I trudged through my midterms and school in general. The one week felt way too long before the break.

After I got home from school, I cried almost every day. I couldn't help but think of Will.

I don't care how much he says he doesn't deserve me and I need someone better than him, I want him. That should be what matters the most.

I decided a long time ago that he was the perfect person for me and I convinced myself he felt the same way. I knew he was the one I would love for the rest of my life. Turns out life had other plans.

I stared up at my ceiling and pet Bandy's head that was laying on my chest. He has hardly left my side since it happened.

My phone rang and I looked at the contact. It was Logan. Why did he need me?

"Hello?" I answered.

"Get up and get dressed. I'm in front of your house. If you're not ready in ten minutes, I'm coming up there to drag you out."

I groaned. Logan had been making sure I had everything I needed and that I was okay. He had been a big help through everything I was going through.

"Logan I don't feel like going out right now," I told him.

"Cor, you've been hiding in your room for days. Get your ass outside. We're going somewhere and I would bring socks if I were you." He told me.

I sighed, knowing I had no choice and I might as well look decent. "I'll see you in ten"

"Okay," He said and ended the call.

I threw on a pair of black leggings, a vintage Christmas tree farm crewneck, and a beanie. I put on a pair of brown winter boots with it. I went to the bathroom and brushed out my knotted hair. My greasy hair was thankfully covered by the beanie.

After the simple makeup, I grabbed my bag and hopped downstairs. Bandit followed me to the door. Mom and Dad were making hot cocoa and talking in the kitchen.

"Where are you going, Coco?" Dad asked. It was a bit unnatural to see me up and ready to leave the house. I haven't been out of my room since school got out.

"Logan's dragging me somewhere. I really don't know. He told me to bring socks." I answered.

"Okay, be careful." He reminded me. "I love you"

We said our goodbyes and I walked out of the door. As he said, Logan was parked by the sidewalk. I walked over to his car and got into the passenger seat.

"Hey Cor," He said happily as I got in the car.

"Hey, Logan," I said.

He handed me a hot coffee cup. I sniffed it. Mmm chocolate.

"I got you a hot chocolate."

"Thank you" I hummed as I took a sip. I welcomed the warm and fuzzy feeling it gave me inside. I love hot chocolate and Christmas and everything associated with it. "So what is the plan for today?" I asked curiously. I really wanted to know where we were going.

"That's for me to know and you to find out"

I groaned. "Logan"

"I'll let you play music on the way there." he offered and I immediately agreed.

It was a win for me. Logan hated listening to Christmas music for too long. According to him, you can't start listening to Christmas music until two weeks before Christmas. I, on the other hand, started listening to Christmas music on November first. Whenever he's with me I have control of the music no questions asked.

We drove to the mystery destination. I sang my heart out to my favorite Christmas songs. Logan was trying to hide his smile but I could tell it was there. We drove into the neighboring city.

We pulled up into the parking lot of a metal building. The sign said Fields of Ice.

"An ice rink?" I questioned.

He nodded and we got out of the car. We walked through the doors.

As soon as we walked in, it smelled like Christmas. The cinnamon, pine, and peppermint mixed with the smell of freshly baked gingerbread cookies and steaming hot chocolate. I could hear the laughter from the children and practically feel the cheerfulness in the air. I don't know how they did it but this place is literally Christmas in a nutshell.

We got our rental ice skates and laced them up. You could hear the Christmas music playing in the background. We laughed as we both struggled to get on the ice.

"I thought you could skate" he accused me jokingly as he laughed.

"I can roller skate, not ice skate!" I squealed as I almost fell. I grabbed onto Logan's arm and balanced myself out. Unfortunately for me, he lost his balance too and we both fell to the ground in a fit of laughter.

It took us a couple of minutes to get off of the ground and back on our feet. We skated around for a couple of hours. We laughed and joked around the entire time. It was a much-needed break from life outside of this building. I didn't think about Will the whole time.

We finished skating and turned in our skates and went back to Logan's car. We drove back to Greenhill.

"Should we stop by Riley's really quick?" Logan asked me.

I nodded quickly. I could go for some hot chocolate right about now.

He laughed lightly. "Okay, we'll go."

He turned into the parking lot and we got out of the car. As we were walking, I almost slipped and fell on the ice.

Logan died laughing. I punched his arm and laughed too. We opened the door to Riley's and it felt almost dead quiet in there. Our laughter almost immediately stopped as I locked eyes with Will.

We stood there for what felt like hours but was probably a minute or two in reality. Logan nudged my side and our connection broke.

I could feel every emotion bubble inside of me. Tears pricked my eyes.

"We can go if you want," Logan whispered in my ear.

I shook my head defiantly. "No, we're staying here," I said. My voice felt broken and coarse.

"Hey Cor," Chantel said as we walked up to the register. "Logan, what would y'all like today?" She asked like she knew my throat felt like it was constricting and I would burst into tears any second.

"Two hot chocolates please" he answered and handed Chantel a ten-dollar bill. "Keep the change," he told her and led me to a table.

I sat down across from him. He said some things but I completely zoned out and didn't pay attention.

"Here are your hot chocolates," Chantel said as she set the hot chocolates on the table. She got me out of my trance. She gave me a quick hug and left me to tend to some customers.

I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my head.

"Cora, we don't have to stay here. We can leave anytime you want. You have nothing to prove to him." Logan told me.

Except he was wrong. I had everything to prove to him. I had to prove that we belonged together and he was too good for me, not the other way around.

"I'm fine," I told him sharply.

We drank our hot chocolates in quiet, or at least I did. Logan was going on about something, most likely football or college. I finished my hot chocolate and Logan continued to ramble on. I let him. I didn't have the energy to stop him.

Will walked by and we locked eyes once again. I could see the hurt in his eyes and I'm sure he could see mine. He was the one who broke my heart. He shouldn't be the one hurting. He left the restaurant silently. After I was sure he left the parking lot, I stood up.

"Take me home, please Logan" My voice broke.

He nodded and quickly got up. He left the rest of his hot chocolate on the table and ushered me to his car.

We drove to my house in silence. He pulled into the driveway and parked the car. he looked over at me expectantly.

"Thank you, Logan, you didn't have to do anything, but I'm glad you did," I said in a quiet broken voice.

"Of course. Let me walk you inside." He offered and went to open his door. I stopped him.

"No. You just leave. I'm okay." I told him.

He opened his mouth to argue with me but he shut it again and remained quiet. He knew not to argue with me.

"I'll see you tomorrow," He told me and let me get out of the car. He waited until I was at least up to the porch before he pulled out of the driveway.

I walked inside and immediately broke into tears. I never realized that seeing him again would cause so much pain. I thought it would help me. I thought that if I saw him, then I would be okay. I would be stronger, but it just broke me even more.

"Cora? What's wrong?" Sky asked me.

"Nothing nugget, I'm just a little bit sad right now," I told her.

She wrapped her tiny arms around me. "It's okay, sissy. I know what will make you feel all better," she whispered in my ear.

She reached out her hand for me to grab. I grabbed it and she led me to the kitchen. She open the freezer and pulled out a box of chicken nuggets. She handed them to me.

"This is gonna make me feel better, nugget?" I asked.

She nodded vigorously. "They always make me feel better when I eat them and watch a Disney movie," she said.

"Okay," I laughed. "Go pick a movie and I'll make the chicken nuggets"

She ran into the living room and went through the box of movies we have. She likes watching them on DVD even though we have Disney +. She brought most of the movies we have from her old house when she and Mom moved in.

I preheated the oven and waited for a beep. I know the nugget likes to drink apple juice with her chicken nuggets so I made her a cup of apple juice and I got a bottle of ginger ale from the fridge. Once the oven was preheated, I put the chicken nuggets in and set a timer on my phone.

I looked over in the living room to see a big pile of pillows, blankets, and couch cushions on the floor.

"Nugget, what are you doing?"

"I'm making a floor bed, so we can watch the movie on the floor." She said and smiled at me.

I smiled at the cute little sister I have. "What movie did you pick out?"

"Lion King!" She squealed and handed me the DVD. I put the DVD in the DVD player and turned on the tv. I got the tv all situated and ready to watch the movie. Just in time, the oven beeped and the chicken nuggets were ready. I put them on a big plate and squirted some ketchup on the side too. I brought everything into the living room on the pallet Sky made.

She clapped and we started the movie. We ate our chicken nuggets and drank our apple juice and ginger ale. I did feel better, that was one thing Sky was right about. She knew the perfect cure for sadness.

Sky stayed awake until the end of the movie. She barely made it. As the end credits rolled around, she was out like a light. I took the time to clean up the mess I made in the kitchen. The front door opened and Mom and Dad walked in. I never knew they left. Carter had been there since I got home, maybe they left for a date.

"I see you two had a good time," Mom said as she kissed my head.

"Lion King and Chicken nuggets, the cure for sadness" I whispered. "It worked"

"I'm glad. Goodnight sweetie" She kissed my head and went to her room.

"Goodnight Coco," Dad said and he followed her.

I went back and laid down on the pallet. found myself falling asleep pretty quickly.