The Unholy Trinity

Yuletide Party (Chloey's POV)

I couldn't help but smile. I had never felt so pretty. I was still trying not to compare myself to my sisters, though.

Zoey had on a short purple dress. It was a scoop neck and flared out at the bottom. She paired it with black block heels. Most of her wavy hair was up in a clip, but the rest fell around her face. She looked fantastic.

Joey looked spectacular, as usual. Her dress was bold and sexy. She had on a red velvet dress in the spirit of Yuletide. It was very tight and low cut and had a slit up the side. She paired it with a set of green heels. She let her hair down wildly.

"We look hot." Joey announced. "I hate to tell you, Chloey, but I don't see how Cade is gonna keep his hands off of you tonight."

“Remember Chloey, it’s only for one night.” Simone reminded me. “And I know it’ll drive Rune mad. It'll be worth it.”

"Alright, let's go," Zoey  said. "We don't want to be late."

"We don't?" Joey asked.

There were a good number of people in the Entrance Hall who weren't invited to the party, but were obviously curious who was going with who.

Rune and Lavina were among them. Rune was talking to Tate when we entered the Hall. He spotted me and his jaw dropped down. I pretended I didn’t see him.

He left Tate in mid-sentence and walked over to me.

"Hi, Chloey." He said as though he had cotton in his mouth.

"Oh hey, Rune. I didn't even see you there."

"You look absolutely stunning!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, this?" I laughed. "I've had this dress for years!"

Of course I was lying, but Joey says being casual is very attractive. 

"Well it looks fantastic on you." Rune smiled.

"Thank you." I smiled back.

"Runey!" Lavina's high pitched voice called as she approached. She then proceeded to kiss him for thirty seconds too long.

"Oh, wow, Chloey. You look...nice." She forced a smile to her face.

"Nice? She looks absolutely ravishing." Cade’s voice said. Suddenly he was in front of me, kissing my hand and looking at me intensely.

"Oh thank you Cade." I giggled.

"When do you suppose everyone will be ready to head over?" He asked.

"Soon, I think." I said looking around. 

Zoey was giggling as she talked to Zander who looked incredibly happy to be with her. Marsden had just arrived and approached Joey. He said something and then put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her. Joey smiled widely.

Simone’s date Norman had just approached her. She gave a quick hug and said he looked handsome. They were good friends, so there was no pressure of an actual date.

Tate and Raina were talking, but I could see Tate sneaking glances at Zoey and Zander. Joey's friend Misty had been invited by Keene Creighton, and they seemed to look rather cozy.

After a few more minutes, I noticed everyone started to head over. "Oh, Cade, we should go." I said. "See you two later."

"Get ready for the night of your life." Cade whispered as we entered the party. I don't think anything could prepare me for tonight.

***

So parties weren’t really my thing as it is, but this party was kind of...nice? Cade was being incredibly charming and introdcing me to everyone as the most intelligent girl he’d ever met. He was also attentive when it came to getting me food and drinks. I was kind of stumped.

He joined me at the edge of the room where I was trying to get some alone time. 

“There you are,”

“Here I am.” I chuckled.

He looked up and suddenly grinned. I looked up too. Mistletoe. Oh no.

“Now how did I get under the mistletoe with the prettiest girl here?” He smiled.

“You don’t have to say that.” I looked down.

He gently lifted my chin. “But I mean it. You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’m so lucky to be here with you tonight.”

“You mean that?”

“Yeah...so what do you think? We don’t wanna break the tradition of the mistletoe, do we?”

“Um, okay.” There was no point in holding onto my first kiss. I wasn’t getting any younger.

Cade pressed his lips against mine. I was ready to hate it...but I didn’t. I enjoyed it!

Then I felt his tongue enter my mouth full speed and I was slightly shocked. Joey always said French kissing was the best. She was kind of right. I was getting way too deep into this. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer. Cade put his hands on my face and pressed me against the wall.

This was going too far. 

I managed to pull away. "Oh I think my sisters want me! Be back!" I quickly disappeared into the crowd. I took a moment and paused. I had just had my first kiss with Cade Pickerin and I actually enjoyed it. What was wrong with me?

I saw Cade looking for me, so I ducked behind curtains that were in the middle of the room. Joey was also there.

"Hey. What happened to you?" She asked, leaning over to fix my hair.

"Mistletoe...Cade." I whispered.

"What?" She asked. "You kissed Cade? How gross was it?"

"Not very gross at all. I...liked it."

Joey laughed loudly as Zoey joined us. "What's going on?" She asked.

"Chloey snogged Cade Pickerin and she liked it!" Joey exclaimed, still laughing.

"No way." Zoey said, attempting to keep a straight face before bursting out in laughter with Joey.

"It's not funny!" I insisted.

"Yes it is! You actually like Cade!" Joey exclaimed.

"Shh!" I whispered.

"Chloey, you have your first boyfriend!" Zoey said, smiling genuinely.

"I do?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, Cade will definitely think you're together now." Joey nodded.

"What do I do?" I asked.

"Um, date him." Joey said in an obvious tone. "Even if you don't like him enough, it will kill Rune!"

I groaned. “I think I actually do like him. That kiss, it was...amazing.”

Joey snorted. “Didn’t think he had it in him. But you know Cade isn't hideous. He's actually pretty hot but that personality...I’m sure you can fix that though, Chloey.”

“You think?” I asked. “Oh god, what am I saying?”

“You like Cade.” Zoey smiled. “There are worse things, you know.”

“Like being hung up on a boy who already has a girlfriend.”  Joey pointed out. “I know this started off as some scheme to get back at Rune, but maybe it was supposed to lead to something more. Like Zoey and Zander.”

“So what, you’re the only one who gets to be with the boy you started off liking?” I questioned. “I mean you don’t even have real boyfriends but now you have the one guy you really liked. Things seem to always work out for you, don’t they Joey?”

Joey got a strange look on her face. “My relationship isn’t perfect. There’s complications.”

“Like what?” Zoey asked. 

“Sometimes the s*x is so good it makes me feel like I’m in love with him.” Joey grinned.

I was always impressed with Joey’s ability to turn a conversation comedic. 

“Are you?” I asked.

Joey looked fondly at his ring on her finger. “I don't know, maybe. But this isn't about me, it is about you! I really think you should give Cade a shot.”

“I will.” I stated confidently.

“Good cuz here he comes.” Lia said. 

“Oh, I have to go to the bathroom!” I exclaimed before ducking out of the curtain. 

I just needed a few minutes to myself before admitting my attraction to Cade. I fixed my hair in the restroom and took a deep breath, looking in the mirror. I was gonna have my first boyfriend.

I finally reentered the party and there was some commotion going on. Someone was yelling at Marsden.

“What’s he even doing here!?” The guy shouted.

“He's my boyfriend!” Joey exclaimed. “He’s allowed to be here.” 

“Joey is a very honored guest and her date should be treated with the same respect.” Director Magnus said firmly. “Let’s calm down.

The guy walked out and Joey pulled him to her, shaking her head in annoyance. Marsden said something and then walked away.

What on earth is going on with them? I approached Joey. “Is everything okay?”

She looked like she was on the verge of tears. “It's fine I’m just gonna go check on Marsden.” She hurried away.  

“That was quite the spectacle.”

“Cade!” I exclaimed. “Hi. I was just coming to find you!”

“Consider me found, babe.” He grinned. “Can we talk?” I nodded and let him lead me back behind the sheer curtains.

“Are you having fun with me Chloey?”

“Um, yes actually I am. A lot of fun.”

“So you enjoyed our time under the mistletoe?” He questioned.

“I actually did. It was…it was my first kiss.” I admitted. 

“Well I hope it lived up to your expectations.”

I laughed. “It did.” I really liked this Cade. The funny, sweet one who’s making sure I had fun. It made me want to date him even more.

“Did you actually want to come here with me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I feel I've been pretty forward with my feelings for you and up until two weeks ago you didn't seem to reciprocate. Which I now realize was silly. Of course you liked me, why wouldn't you?” It was strange how easily he slipped into the cocky jerk I had known him to be until tonight.

“Cade. Before tonight I found you absolutely positively insufferable in every way, shape or form.” His smile faltered. “But...now I don't.”

“So you do like me?” 

“Yes, but I like the you I saw tonight. The guy under the mistletoe and the one who just asked me if I was having fun. Not the cocky Cade you keep switching back to. I don't think that's the real you.”

He sighed. “I act this way because it's expected of me. I have to be overconfident and a little aggressive to cover up how incredibly insecure I am. My father’s really hard on me and I have to live up to his expectations.”

I felt awful for him. He must be under so much pressure from his family. Of course that makes him act the way he does.

“But...I really like you Chloey. I wanna date you. Be your boyfriend, you know. So what do you think? Wanna be my girlfriend?”

“Only if I'm dating the real Cade. No more arrogance and aggression. None of that. Just be who you’re being right now with me and I’m yours.” I smiled.

Cade looked shocked. “Really? You’ll be my girlfriend?” I nodded and he kissed me. Wow, I really liked kissing him. 

“I have to warn you, I've never had a boyfriend. We have to take things a little slow, okay? I’m not hopping into bed with you tonight.”

Cade chuckled. “Of course. We’ll go at your pace, love. Anything you want.”

“I want you to kiss me...boyfriend.”