The next morning I wake up in the best mood. My day gets even better when I roll over in bed and pick up my phone from my nightstand.

Unknown: Good morning love

I smile, adding Winston's name to my contacts and re-reading his message before replying.

Me: Good morning ☀️

I slide out of bed and start my morning routine, an extra pep in my step. After showing and moisturizing my face and body, I get dressed in my usual outfit—just different colors—then sit in front of my vanity to do my face and hair. Because I'm in such a good mood, I leave my hair down and use a black headband to push it back.

After packing my bag and making sure I have everything I skip out the front door. I'm leaving early to meet up with Svetlana, Luca, and Isiah before school to start the process of planning the fundraiser.

"Good morning Charles!" I chirp as he opens the car door for me.

"Good morning Miss Davis. You seem to be in a good mood today."

"I am. Let's stop at Springtime Coffee House. I'm feeling generous."

Forty five minutes later I arrive at school armed with a tray of coffee and mini pastries. Everyone looks up as I barge into the student body office.

"Good morning everyone! I brought breakfast and great news!"

Svetlana is the first one up. "Ugh, you're a saint Kennedy."

Isiah shuffles over and takes a coffee. "You have no idea how much I needed this. I was up all night brainstorming ideas for the fall fundraiser."

"Based on some of the events he suggested I was able to draw up mock estimates of what we could raise based on student participation," Luca says. "Even with every single student involved, I'm afraid none of the totals were even close to what we needed. We may have to re-evaluate how much we want to raise and change our goal."

Isiah nods in agreement. "The best event we could host would be a-"

I raise my hand. "Stop."

He pauses.

I smile. "We will not be changing our goal."

Luca immediately starts to protest. "Objection! Your goal is nearly impossible-"

I roll my eyes. "Relax Luca, you'll pop a blood vessel being so uptight. Now will you let me finish?"

He huffs but quiets.

"Thank you. Now just listen to this." I re-explain everything Winston told me yesterday, adding my own opinion on how we could pull this off.

"Why didn't we think of that sooner?" Svetlana exclaims. "Kennedy you're a genius."

Even Isiah agrees. "This could work. What do you think Luca?"

We all turn to him. Slowly he nods. "It's do-able...but where will we host it?"

I grin. "That's the best part. I've secured us a reservation in one of the private rooms at Ace of Spades."

Svetlana furrows her brows. "Isn't that a brand under King Hotels?"

Luca scoffs. "No way. That's impossible. There's no way you pulled that off."

"Do you doubt me?" I cross my arms.

"Yes," he laughs. "There's no way Norman King would loan one of his hotels for a high school fundraiser. Not even you have that much power."

Now I'm pissed. I don't see him volunteering any helpful ideas. All he does is sit up on his stupid high horse with his nose in the air looking down on everyone else. Since becoming president, he's doubted every decision I've made or slipped snide remarks. I'm done putting up with it.

Isiah glances between the two of us, worry creasing his features as I visibly become more and more volatile. "Luca maybe you should listen-"

I whip out my phone and punch number one on my speed dial. As it rings I put it on speaker.

"Hello? Kennedy? Why are you calling me at work?"

"Hi daddy," I say sweetly. "I just wanted to ask how the case with Norman King was going?"

"That's why you called? It's going okay, but I'm really busy right now-"

"I also want to know if he agreed to let us use the private room at Ace of Spades for my speakeasy party?"

"Yes Kennedy, he did. I talked to him this morning and he agreed. Now is that all because I have to go-"

"Okay, bye!" I hang up before he can finish his sentence. When I look back up I'm met with three very shocked faces.

"You'll do well not to question me again," I level my gaze with Luca. "Capiche?"

He nods mutely.

"Good." Then I smile brightly. "Now I believe we have a fundraiser to plan."

...

"Expecting a text?" Vienna asks, peering over my shoulder. I jump and turn my phone around.

"No! Geez, mind your own business."

"I'm not the one who keeps checking their phone like a crackhead," she tosses a cherry into her mouth. It's lunchtime and we're out on the campus quad, where pretty much all the seniors eat lunch. The dining hall is for freshman and sophomores, and the juniors usually eat on the grass.

"Wanna see a cool trick?" I change the subject and grab a cherry from her bowl. I pop it into my mouth and chew. A second later I stick my tongue out, where the stem lays in a perfect knot.

Vienna hums. "You know, I've heard people that can tie cherry stems like that are really good at ora-"

"Ugh. You're so gross."

She laughs. "I'm not the one trying to change the subject. You're not getting out of this. Who are you checking your phone for?"

I look around before lowering my voice. "Winston."

"Winston?!"

"Could you be any louder?" I snap.

"Sorry," she says sheepishly. "Soooo tell me everything."

"Long story short, Winston helped me out with the fall fundraiser and in exchange he asked for my number."

Vienna squeals. "Yes! I knew he liked you! Just imagine, when you two get married, you'll be Mrs. King."

I laugh. "Woah. Calm down, you're jumping way ahead. But look at what he sent me this morning," I show her my text messages.

"Love? You already have cute names for each other!"

I roll my eyes but smile.

"I totally ship it," Vienna says. "But you need a ship name." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "Oooh, how about Kinston?"

I'm about to respond when my phone vibrates. I quickly look at the screen.

Winston: sorry, busy morning. How's high school, I've forgotten what it's like

Me: relax, you didn't graduate that long ago

Winston: four years is a long time in the adult world

Me: well you're not missing much.

Winston: What are you going to do after you graduate?

Me: I'm going to take over the world. Duh

Winston: I don't doubt that

Me: no but seriously, I wanna go to Yale and major in political science. It's been my dream since I was a little girl. I've been working on perfecting my application since freshman year

Winston: is that why you're so overly ambitious?

Me: no, it's just part of my charm ;)

Me: I'm kind of a take charge girl if you haven't noticed

Winston: oh I noticed. does that mean you're submissive in other areas?

I choke and Vienna looks up. "What? What did he say?"

Me: I have no idea what you're talking about

Winston: I think you know exactly what I'm talking about

Me: no comment

Winston: hmmmm

"Do you wanna come watch practice after school?" I look up.

Vienna thinks for a moment before shrugging. "Why not?" she shrugs. "Can I play too?"

"Sure. You can be an example of what not to do."

"Oh that's just cold."

The bell rings and we start packing up our lunch. I sling my bag over my shoulder and send a quick text to back to Winston.

Me: gotta go. talk later

Winston: pay attention in class

Me: thanks dad, I will!

Winston: smartass 

I shake my head, a small smile playing on my lips as I follow Vienna back into the building.

...

"Forty love, first serve."

I toss the ball up and swing my racket. Vienna screeches and jumps out of the way, scoring me another point. The girls laugh on the sidelines.

"You're supposed to hit the ball, not run away from it," Hannah snickers.

Vienna huffs. "Well excuse me, I'm not a pro. Besides, Kennedy knows I'm a rookie and she still insists on serving so brutally."

I shrug. "Sorry. I go easy on no one. Also that's game."

"I give up," Vienna drops her racket and Tiffany shrieks.

"Be careful! That racket cost me three-hundred dollars!"

"You spent three-hundred dollars on a racket? Yikes."

Tiffany shoots Vienna a look as she picks up her racket and dusts it off. "I don't expect you to understand, but having a good racket is just as important as being able to play."

Vienna looks to me for confirmation and I nod. "It's true."

She rolls her eyes just as Naomi starts yelling. "Winston King!"

Hannah rolls her eyes. "We get it. You're obsessed with him."

"No I mean he's here. Look!"

Vienna and I look at each other before running over with the rest of the team to where Naomi is pointing her finger towards the tennis court parking lots. Sure enough Winston and Danny emerge from a sleek black car. Danny has on ripped black jeans, a black graphic t-shirt with the words 'reckless' on the front, and black combat boots. Meanwhile Winston looks like he just stepped out of the office—which he probably did—in form fitting black dress pants that hug his shape in unacceptable ways along with a blue and white striped dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up exposing his toned forearms. I'm pretty sure my ovaries explode.

"Oh my goodness," Chloe is practically drooling. "Is that a Porsche Panamera GTS?"

When we all turn to look at her she shrugs. "What? So I'm a girl who likes cars. Sue me."

While the girls squeal and gossip amongst themselves I pull Vienna aside. "What are they doing here?!"

She looks just as surprised as I do. "I have no idea. I mean, Danny texted me earlier and asked me if I had plans after school, but I told him I had tennis practice. I didn't expect him to actually show up, let alone with Winston!"

"You told him you have tennis practice? You do realize you're not actually on the team right?"

"Well no shit! But what else was I supposed to say?"

I let out a breath. I definitely don't want any of the girls to be standing around salivating over the guys when they come over. So I make an executive decision and blow my whistle. Everyone, including Vienna, jump at the sudden screeching noise.

"Ladies! Less fawning and more practice! Five laps around the court!"

"Why do we have to run five laps?" Naomi whines. Everyone else agrees with her and begins protesting. I blow my whistle again.

"Hey! Have you forgotten tennis is more than just hitting a ball? You also need to have good stamina. Plus, I'm the captain and I get to tell you what to do. Five laps around the court. Now. Before I make you run those laps while balancing a ball on your racket. And if you drop the ball, you have to start all over."

They groan and mutter under their breaths but do as I say. I smile. That's more like it. Vienna stands still next to me.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

She scoffs. "I'm not running five laps. I'm not part of the team remember?"

"Today you are," I push her forward. "Come on."

I'm not one of those captains who just bosses their team around and makes them do all the hard work while I sit back, so of course I run the five laps with them. Besides, it helps me forgot that Winston is here, who I spot from my peripheral vision standing just outside the courts with Danny. Vienna waves to them as we run.

Thankfully by the time we finish our laps practice is officially over and the girls aren't paying attention to the boys anymore. They're too busy sweating and trying to catch their breaths.

"Good job today ladies! Remember to work on your swings." I say goodbye to everyone as they all grab their bags and equipment before shuffling off the courts. When the last girl is gone Winston and Danny come over.

"You couldn't have been more obvious if you tried," Vienna crosses her arms. "Why not show up in a limousine? That might actually be less conspicuous."

Danny shrugs. "It's a school full of rich kids. You're telling me they've never seen a Porsche before?"

"What are you two doing here?" I ask.

"Well I wanted to see Vienna play tennis of course," Danny grins. "To be honest you didn't strike me as the athletic type."

"Because I'm not. I'm not actually on the team."

"Why am I not surprised you're the captain?" Winston says with a smirk.

"Because I'm just that freaking amazing?" I spin around and do a little curtsy.

"I'm sure. Anyway if you're not busy we can go check out the venue for the speakeasy fundraiser."

My eyes light up. "Yes. Let me just go grab my stuff," I jog over to the benches.

"How are you not tired?" Vienna drags her feet behind me. "We just practiced for two hours!"

I swing my duffel bag over my shoulder and spin around. "I don't have time to be tired." Then I power walk back over to Winston. "Ready when you are."

"I'm gonna go with Vienna!" Danny calls out, waving goodbye to us. Vienna is already halfway across the parking lot.

"Can you drive!" She yells. "I'm too tired." She tosses Danny her car keys.

Winston gestures for me to walk ahead. "After you."

I smile. "A true gentleman."

"Sometimes," he winks.

...