Exams were over and it was the time for the winter ball and it surely was The winter ball. It was so cold and Adeline couldn't help but shiver at the sight of the dress she had chosen. It was sleeveless.

But there was the reassurance that there would be heaters in the hall to keep the children warm but surely it won't be enough in this weather.

​​

The bell rang and Adaline looked towards the door in a hurry. Elizabeth and the others were here to pick her up. It was decided that since none of them had scored any dates they were going together as friends. It was embarrassing but it was the best shot she had.

Xavier would get a dance or two. Or maybe a few kisses too. 

She picked her to skirt up and walked down be stairs. Opening the door she looked at the person with shocked eyes. She was not expecting this. 

Maybe If I blink he would go away.

So she did. Twice. But he was just there.

"Am I that ugly?" Xavier gave an awkward chuckle and checked himself. He was wearing a three-piece suit and hell, that was the hottest clothes she had ever seen. "I swear to God my mother said that I will look handsome in this one." He then winked, "she said you look like a pretty boy but I won't tell you that but I did." He laughed nervously and Adeline could tell that he was nervous. 

"Oh no.." she shook her head, denying what he said. "You look..umm."

"Fuck it, kids, I swear Serena's dad was a militant and I wasn't a mess like that."

"You come here and you can't even talk correctly? Fuck off right now." He pointed his finger at him.

"Papa!" She chided looking appalled. "How can yo-"

"Me?! How can he?" He pointed to the boy, "He can't even talk!"

The father and daughter duo bickered back and forth, one defending and the other accusing and Xavier watched both of them until he felt someone push into his head.

'Idiot! Man the hell up and shut it!' His brother growled and he blinked into reality. The hell was he doing?

Squaring back his shoulders and puffing out his chest, he regained his once non-existent confidence from before. 

"Sir, I apologize for earlier." He said in a firm voice and looked straight into the man's eyes. "I am here for taking your daughter to the winter dance. Would you please, allow me?" He didn't need it, but as the father of his beloved, he wanted to have Jason's blessings in almost everything.

Jason stared at the boy and the boy stared back with equal vigour.

Holy hotness of hell, Adeline licked her lips. She found bad boy Xavier Rivera hot and hotter day by day. Her eyes wandered to his jaw. Surely she could cut her finger with the sharpness of it and Adam's apple, oh how it bounced as he swallowed. She would lick it for anything in the world. Unconsciously, she swallowed and licked her lips.

"Look at that," a voice teased and she shook out of it. "If only I knew that you would be turned on with me getting... " he sang his words with a little smirk as he watched her swallow once more. ".. mouthwatering."

A blush ran through her face and she immediately looked down. She felt hot. Not the fever kind, not that. A different kind. Something that was making her feel .. turned on.

She looked with shyness visible in her eyes. Remembering her father's presence she looked towards the door that he once was no but no longer. "Where'd he go?" She asked in a confused yet soft voice and it made him swoon.

His smirk went away and turned into a small smile. "Inside. He wanted to get a picture."

She nodded and noticed him checking her out. Shyness washed once over and she wanted to run away from the scrutiny of his eyes.

'Wait a minute,' she frowned. 'I am dating this guy.'

Steeping back a bit she smiled and twirled around to show. "So?"

His eyes raked over her twirling form. The dress suited her.

"Wow.." The word unconsciously left his mouth and her smile grew.

"Thank you."

"Alright, come on kids." Jason came out with a camera in his hands, it was a polaroid. "Stand on the porch." He went to the other side and click a few pictures as the young couple changed their poses. "That's it." He turned his eyes to the boy, "I want her home at 12. No later, if earlier than appreciated." He nodded curtly. He was not joking and he made sure that the boy knew it. 

"Dad!" Adeline immediately whined as she stomped her foot making Xavier chuckle.

"Got it, sir." He raised his hand to her, once grabbed, they walked towards the car that he had parked on the porch and drive away.

Adeline waved her hand goodbye to her father and he smiled in return.

She turned around to look in front when she realised something. She was alone in the car with him. Suddenly his presence felt overbearing and overwhelming to her. It was as if he took up most of the space and all she could feel was him.

She had kept her hands on her lap one upon the other. She watched his hand come in for the corner of her eye and sneak in one of hers without any hesitation.

She looked at him once, blinked and then looked away.

'Eeeeiiiihhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!' She wanted to squeal like a seal or maybe like a hyena.

Damn, I have it bad for him. She felt his touch to be electrifying. Something inside her was crawling its way out towards him. She left her fingers with his as he held his hand on the gear.

Turning towards the window she smiled. Everything seems to be in its place and she felt at peace.