"If I break any bones, it's on you."

Austin laughs. "This is one of the easiest slopes here. Trust me, you'll be fine."

I cast him a dubious look before glancing down the mountain. This is one of the easiest slopes? It looks like a death drop. I wonder if it's too late to head back inside the main lodge with the rest of the family. I wish Tristan were here, or better yet I was with him instead. He's spending Christmas in California with Holly and her family.

I watch other skiers as they take off down the slope, making it look so easy. Alright. Deep breaths. I can do this. Kennedy Davis does not back down from a challenge. I lower my goggles over my eyes and adjust myself in the proper formation just like Austin taught me. Gripping my poles tightly I turn to look back at Austin on last time. He gives me a thumbs up, and with that, I push off.

"Remember to bend your knees!" Austin calls out.

Shit. Shit shit shit I'm going faster than I expected. My first instinct is to panic but I try to remember what Austin told me. Bend my knees. Don't look down at my tips. Stay evenly balanced.

"I'm doing it," I laugh incredulously. "I'm doing it! I'm skiing!"

Then I fall.

I twist my body so I fall sideways, landing in the snow with an oomf. I sit up as other skiers race past me.

"You okay?" One calls out.

"I'm fine!" I yell back. Standing up I brush snow off my jacket and adjust my beanie. Austin pulls up next to me, flipping his snowboard into his hands. Show off.

"You good?" He raises a brow.

"Yeah I'm good. Slightly embarrassed but good."

"Don't worry buttface, it happens to the best of us."

"Really? Does it happen to you?"

He scratches his chin. "Well it did."

I roll my eyes just as a skier stops next to us. She lifts her goggles and I realize it's a girl. A very pretty girl with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

"Hey. I saw your fall and wanted to make sure you were okay," her accent is thick. "The first time skiing is always the worst."

"Finally someone who understands," she laughs and I smile. Then I stick out my hand. "I'm Kennedy."

"I'm Stella," we awkwardly shake gloved hands. I remember Austin is there too.

"Oh and this is my brother Austin," I introduce them. Austin is eyeing her with a look I know all too well. Gross. I'm out of here.

"Well it was nice meeting you," I begin backing away. "But I'm going back inside. Where it's warm. And there's WiFi. You two should ski together though. Or snowboard. Whatever."

Stella waves. "Bye! It was nice meeting you."

"Yeah, you too."

I mouth to Austin don't say I never did anything for you and he mouths back thank you before shooting me a wink and giving his undivided attention to Stella. 

As I head back over to catch the lift back to the main lodge, I shake my head. I know I shouldn't bet against my own gender, but one-hundred bucks says Austin will have his tongue down her throat before the day is done.

...

"You're freezing dear," Grandma Katie rubs my shoulders up and down as she ushers me to sit. "Here, sit down. I'll bring you a cup of hot cocoa."

"Thanks," I remove my gloves, scarf, hat, and goggles.

"How was skiing?" Mom asks.

"Eh. Not my thing. Austin's still out there though." With the Swedish chick.

"We were just discussing dinner for tomorrow," My dad spoke. Ah yes, tomorrow was the big day. Christmas. I was excited. Grandpa and Grandma had a huge tree in their living room, and even though it was only six of us there were at least thirty plus gifts under that tree. Plus their home was incredible. They lived in a real log cabin, no cookie cutter bullshit. But maybe calling it a cabin was a stretch. It was more like a log mansion.

While the adults conversed among themselves I pulled out my phone to text Winston. I'd had to pay for an international plan but it was worth every penny.

Me: I miss you :(

This was the longest I'd gone without seeing him, and it sucked. I loved my family, I did, but I also loved my boyfriend and was suffering from withdrawals.

Winston: me too. How's your holiday going?

Me: okay. Austin taught me how to ski, but of course I suck at it. He's also been hitting on anything with a pulse, which is annoying

Winston: haha give him a break

Me: ugh, of course you would say that. How's your holiday?

Winston: meh, you know my dad. He's more like the grinch than Santa. But Cecilia is trying her hardest to make sure we have the perfect family Christmas. She somehow roped my father into decorating the house again, which we haven't done since my mom died

Me: awww, that's great!

Winston: yeah. Truthfully I can't wait for Christmas to be over

Me: lol who's the grinch now?

Winston: guess I'm more like my father than I thought

"Kennedy," I lookup from my phone at the sound of my mothers voice. "We're about to head home. Would you go get Austin?"

"Yeah sure," I stand, sending one last text to Winston.

Me: gotta go, I'm being sent to retrieve Austin from the ski slopes. Pray for me, who knows what I might see

Winston: probably nothing you haven't seen before

Me: the sad part is you're right.

...

On the morning of Christmas snow falls in gentle flakes outside, blanketing the ground and everything else around it. A white Christmas. I race outside, still clad in my pajamas and with no shoes. Opening my mouth I tilt my head back and let a snowflake touch my tongue, instantly dissolving upon contact.

"Kennedy," my mother scolds from the doorway. She must have just woken up as she's still clad in her sleep robe. "Get inside. You'll catch a cold."

I twirl around in happiness before racing back inside. The family is slowly starting to rouse from their sleep and shuffle downstairs. 

"Merry Christmas!" Grandma Katie greets us jovially. "Shall we make some hot cocoa and open the gifts?"

"Yes!" My brother and I both exclaim at the same time. It feels like we're over eager kids again.

Grandma and I make hot chocolate while my mother arranges a tray with the chocolate cookies we baked last night. I dump extra marshmallows in mine and Austin's cocoa—just how we like it—and carry both mugs to the living room. I only take a couple sips before impatience takes over and I grab the first gift I see with my name on it. It's from Grandpa Dean. The box is small and I shake it, hearing something rattle inside. Curious I tear off the wrapping paper. Inside is a small jewelry box which I open and find a personalized birthstone ring with my name engraved inside the band. I gasp and slip it on, holding it up to the light.

"It's beautiful," I admire the sparkling Alexandrite stone. "Thank you Grandpa."

"Of course dear."

From my father I get a organization set complete with serval notebooks, journals, planners, pens, sticky notes, and more. Austin gifts me with a shiny new tennis racket and my mother got me a pair of knee high stiletto Louboutin boots I'd been eyeing. Finally I receive a beautiful pearl necklace from my grandmother, who says every lady should have a set of pearls.

"Especially the first future female president," she winks, helping me clasp it on.

Everyone opens the rest of their gifts. Austin is extremely happy with his personalized law office pen holder and glass business card holder, both with his name and future law firm printed on them. He even receives a fancy framed photo of The Lawyers Prayer. My dad got my mom new earrings from Tiffany, which she wears proudly, and she got him a new briefcase for work. But the best present had to be my grandmothers new watercolor set. She'd always wanted to learn how to paint and my grandfather had signed her up for beginner classes.

Soon it was time for dinner, and I decide to video call Tristan before we sit down and eat.

"Hey Kenny!" He greets me cheerfully. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas! I wish you were here."

"Well I'm sure you're having just as much fun without me. Did you already open presents?"

"Yeah," I roll my eyes playfully. "You should see Austin's new lawyer toys."

Tristan laughs. "I can only imagine. Oh yeah, Holly got you something too. I'll have it mailed over along with my present after the holidays."

"Okay. Well I should get going, we're about to have dinner. Tell everyone I said Merry Christmas!"

"And a Happy New Year," he winks.

...

I've barely taken two steps into my room after getting back from Sweden when my phone rings. It's Cecilia.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Merry Christmas!" She shouts.

"Uh, Merry Christmas, but you do realize you're five days late right?

"Better late than never I always say. What are you doing right now?"

"I literally just got back. Like I haven't even dropped my bags yet."

"Well drop them and meet me outside your building in twenty minutes."

"But-"

Before I can respond Cecilia hangs up and I sigh. I'm tired. I'm jet lagged. All I want to do is sleep. I haven't even called Winston or Vienna yet. I wonder if she got her phone back or if she's still grounded.

Twenty minutes later I'm standing outside when Cecilia pulls up in a town car. She hops out of the vehicle talking on the phone and I'm surprised to see a reluctant Vienna trailing behind her.

"Believe me, I'm not here by choice," she mumbles as she moves to stand next to me. "I was kidnapped."

"How was Christmas? Ready to move out of your parents and finally become an independent woman?"

"Trust me, New Years can't get here soon enough. And Christmas was...interesting."

"Hop in ladies," Cecilia hangs up phone and gestures for us to get into the car.  Vienna and I clamber inside. Cecilia slides in last and shuts the door before giving the driver instructions to East Village.

"Okay now spill," I put on my seatbelt. Safety first. "Why are we going to east East Village?"

Cecilia gives me a wicked grin. "New Year new me, an I right?"

...

"Hell no."

I gather my hair in my arms and cradle it to my chest like a baby. "There is no way in hell I'm cutting my hair."

"Oh come on, it'll only be a few inches," Cecilia argues. "You won't even notice!"

Meanwhile Vienna is pursuing a pamphlet. "Should I go the full enchilada or just get an ombré? Maybe highlights?"

Cecilia, with her crazy spontaneous self, had dragged us to a glitzy hair salon. She said we needed to enter the New Year with a bang, and this was the first step. I disagreed. My hair went past my butt so maybe I needed a trim, but a full on cut? I was terrified. Besides positions of leadership and Yale, my hair was precious to me.

"Look, I'm not asking you to mar your gorgeous red locks," Cecilia fluffs her own hair. "I mean look at me. People pay thousands of dollars just to get this shade of blonde and I have it naturally. But I think a cut would look great on you! You'd still have long hair, just not Rapunzel long."

"And what about you?" I cross my arms. "Are you cutting your hair?"

"As a matter of fact I am," Cecilia answers. "I'll cut a few inches off, and I'm getting bangs."

"Bangs?" My eyes widen. 

"Yeah. Not the blunt cut heavy look, but the more wispy, ethereal look."

I had no doubt Cecilia would look gorgeous with bangs. Hell, she'd look good bald. And it was such a bold move. If she could cut her hair and get bangs, then why couldn't I sacrifice a few inches?

"What about you?" I turn to Vienna. "Are you doing something to your hair?"

"Well I'm not cutting it, but I'm going to dye it a light ombré purple. I'll keep my roots dark, then fade in the purple and have the tips like a whitish grey."

"That would look so cute!" Cecilia claps.

It was crazy, yet so Vienna I couldn't even be surprised. I suddenly felt silly for freaking out over cutting my hair. It would grow back.

"What if I cut it to here?" I spoke up, then indicated about a quarter way down my back. It was a huge chunk, and I knew it.

Vienna frowns. "Are you sure? That's a lot of hair, and I don't want you to feel pressured to do something you don't want to."

I smile. "Trust me, you couldn't pressure me to do anything I didn't want to. And Cecilia is right. We need to kick off this New Year with a bang."

"You're gonna look amazing dahling," Cecilia hugs me from the side. "Let's do this!"

Vienna went first, as she does most things. Another chair opened up and Cecilia urged me forward. As I sat down nerves overcame me and I almost bolted, but forced my butt to stay glued to that chair. I couldn't watch as the stylist cut my hair, instead choosing to close my eyes as I listened to the snip of her scissors. She told me she was going to straighten my hair so I could see the full length, so I sat there as she washed, conditioned, then flat ironed my hair.

"Done!" The stylist announced. "You can open your eyes now."

I cautiously opened one eye, then the another. Wow. I stood and twisted my body to get a view of my back. My head felt ten times lighter, and she'd given me a blunt cut look. It was still long, but not ridiculously so, and I loved it.

"How do I look?" Cecilia twirled around with her own freshly cut hair and bangs.

"Is that even a legit question?" I laughed. "You look great."

Vienna was the last to finish, but when she stood up from the chair and turned to face us, I suddenly wondered why she hadn't done this a long time ago. She started singing and dancing around the shop.

"I feel prettyyyyy! Oh so prettyyyyy! I feel pretty, and witty, and brightttt! And I pityyyyy, any girl who isn't me tonightttttt!"

We all laugh at her antics, and linking arms together we walk out of the salon.

...