The (After) Life of the Party

Xavior sat at a lonely table at the Valentine's Day ball, fiddling with his drink and working up the courage for what he was about to do. He stood up, straightening his dress robes before making his way over to the other side of the enormous room. He stopped in front of his year-mate, Christian. He took another deep breath and exhaled quickly. He shook slightly with nervousness. "Want to dance... and talk?" As much as he wished the whole talking part could be skipped over, he new it was necessary to be on speaking terms with his friend again, and he still really did want Chris to stop beating himself up.

The dance that most of the older students had been preparing for and chattering on about for months was finally here. Christian had been a bit concerned about attending since he was sure there would be lots of pink frilly, lovey stuff, considering it was a valentine's day dance after all. As the captain of the Cerisier team and a well known guy he felt obligated to go though so he did and he brought a date as seemed to be expected of everyone. Once inside the grand hall he had to admit it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, in fact it was almost breath taking.

Some time into the dance Christian learned he wasn't as bad at dancing as he had thought, though it had been quite sometime since his mum had taught him. That turned out to be a really good realization when someone besides just his date came and asked for a dance. The sixteen year old did not expect it to be from who it was, in fact by this time he was sure this particular person would never say another word to him ever. When Xavior came up to where he was standing near the edge of the dance floor the Cerisier had to blink a few times to truly believe he was seeing what he thought he was. He looked around to be sure his date was still occupied as she had been before answering. "Yeah." Was all his still stunned brain could spit out. He held his arm out like he was so used to doing this evening.

Xavior had to admit he felt a little bit guilty. He had spent most of his sixth year without one of his best friends and had only hurt himself in the first place. He could hardly even remember why he had shunned Christian in the first place. He knew that Chris had spent all that time feeling guilty and self-loathing and it gutted Xavior to know his friend had gone through that without him. As the dance started, Xavior accepted Christian's arm before looping his own arms around the other boy's neck. "I'm sorry." He said quietly, hoping Chris could tell how true those words were. He turned his face away, not wanting to see the look on the other boy's face, if anger or hatred was displayed there.

Christian tried to act like he didn't notice or care about the absence of one of his best friends this year but in reality it was eating him alive. He was a popular guy, he had his cousins, Osmund and Linette so why should he be so upset by the absence of Xavior. That was what he had been trying to tell himself all year so that he wouldn't break and run to the teen and beg for him to forgive him. The Cerisier had promised to stay out of the teens life if that was what he wanted, and that appeared to be what he wanted so he had to keep his promise. It had been hard but some how he had done it, that must have been what made it even worse for him when the teen approached him at the dance.

He had been completely stunned at first and had no idea what he was to say now after such a long absence from each other. He simply held out his arm to escort him to the dance floor like he was so used to doing with Linette the rest of the night. Once they were on the dance floor and the faced each other Christian paused for a moment awkwardly, Xavior however didn't miss a beat in wrapping his arms around the Cerisier's neck, much like his date had before. As soon as the other teen did so he immediately placed his hands on the boys waist.

Once the teen spoke Christian felt instantly bad again, it sure didn't help that he looked away right after saying it and it was obvious how serious he had meant those words. "No Xavior, I'm sorry. You did nothing." He said quietly . He tried to get the teen to look at him without physically moving his head,

Xavior sighed. The Christian he had known before their fight wasn't nearly so docile and complacent, and he only had himself to blame. "I did though. I wouldn't let you apologize. I forced you to stay away from me. I'm so sorry, Chris. You're really important to me, even if I haven't been acting like it. I miss you." He looked up at the other boy, though it seemed that at some point he had well outgrown Chris by a few inches. He bit his lip, wanting to say so much but not sure what exactly it was that he wanted to say.

So much of this whole year was spent training his mind to run from any thoughts that were about Xavior so now it was very difficult for him to go back to think about him. At least Christian had thought it would be hard to, in fact it was really easy to do so, in fact it was almost as if he had built a dam and all things Xavior related was the water that rushed out as soon as he removed the dam. It made him want to cry again but he had never did so in front of anyone, let alone in the middle of a dance. The things the teen said made it worse, why was he blaming himself now?

"You had every right to act that way, I'm an ass and I hurt you. I never once blamed you for any of it. You deserve to be happy Xavior." He said quietly while slowly guiding the other teen around the floor, this had become surprising easy for him. "I missed you too." He said finally much quieter than the rest of what he said, he almost hoped Xavior didn't hear that.

"I just wish that none of this had happened. I wish we could go back in time and never fight. I wish you were never sad. I want you to be happy too." Xavior said and leant his head against Christian's shoulder. The small 'I missed you too' made him smile hopefully, though hr was sure he wasn't meant to hear it, or it least it was hoped that he wouldn't hear.

Xavior couldn't help but be surprised at how smoothly they glided across the dance floor during their talk, as he hadn't assumed that Chris was interested in dancing. He decided to use this information as a change of subject, desperately wanting to lighten the mood. "Who taught you dance? I thought all your moves were relegated to the sky."

For the first time in awhile the two teens finally agreed on something. Christan wished none of it had happened and they had never fought, and he had never kissed his mate like that (or at all for that matter). He wished he was never sad and could be happy but that boat had long since sailed, now he just tried to make those he cared about happy. "I wish that too." He said with a soft smile. He wasn't sure if he had saw that though before laying his head against his shoulder. Being taller than him now Christian thought it would be uncomfortable for the Montagnard to so, but whatever made him happy.

He didn't say anything for awhile and just enjoyed having Xavior there and not hating him. It had been so long since he had last danced he thought for sure he had forgotten how but he seemed to still have the skills. Perhaps quidditch helped him keep the memories enough to be able to do this, it was kind of like dancing sometimes. He smirked when Xavior asked him about it adding that he thought all his moves where in the sky. "You underestimate my skills Xavior. I can surprise you yet with my moves." He said with a small chuckle. Then he thought about the actual question a grew a bit sad. "My mum taught me to dance. She said all young princes needed to know how to dance. I thought it was silly of course but now I'm glad I know." He answered more seriously. Remembering his mum trying to teach him a smiled a bit sadly.

Xavior lifted his head up when Christian explained where he got his dancing skills. He smiled at the story. "Aww that's adorable. Young prince. I'm glad you know too, or else dancing with you wouldn't be as wonderful as it is now." He smiled again, wanting to wipe the serious expression off of the other boy's face. He really did miss talking to Chris though, he had to admit. He was an amazing friend and person, when he wasn't being a twat. "Show me some more of your amazing moves. I have yet to be thouroughly amazed." He said jokingly.

When Xavior lifted his head up Christian was once again reminded how his mate had grown to be several inches taller than him. It wasn't that he was particularly tall and wasn't used to being the short one, but he had spent most of his night with Linette by him who was quite a bit shorter than him, so this was an interesting change. The Ceriseir scrunched his face when his mate repeated the young prince part of what he said just like he had always done when his mum had said it, it always seemed silly to say since he wasn't even close to being princely.

He didn't think he was an amazing dancer he was just a sufficient dancer, he could do enough to keep up this slow casual dance. Christian gave his mate a smirk at his next words. "Oh I wouldn't want to make everyone around us feel inferior compared to us. Perhaps some other time I can show you." He answered almost asking if there was to be some other time or if Xavior only wished to see him at the dance and continue the silence.

"Of course. I'll hold you to it." Xavior was thrilled that Christian seemed open to the possibility of seeing each other after the dance and he giggled at Chris's reasoning as to why he didn't want to show off. "Scared to compete with my fantastic moves Chris? I promise not to humiliate you too bad." He winked. "Unless of course you're into that sort of thing." He laughed, not sure if he was actually joking. Okay, he was definitely joking. Completely. "So, you and Linette, huh? I had heard about it, rumor mill and all. I'm glad you have someone."