KNOCK OUT [LH]

Chapter 10: Tree Farmers

I love winter break for two reasons.

First, school is put on hold for a solid two weeks; which means I get to sleep in and shamelessly re-watch all of Game of Thrones with Calum. And second, Christmas!

"Everyone buckled up?" Michael Clifford chirps from the driver's seat of his Tesla as he glances over the top of his sunglasses at Ashton, Calum, and I in the backseat through the rearview mirror.

"Yep."

"Mhm."

"Yeah, mate."

As the three of us chorus replies, Luke queues up his holiday playlist from the passenger's seat and Michael starts the drive to the Christmas tree farm, because today we're picking out a Christmas tree in a neighboring town for Ashton and Michael's shared home.

The best way to kick-off winter break and get into the holiday spirit!

Like in the boxer fanfics I've read, we've finally reached the point where the main character and her best friend start to hang out with the boxer and his best friends as one large group.

A huge milestone and step closer to falling in love with the boxer fanfic style, I'd say.

After literally waking up underneath the 196 pound boxer in a tangled mess of limbs and drool, Luke Hemmings kicked me out of his apartment the next morning... as promised; however we've run into each other at Ashton and Michael's the few times Calum and I've been over to hang out.

For the most part, Luke still acts like me just breathing the same air as him is beyond annoying, but every once in a while I'll catch a glimpse of his softer side, confirming that I am indeed chipping away at his hard outer shell.

"Get off the ground, Winifred." Luke sighs annoyedly as his boots crunch past my body sprawled out in the snow on his way over to where Ashton is talking with the two hillbilly tree farmers on the step of their beat up RV, as Michael raids the complimentary eggnog station beside it.

"Why?" I question, and Luke pauses to watch me vigorously fan out my arms and legs in a windshield wiping motion. "The snow is perfect for snow angels right now. Try it!"

A small puff of snow shoots up into the air as Calum collapses to the ground beside me, examining a pinch of snow between his fingers before copying my action.

"She's right, mate." Calum nods, fanning his arms and legs out. "This snow is prime for angels."

However, Luke doesn't look too impressed as we swipe the snow faster in hopes of making it seem more appealing, and silently turns on his heel continuing toward Ashton and Michael.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the ring." Calum jokes rolling his eyes and I shrug, dusting some snow off my coat.

"Eh, this is actually pretty good for him."

The two of us continue to lay in the snow as we wait for the trio of Australians to finish chatting with the tree farmers, racing to see who can make the most snow angels.

And I hate to say it, but Calum's in the lead.

"Alrighty, here's yer saw."

When we hear the unfamiliar country accent, Calum and I look up to see Ashton, Michael, and Luke heading our way with one of the tree farmers as he passes Ashton a metal saw to cut down the tree.

"Jus' flag Chuck or me down when ya picked one, an' we'll give ya the price." He instructs, motioning towards their RV and the boys nod.

"Will do. Thanks, Buck." Ashton smiles before turning to the four of us, his smile instantly replaced by a threatening glare, as he points a finger.