sugarcoat huffed and pushed the door open. To her surprise, the room was already filled with many students mingling and wearing blindingly bright outfits. The room was overly decorated with the most predictable and overt tropical-themed adornments imaginable. Fake palm trees lined the walls and exaggerated tiki torches illuminated the stage with painfully obvious light bulbs in place of flames.

Sour Sweet covered her mouth and snickered. “This is way more pathetic than I imagined.”

Sugarcoat sighed and placed her hand on her forehead. “I swear they aren’t even trying anymore. These decorations get worse and worse with each new event.”

A stern voice sounding from behind startled each of the girls. “Is that any way to talk about the hard work your fellow students have done?”

Sugarcoat shuddered as a cold, hard hand squeezed her shoulder. “No, Miss Cinch.”

Principal Cinch stood menacingly behind her student as she leaned down and examined her. “I’m surprised to see you wearing something so suitable. I’m glad to see you in the spirit of things. Carry on, and do try to behave yourself. You too, Sour Sweet.”

“Yes ma'am, thank you,” Sugarcoat said with a quick nod.

“I’ll try!” Sour Sweet chirped with glee. “Bleh.” She feigned a gag and stuck her tongue out as the principal walked away. “I regret any bit of optimism I might have felt earlier. Are you ready to leave yet?”

Sugarcoat sighed shook her head. “Not quite yet. Let’s wait until the idiotic contests and games begin, then we can probably slip out without being missed.”

Sour rolled her eyes and walked past Sugarcoat where she eyed a smorgasbord of fruity treats displayed. “May as well enjoy some free food while we’re here, I guess.”

Sugarcoat followed her and looked over the arrangement, displeased. “Someone cut up a bunch of fruit and called it a tropical feast,” she said, noting the sign advertising the table as such. “Why are there so many apples? When I think of tropical fruits, I’m definitely not thinking of apples.”

“Mm-hmm,” Sour hummed absentmindedly as she bit into a watermelon slice. “S’good tho.”

“Ick. Don’t talk with your mouth full, Sour. Come on.” Sugarcoat backed away and wore a look of disgust. “When you’re done stuffing your face, find me in a dark corner somewhere avoiding the meaningless babbling these people mistake for conversation.”

“Ooh look, a pineapple.” Sour Sweet discarded her finished watermelon husk, then grabbed the uncut, spiky fruit and followed her friend, who walked off with a bunch of grapes.

Sugarcoat found the quietest spot in the auditorium, out of sight and a good distance from the center stage. She popped the grapes in her mouth one by one as she watched her fellow students behaving even more ridiculously than usual, each crunch of the tiny berries growing more aggressive by the second.

Meanwhile Sour Sweet poked and picked at the pineapple, tilting her head. “I don’t get it.”

Sugarcoat felt her eye twitch. “Really? Why are you picking at the husk of a pineapple anyway? You can’t eat it like that, you know.”

“Oh…” Sour Sweet blushed and scratched the back of her head. “Why was it on the fruit table then?! I’ve never had a whole pineapple like this before. I thought I could, like, peel it or something.”

“It was likely there for decoration. Didn’t you notice the cut pineapples in front of it?” Sugarcoat explained, forcing herself to remain patient. “You’re going to make a mess and embarrass yourself if you keep playing with it.”

“I did not notice those. I’ll be right back.” Sour blushed and smiled, then backed away with her fruit, making haste on her way to the table.

Sugarcoat inhaled deeply and held it for several seconds, clearing her head before blowing a stream of air towards the floor. She looked up and watched the students lining up on the main stage while they strapped on grass skirts. Her eyebrows lowered and she tightly crossed her arms.

“Yummy,” Sour said as she approached her friend with a plate of freshly cut pineapple. “Want a bite?”

Sugarcoat went cross-eyed looking at the piece of fruit stuck on the fork that Sour held directly in front of her face. Every instinct in her body told her to smack the fork away and protest, but she didn’t. Instead, she accepted the bite, and enjoyed it.

“Good, right?” Sour asked just before taking another bite herself.

Sugarcoat nodded. “It tastes like pineapple, which is a flavor I enjoy.”

“Sure, but isn’t this better than the canned pineapple they normally serve us here?” Sour Sweet asked. “You know, there’s something about it being fresh that makes it so much better.”

“Why do you think it’s ‘so much better?’” Sugarcoat asked. “I think it’s pretty similar, but I admit that the fresh fruit isn’t as sickeningly sweet since it isn’t soaked in sugary, syrupy preservatives.”

“That’s just it,” Sour beamed. “It’s still sweet, but there’s a balance between the sweetness and tartness. It’s the perfect combination of sour and sweet, just like me. Don't ya think?”

Sugarcoat rolled her eyes and smiled. “Is this comparison your idea of a joke?”

“Made you smile, so I guess it worked.” Sour held up another bite of fruit to Sugarcoat’s face, who tilted her head with a hint of annoyance before she accepted it. “And you know, since I’m comparing myself to the fruit that you’re eating, there’s a bit of innuendo involved. That could be construed as a joke too, right?”

Sugarcoat stopped chewing and swallowed, then slowly turned to meet Sour’s carefree eyes with a razor sharp gaze of her own. “Misconstrued, maybe, and not funny at all.”

“Don’t be such a prude,” Sour said as she smacked Sugarcoat’s shoulder. “I’m just kidding.”

“You’d better be.” Sugarcoat flattened her dress yet again, and tilted her nose up. “I’ve always considered you to more closely resemble a chili pepper. You know, good in small doses, but overwhelmingly irritating after too much exposure.”

Sour frowned and crossed her arms. “Alright, well you’re like a cactus fruit or whatever they’re called. You’re pretty to look at, and probably delicious, but don’t get too close!” She mocked.

Sugarcoat acceptingly shrugged and put on a half smile. “You just have to be careful when peeling off the spines.”

Sour was taken aback, surprised by her friend’s response. “Right. How do I do that?”

“I compared you to a fruit to insult you, and you chose to retaliate in a similar way instead of just getting mad or sad, even though your comparison was mostly just a compliment, so you failed. Your ability to talk me without getting upset is how you get past the sharp spines that cover me,” Sugarcoat explained.

“Well that's easy. What’s there to get upset about anyway?” Sour asked. “It’s not like we’re actually trying to be mean to each other, plus, you get me in anything but small doses, so you must really like things spicy, huh?”

“I actually don’t, but I do like you in more than just small doses. That’s what I mean, though. You get it. You get me. Much unlike the rest of these people who are either wrapped up in their cliques or constantly fighting with each other over the pettiest of disagreements.” Sugarcoat shivered. “I can’t understand their social patterns no matter how hard I try, and I will never be a part of it. Thank goodness for you.”

“Yeah, thank goodness for me. You're actually being pretty nice to me right now. This is nice. It's almost like you're getting into the luau spirit and lightening up.” Sour stepped closer to Sugarcoat’s side lightly leaned against her shoulder. “Maybe you’re not as different from them as you think you are.”

“I'm most certainly am not getting into the luau spirit, and I'm nothing like them! Don’t ever insult me like that again,” Sugarcoat muttered. “I’ll say that you’re like them.”

“Please don’t.” Sour giggled and nonchalantly reached down to flare Sugarcoat’s dress back out. “Listen to this lovely music from, like, when my mom was a kid at a dance. Is this the Beach Girls or something?”

“I honestly have no idea. I don’t like it.” Sugarcoat cringed. “Ew, I wasn’t really paying any attention to it before you said something. It’s really bad.”

“Wanna dance to it?” Sour asked with a cocky smirk as she took Sugarcoat’s hand and stood in front of her.

“I told you already, that will not happen! Not here.” Sugarcoat stomped her shoe and shook her head. “Especially not to this music.”

♪Surfin’ surfin’ surfin’ surfin’ surfin’ fun hooray~♪

Sour tilted her head and listened for a moment, then sighed. “You’re absolutely right. This is too unbearable to just ignore. Maybe the next song, then?”

“No! I don’t care if I like the song or not. That doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to dance in public,” Sugarcoat protested. “Please stop asking.”

“But you’re so good at it now.” Sour teased. “Seriously, though? I’m just bored and pushing your buttons. I know you’re way too shy to dance.”

Sugarcoat lowered her eyebrows and stared into the crowd of dancing students. She thought for several long moments, then failed to contain the words that boiled in her chest. “I’m not shy! I just don’t like dancing. It’s stupid and makes no sense. It serves no purpose. It’s just traditional social garbage that I refuse to participate in. Is that really so hard for you to understand?!”

Suddenly all eyes were on Sugarcoat, including Principal Cinch’s, who simply shook her head and rubbed her forehead. After a moment of stillness, the students all resumed their dancing. Sugarcoat then cleared her throat and quieted herself.

Sour held up her hands in a mock surrender. “Right, sure. Whatever you say, Sugar.”

Sugarcoat dropped her arms in disbelief. “Do you really think I’m shy?”

“Attention all students!" A familiarly nasally voice sounded over a loudspeaker. "Now that the random outbursts are over, the hula-hula dance off is about to begin, but we still have one open spot. Don’t be shy, come participate and have a shot at being the Hula Queen!”

“Alright. If you aren’t shy, then you shouldn’t have a problem filling that empty spot. It’s stupid, I agree, but you should be okay with doing it anyway and just not caring about it.” Sour handed her lei to Sugarcoat and pointed towards the stage where Fleur held up an extra grass skirt, waiting for a volunteer.

Sugarcoat stepped forward as she eyed the stage and considered it for a brief moment, squeezing the lei, then sighed in defeat. “Okay you got me,” she admitted. “I can’t do it.”

“Why not? Too shy?” Sour asked.

“Maybe I am. Who really cares? Why don’t you go do it?” Sugarcoat tossed the lei back at Sour and returned to her spot against the wall.

“Nah, I’m way too shy to do that. I’m not too shy to dance with you right here, right now.” Sour smiled and leaned against the wall next to her friend. “Look, you don’t have to think about it anymore. I really was just messing with you because I think it’s cute when you get all worked up.”

Sugarcoat groaned and crossed her arms. “There’s nothing cute about it.”

After several long minutes of silence, the music changed from an upbeat mockery of a tropical song to something more contemporary and relaxing as the contest came to an end. The competing hula dancers exited the stage and the rest of the students slowed their movements to match the new tempo. Sugarcoat's eyes wandered over to her friend, who stood with a subtle frown, holding her elbow and biting her thumbnail as she subconsciously swayed from side to side in her gorgeous dress. Sugarcoat felt a pang of guilt as she sensed Sour's dissatisfaction, then she glanced down at her own hand, detecting a slight tremble as she considered what she needed to do. It was suddenly clear that the thought of a dance had become important to Sour Sweet.

"Sour," Sugarcoat called.

Sour Sweet tilted her head and shrugged. "What..."

"If you promise to keep it brief, we can dance. Once," Sugarcoat said as she swallowed her pride.

Sour's eyes lit up. "Wait, really? You changed your mind?"

"Let's do this before I change my mind again." Sugarcoat turned her back to the crowd and took a deep breath, then extended her hand.

Sour took her friend's hand and pulled her in. She stood more closely than before and placed her hand against the small of Sugarcoat's back.

Sugarcoat tensed up and shook her head. "This isn't what we practiced earlier. What are you doing?"

"I'm taller than you now since I'm wearing heels, so we'll just stand a little differently. Everything else is the same as before; I just have to be more careful not to step on you." Sour's ecstatic smile was enough to fizzle out any logical reason to protest that Sugarcoat could muster.

Sugarcoat simply sighed and lowered her eyes as she focused on her steps. The music required her to step slightly more quickly than she had anticipated, but before long she moved without thinking first. As she fell into the rhythm, she looked up to see Sour's shimmering eyes and wide smile, then she looked past her and noticed how some of the other dancing girls were more intimately resting their heads against their partner's shoulder.

Sugarcoat joined them. The image of Sour Sweet's overjoyed face remained in her memory as she closed her eyes. She slowly rotated and swayed, and soon she began to sink into the warmth of her partner's aura. She inhaled to take in Sour Sweet's delightful aroma. The combination of a hint of cherry blossoms in her smooth silky hair, the subtle perfume on her skin, and the scent of a brand new dress combined to form a unique blend that would etch itself into Sugarcoat's memory for the rest of her life.

She sank more deeply into the feeling as her senses were overwhelmed, and she began to question her own judgement. The feelings that were being evoked couldn't be attributed to the act of dancing, she told herself. It's the combination of a song she actually enjoys in addition to being so close to her friend, she reasoned. Her thoughts trailed off more deeply as the dance continued. She considered the gentle squeeze on her hand and the tentatively shifting pressure against her back, almost as if Sour was subconsciously communicating the nervousness she otherwise hid so well.

What does this mean? she thought, her cheeks rosy as her body heat increased. She passively allowed herself to be led in graceful circles while she watched Sour's ponytail sway, her mind still running a mile a minute while she rested her cheek on her friend's shoulder. She carefully considered her positioning, and noted that all of her senses were being simultaneously stimulated. The sound of relaxing music soothed her reluctance and encouraged movement, the sight of her beautiful friend dressed in a fine gown emboldened her, the scent of her unique fragrance captivated her, and the warm touch of soft hands combined with the sensation of her cheek against her friend's bare shoulder evoked deep feelings of intimacy.

But something was missing, Sugarcoat thought. She stopped her movement and leaned back to lock eyes with her dance partner as she realized the answer. Taste.

"You look like you're enjoying yourself," Sour said with a cocky grin.

Sugarcoat nodded. "More so than I would have guessed, surprisingly. But there's one more thing this needs."

"Oh?" Sour tilted her head and wondered, then widened her eyes and straightened her back as she saw Sugarcoat stand on her toes and lean in, grabbing her shoulders. "Oh..."

Sugarcoat closed her eyes and lightly parted her lips, then leaned forward until she felt her nose brush against Sour's.

Sour Sweet tilted her head and placed both hands on Sugarcoat's cheeks, then pressed their lips together. Not a second passed before the sounds of stirring students stole their attention.

Sugarcoat opened her eyes to see the room was suddenly pitch black and the sound of crashing rain and powerful wind was instantly apparent. A moment later crackling thunder shook the room. The bulk of the students cried out in fear as a piercing feedback rang out from a battery operated loudspeaker.

"Attention all students! Please remain calm!" Fleur shouted into the speaker, her shrill voice invoking panic.

As the floodlights kicked on, Principal Cinch could be seen snatching the speaker away from her student, then she spoke. "This event has concluded early due to unforeseen weather-related circumstances. Exit in an orderly fashion and return to your rooms until power is restored to the facility. No one is to go outside, and anyone seen behaving in a manner that might evoke feelings of panic will be swiftly punished. That is all!"

"Well that's lucky," Sour said while giggling. "Let's get out of here then."

The two girls walked side by side and made their way towards the exit. Sugarcoat glanced back one last time into the dark room illuminated only by floodlights and cellphone flashlights, and she shook her head in disdain. “It’s official; this is the absolute worst event I’ve attended to date,” she said.

Sour nodded, following the slow moving crowd into the hallway. “Agreed. But you can't say you didn't have a little fun.”

Sugarcoat sighed in relief and gathered her nerves. “Yes, I'm glad you were there with me, even if you were really annoying the whole time. If not for you, the past two hours would have felt like twenty.”

“My pleasure. Annoying you is what I do best.” Sour wrapped her arm around Sugarcoat’s neck and led her down the hallway.

Sugarcoat smiled and watched the floor as they walked. “Did you want to come back to my room and spend some more time together now that this stupid dance is behind us?”

Sour shrugged and stopped by her front door. “I don’t see why not. Does this mean you’ll be a little less sassy?”

Sugarcoat smirked and shook her head, ignoring the question. “Oh, here are your shoes. Thank you for letting me borrow them, although I don’t believe anyone noticed them.”

“I noticed,” Sour said as her friend kicked off the shoes. “I think you looked just amazing!”

“Okay, stop.” Sugarcoat’s smirked forced itself into a smile and she looked away. “Whenever you’re ready, I still wanted to finish our conversation from the cafe.”

Sour laughed and opened her door. “Let me change into something more comfortable, then I’ll head back to your room. Okay?”

“Okay. I’ll be waiting.” Sugarcoat cooly waved with her fingers and walked off towards her room.

Entering her dark room and shutting the door behind herself, she collapsed face first onto her bed and sank into her bright pink sheets and lavender pillows. “That wasn’t so bad after all,” she muttered into her pillow.

She rolled onto her back and grinned like the giddy schoolgirl she was. “I should probably change as well,” she thought aloud.

Without further hesitation, she stood off of her bed and stripped herself from her dress and stockings, using her phone's backlight as a makeshift lamp. She then slipped into a short yellow nightgown that she pulled from her dresser. The shortness of her favorite nightgown had never crossed her mind before, but she found herself pulling and tugging at it, feeling rather self conscious about the length.

She walked to her mirror and examined herself the best she could in the darkness, noting that everything was covered and decided she had nothing to worry about. Moments later, there was knock at her door.

Sugarcoat opened the door and allowed Sour Sweet to enter. She noticed her friend wearing a short dark blue nightgown, not much unlike her own.

“Hi,” Sour said with a smile as she made herself at home on Sugarcoat’s bed. “You’re sure lucky you don’t have a roommate. Look at all this space.”

Sugarcoat closed the door and sat next to her friend. “Is your new roommate still giving you a headache?”

“Yeah, but probably not in the way you think,” Sour explained.

“I’d offer to let you be my roommate, but I really like my privacy.” Sugarcoat teased.

“I think I’ll put in a request anyway.” Sour winked and stuck her tongue out. “You’ll get used to me.”

Sugarcoat raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“Whatever,” Sour giggled and leaned back against the wall, hugging her knees. “I know you secretly wish I’d move in here. But anyway, we should talk about stuff before you change your mind.”

“I enjoy having the option to kick you out of here anytime I want too much to let you move in. That aside, yes, let’s talk.” Sugarcoat scooted up against her headboard and hugged a pillow.

Sour glanced around the room and wondered what to say, twirling a loose lock of hair around her finger. “So we were talking about that time you kissed me before, when I gave you that silly mistletoe, or whatever. But since you just kissed me again, maybe we should talk about that too?”

“Correct, but let's tackle one kiss at a time. So after the first time I kissed you, I said it didn’t matter, but the truth is that I’ve thought about it quite often since then. I already told you why I said that, but if you’re feeling the same way I am, maybe it’s important that we address this issue.” Sugarcoat gave a stern nod with great purpose. “Would you like to begin?”

Sour tilted her head and placed her hand on her chin. “I would, but I’m not sure how. This whole conversation is really awkward and doesn’t feel natural.”

Sugarcoat recoiled and squeezed her pillow more tightly. “If that’s the case, then I don’t know how else to address these issues. What would you suggest?”

Sour thought for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. “I’d suggest not thinking about it too much. If there’s something you wanna say, either say it, or show me how you feel with actions rather than words. Like kissing me again. That says a lot on its own,” Sour grinned and raised her eyebrows.

Sugarcoat lowered her eyes, and they darted back and forth as she deeply contemplated how to express herself. Faint roaring thunder and raindrops pelting against the window rang in her ears, throwing off her train of thought. She bit her lip and placed a hand on her forehead, her glasses slipping down her nose. Suddenly she felt a hand gently squeezing her shoulder.

“Don’t stress yourself out too much,” Sour said as she crawled across the bed to her friend’s side. She sat against the headboard and wrapped an arm around Sugarcoat’s neck, leaning her head on top of hers.

“This feels like an unsolvable puzzle. I can't explain exactly why I wanted to kiss you. I’m wracking my brain for the correct words, but I can’t find them. It’s so frustrating.” Sugarcoat squeezed the sides of her pillow with tight fists. “Do you have any idea how I feel?”

Sour looked down at her friend’s hands and nodded. “I’ve been pretty frustrated before, sure.”

“You must think I’m an idiot.” Sugarcoat sighed and let her hands fall loose.

“Nah, I wouldn’t go that far. Maybe just a little ditzy right now,” Sour teased. “Seriously though, I think it’s incredibly adorable. It’s so obvious that you just have a crush on me and don’t know how to admit it. So you’re trying to lead us both around in a meaningful discussion of our feelings so that we both arrive at the same conclusion together, and you don’t have to confess anything yourself. That’s what I’m thinking, anyway.”

Sugarcoat flinched beneath a pang of embarrassment striking her chest. “Ditzy is the last thing I’d like to be described as, and… you’re not wrong.”

Sour contained an internal fist-pump as she nearly burst at the seams with overflowing confidence. “I have a crush on you, too, silly. It’s okay.”

Sugarcoat glanced back and looked up at Sour with wide, sparkling innocent eyes as a sudden white flash illuminated her face, followed by deep thunder. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” Sour rolled her eyes and grinned. “Why do you think I wanted to kiss you back then? Why do you think I let you kiss me just a few minutes ago?”

“I don’t know what to think. What do you think I should do?” Sugarcoat asked.

Sour pulled her arm away and sat on her knees in front of Sugarcoat. She then took the pillow away from her friend and tossed it aside before leaning forward, her hand on Sugarcoat’s knee.

“What are you doing?” Sugarcoat asked with a nervous laugh, her cheeks turning red.

“I'll be the one to kiss you this time so you know how it feels,” Sour replied, her voice soft and low as she tilted her head and moved in closer. “Do you want me to stop?”

Sugarcoat gulped and shook her head. She closed her eyes, the breath pulled from her chest as she felt Sour’s lips make contact with hers. She instinctively kissed back and tilted her head in the opposite direction.

Sour reached up and locked hands with Sugarcoat, then gently urged her backwards. Her other arm wrapped around Sugarcoat’s head as she crawled forward overtop of her, laying her down. She parted her lips and kissed more deeply, gently pulling on Sugarcoat's lips with her own. She then instinctively dipped her tongue between her friend's lips.

Sugarcoat wrapped her free arm around Sour’s back and squeezed her hand tightly with the other. She rubbed her knees together as her stomach tightened, her tongue pressed against Sour’s with each repetition of their passionate kiss. Her glasses fell crooked and fogged up.

Sour backed away for a moment, feeling the glasses sliding lower. She grabbed them and sat them on the nightstand next to the bed, then looked back down at her friend as she straddled her. Barely visible outside of the intermittent flashing of lightning, Sugarcoat was nearly breathless, her cheeks glowing and her eyes wide. She seemed completely vulnerable, living second to second, a sight Sour had never seen before, but loved.

“You are so freakin’ cute,” Sour said as she pressed her nose against Sugarcoat’s.

Sugarcoat leaned up and reached behind her head, pulling the hair band free and letting her long icy white hair fall loose. “Sorry, this thing was bothering me.”

Sour shrugged and smiled, then kissed her cheek as she ran her hand down Sugarcoat’s hips and thigh until she felt skin beneath the nightgown. She then kissed the side of her chin, making her way to her neck, where she gently bit and nibbled down the length of it.

Sugarcoat shuddered and arched her back as overwhelming tingles shot through her body. She placed her hand on her forehead, her breaths quickening as she felt her nightgown being lifted. Sour’s hand ran up the length of her thigh, and her finger tugged at her panties. Sugarcoat promptly reached down and grabbed her wrist.

“What’s wrong?” Sour asked, leaning up and brushing her messy bangs from her face.

Sugarcoat simply shook her head and pulled down on her gown.

Sour knowingly smiled and rolled off of her friend, resting on her elbow as she watched Sugarcoat catch her breath. “You alright?”

Sugarcoat nodded and rolled onto her side, facing Sour. “Let’s just take it just a little slower.”

Sour winked and kissed the tip of Sugarcoat’s nose. “Yeah. I think I might have been getting a little carried away there.”

Sugarcoat smiled and closed her eyes, then nuzzled Sour’s chest as she hugged her. “You can be my roommate just for tonight if you want to.”

“So you do want me to be your roommate.” Sour giggled and wrapped both arms around Sugarcoat’s back. “I knew it!”

“Fine you can submit a request to be my roommate and I won’t object,” Sugarcoat muttered.

“Then we can get away with doing this every night,” Sour chirped in delight, then quickly deflated with a crooked frown. “Then again, that means I’ll have to deal with your sass every night, too. Shoot.”

“I’ll make sure of that, especially if you’re going to be my girlfriend.” Sugarcoat yawned and and closed her eyes. “Then I won’t have a reason to hold back my 'sass' anymore. Now let’s get some sleep. We have class in the morning.”

“Girlfriend?” Sour’s eyes popped open and she shivered. “Oh boy, what did I just get myself into?”

Author's Notes:

Here's a story. Hope you like it =D