::Brook::

"So, to recap... After dinner you went ice skating? Outside? In the freezing cold? In the middle of December? In Baltimore? You? " Jenny gawked at me from across the table while we had breakfast as I caught her up on my date last night with Alex.

"Yes," I rolled my eyes. "What aren't you understanding?"

"It was really cold last night. And you freeze when it's 80 degrees," she pointed out.

"Yeah, it was really cold. And yeah, I was wearing a dress. And yeah, I still can't really feel my toes, but we had a really good time."

"Maybe too good of a time?" Jenny teased, eyeing the ice pack I balanced on my bruised knee.

"I'll be fine," I sighed, finishing the last spoonful of my yogurt and standing from my seat and trying not to draw attention to it as I slightly limped towards the kitchen to dump my yogurt cup in the trash and put my coffee mug in the dishwasher.

"You’re limping," Jenny called after me, not even looking up from her cereal.

"I'll be fine," I insisted again as I made my way towards my room to get ready for work.

Stepping into my shoes, I glanced at my cell phone on my dresser. I wanted to call Alex or at least text him but I had a feeling if I woke him up at 7 in the morning again, he may never want to see me again. Plus, I didn’t want to push it and see too desperate or anything…

Fighting the urge to use my phone, I tossed it into my bag, grabbed my coat and headed back into the kitchen where Jenny was still sitting at the table with her cereal and whatever notes she was studying for whatever final she had today.

"So, are you seeing Loverboy again tonight?" she asked as I pulled ingredients from the fridge to make my salad to bring for lunch.

"No," I answered, shredding lettuce into a tubberware. "I have plans with you."

She spun around in her chair. "You remembered?"

I laughed at her. "Jenn, we've had this tradition since we were kids. You think I'd forget all about it because of one date with one boy?"

"Yeah, but this is a boy who gently kissed your kneecap after falling and slamming it into the ice," Jenny pointed out.

I smiled a little, thinking back to that moment on the ice when Alex had kissed my knee, which then made me think of when he kissed me outside the house. "Jenn, I'll be home. Don't worry about it."

She stood from the table, taking her now empty bowl with her and loading it into the dishwasher. "Okay good," she smiled. "I'm going to shower. I'll see you later."

"Good luck on your final," I called after her as I finished up my salad, cleaned up my mess and packed everything away.
***

It was the day before Christmas vacation and the guidance office was essentially quiet. I didn't have any meetings with any of my seniors because really who wanted to discuss college and graduation the day before a break?

While going through some e-mails from the school's principal and other higher-ups in the district, most messages being mass "happy holiday" e-cards, I realized the day was going to go by really slow.

I sighed, responding to the last e-mail I needed to and then digging through my bag for my phone to see if Jenny had texted me about her test. A message did pop up, but it wasn't from her.

Good morning, sunshine :)

I smiled, typing a response to Alex.

Since when is after noon considered the morning, sleeping beauty? :-P

You think I'm a beauty?

I laughed to myself before I replied.

Oh, you know you're gorgeous ;)

I'm flattered. How's work?

I'm bored. It's the day before break. There's not a whole heck of a lot going on here today.

Good. Ditch the rest of the day and come hang out with me...

I wish I could :(

Do I get to see you tonight?

No :( I have this pre-Christmas tradition thing to do with my roommate tonight. I can't bail on her.

So I won't see you til after Christmas now, huh?

Sadly, this is correct. You going to miss me or something?

Maybe ;)

I smiled again at his response and jumped when there was a quick knock at my door before someone poked their head in.

"Sorry to if I'm interrupting anything, Brook," the Assistant Principal of the school and my direct supervisor said, "but we have a little situation."

"What's up?" I asked, shoving my phone in my drawer.

"It seems a few teachers had scheduled their vacations a day early and some of their hall monitoring duties weren't covered," she explained.

"Oh. Well, I'm completely free for the rest of the day, so just let me know where you need me to be."

She smiled at me. "Door 7 for 5th and 6th period."

"Alright. I will be there," I smiled.

"Thanks Brook. If I don't see you later, have a Merry Christmas."

"Thank you, Mrs. Willis. You too."

She smiled at me one last time before ducking out of the room. As soon as she was gone, I grabbed my phone from the drawer.

So, do you get a lunch break from your high school jail sentence?

Normally I do. But I was just asked to cover a hall monitor post right smack in the middle of my break.

That's not fair! Can't someone else cover that time?

I didn't want to be a pest. I brought my lunch with me from home so I can eat while I monitor the hall.

Well, as long as you get to eat. I wouldn't want you to starve.

You don't have to worry about that. But, I definitely could use a coffee right about now

Don't they have coffee pots in all the teachers' lounges?

They do. But these coffee pots make mud instead of coffee.

gross

Tell me about it. :(

"Brook, I'm so sorry," Mrs. Willis exclaimed, poking her head into my office. "I just realized I gave you hall duties during your lunch break."

"Oh, it's no trouble. I brought my lunch with me. And," I looked around my office and shrugged, "it's not like I'm doing much in here that I need a break from."

"Well I do appreciate that, but everyone deserves some time to get out of the building and stretch their legs. Why don't you go in about twenty minutes? That way you'll be back in time to cover."

"That would be perfect," I smiled. "I'm probably just going to run up the block for some coffee. Do you want something?"

"No thank you, dear. You enjoy," she smiled before ducking out of my office once again.

Good news. They sprung me early for lunch. I can get a caffeine fix after all! :)

Thank goodness. I was beginning to worry for your wellbeing. I know how detrimental it could be without that mid-day coffee fix.

I wouldn't say it's "detrimental," drama queen. :-P

Where are you gonna go?

There's a Starbucks right up the block from school. I can leave in about twenty minutes.

Starbucks. Good choice. :) I'm gonna go take a shower. I have some Christmas shopping I still need to finish.

Christmas shopping? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

Which is why I really need to go. :( Speak later?

Of course :)

<3



::Alex::

I tossed my phone to the side and sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes. If I was going to surprise Brook at the Starbucks, I was going to have to move quick. She told me the name of the school she worked at, so it was easy to figure out which Starbucks she would have been going to.

I jumped from my bed and headed for the shower, quickly washing my hair and body. I got dressed and fed the dogs and got into my car just as Brook was probably getting into hers.

As I pulled into the Starbucks parking lot, I smiled when I spotted Brook's car. I parked my car and quickly headed inside the coffee shop. Brook was telling the woman behind the counter her order, so she didn't see me.

Since the store was empty, I walked right up to her and stood directly behind her so once she was done, she'd have to bump into me.

It was so silly, but simply just the sight of her from behind was enough to make my heart do these weird flutters in my chest that I hadn't felt in a really long time. With all the disastrous relationships I've had in the past, I was really surprised I was even capable of having these feelings again.

"Thank you," Brook said, and I could sense the smile on her face from the tone in her voice. "Have a Merry Christmas," she said as the woman passed Brook her change and her coffee.

"Oh my God," Brook gasped after having turned around, slamming right into me and spilling her coffee down the front of my coat.

"Alex! I'm sorry! What are you doing here?" she asked, grabbing a handful of napkins from the condiment station and trying to dry the front of my coat.

"I wanted to surprise you," I explained.

"That is really sweet, Alex," she smiled. "But now your coat is ruined," she frowned.

I shook my head. "It's worth it," I said, stepping forward and pressing my lips to hers. Immediately I felt a spark shoot through my entire body.

She quickly melted into the kiss, sliding her arms around my neck and I grasped her hips with my hands. I was careful not to pull her too close. I didn't want to get coffee all over her.

Suddenly it dawned on me that we were putting on some show for the employees of Starbucks, and having read my mind, Brook pulled back.

I smiled, resting my forehead against hers. "Totally worth it."

She let out a small giggle before gently brushing her lips over mine again. "It looks like you owe me another coffee."

"It does, huh?"

She nodded. "Definitely. You know how detrimental it is to not have your mid-day coffee fix."
***

Notes

Story Title: Taylor Swift - Sparks Fly
Chapter Title: Jonas Brothers - Lovebug
Brook's outfit

Is there anyone out there?

XOXOXO