"I hate the winter," I announced, my breath visible in the air.

               "But the winter means you have an excuse to cuddle," Kaz pointed out.

               "I love the winter," I announced.

               Mikayla rolled her eyes. "It's not even that cold out. It's supposed to be even colder next week."

               "Ya know, that doesn't make this any better," I said, cowering behind Kaz when she shot me a glare. "You could break every bone in my body if you threw a snowball at me with those steroid advertisements you call arms."

               "Malley, maybe take a page out of Silent Night, yea?" Kaz said.

               "This is so dumb. Why are we even going to the Constance Academy Christmas party?" Beckett said. "We could've just bought snacks and done our own party in the dorm."

               "I'm not passing up on the chance to eat free food all night," Leo said.

               "I pay enough in tuition here that I deserve free food," I said.

               The Academy held a Christmas party every year, but usually separated the older kids and the younger kids. This year, thanks to the building the younger kids' party was usually in being under renovation, they'd decided to host a joint party.

               I was looking forward to food, but not a bunch of kids running around. Especially not if they were as terrifying as Beckett.

               We reached the building the party was being held in, where some students were milling about outside. We went inside, the room so warm that it felt nice after the chill of the night air.

               The large, open room was surprisingly full. Tables were claimed and conversations carried around the room. Long tables lined the walls, filled with food and drinks. Teachers walked about monitoring the place and talking with each other.

               "Where are we supposed to sit?" Pete said with a frown.

               Mikayla was scanning around and she brightened, waving to someone. "Oh, there's Cara!"

               "Whomst?" I said.

               "My roommate," Mikayla said. "Come on, there are some empty seats there. We can sit with her."

               "Oh, hell no. No way. You really think Hal Waymire will deal with Killian?" Leo said.

               "Hi, yes, I am Killian and I have no idea who any of these people are," I said.

               "Cara is in our rotation," Kaz said, raising an eyebrow. "You met her on your first day here."

               "Ah, yes," I said. "...whomst?"

               "Oh, just come on. And try not to be too annoying. Her friends already don't like outsiders hanging around them," Mikayla said.

               "I'm going to die," I said miserably. "Merry Christmas to me."

               "You'll be fine. Honestly, Beckett has more reason to complain," Kaz said.

               "That's because that Wyatt kid always tries to talk to me!" Beckett said, scowling. "We're not even the same age."

               "Uh, hello?" I said, gesturing to the group of 17 year olds he regularly hung out with.

               Beckett took out his yo-yo. I ducked behind Kaz.

               "Save it for the teachers, Beck," Kaz said, grabbing my hand and dragging me towards the table Mikayla had gone off to.

               "Cara said we can sit with them," Mikayla said, already taking a seat, Leo dropping into the one next to her.

               "Hi Beckett!" a younger boy said.

               "No," Beckett said, taking the farthest seat from the boy.

               "You're taking lip from Townsend's kid, Wyatt," another boy said. "Sheets have it trapped, you're lame."

               "Hey, who's he?" another boy said, nodding to me.

               "That's Leo's roommate, Killian," Mikayla said. She pointed to each person at the table. "That's Cara, Hal, Griffin, Wyatt, Jordan, and Evan."

               "Who are literally any of you people," I said.

               "Ignore him," Kaz said, effortlessly putting a hand over my mouth and shutting me up.

               "Easier said than done. I've been in class with him," Cara said.

               I wanted to ask who the hell she even was, but Kaz pressed his hand more firmly to my mouth. Fine, asshole, can't kiss these fine ass lips if you keep that up.

               "Beckett!"

               I glanced over as some little ginger kid ran up to Beckett. Beckett looked positively miserable.

               "I hate this school," he grumbled.

               "Here! I tried to give this to you today, but I couldn't find you after classes," the kid said, holding out a small, wrapped gift to Beckett.

               Beckett took it, then unceremoniously threw it at the kid's head. "Leave me alone, Leon. There was a reason you couldn't find me after classes."

               Leon had a painfully patient expression on his face as he picked the present up and held it out again. "I made it myself. Well, my brother helped me. He didn't want me to use the hot glue gun alone."

               "Leave me alone," Beckett repeated, snatching the gift and dropping it onto the table in front of him.

               Leon looked happy Beckett had even taken the gift. "Merry Christmas, Beckett!" He peered past Beckett and waved. "Hi Evan, hi Wyatt. Merry Christmas."

               "Merry Christmas," they echoed back.

               Leon took off, disappearing into the crowd. Beckett just glared moodily at the present, making no moves to open it.

               "He never leaves me alone," he said.

               "Yea, you should meet his sister. That whole family is stubborn," Griffin said.

               "Amen to that," Hal said.

               "I wish I knew a single person here tonight," I said.

               "Oh, right, Killian doesn't know," Pete said. "Should we tell him?"

               "Nah," Leo said, patting my arm. "Let Killian live in blissful ignorance."

               "Seriously, who the fuck is he?" Hal said, gesturing to me.

               "Why is he so angry?" I asked.

               Leo sighed. "Called it that this was going to happen."

               "Is he a Blue? He seems like a Blue," Hal said, narrowing his eyes at me. "We don't like Blues around here."

               Evan coughed.

               "I stand by my statement," Hal said. "You stole my fucking hash browns at breakfast."

               "Actually, Griffin stole them," Evan corrected. "I just stole them off of Griffin's plate."

               "Anyway," Griffin said loudly. "Who is he?"

               "He was a newbie Kaz took in," Mikayla said. "He's our lookout, Leo's roommate, and Kaz's boyfriend."

               "And an idiot," Beckett added.

               "Anyone under the age of 12 is not allowed to have vocal cords," I said.

               "Hey, that's not me," Wyatt said, brightening.

               "Congratulations on the vocal cords," Jordan said. "Now, before this turns into a fight, let's change the subject. If I recall right, Mr. Townsend's sons don't have the best tempers."

               "You recall right," I assured him, ducking behind Kaz as Beckett took out his yo-yo. "My point is proven."

               "Oh, sick, that's the yo-yo kid," Hal said. "Forgot about that. Rock on, little dude. Beat some ass with that yo-yo."

               "Honestly," Jordan muttered, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling. "Give me the strength for this."

               "Hey, what're everyone's plans for Christmas?" Evan asked. "There, safe topic."

               "My dad's coming home and we're spending it with Hal's family," Griffin said.

               "Absolutely shocking," Cara said. "I'm just going to my aunt's for our annual family party. Mika, aren't you doing something with your dad?"

               "We're going to visit my brother and then spend it with my grandparents," Mikayla said.

               "Lucky. My parents and taking me and my sister to some drive-thru lights event," Leo said. "Do I look five?"

               "Speaking of five year olds, what are you doing Beckett?" Pete said.

               "Hurting you," Beckett said. "And then hurting my brother because I have to spend the day with him and our parents."

               "Perks of being a spoiled only child!" Pete said.

               "Same. My parents and I are spending it with family," Kaz said.

               "I get to go through the 'formerly suspected gay cousin is now the confirmed gay cousin' process at Christmas this year," I said. "Jokes on them, I got more dick in months than bitchy Aunt Sarah's gotten in YEARS."

               The tips of Kaz's ears turned red. "We're literally in public, Malley."

               "Well, now Mikayla's friends know the most important thing about me," I said.

               "That you suck dick, or that you have no filter?" Griffin said. "Because I know someone who would've absolutely sucked Adam Constance's dick, and so nothing in life shocks me anymore."

               "This is such a merry Christmas," Cara said. "Lovely discussion really lighting that Christmas spirit."

               "I still don't know who you are," I informed her. "I think I vaguely remember you frightening me when I first got here, but other than that, it's like you just stopped existing."

               Cara sighed. "Only years of dealing with Hal is giving me the patience for this."

               "Hey," Hal said. "I'm wonderful to deal with. Tell her, Griff."

               "If I lie, Santa will bring me coal," Griffin said, wincing as Hal elbowed him.

               I tuned them out as they began to argue and instead turned to Kaz. "Come get food with me?"

               "Don't have to ask me twice," Kaz said, getting up.

               We walked over to one of the long tables, grabbing plates and beginning to fill them up with food. I looked around the room, shrinking back as I spotted Constance talking with a group of students. Nope, no way, not dying right before Christmas.

               "Mikayla's friends scare me," I said as we headed for the drinks.

               "They're okay, just closed off," Kaz said. "Griffin and Hal are really picky about who they let into their group. They'd do anything for their friends though, and I respect that."

               "Sounds familiar," I said.

               His ears turned red again, but he tried to shrug it off. "Someone's got to save your asses. Especially since you can't shut your mouth."

               "You love my mouth," I said.

               He leaned forward and stole a quick kiss. "A little, yea."

               "A lot," I said. "You shove your tongue in there so often I should charge rent."

               "You have a way with words, Malley," Kaz said, but he was laughing. His laughter slowly died off and I frowned at him.

               "Something wrong?" I said.

               "Just...will you be okay? I know you were joking about it, but it is your first Christmas since your family found out you're gay," he said.

               My chest hurt at the genuine concern on his face. "Kaz, I'll be fine. Yea, it's gonna suck, but I'll get through it. And I know I can call you if it gets hard."

               "Always," Kaz said. "Anytime you need me, you can call."

               "Thanks, Kaz Possible," I said.

               He cracked a small grin. "Asshole."

               I took his hand in mine, squeezing it. "Still doing our gift exchange later?"

               "I swear, if you got me a collection of shitty scifi movies, you'll be spending Christmas single."

               "Bah Humbug to you too!"

               Kaz laughed and kissed my cheek as we started for the table again. "I checked the weather. It's supposed to snow for both of us on Christmas. Maybe we can Facetime and watch the snowfall together for a bit?"

               Oh, shit, this boy always making me so damn emotional. "I'd like that. Thanks, Kaz. Thank you."

               "You can thank me by controlling your mouth for the rest of the party," he said.

               "No promises at all, but I am still thankful," I said.

               He shrugged. "It was worth a shot. Either way, we'll make it a good Christmas, even if we can't physically be together."

               I knew we would. Because we would put in the effort.

               I couldn't wait to watch the snowfall with Kaz.

               We rejoined the others. Even as they bickered amongst themselves, I didn't mind. Instead, I checked the weather on my phone.

               When Kaz saw what I was doing, he smiled and reached out, tapping Christmas day so I could see that it was, indeed, supposed to snow for both of us. I just smiled softly at him and put my hand on his thigh before joining in the conversation, more eager than afraid for my first Christmas as an out man.

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A.N.- Merry Christmas everyone! I wanted to do a little thank you for Conversion Academy hitting 1 million reads, so here is the squad along with the lads from Our Only Mistakes. Have a great holiday!