The Mistletoe Dare

The cold air nipped at my unseasonably attired bare legs as I walked with my friend Naia to a party I didn’t want to go to. I can’t believe I let her dress me up in this ridiculous sexy Christmas fairy outfit. It’s a lot of green and glitter but hey, at least it’s my favorite color right. Not to mention it does make my red hair pop like she said. Only reason she talked me into it to begin with is cause my boyfriend and I had an argument about me not going that ended with him saying he was going with or without me. She never liked Jackson much. She was convinced that he had roving eyes and she didn’t really trust him with my heart. Normally I’d trust her bad opinion and steer clear but he’s been so sweet to me for so long. We’ve been together for 3 years. I still remember the day he asked me out. He picked a bunch of wildflowers on his walk to school. I chuckled thinking of how he’d kept them in his locker until lunch because he was nervous. He tried to hide them behind his back as we went to head off campus to grab some food but I made him show me what he was hiding. As I was grabbing for them he kissed me on the cheek and told me how beautiful and amazing he thought I was comparing me to the wildflowers growing strong and beautiful with little help from anything but nature. Sure it was a little corny but I was just barely 17 and I ate it up. It helped that he was attractive. Tall, sandy blonde stylishly messy hair, golden brown eyes and a slim muscular build. Jackson wasn’t the hottest boy back in high school but he had his share of female stares following him around. He still does now at university except for maybe more with his new playboy attitude. I’m still not sure where he changed but I know he did. He swears up and down that he acts the way he does because he doesn’t want his guy buddies to think he’s a loser. I mostly believe him but deep down I don’t know if I am even that trusting. No, I do believe him… at least I think I do. I mean, we’ve got so much history, and he’s supported me through so much. Including yet another foster family deciding I wasn’t worth the check. There I was the chronic overachiever who’d been praying for even one foster family to not only turn out to be decent but decide they actually wanted me only to be let down again. I had been terrified that I’d have to switch schools yet again and lose my first ever relationship but I got lucky at the last second and a family from the same town took me in. They were always a little distant with me, and I always got the weird feeling that they were keeping something from me but they were at least kind. Plus, I got to finish out high school where I started so they were grade A parents to me. They still support me even if they’re still distant. Anyway, back to the present. I’m surprised Naia let me wander in silence as long as she did. She knows I sometimes get kind of lost though. It just part of the package. I tune back in to her talking excitedly about the party and hoping her crush is going to be there. “I swear Ky! He’s is so effin fiinne.” She giggles flipping her long dark locks back from her heart stopping blue eyes and gorgeous cheekbones over mischievous pixie-esque smile. “We were both working out in the gym doing our training exercises. His are for soccer of course which is a sport I may have to get into now. And I was freaking out trying not to drool sneaking peaks at his… get this, 8-pack while he’s doing chin ups two stations over. He must have some serious stamina going on. Plus, even when not standing at attention I could see he had some dangerous equipment hiding in those shorts” she snickers. I roll my eyes but can help a small laugh at that comment. I love Naia. She may live life at a mile a minute but she’s also the sister to my soul. Which is probably how she talks me into things like this barely-there-wear Christmas fairy outfit and a party where I’m supposed to remind my lately less reliable boyfriend that he’s lucky to have me. I sigh, and lovingly tell Naia that she was supposed to leave the boy crazy in high school. “So are we close or we going to be to stop and ask for directions?” I ask her. I’m not impatient exactly, but it’s cold out and I didn’t realize it was all the way across campus. “Don’t get your garters in a knot Kyra, it’s just around the corner over there”, she says pointing at the big gates at the drive at the end of the block. Which is just about when my stomach dropped out of my body because I realized where we were headed. “s**t! You didn’t tell me the party was at the f***ing rich a** tribal cult brothers house!” I shrieked at Naia. The group is actually called the Midnight Alphas which I always felt was in the toxic masculinity category like calling themselves alpha males or he men or some such crap. “ yeaaa.. I’m sorry. I know I should’ve told you but then you definitely wouldn’t have come.” Naia mumbled apologetically. “Of course I wouldn’t they’re almost worse than a frat house Naia. They’re both elitest and exclusive. Not to leave leave out the entitled asshole attitude the practically drips off of them. I will give them that least it’s coed group. So even though the name seems like toxic masculinity at its finest at least they don’t quite seem to be sexist in practice. They’re all just standoffish and superior as f***” I finish breathing a little heavy. I really should remember to pace myself when I rant. This is going to suck, and I can’t believe Naia decided we should come here either. She feels the same about them as I do. They seriously keep themselves apart from anyone not in there group. It’s kind of freaky. I’m kind of surprised Jackson wanted to come here now that I think of it. It’s not really his style to hang with elites assholes, or at least it didn’t use to be his style. “Well, are we still going or not? I will follow whatever you decide Ky, but I at least wanted to see what it’s like in there so I figured I’d get you here and see.” Dang. I’ll admit I’m just the the tiniest bit curious myself damn it. “Okkaayyy,” I say hesitantly. This could go so wrong but I’ve never been great at fighting my curiosity. Naia the little witch knows it which is why she trying so hard not to smirk right now. We walk up to the, for once open, black wrought iron gates and up the driveway. In front of us is a supremely over the top but still classy looking mini mansion of a house. It is still a dorm house after all, housing anywhere from 20-50 students, so I guess it has to be large to accommodate them. I feel these weird warm tingles as we get closer. I wonder if those are anticipation or dread. I know I’ve never felt that before. The pit in my stomach is definitely dread. That I have had before and they always mean something bad. We head in the through the heavy double door entrance, and I can’t help but whisper, “ A winter wonderland is right.”