"If I'm so special, why am I secret?"—Melanie Martinez.

♡♡

••

There is a feeling of satisfaction that comes with adoring someone. Entirely and wholeheartedly. And then having them adore you back, is a sweet surplus.

As the lift returns to its starting point, descending back onto the landscape, Kelly can feel her heart leaping in her chest. Not because of the altitude, but because she just spent the last forty minutes tasting every inch of Nik's mouth.

She has read it all in the books before, watched it in those corny soap operas, how immensely gratifying it is to be wanted and claimed by someone. However, she had no idea it would be this celestial.

She finds that Nikolai's strength is not only subjected to lifting those weights she saw in his workout room but also to clutch a woman in his captivity.

She could hardly move an inch as she laid between his thighs, and although he knew his nature hadn't been the most behaving, he didn't ease her away. Not for a second, as though she would disappear or blend into the atmosphere if he did.

The moment was priceless and timeless, and she's so out of it that she has no idea how they ended up back on land.

She returns to reality to find Nikolai's hand outstretched in front of her. His mouth is set in a smile, the breeze flurrying his dark hair around. He is now standing outside of the cabin while she's still sitting inside there, lost in her thoughts.

"Oh, sorry." She stands up and accepts his hand as he helps her climb out of the lift. As she lands on her feet, his mouth appears close to her ear.

"Wanted more of the ride?"

Surely, he is not referring to the Gondola, but what happened inside it. The kissing, touching...Kelly is sure that's what he meant.

For some reason, his hushed tone causes chills to course down her back. She can still feel his long fingers sinking into her waist and roaming along her body with such dominance.

She looks at him to find his eyes shining in the dark, there is this unexplained look in them, and a new dose of wetness saturates her underwear.

"Here they are!" Nathan strolls up to them, one hand in his pocket while the other dangles his car keys. "How was the ride?"

His eyes slide down to the intertwined hands, and Kelly peels her fingers away. Feeling awkward.

"It was good..." Nikolai answers, shifting in his stance. His pants still feel a bit tight. "It was stuck in the middle; have any idea what could be the cause of that?"

Nathan shrugs, bending his lips. "Eh, some technical issues, maybe. Happens a lot of times."

"Aha." Nik lifts his chin, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sure it does."

Nathan smiles coyly and throws his arm around his brother's neck, taking him away with him. "Need a drink?"

Nikolai glances over his shoulders at Kelly, and she smiles at him as the two men walk toward the alcohol station.

"How was it?"

She blinks her eyes to find Mia now standing in front of her, her smile so wide it could break her face in half.

"It-it was..."

Do you want me to kiss you?

Nik's cherry lips coast across her mind again, forcing her cheeks to reflect the same shade.

"It-it was amazing..." Kelly manages to say, and the fire beams highlight the blushes on her face, causing Mia's grin to broaden.

"You guys kissed, didn't you?" She squints her eyes.

Oh, they did kiss, and Nikolai had caressed the bare skin of her waists. For the majority, it would have appeared as a simple contact, but for her, he might as well had taken her there. The dampness in her underwear is proof of that.

To answer Mia's question, she nods her head shyly, dropping her gaze to her sneakers. The younger teen giggles and throws her arms around her neck, hugging her. "Yes, I knew it! Let's sit and talk about it."

She excitedly drags her over to their bonfire place, and they settle down on the warm rug. Moya somehow managed to create a spot where she's lying on her back with her head perched on her handbag. She's scrolling down her cellphone while chewing on gummy bears.

"Now tell me, what happened? How did it happen?" Mia digs, and her aunt glances over at them, smiling curiously.

"They kissed?"

Kelly reddens while Mia nods rapidly, grinning. "Yes, they did. How romantic is that Moya?"

"Shh, he's coming." She tells her as Nathan and Nikolai walk over to the corner. The two men are laughing at something, but Nik looks over at Kelly in an instant, smiling.

Her stomach somersaults as he walks around and lowers himself next to her, his knee casually brushing against hers. Her heart is now pumping at its fastest pace, and her palms are sweaty.

"How was the Gondola, Kel? Forgot to ask you." Nathan says, sipping what looks like beer. He looks at Moya, who has trouble hiding the grin on her face, and so she stares into her cellphone.

"It was good..." Kelly answers, shifting a little. She glances over at Nik, whose eyes are gleaming with that strange look again.

His cheeks resemble the breaking flames, and Kelly feels glad that she isn't the only one flustered.

Mia bites her smile away. "It is now 11:59, guys. It's the new year in a few seconds. Are you guys ready?"

"Let's count down," Nathan suggests, taking his cellphone from his jeans, finding the countdown clock. "Ready? And...10..." Everyone chimes in. "9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"

And with that a burst of fireworks shoot up into the night sky, exploding into lines of colors as everyone cheers at the top of their lungs.

Some of the sparks whirl in a spiral, a few ascend in a straight line before shattering, and others cascade in the air like a glittery waterfall.

This is what she loves the most about New Year's Eve. Experiencing this brilliant explosion of lights.

Kelly smiles at the beautiful flickers in the sky, the blend of colors reflecting and glowing on her face.

Nikolai looks over at his student as the sight next to him is far more beautiful than the one above.

When Kelly feels his stare, she turns her head to find him gazing at her intensely. Her heart begins to race again, a warmth filling her despite the wind coursing through her hair.

Nikolai's lips form a smile, one that reaches his honey eyes. "You're beautiful, Kelly." He says softly amidst the vibrations and noises of the fireworks.

She looks down from him, trying to hide the redness on her face, but the lights fail her. "Thank you, sir."

He takes ahold of her chin and brings her face up, taking in the pinkness of it. "Do you believe that?"

She shivers under his touch, and this doesn't miss his perception. She is as innocent as they may come.

She nods her head, but he sees through it all—all the fables. She has a bit of trouble with her self-esteem.

He has no problem showing and proving to her how absolutely beautiful she is.

"Don't worry. When I am done with you, you will believe it." He whispers, and she swallows her agitation.

The people around them are busy watching the fireworks and celebrating the start of the new year, and so Nikolai takes the opportunity to thread his fingers through hers, bringing them up to his lips for a light kiss.

His mouth feels soft against her skin, and she had no idea she could blush further as her lips form a smile of contentment.

Hopefully, this will be a good year.

••

♡♡

A new year and a new beginning. New Year Resolutions are old news, but not for Kelly. She plans to say goodbye to the bad habits she had last year and open herself to self-improvements.

And so, she starts with her appearance.

Camber High has decided to make some adjustments to the uniforms, and so for this semester and onwards, the seniors wear dark blue jackets over their white button-downs. The board believes this would make the students look mature, as suit jackets are what they may need to wear in the working world.

Kelly wakes up extra early for the first day. She takes a shower, straightens her hair, then gets dressed in her uniform. It is ironed to the utmost perfection, and for the finishing touch, she applies some cherry lip balm then wears her small, heart-shaped silver earrings.

And she's ready to go.

"I won't be able to pick you up after school," Kimmy mentions, making a turn into the school's crowded parking lot.

There are a few noticeable changes on the premises. The walls are painted afresh, all chips and blemishes removed, and roses decorate the borders of the lawns. The freshmen and sophomores now wear black stockings and sleeveless sweaters over their white-button downs.

"It's alright." Kelly pulls up her black knee-length sock. "I will grab a ride with Derrick or something."

"Okay, baby."

For the hundredth time, she pulls down her mom's top mirror and drags her fingers through her hair, inspecting her appearance.

Kimmy smiles. "You look beautiful, Kelly; how many times are you going to look in the mirror?"

"I just want to make sure I look alright, Mom."

"Have a boyfriend now?" Kimmy glances over at her, a brow raised. "Is that what this is?"

"N-no." She tenses up.

Throughout the rest of the holiday, she hadn't seen Nik in person. They communicated via text, but he flew out of the country to Bolivia with Moya, so he had been super busy. Kelly is having a nervous breakdown, dreading having to see him for the first time since New Year's night.

"Are you sure?" Her mom squints her eyes. "You don't have a boyfriend?"

"Nope..." She fidgets in her seat, playing with the silver button on her jacket.

She is not lying. Nikolai did not say that they were dating, and she is scared to ask him, so she prefers keeping the curiosity to herself.

And even if they were dating, how would she be able to tell her mom that she's in a relationship with her teacher? Mr. Todd of all people. They would never approve of that.

"Alright. Whatever you say." Her mom haphazardly parks into an available spot, reaching over to kiss the side of her head. "Have a great day, honey."

"Thanks, Mom." She grabs her backpack and climbs out of the car, whipping her hair from her face. It is pretty useless since the wind pushes it right back. "Will you be home later?"

"Not until eight. Why?"

"I have a tutor session with Mr. Todd after school." She hoists her bag onto her shoulders, adjusting the straps.

"Oh, that's alright. Tell him I said hi. I should give him a call, by the way. Have a great day, okay?" She throws her an air kiss, and Kelly pretends to catch it, causing her mom to chuckle.

She shuts the car door with a grin, and Kimmy peels out of the driveway.

Kelly whirls around just in time to see Derrick clicking the button on his car key.

Her best friend looks even more attractive than the last time she saw him. Which was a week ago when they had met up to watch a movie. A horror one where Kelly hid her face in his wife-beater the entire time.

His haircut is fresh and new. The sides are faded with thick, wet curls at the top. His jacket is fitted to his build while his navy knapsack hangs off his shoulder.

His back is turned, so Kelly decides to sneak up behind him. As he stares down into his cellphone, face relaxed and focused, she grabs onto his shoulders.

"Boo!"

"Holy shiiiii—"

She laughs in amusement, whipping her head back.

Derrick pivots with narrowed eyes, his lips settling into a smile as soon as he sees hers. "What the hell..."

"Good morning." She grins toothily. "Looking nice." She brushes his shoulder.

He looks down at his pants and his black sneakers, scanning himself. "Why, thank you. You don't look bad yourself."

"Oh, well..." She flips her hair. "I tried."

He chuckles and throws an arm around her neck, hugging her against him. "Ah, I missed you, rabbit."

"Ow..." She moans.

He kisses her forehead. "What's your first class today?" He releases her from his embrace, but his arm is still around her.

"History." She answers, trying hard not to blush.

She has Mr. Todd for the first session, and she's not ready to face him. What must she say or do? She has never been in a situation-ship before.

"Yes! Me too. Mr. Todd?"

"Yeah." She smiles, and he pumps his fist in the air.

"We are in the same class again." He waggles his eyebrows. "And your homeroom address?"

"Mm. TB81."

"Fuck yeah!" Derrick does a conclusive spin, causing Kelly to laugh as he tries to do the moon-walk.

"Might need Michael Jackson's help with that."

"We are stuck together forever." He grabs her into his side again, wrapping an arm around her. "Even when you get married, and I get married, we'll always be together."

"Mm. Your armpit smells nice; which deodorant is that?"

"Old spice, baby."

They walk into the school, cracking jokes and talking silly as they stroll down the hallway. There is a crowd of kids by the announcement board, and as they approach, Henry walks up to meet them.

"Everyone is checking their place for the last term." He informs, jerking his thumb behind him.

Kelly takes notice that for some reason, Henry looks a bit more mature. Maybe it is because he cut his hair differently, and then the jacket...Camber High didn't go wrong with that choice.

"Gabriella was crying. She got placed fifth in the entire grade." He clicks his tongue, and Derrick's gaze softens.

"Poor girl."

"But Kelly..." His face brightens. "I am impressed."

"About what?" She is confused as Henry jerks his head toward the board.

"Go have a look. You shot them the fuck up."

Her eyes narrow, and she turns to Derrick, who has the same look of stupefaction. She hurries over to the mass, but the crowd is disorganized and hazardous, so Derrick holds her arm, safely pulling her back.

"Don't let them step all over you." He clears his throat. "EHEM! ALL OF YOU IDIOTS MOVE OUT OUR DAMN WAY; MY FRIEND AND I NEED TO CHECK OUT SCORES!"

Apparently, not only did his anatomy change, but his voice did too. The crowd parts like the Red Sea at the booming pitch of his tone, heads turning to gawk at him.

He smiles. "Thank you very much."

"What on earth have you been eating over the past few weeks?" Kelly chuckles as she slides through the vacant space to peruse the sheet on the board.

She scans the long list of names, quickly spotting hers not far down.

She gasps. Third place? Out of 320 students? How does one move from 250th to 3rd? No...she must be seeing things.

She blinks her eyes in disbelief.

"Goddamn, third place?" Derrick gapes in awe, and that is enough confirmation. This is real.

"H-how is that possible?" Kelly mutters, and he smiles at her.

"Because you're brilliant, Kelly."

She is at a loss for words. She came third in the entire year group. She never knew this could be possible even in a million years.

"What about you?" She tries to find Derrick's name.

"20th." He shrugs.

"Oh. That's not so bad."

"Are you kidding? That is atrocious."

"If you both are finished looking at your scores, then please move aside. Other people would like to see theirs." A girl complains.

Kelly looks around to offer an apology, but then her eyes locate someone right down the corridor.

Mr. Todd.

Attractive. Alluring, Appealing. Three words come to her mind, yet none seems sufficient to describe the man.

Nikolai looks a bit more mature and muscular than the last time she saw him. Dressed in a pure white button-down with black suspenders, dark trousers, and a black jacket hanging from his arm. He's speaking with another teacher, with his car keys and black water bottle in hand.

She can tell he smells heavenly from where she stands. His dark hair silky and curly, lapping over his forehead.

A small smile appears on her face, and her heart expands with gratitude. So much that it threatens to burst from her chest.

She is grateful that he chose to tutor her. Truthfully, she did annoy him on several occasions and probably rose his blood pressure countlessly. But he didn't give up on her regardless of how thick-headed she was.

Her prior anxiety vanishes away, happiness replacing it in an instant. And as the other man walks away with his briefcase, Kelly quickly slips her way through the crowd, hurrying down to Mr. Todd.

He looks up from his cellphone just in time for Kelly to jump up into his arms, wrapping her thighs around him.

Highly inappropriate, but undeniably sexy.

Luckily, no one is gazing in their direction, but there are a couple of cameras in the hallway.

Nik's reflex is good, and so automatically, the hand clutching his cellphone press into her back to keep her from falling.

And she was right. He smells like heaven on earth.

Her teacher's mouth twitches as she buries her face in his neck, her arms tightening around him. Her hair smells of apple shampoo, and she feels so soft against his hard chest.

But they're at school. Not the place for it.

"Kelly." He quickly pats her back, eyes snapping up to the camera in the corner.

She slides down from him, grinning tiredly and fixing her backpack. "Good morning, sir. Guess what?"

He adjusts his tie, but it is not the only thing that needs adjustment. The front of his pants suddenly needs more room. Having those thick thighs around you could do that to you.

"What?"

"I came third place!" She grins excitedly. "Out of the entire grade."

His lips pull up into a smile, dimples popping out. "I know, Kel."

"You do?" She tilts her head, her hair moving along with her. "Since when?"

"Since the holidays. I saw your grades on the system."

"I wanted to be the first one to tell you." She frowns. "You ruined it." She scrunches her nose.

He smiles in admiration, absorbing the sight of her. She looks even more beautiful, a little older due to the change in the uniform.

"Thank you, sir. It is all thanks to you...and God."

"Nope, it has nothing to do with me. That was all on you...and God." He lifts a shoulder, and she smiles.