The Christmas Kiss

Vesper’s POV. It was the last week of school before Christmas break, and as always, Frostbrook Academy was buzzing with the energy of the upcoming holiday. Everywhere I looked, the halls were filled with cheer—people laughing, decorations being hung, and a constant flow of Christmas music. The smell of cinnamon and pine filled the air, and if I squinted, I could almost pretend that the warmth from the festive lights could melt the icy shell I’d built around myself. But it didn’t. Not even close. Christmas had always been a painful reminder of what I’d lost. And now, standing in the crowded school gymnasium at the Christmas Masquerade Party, I felt like an outsider among the throngs of students who had paired up, their arms wrapped around each other as they danced under the twinkling lights. Their laughter echoed off the high ceilings, a joyful symphony of holiday spirit. But it felt like a distant melody to me. I hugged my arms across my chest, leaning against the cold brick wall by the dance floor. I knew I should’ve gone home and curled up with a book, or maybe wrapped myself in the comfort of my blanket fort, but my best friend Lily had insisted I attend, despite my objections. “Vesper, you can’t hide forever!” she’d practically begged me earlier that day. “Come on, it’ll be fun. You’re going to have a blast, I promise. Plus, we’re celebrating. It’s Christmas!” I hadn’t had the heart to tell her that Christmas, for me, wasn’t something to celebrate. Not anymore. It was the season that had torn my family apart, and I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy it the way everyone else did. Not after everything. I glanced around at the couples swirling around the dance floor, their happy faces reminding me of a life I no longer wanted. And there it was—the source of my frustration. The mistletoe. It hung from the ceiling like some cruel joke, swaying gently in the air above the dancers. A part of me almost scoffed. Mistletoe was supposed to bring people together, wasn’t it? Yet, here I was, standing alone, surrounded by people who had found their partners while I… well, I had nothing. As I sulked in my corner, my thoughts were interrupted by Lily, who appeared at my side, a grin plastered on her face. She was always the optimist, the one who believed in all the magic and wonder that came with the holiday season. “Okay, Vesper, you have to stop looking so miserable. It’s Christmas. You’re supposed to be happy,” she teased, nudging my arm. “I’m perfectly happy where I am,” I muttered, glancing back at the dance floor. “And I’m fine standing here, thank you very much.” Lily rolled her eyes. “You know, I was going to let you sulk for a little while, but this is getting ridiculous. At least try to pretend like you’re enjoying yourself. For me?” I sighed, pushing away from the wall. “Fine. For you. But don’t expect me to dance. I’ll probably trip over my own feet.” “You’re such a drama queen,” Lily said with a wink. “But I’ll take it. At least you’re standing up now.” I gave her a small smile. “I’m standing up, but that’s where it ends.” Lily grabbed my hand and dragged me to the refreshment table, offering me a cup of spiced cider. “Well, at least have a drink. Relax. You’re not the only one here with no date, you know. I’m flying solo tonight too.” That was a rare admission for her, given how she usually threw herself into the excitement of the season. I took the cup, swallowing the warm drink with a sigh. The warmth spread through me, but it did little to quell the unease building in my stomach. “Who says we need dates anyway?” I mumbled. Lily eyed me skeptically. “Is that so? Because you’re still glaring at that mistletoe like it’s your personal enemy. You’re not fooling anyone, Vesper. I know you. You just don’t want to admit it.” “I don’t want to admit what?” I asked, feigning innocence. “That you’re lonely,” she said bluntly, nudging me again. “You want someone to kiss under that mistletoe, don’t you?” I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I didn’t know what it was about that question, but it stung more than I expected. I set my cup down, pushing it aside as I felt my face heat up. “I’m not lonely. I’m just… not interested in that stuff. Not after…” My voice trailed off. I didn’t need to finish the sentence. Lily knew what I meant. We’d talked about it before, and she knew the scars from my past relationship ran deeper than I was willing to admit. “Well, just know you’re not alone,” Lily said gently, her tone softening. “But you’ll have to figure that out on your own.” Before I could respond, I noticed a sudden shift in the room. A subtle ripple of energy spread across the dance floor as three guys walked in. They weren’t the kind of guys you could ignore, not with their presence. Orion. Rowan. Roman. I didn’t even have to ask who they were. The three of them, the McAllister Triplets, were infamous in Frostbrook—not only because they were undeniably good-looking but because they were incredibly popular. The sons of a wealthy and powerful family, they had been the talk of the town since they were born. Orion, the serious hockey player, always in his element when it came to sports. Rowan, the charming and smooth law student who could talk circles around anyone. And Roman, the rebellious biker with a wild streak that never seemed to end. Together, they were the epitome of every high school girl’s fantasy. And here they were, walking toward the center of the gym like they owned the place. As they approached, I instinctively stepped back into the shadows, not wanting to draw attention. I had no interest in getting caught up in their world. They were everything I wasn’t—confident, popular, carefree. But as luck would have it, Roman’s eyes caught mine across the room. I quickly looked away, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. Why did I feel like he was staring right through me? “I’m going to kill you for making me come,” I muttered to Lily, though my voice was barely audible over the music. She laughed quietly, unaware of the tension now running through me. “Just admit it, Vesper. You like them. At least one of them.” “I don’t,” I snapped, though my pulse betrayed me, quickening in my veins. Lily grinned, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “I think I saw you glance at Roman just now. You can deny it all you want, but I see right through you.” “I wasn’t looking at him,” I said, more harshly than I intended. I felt a pang of guilt but quickly brushed it aside. The three guys stopped near the mistletoe, and the crowd seemed to part for them like a wave. It was absurd how the entire gym seemed to shift when they entered. But then, something unexpected happened. Roman smiled—directly at me. My breath caught in my throat. Before I could react, the music changed, and people began to pair off, getting ready for the first slow dance of the night. The Triplets didn’t miss a beat. They stood under the mistletoe, just a few feet away from where I was standing. The attention of the entire room seemed to focus on them, and I felt a surge of panic in my chest. The room seemed to hold its breath as I stood frozen, trying to pretend I wasn’t aware of them standing there. But then, Roman’s voice broke through the tension. “Vesper,” he called. I felt a jolt of surprise, and I reluctantly turned toward him, heart hammering. Roman was leaning casually against the wall beneath the mistletoe, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Come here,” he said, his voice low and teasing. “You can’t just stand there and avoid it.” Avoid what? I had no idea what he was talking about, but the way he said it made my knees go weak. I could feel the heat rising in my face, my thoughts racing. “What?” I said, my voice coming out more breathlessly than I intended. He chuckled softly, and before I could fully process what was happening, Orion and Rowan stepped up beside him. They looked down at me, their eyes soft but unwavering. “It’s tradition, Vesper,” Orion said, his tone a little more serious than Roman’s, but still inviting. “Under the mistletoe. A kiss.” I couldn’t move. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor. Lily, who had been watching the scene unfold, let out a soft squeal. “Vesper! This is your moment!” Roman grinned, pushing himself off the wall. “Come on. Don’t make us wait too long.” Before I could even think about it, he was close enough to me that I could feel his breath on my skin. He reached out and gently cupped my face, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “Just one kiss,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but it carried a world of emotion in it. And then he kissed me. The world stopped spinning.