Tug of War 55.5 (Patreon)

"...no, Martin, you have to move your right foot!" 

"Which of them?" 

"You have only one right foot, silly!" 

Timothy's plan to teach Martin some dance steps wasn't going exactly well, but they were having a good laugh, at least. 

"You need to spin now, just like I'm doing!" Timothy instructed him, but when Martin tried doing so, he lost his balance, and automatically grabbed his friend's arm for support, taking the two of them to the ground. 

"You okay?" Martin asked, afflicted. 

"Yeah" Timothy answered, his face red from so much laughing. "Oh, Martin, you're going to need, many, many dance lessons!" 

The two of them kept laughing for a very long time. When it finally died out, Timothy realized that they were lying on the floor with their bodies intertwined. Martin's face was very close of his own, with his lips parted and his black eyes looking deeply into Timothy's ones. 

Flipping into Tiffany, the girl realized that she simply couldn't look away. Her heart pounded in anticipation, in a second that seemed to take an eternity. She knew what was about to happen, and she couldn't do anything about that… she wanted it. 

When Martin's face was just an inch away, though, at the very last moment, she managed to control herself. "We can't, Martin" was what she whispered. 

"I know" Martin sighed. "Because of your boyfriend, right?"  

"W-what? Yes, there is Matt… I can't betray him… but that's not the biggest issue, I guess..."

"You don't love him, then?" Martin asked, full of hope. 

Tiffany took an instant to reflect about what was going on. Why had she removed her promise ring to go to Martin's house? Could it be that deep down she expected – perhaps even hoped – that Martin would try to make a move?  

No, stop that, Tiff! Martin is, like, my only connection with my old life! He's my friend, and it totally has to stay this way! Gosh, that's the only chance I have to go back to being my old self!

"I need to go, Martin" Tiffany announced, getting up. 

"What?! Why? Is it something I have said or done? Wait, Tiff! What about your gift?"

"Another time, Martin. It's late, okay? I really need to go now. No, you don't need to come with me. I know the way out. See you later" she finished, leaving the room, as Martin followed her with his eyes, deeply disappointed and sorrowful…