To start over.
That's what Alex Rose needed, after that night.
That's what drove her out of her home in London, to New York, halfway across the world, to start her second year of college in North Regal University.
A whole new world greets her, ne...
"I don't wanna miss out on the holiday But I can't stop staring at your face." Mistletoe - Justin Beiber
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A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE FINAL CHAPTER, CHRISTMAS OF JUNIOR YEAR
"What do you mean I can't get a present from everybody?"
Kye's comment has all of us staring blankly at him, Jack even exhaling dramatically.
"Because that's not how secret Santa works, Wellington." Hunter raises his eyebrows at his best friend, easing an arm around my shoulders. I suppress a giggle, leaning into his touch.
"Maybe. But I do deserve some extra reward, don't you think?" Kye gestures around at all of us. "Being the hottest one of the group isn't easy work."
"What is with blondes and wanting attention all the time?" Miles laughs, and pauses mid-laugh, slowly turning to Nessa who's sitting next to him, her green eyes narrowed at her boyfriend.
"Every blonde other than my girlfriend, of course." He adds hastily, chuckling awkwardly.
"I swear doing secret Santa with my nephews was easier than this." Kiara groans, rising to her feet and picking up the bowl of pieces of paper with everyone's names in it. "Let's get started."
The bowl is passed around, and I wiggle away from Hunter to open the slip of paper so he can't peek at it. He pouts when I move away, and I squeeze his hand, grinning at him.
Over the course of the few months we've been dating, I've learned that Hunter Triton, the tattooed, dark-haired and mysterious ex-underground boxer is a sucker for physical touch and affection and doesn't miss a chance to be sidled up against me at all times.
I'd be lying if I said I hated it.
Once everyone had a paper, we all open it together, and I look up to gauge everyone's reactions, and everybody looks happy with whoever they got. There's only a few people here since a lot of our friends have already left to visit home for Christmas break.
I glance down at my paper, smiling to myself. I liked mine too. Leo.
"Now that gifts are sorted," Nessa clears her throat as everyone rips up their papers to keep the anonymity. "Christmas tree, decorating and dinner?"
"Let's split the work." Leo chimes in, twirling a strand of Isabelle's hair around his finger.
"I call dibs on buying decorations!" Chloe pipes up excitedly, grabbing Oliver's hand and raising their adjoined hands in the air. "We will buy the Christmas tree and decorations for it."
Before Oliver can protest, Nessa grins in approval. "Great. Who wants to join me and Miles with decorating the rest of the house?"
Kye, Jack and Liam chime in for that. Leo, Isabelle and Kiara agree to take care of Christmas dinner. That leaves me, Hunter and Naya, who has settled into our little friend group since she moved in with Chloe next door.
