#zigisbisexual

“Back straight.” Bertrand orders. MC, clearly fighting the urge to roll her eyes, gives me a desperate glance, as if begging me to let her say one witty remark back to my brother. I quickly shake my head, making her roll her eyes before she obeys and straightens her back. In order to prepare her for future events, and to prevent possible embarrassment, Bertrand had insisted we give her constant dancing lessons. Well, for Bertrand, ‘lessons’ meant repeating the dance steps at every waking moment, so much so that you could recite them in your sleep. I knew it was taking a toll on MC, since she looked exhausted, and I honestly felt bad for her. If I could, I would’ve told him to stop and let her rest....but that’s just not how it works with my brother unfortunately. “Maxwell! Maxwell! You’re not focusing!” Bertrand snaps, suddenly jolting me back into reality.

“Oh..sorry!” I gasp.

“Start again. Maybe this time you can try focusing on your partner, rather than staring into space.” Bertrand huffs, and walks back over to the music player to replay the track.

“Hey...hey!” MC whispers, and I look down at her. “It’s okay. I thought you were pretty good. Don’t worry about him.” She smiles. She was sweet. She really was. Everytime Bertrand raised his disapproval with me, she was there for me with a reassuring smile and a compliment. If she won Prince Liam’s hand, he would be one lucky guy. The music starts again, and MC and I start dancing again. We continue practising for what feels like forever, until Bertrand finally lets us stop. 

“Unfortunately, I have business to attend to outside of Cordonia, and will be away until tomorrow morning.” Bertrand explains. “ I assume my brother will continue your training, but unfortunately, I doubt he will, if last time is anything to go by.” I see MC open her mouth, as if she was going to defend me, but I give her a quick look whilst Bertrand’s back is turned, urging her to not say anything. And surprisingly, she doesn’t. Bertrand bids his goodbyes, and MC and I stand in silence for a while, until:

“Oh thank god that’s over!” MC exclaims, sitting on the floor. “I’m sorry Maxwell, but I think I’ll be doing that waltz in my sleep with the amount of times we’ve practiced it today. I promise we can practice again soon, I just need a lie down….for about ten minutes…or ten hours.” She sighs dramatically, making me chuckle.

“It’s alright MC, we can stop for a little while.” I smile. MC immediately gets back up again.

“Thank you Maxwell!” She squeals, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me into a hug. “You’re the best!” Oh my god. She’s never done anything like this before...never...hugged me before. Suddenly realising that I haven’t responded, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her even closer to me. Her body is warm as she leans against my chest, and I smell her perfume for the first time. She smells like daisies. It’s cute. It suits her.

“Y-Your welcome!” I stammer. Dammit Maxwell, that’s the best you could do? Wow. MC soon lets go, and lays back down on the floor.

“You should come join me down here, it’s really nice.” MC giggles. “You could always do with a break. I won’t tell Bertrand if you don’t!” She sings. I laugh, and lay down next to her. 

“Wow, you’re right. It IS nice.” I admit, rolling over to look at her. She’s looking at the ceiling. She looks beautiful from this angle. Not that she isn’t beautiful all the time, of course she is, but she looks even more beautiful now. MC suddenly rolls over onto her side, so she’s facing me.

“Oh!” She gasps, clearly surprised to see me staring back at her.

“Hey there.” I chuckle. “If only Bertrand could see us now. Laying on the floor instead of waltzing.”

“I’d just tell him that I’m revolutionising the royal court. Soon everyone is going to be doing it, even Olivia.” The two of us laugh. A strand of MC’s hair falls down in front of her face, and without even thinking, I reach over and tuck it behind her ear. We both lay there in silence. If our situation was any different, if she wasn’t possibly going to marry one of my best friends, much less a prince, I would’ve leant over and kissed her right there, without a care in the world. But of course, fate has it’s own ideas. Above all else, I wanted her to be happy, and with Bertrand and I’s financial situation, I couldn’t. If she was happy when she was with Liam, who was I to stand in her way?

“What is Olivia going to be doing?” Hana’s voice sounds from above me.

“More importantly, what are the two of you up to?” Drake asks. MC and I immediately sit up.

“Nothing!” We both gasp at once. “M-Maxwell was just teaching me how to waltz, and-“ MC begins to explain, but Drake cuts her off.

“On the floor? Suuuure. Hana and I got bored, and wanted to see what you two were up to, but if we’re intruding on anything, we can always just leave.” MC and I quickly get up.

“No-No it’s fine! So, what do you guys wanna do?” MC asks. We all shrug.

“I do know Bertrand wants us to keep practicing your dancing.” I tell her, making her groan. “Well, we don’t have to dance the waltz...but we should at least do some dancing.” 

“Oh! I have an idea!!” MC announces. “Have any of you seen the movie Billy Elliot?” Neither of us reply, and she shakes her head. “You heathens. And here I was thinking that you’d be teaching me things, not the other way around.” She teases, before plugging her phone into the music player and playing a song. 

click here

MC begins to dance, waving her arms around, jumping and tapping her feet. “Come on you three! Haven’t you ever danced before?” She asks, seeing the three of us looking at her like she was crazy.

“Not like this...” Hana frowns, before MC takes her into her arms. 

“Come on then! And that means you two as well, start dancing!” She orders. MC and Hana then start skipping around the room together, and then begin tapping their feet to the beat of the music. Shrugging, I start doing my own dance routine. I had little to no idea of what I was actually doing, but it was fun all the same. Drake soon joins in (even if we had to convince him), and the four of us danced together. “Come on Maxwell! Dance with me!” MC grins, taking my hands and pulling me into the centre of the room. I begin twirling MC under my arm. I can hear her giggling as her dress spins out around her whilst she turns, which makes me laugh with her. When I stop spinning her, MC stumbles a little, but I quickly hold her in my arms, steadying her. 

“Watch out.” I tell her, smiling. “You alright?” She nods. I keep holding her in my arms for a few minutes as the song ends, just so I can be sure she’s okay, until:

“MC! We have to go meet the other ladies!” Hana gasps, checking her watch. I quickly let go of MC, who picks up her phone, and hurries towards the door with Hana. 

“Sorry guys! We’ve got to go!” She announces. “Thanks so much for the fun dance lesson Maxwell, let’s do it again sometime!” She smiles, quickly running out of the door with Hana. I watch her go silently, until I hear Drake saying: