It's crazy how fast the rest of break passes by after Thanksgiving. When it's time for my grandparents, Tristan, Holly, and her family to leave, Austin, mom, dad, Grandpa Morgen, and I see them off at the airport. Ocean hands each of us a packet of incense and Florida water.

"Don't forget to cleanse your homes daily," she instructs. "It's very important to keep negative energy and spirits out."

Grandma Katie hugs me. "It was wonderful seeing you dear. I do hope your father will consider our offer."

I pull away with a frown on my face. "What offer?"

"Well your grandfather and I suggested you all come down to Switzerland for Christmas. He said he'd think about it."

Think about it? What's there to think about? Christmas in Switzerland sounds amazing.

I hug Grandpa Dean next, Holly, then all of her family. Lastly I hug Tristan, squeezing him extra tight.

"Do you know where you're spending Christmas yet?" I ask. 

"No idea. Holly hasn't said anything about it. But I'll  let you know as soon as I find out."

"Okay," I draw back. He ruffles my hair.

"Love you Kenny."

"Love you too."

...

I rap my knuckles against Austin's doorframe as he's folding clothes and placing them in a suitcase. He and Grandpa Morgen are leaving tomorrow. Austin's driving him home, then heading back up to Massachusetts.

"Knock, knock," I tilt my head. "Can I come in?"

He zips up his suitcase. "Sure."

I step inside and survey his room. It's exactly the same as it was in high school, all his awards, trophies, and posters still hanging on the wall. Perching myself on the edge of his bed I swing my legs back and forth.

"Excited to go back to school?" I ask.

Austin scoffs. "Hell no. I'm already counting down the days until Christmas."

"Grandma Katie said she and Grandpa Dean invited us to spend Christmas with them in Switzerland."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Dad said he'd think about it."

"Well if we do, I'm teaching you how to ski."

"You know I don't care for that."

"Well you're gonna learn anyway."

I chuckle. "So. What's the verdict?"

Austin pauses and gives me a look. "The verdict on what?"

"Winston. Is he up to your 'standards'?" I make air quotations with my fingers. "Am I allowed to date him dad?"

Austin purses his lips. "I suppose he's...suitable."

I grin. "Admit it. You like him."

He rolls his eyes. "I don't think I'll ever fully like anyone you date. But as far as guys go, I guess you could have done worse. Anything is better than Gingivitis." He stops, looks at me, and the two of us burst out laughing.

"I'm almost positive Grandpa Morgen said that on purpose."

"I wouldn't put it past him."

...

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!"

"For the love of God V, shut up."

We stop at my locker and Vienna wags her finger at me.

"You're a mean one Mr. Grinch."

I roll my eyes as I spin my locker combo. Thanksgiving break is officially over and we're back at school. Today there's a senior meeting before lunch and the Winter formal committee is meeting after school. Before break I posted sign up sheets around campus for anyone that wanted to volunteer and help with the dance.

"Where are we meeting after school again?" Vienna asks. She signed up for the formal committee, and while normally hating anything that has to do with event planning, she's desperate for any excuse to be out of the house and away from her parents. According to her, Thanksgiving had been nothing short of a 'nightmare.'

"The student body room. Isiah made a helpful PowerPoint presentation that we'll be going over."

"Sounds like fun!" her voice drips with sarcasm. "Anywhoo, have you asked Winston to the dance yet?"

I shut my locker and face her. "Why would I ask him?"

Vienna looks at me as if I'm an idiot. "Because he's your boyfriend...?"

"I'm not gonna ask him to a high school dance."

"Why not? He came to the fall fundraiser didn't he?"

"That was different," the bell rings and we start walking to homeroom together. "He might think it's childish or something, and then I'd feel stupid and immature."

Vienna shakes her bead. "That makes no sense. Why would he think it's childish? He's dating you. He literally knows you're in a high school."

"Yeah but I don't want to constantly remind him."

"I literally don't understand where all these insecurities are coming from."

"They're not insecurities," I respond defensively. "They're merely concerns, and legitimate ones at that."

Vienna lets out an exasperated sigh. "Kennedy just ask him. You know he'll say yes. He'll literally do anything you ask of him. He practically worships the ground you walk on."

"He does not," we reach the classroom and take a seat in our usual spot. "And anyway, why are you always on my ass? Why don't you ask Danny huh?"

"I am," she shoots back.

"Good."

"Good."

It's silent for a second.

"I still think you should ask W-"

"Drop it V."

She huffs. "Fine."

The final bell rings and everyone takes their seat as the announcements start. Mrs. Huey sits at her desk reading a paperback. Just then the classroom door swings open and Gabriel shuffles inside. Everyone turns to look at him.

"You're late," Mrs. Huey snaps. "And you've disrupted announcements."

"Yeah, yeah," he mutters. "It's not like anyone actually pays attention."

"Have a seat," Mrs. Huey grits out. Gabriel rolls his eyes and plops down in a random chair. Lately he's been looking...a little worse for wear. And that's putting it kindly. His attitude and behavior are no better. He's been slacking off in school, he quit lacrosse—although I guess that doesn't matter since the seasons over anyway—and he's been getting into a lot of trouble. As a fellow human being, I'm concerned for him, but that's it. Gabriel is not my problem. He's old enough to make his own choices and deal with the consequences of his actions.

While the announcements are on I update my planner and review my calendar to see all the events I have this month. So far there's the winter formal, the Christmas toy drive, and of course the last senior meeting before break. This year I'm leaving Isiah in charge of the toy drive. I'm just too busy to manage it, the formal, the senior trip, and college applications all at the same time.

The first half of the day passes by relatively quickly, and soon it's the hour before lunch. Seniors begin trickling into the auditorium as I review the meeting agenda and prepare the projector. Once everyone is seated and it's quiet I tap the microphone twice and begin.

"Good afternoon, and welcome to our second senior meeting of the year. As a reminder, please save all questions for the end. Our agenda will consist of reviewing graduation requirements, college application and testing deadlines, and lastly our senior trip," I clear my throat. "Please remember that in order to graduate you must have a total of two-hundred and thirty credits. To break it down, that's three and a half years of history and social studies, four years of English, two years of math, two years of science, one year of language or visual and performing arts, two years of physical education, one semester of health, and eighty credits of electives. If you are missing any of the above, there are plenty of credit recovery options and time to apply. Please don't wait until the last minute and let something so small keep you from graduating. With that being said, keep in mind you can still graduate but not walk."

I go on to explain some of the things that can keep you from walking, such as excessive or unexcused tardies and. absences. Multiple suspensions and/or extreme behavioral issues can also be factor.

"Remember the last testing date for the SAT and Subject Tests is December seventh, and December fourteenth for the ACT. These deadlines are only for seniors to ensure you receive your scores in time to turn in with your college applications." I stop to allow time for the people taking notes to catch up.

"Alright. Now that we've got all the technical stuff out of the way, let's discuss our senior trip. Can I get a drumroll please?" Students who had been previously asleep, bored, or staring off into space sit up at attention. A steady drumroll starts as everyone excitedly waits to hear where we'll be going.

"The destination winner is..." I pause for dramatic effect. "Hunter Mountain Resort!"

Whoops and hollers resound throughout the auditorium. Some people high five each other and I grin.

"The trip will take place the week of January twentieth all the way to the twenty-fifth, so we'll be gone the entire week. I've put together a little presentation just to give a little background on where we'll be going," I walk over to turn the lights off and click on the projector. The slideshow includes where we'll be staying, a bit of its history, and all the amenities and activities available to enjoy. Students chat excitedly as I click through each slide. When it's over I turn the lights back on.

"For the conclusion of this meeting you'll receive a info packet detailing the entire trip and other useful information such as the do's and dont's and what to pack. I advise you all to start thinking of who you want to room with. Remember it's four to a suite, and before you ask, no you cannot co-ed. There will be a meeting a week before the trip just to review everything and answer any last minute questions. Now are there any questions for this meeting in particular?"

The lunch bell rings just as I answer the last question. Students begin leaving for lunch, grabbing their info packet on the way out. Vienna bounces up to me.

"I'm so fucking excited! This is going to be the best trip ever!"

"It better be," I reply. "A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into planning this thing." I finish packing up.

"Come on, lets go eat. I'm starved."

...

A few days later Winston and I are laying entangled on his couch. It's late evening and we're watching Knives Out.

"Who do you think really killed Harlan?" I ask while munching on popcorn. I have my own theory, but I want to hear Winston's. 

"No idea," Winston says, moving my hair aside and kissing down my neck.

When his hands start wandering under my shirt I giggle and move them away. "You're the one who wanted to watch this movie," I remind him.

"I changed my mind," he murmurs, turning my head so he can kiss me. The movie is complete forgotten and I shift so I'm in his lap, parting my mouth to deepen the kiss. His lips trail down my jaw and to my neck, sucking the skin of my collarbone. I moan, and reach down to pull his shirt over his head, tossing it aside and running my fingers along the dips and grooves of his chiseled chest. Then I push him back against the couch, bringing my lips to kiss him again before trialing my lip down his jaw, across his Adam's apple, down his chest until I'm on my knees. I slowly unzip his jeans, and when the zipper is all the way down I hook my fingers in the band of his boxers and pull them down, freeing his length.

Winston makes a strangled nose as I wrap my hand around him, slowly pumping up and down. I take a few minutes to get him really worked up, then without breaking eye contact slowly lick up from his shaft all the way to the tip.

"Fuck," Winston hisses through his teeth. His breathing is labored as I slide him into my mouth, inch by inch, hollowing out my cheeks to take more of him in. And even though this is supposed to be for him, to get him off, I can't help the wetness pooling in my panties. I take him all the way down until I feel his length hit the back of my throat, then start sucking, occasionally drawing back for air.

"Fucking hell Kennedy. Holy shit," Winston's chest starts heaving I gain speed. Cum and spit start dribbling down my chin, and my first instinct is to gag but I don't, I take it because deep down I love when he uses me this way. Bringing him this much pleasure is worth it.

Suddenly Winston yanks me up from the floor and onto his lap. "I was thinking about that day in my office," he starts, reaching under my skirt and pushing two fingers inside of me. "About that role play idea where I'm the boss and you're the clumsy assistant..." He curls a finger upward and I cry out.

"Now Miss Davis," Winston says in a serious tone. "How badly do you want that raise?"

"Badly," I pant out, grinding against his fingers. He raises a brow.

"You'd do anything for it?"

I nod rapidly. "Uh huh."

"Then ride me," he commands, his voice taking on that authoritative tone that turns my insides to mush. I waste no time in obeying his order, lifting my hips then sinking back down on him until I gain a steady rhythm. I brace my hands against Winston's shoulders, digging my nails into his skin. Unintelligible moans and cries left my mouth.

"Does that feel good?" Winston asks against my lips while staring at me. I nod, half delirious.

"Use your words Miss Davis," he says darkly.

I barely manage to get the words out. "Y-yes sir. It feels good," I whimper when he reaches down to rub my clit. "Will I get that raise now?"

"Only if you do a good job Miss Davis."

His words spur me on, and I become aggressive with each thrust. I grinded, rotated, and rode his shaft into oblivion.

"Keep going," Winston groaned, threading his fingers through my hair and pulling.

I felt my own orgasm building, but the point was to try to get him to come first, so I willed myself to hold off for just a little bit longer. I needed to do something to drive him over edge, so the next time I sank down onto him I clenched as tight as I could. That sent him and he came, groaning as he filled me with his release. His orgasm triggered mine, my
chest heaving up and down in an attempt to catch my breath. We stare at each other, both in post-orgasm bliss.

Winston ghosts a finger across my lips. "That was definitely worth a raise," he says and I smile. Right then my phone starts going off with text message notifications.

"I should probably check that," I whisper, even though that's the last thing I want to do. I gingerly get off his lap, feeling sore but in a good way, and grab my phone from the tabletop.

It's from the formal committee group chat. Now that we have a venue, we've been discussing decorations. Someone texted asking for everyone's opinion on disco strobe lights.

No, I text back. The theme is A Midwinters' Night Dream, not EDM night club. As such, the lighting should be tasteful. I shake my head. Amateurs. They'd be lost without me.

"Who was it?" Winston asks as I set my phone back down.

"Just the winter formal committee."

"Was it important?"

I roll my eyes. "No. Someone was asking about colored strobe lights. Like seriously? Why would you have disco strobe lights at a winter dance?"

Winston laughs. "I don't know, that could make for a pretty interesting experience."

"Well it's a good thing you're not in charge," I smooth my wrinkled clothes as best as I can. Knives out is still playing and the killer has been revealed. I'm honestly not surprised, I knew it from the very beginning.

"-you haven't mentioned it to me?" I tune back in to hear the last part of Winston's sentence.

"What?" I ask.

"The dance," he says. "You haven't said anything about it."

I frown. "What is there to say? It's just a dance that I'm in charge of planning."

"Okay...and aren't you going?"

"Well duh. Who else will make sure it runs smoothly?"

"So you're going."

"Yes," I say in exasperation. "Why are you repeating yourself?"

Winston gives me a look. "You're going by yourself."

Oh. Now I see where he's going with this. I shrug casually, hoping he'll drop the subject. "I mean yeah, I guess. But I won't be like a guest you know, more like I'll be running things. So it won't even be fun," I turn away. "Oh look, the movies over. Let's watch another one. Just watch this time."

I move to grab the remote but Winston stops me. I purse my lips and look at him. He raises a brow at me. Damn it, I'm not getting out of this, but that doesn't mean I won't try.

"What's the big deal?" I ask.

"I don't know, you tell me. Now correct me if I'm wrong since it's been a few years since I graduated, but don't you usually go to a dance—especially a formal—with a date-" I open my mouth but he beats me to the punch. "And before you say anything, yes, I know you don't have to have a date and it's perfectly acceptable to go by yourself or with friends, but if you do have a date then you'd go with them."

I blow out a breath. "That's all very correct, but I don't see what that has to do with me."

Winston smirks. "Now I know you're being dense on purpose. How about you stop playing ditzy—you suck at it—and tell me the real reason you'd didn't ask me to go with you."

I narrow my eyes at him then sigh. "Fine. I didn't ask you because it seemed stupid. And childish."

He furrows his brows. "Okay, now I'm genuinely confused."

"Do you really want to go to a high school dance, no matter how prestigious the school, and hang around a bunch of immature seventeen and eighteen year olds?"

"But I wouldn't be hanging out with them...I'd be hanging out with you."

I shrug. "I know it sounds stupid. But..." I bite my lip. "I guess I just don't want you to associate me with that."

"With what? Immaturity and stupidity?"

I nod and Winston's face grows serious. "You know I don't see you that way Kennedy."

"I know," I say quietly. "But I can't help how I feel."

Winston seems to think for a moment before patting his lap. "Come here."

I hesitate before climbing back on his lap.

"You know I'm the luckiest guy in the world right?"

Now I'm the one who's confused. "Why?"

"Because I managed to land someone as amazing as you, and still cannot for the life of me understand how."

I smile but shake my head. "No, it should definitely be the other way around." Because sometimes I just couldn't believe that someone like him, was even remotely interested in someone like me. I wasn't insecure by any means, but Winston was literally perfection wrapped up in a package. Sure he had his flaws, everyone did, but that didn't overshadow what made him so great in the first place. There were millions of other girls who would probably give their right arm to be with him, so it amazed me he even gave me the time of day.

"Do you know what first attracted me to you?" Winston asks.

"My amazing hair?" I joke and he laughs.

"That too, but it was the way you carried yourself. You were so confident, like you knew exactly what you wanted and you weren't afraid to get it. That's what initially drew me to you. And now that I've actually gotten to know you, I was right all along. You're one of the most intelligent, least immature girls I've ever met," he searches my gaze. "And going to a high school dance with you won't change that."

I'm speechless. I'm not a super emotional or sensitive person, and I've been called a cold hearted bitch on occasion, but right now my insides feel all warm and gooey and I can't explain the feelings away.

"You really think all that?" I smile.

"I never say what I don't mean. Plus I work with grown ass adults twenty-four seven who still act like pubescent teenagers," Winston rolls his eyes. "Trust me, adults can be just as immature and stupid as high schoolers, if not more."

That makes me laugh and Winston smiles.

"So. Are you gonna ask me to the dance now?"

I wrap my arms around his neck. "Will you be my date to the winter formal?" I whisper against his lips.

"I mean I guess I could hang around a bunch of immature little shits if it means I get to spend time with you..."

I exhale on a laugh and we kiss.

...