(A/N: Just FYI that all paragraphs italicized are memories from the past!)

He had found her outside, swaying to the faint music that escaped from the grand hall. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun. He found that his heart rate had picked up slightly, he figured he was nervous about getting caught. But he was just doing something nice he decided.

“Boo!” Sehun exclaimed, coming up from behind her.

Mina let out a soft scream, jumping nearly a foot into the air in fear. She turned to him, face filled with anger before she realized it was him. It was then that he realized her eyes were red and she sniffled quietly.

“Sorry, I’m sorry. I just totally intruded on a private moment didn’t I?” He said clumsily.

She smiled, her smiled filled with sadness that made him want to stay.

“No I’m sorry, you can go. I’m fine I was just… tired. Go enjoy the party with her” She said, she tried to smile again, this time the smile came out distorted before it fell away. She shook herself and waved him away.

“God I’m being stupid” She said, “I’m not usually like this” She said, brushing away the tears collecting in her eyes.

Sehun stared at her, at the way she was trying so hard to stay tough. He felt bad though, it wasn’t like she was evil, and there was no reason for her to be treated like this.

“I’m actually heading home” She said, biting her lip. She turned to leave and Sehun surprised them both by reaching out and cautiously holding her back.

“You haven’t even had a dance” He said kindly.

He watched the hesitation in her body. The same thing crossing her mind as it had crossed his. This was edging towards a dangerous territory, but it wasn’t like it was unstoppable. One of them just had to say no and it would all be over. Plus they weren’t doing anything wrong.

“If no one would talk to me in there, what makes you think someone will ask me to dance?” She shot back, her eyes guarded.

He looked around and cocked his head, hearing the music pretty clearly even from out here. He took a step back and bowed with a playful grin on his face as he extended a hand for her. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he watched her. She stood frozen, an image of beauty in her long black dress. As soon as she declined, it would simply be over and done with he reminded himself. He closed his eyes, ready to pull back when he felt her place her hand in his. He straightened out, looking down at her.

She smiled nervously, “I should at least have one silly dance right?” She asked softly.

He nodded, speechless and he caught the rhythm of the slow song playing and carefully placed his other hand on the small of her back. He could feel her stare on him as he hummed along to the soft music, turning her in his arms and spinning her quickly. She laughed, as the already loose bun came undone, her hair spilling in dark waves. He felt suddenly as if he were standing at the edge of a cliff as he pulled her back into his arms from the spin. This time the awkward distance they had both maintained between the two completely gone. He felt her chest rise with the hitch of her breath.

He took his own deep breath, intoxicated by the scent of lavender and vanilla.

~~~~~~

Mina woke from her dream with a smile on her face and a faint headache in her head. The smile faded as she realized that it had all been in the past. She thought about that night now, the first time she had ever shared a dance with him and her heart raced in a similar way it had done back then. Maybe this was all her fault, she hadn’t realized what was happening back then, but she should have just stayed away.

She shook her head, dispelling the memories and dreams from her mind. It was too late think about any of that stuff. Instead she sat up and rubbed her temples. The last thing she remembered was the bathtub she thought. She raised the covers, finding herself in the long shirt that had belonged to him. She frowned, she hadn’t slept in it in years, and of course her drunk self would pick that to wear she thought as she rolled her eyes at herself. It was the middle