With a newfound lightness in his heart Mason feels his cheeks cooling down as he trails behind Mr. Burkley and Ethan into the ballroom. It’s only once the three of the are standing in a group looking around at one another that Mason begins to wonder why the girls haven’t arrived yet. The clock hanging on the wall above the set of glass double doors proves that the set time for their joint auditions is about to begin. 

It will be just my luck if the girls don’t even show up, Mason groans internally. Pulling subconsciously on the sleeves of his suit jacket the boy wishes they didn’t have to wear these to auditions, both boys had brought their competition clothes to change into so their instructor could properly envision then performing. The girls would arrive decked out with heels, makeup, hair and dresses - the girls usually were far more excited about auditions than Mason was, they went all out. Whenever he auditioned Mason would make sure to bring an extra set of clothes so he wouldn't have to spend his whole audition sweating to death in a full suit.

“Uh, Mr. Burkley,” Mason asks the instructor as the man looks at something on his phone, “do you know when the girls are supposed to get here?” 

Clearing his throat the boy’s instructor slips his phone into his pocket, taking a moment to look each boy in the eye he does his traditional clap of his hands before flashing a wide smile. 

“Well, about that,” he begins.

Ethan shoots a confused look at Mason, who shrugs in return.

“Did they cancel or something?” Ethan questions.

“Not exactly...but they aren’t coming either.” 

Furrowing his eyebrows Mason can’t help but be confused. “What do you mean they aren’t coming? Why are we here then?” 

“I never invited them here; but please, allow me to explain. The reason I lied to you both is because I wasn’t sure if you both would show up otherwise. So hear me out, you both are very talented dancers but Ethan, you left your partner back at your old studio, and Mason, you’ve been having struggles ever since Anna left,” the mention of Anna immediately makes Mason uncomfortable, “while there are competitions for solo dancers, ballroom is way more marketable if you have somebody to dance with...so just for today I want to try something.” 

A realization dawns on the brunette boy as Mr. Burkley continues, practically stopping his heart. Eyes flicking over to Ethan who still wears a look of confusion, Mason doesn’t think he’s quite caught on yet. But Mr. Burkley catches the look of horror on Mason’s face and smiles sympathetically as he delivers this next line.

“Statistically dance couples made up of two males pull in higher scores, and with both of your talents I really think you two could sweep the competition!” His tone is one of elation, as if he’s just given them the best idea of all time. 

The brunette boy can’t even look over at Ethan. His cheeks feel like they’re on fire as he stares at their instructor, his mouth agape. How could this be happening? Mason has just come to terms with being able to speak to Ethan without it flaring up him questioning his sexuality and now they’re being set up as a couple?! 

“No,” Ethan says quietly, catching Mason off guard.

Mason definitely didn’t want to be partners either but he’s slightly taken aback that Ethan would outright refuse. He had obvious reasons himself to not want to dance, but he can’t help but wonder what Ethan’s reasons are. 

“I’m sorry, but no,” he mumbles a little louder, looking at Mason out of the corner of his eye. 

“I agree...we can’t...it’s just-” he doesn’t know how to complete his sentence, he’s at a loss for words. 

“Listen boys, I knew your immediate reaction would be to say no but just humor an old man okay?” Mr. Burkley always pulled this card when he wanted something, he would try to guilt the students as he knew they all had a soft spot for him; but it wouldn't work. Not this time. “Nobody will have to know. I just want to try it, if you both hate it we don’t have to do it ever again, I just have a feeling that you two would be a good match! You just fit together so well.” 

The boy’s heart is pounding so hard in his chest that the sound of his heartbeat is actually radiating in his ears. He’s aware his face must be as red as a tomato right now but he doesn’t know how to stop it. Mason can’t do this, he absolutely can not. Just as he’s about to open his mouth to protest more Ethan speaks, startling him. 

“We won’t ever have to do it again?” he asks quietly, his own cheeks rosy.

Both boys can’t bring themselves to make eye contact with the other. Mason finds himself wondering if Ethan has noticed the seemingly undeniable pull that he feels towards the boy or if it’s just him. 

“Ethan, wait, you can’t actually be considering this right?” 

Finally looking at one another Mason can feel himself sweating, he hopes the fear he feels deep in his heart is slightly less visible to the others in the room. 

“How can we really say no?” he laughs softly, glancing at their instructor who watches them with a hopefully glint in his eye, “we’re already here so...let’s just get it over with as fast as we can.”

A small part of his heart hurts that Ethan wants nothing more than to get this over with but another part of him knows that this is for the better. If he wants to stop the strange feelings he’s been experiencing, dancing with Ethan is the worst possible strategy to help that. 

“Fine, whatever,” he grumbles, agreeing.

“Fantastic! You two aren’t thrilled about it now but trust me, there’s a spark, you just need to ignite it!” 

Resisting the urge to punch Mr. Burkley right in his dumb face Mason huffs angrily, the blood in his veins boiling. Unable to bring himself to even look at Ethan the boy turns his back on the two other individuals. Moving quickly to the middle of the room Mason stands, feeling wobbly on his feet. Avoiding looking at the other boy as he slowly makes his way to Mason, he tries to steady his uneven breathing. After dragging out the walk between where he stood and where Mason has stationed himself as long as he can, Ethan stops a few feet away from the brunette, too nervous to get any closer. 

“Who’s leading?” Ethan mumbles to Mason, looking down at his fiddling hands. 

“Who’s leading?” Mason repeats louder, speaking to Mr. Burkley. 

“Hmm...let’s try it with Mason leading, and if that doesn’t work we’ll switch it around.” 

Wanting nothing more than to run out of the room and leave this damn studio forever, Mason can’t bring himself to move. Moments pass in awkward silence before Mr. Burkley makes a comment to get going. 

Unsteady on his feet Ethan sucks in a deep breath of air before closing the gap between him and Mason. With shaking fingers he grabs the brunette boy’s hand in his own, raising their arms out to their sides. A small gasp escapes Mason's lips, he never would’ve thought he’d find himself holding hands with another boy, even in this setting. Ethan’s hand was different than all the girl’s he’s partnered up with before; where their hands were thin and petite, Ethan’s was rougher and stronger. His hands felt gruff but soft against Mason’s fingertips, he suddenly felt insecure that his hand was considerably smaller than the other boy's. Palms already sweating, Mason wishes he had wiped his palm against his trousers before they got to this point, but if he were to pull away now he didn’t know if he could ever return his hand back to Ethan’s.  

Suddenly feeling strange that Ethan is doing all the work when he was the one more outwardly against the idea, Mason takes the initiative to softly place his hand on Ethan’s back, resting it awkwardly on his shoulder blade. Mason is so used to the touch of bare skin or dress straps beneath his fingertips, feeling the fabric of another suit jacket is foreign and exciting all wrapped into one. His heart beat picking up as Ethan places his own hand on Mason’s shoulder, the brunette is painfully aware of how close they are. Traditionally partners will keep their abdomens pressed together to complete the stance but Mason can’t bring himself to complete this step and he hopes Ethan’s won’t either. Silently thanking the heavens when Mr. Burkley doesn’t mention it being "incorrect" - something he would normally harp on but he must sense the uncomfort the two are feeling - the boys await for the music to start.  

Of course Mr. Burkley is fiddling with the remote trying to figure out how to start the music so the boys are stuck rooted in place, their heavy breathing evident between them in such close proximity. Mentally cursing Mr. Burkley for never properly figuring out how to use the damn remote, Mason fears being this close that Ethan will be able to hear his heart pounding in his chest. Curious as to what is running through Ethan’s mind in this moment, Mason finally steels himself to turn his head and look at his features up close.  

His heartbeat skips as he finds Ethan already gazing at him, he never thought he’d be this up close and personal with the boy. Strangely, the thing Mason thinks about most in this moment is how strikingly blue Ethan’s eyes are, he never noticed before this moment. Momentarily entranced Mason swears he sees Ethan open his mouth to speak when the music suddenly blares to life, causing Mason to jump slightly in Ethan’s arms. Feeling suddenly guilty that out of the two boys he was chosen to lead Mason waits a beat before taking the first step, shocked at the way Ethan swiftly follows with him, never skipping a beat. 

Only moments into the song a sinking realization enters Mason’s mind, the way he and Ethan move together is perfect, beautiful even. Nobody would be able to deny the fact that if they were to become partners, winning competitions would be the easiest thing in the world for the two boys.