the kiss list, adrian pucey
𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟐

chapter twenty-seven
number 1: ANGELINA JOHNSON

✧ ━━━ · ✦ · ━━━ ✧

     IT MAY BE TRUE THAT BIANCA LARSSON WASN'T particularly excited for the upcoming Christmas Ball, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the year group isn't either.

     Much to Bianca's discontent, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson, had apparently nothing better to talk about besides boys, dresses, and dances, and dorm room conversations had turned dull and repetitive.

     As much as Bianca was very enthusiastic about Katie and Oliver's budding relationship, and she liked to think that she helped it spark in some way when she spoke to both of them separately about each other, Bianca didn't think she could take the chats about the Quidditch-crazed Gryffindor any longer.

     Bianca had heard about Angelina's "crisis" too many times that she didn't quite know what to do with herself. The Gryffindor Chaser classes not having a date yet as a "mid-life crisis that prioritized anything else that was going on". Bianca loved Angelina, she really did, but sometimes the same conversations were becoming too much.

     Bianca was going on her own. A date was too much of a commitment.

     Despite Bianca's desperate efforts to focus on everything else in her life that wasn't anything to do with a school dance, the next Hogsmeade weekend was fast approaching, which meant it was the perfect opportunity for dress shopping.

     "Come on, Bi!" Katie shoved the girl's lifeless arm, as Bianca stayed contently perched on her bed, book displayed on her lap as usual. "Go with Angie to Hogsmeade?" Katie pouted, her eyes turning into those of a puppy.

     "You mean go with us?" Angelina's eyebrows came together, as she pushed off of one of the four posts from Bianca's bed.

     Katie opened out, and faced Angelina more, "Actually I can't come today." she shrugged sheepishly.

     Bianca glanced up from her book. Katie was fondling with her fingers, her shoulders cooped up slightly, "Why?" she asked.

     Katie's fumbling quicked in pace, "Oliver asked me." she said, her cheeks blushed bright pink, and life was restored to her face.

     It was almost impossible to not hear the squeal that escaped Angelina Johnson's lips upon the news that her best friend and Quidditch Captain had finally opened their eyes and realized that they were, in Angelina's words "destined for each other".

     It may not have been quite as high-pitched or as intense as Angelina's reaction, but Bianca beamed in response, taking a hold of Katie's hand, and squeezing it a little.

     "Well then, now you have to come, Bi," Angelina spoke, "because I'm certainly not going on my own."

     Dressing shopping for girls was a completely different experience than tux browsing for the boys - considering they wanted to wear a suit, and not a dress, which Adrian was all for.

     This meant when the designated Hogsmeade trip was announced, Adrian knew, if he wanted to go to this dance, it was about time he got some dress robes before it was too late. It's not like he had a spare suit, simply hung up in his wardrobe, collecting dust and waiting to be worn; it's not every day that Hogwarts hosts a ball this big.

     Besides the outfit, Adrian was facing another dilemma.

     It's not like he wanted to show up to said ball unaccompanied, and yet, he had not the slightest of who to ask. He had so many questions, not even Quidditch practice was distracting enough. Not to mention, it felt like a kick in the stomach every time he got a glance at the bleachers.

     But how does one approach another and ask them to a ball? How formal is he supposed to be? Does he need a gift when he asks someone? If so, what on earth would he buy?

     The list of questions went on. Adrian had even written them all down on a piece of parchment. In actual fact, he wrote down so many of his unanswered questions, on three separate slices. His hand hurt from writing.

     Cassius Warrington told Adrian he had nothing to worry about, and that, "one of these birds will come to their senses" and eventually ask him out, instead of the other way around.

     Cassius already had a date. In fact, Adrian was pretty sure he had three.

     And Adrian was struggling to get one.

     He just hoped Cassius was right. As much of a dick as Cassius was, Adrian sure hoped that someone would ask him before he had to ask someone himself. After all, rejection did not rub off on him all that well. And after late, he did not want any more experience in that field.

     Angelina looped her arm through Bianca's, and the pair walked side by side, their steps in sync, as light flutters of snow began to settle around them.

     "Angie?" Bianca broke the comfortable silence.

     The excitement for the next Hogsmeade trip had died down, as the "buzz" period had passed, and the little village had returned to its comforting, and home-like atmosphere, as the two Gryffindors strolled to the quaint dress shop - Bianca had finally given up with Angelina's begs to go. Bianca concluded that her empty stomach that was longing for the warming taste of butter and foam could wait a little longer.

     "Yes?" the girl inclined her head to look at Bianca.

      "Why do you care so much if you don't have a date?" Bianca said, with a hint of solemn.

     Angelina shrugged, only coming to the conclusion that she had no clue as to why she so desperately wanted someone to ask her, "I don't know actually. Just don't want to go alone, I guess?"

     "You don't have to go alone, you know," Bianca replied.

     "You are?" Angelina pointed out.

     "That's only because I don't want to have to commit to anyone, that's all," Bianca explained. She tightened her grip around Angelina's looped arm. "Boys are trash anyway."

     Bianca liked to think this wasn't true, and some parts of it weren't.

     Throughout her time at Hogwarts, Bianca had encountered all different kinds of boys and men and so forth. And in most of these experiences, she was hardly impressed.

     But there were of course a few diamonds in the rough, that Bianca was very much surprised, and yet glad, that she had met.

     Take Malcolm Preece for instance. He was hardly someone to compare to "trash" and yet, Bianca had risked everything to make sure, at all costs, she could avoid him. She made sure she could dodge him in any and every situation that could end in rejection, and Bianca didn't know how long she could keep it up for.

     But to keep her motivated in averting away from the Hufflepuff, she just had to remember that, despite how bad she felt about avoiding him, he can't be rejected, if he never got the chance to ask.

     Angelina took those words as if she had never heard such truth in one phrase before. Angelina began to wonder why she ever cared so much. "That is true."

     Bianca shrugged, as the pair strolled, arms remained in a link. Their feet scuffed along the path that was losing its greyish tone as the snow began to cover it up, like a child being tucked under a duvet when night had fallen.

      "So go with a girl?" Bianca suggested.

     Angelina's eyebrows came together, as she looked away from Bianca and out in front of her. Her face read one of deep thought, as she struggled to pin down a name for someone that would accompany her to the upcoming Christmas ball.

     It was an expressional mix of brainstorming, and debating whether she should take someone, or "do a Bianca" and go by herself.

     After a moment of silence, Bianca nudged the girl clung to her side, with a smirk, "I know someone."

     Adrian Pucey had never been shopping for a suit and tie before. He had barely ever been shopping full stop.

     Adrian never found anything enjoyable about the art of a shopping trip, unless it was a store that sold Vinyl. His feet ached after a while, and all the racks quickly ended up blending into one another, and every single hanger of clothing looked the same because it had become so dull.

     Within thirty minutes of being in a robes store, he already wished that he went alone. Had Adrian decided to shop for a tuxedo by himself, he guaranteed that he would have been in and out in the short time frame of fifteen minutes. No need to try anything on. The first one he saw or the closest one to the door would do.

     But he couldn't go about life saying "if" because the regretful truth is that Adrian didn't go alone, and Cassius Warrington, Graham Montague, and Terrence Higgs were a right pain in the backside.

     The three boys insisted on trying on every single suit that looked remotely good, and that therefore took longer than Adrian ever could have imagined.

     But that wasn't even the worst part of it.

     Adrian and Miles had already chosen their dress robes that they were going to wear for the ball, and yet, the three boys, who were apparently very far from deciding which suit would appeal to the most girls on the night, had forbidden Adrian and Miles to leave. After all, they needed a fourth and fifth opinion.

     "The first one you tried on was fine, Cass," Miles moaned, as Cassius Warrington stepped onto the display stage for the presentation of his ninth suit.

     Cassius raised his eyebrows, and stared down at the boy, "Just "fine" won't do, Miles."

     "Any of them will do. Just please, I'm begging you, will you hurry up?" Adrian groaned. "That goes for you two as well!" he called out to the other two boys, hidden in the changing rooms.

     "Can't we just leave?" Miles asked, his head inclined, and his body aching to walk out.

     "No," Cassius said with knitted brows, like what his friend has asked was completely not okay. "I need you guys' opinions."

     "Because?" Adrian asked as he slumped further into the sofa, wanting it to swallow him whole. At least he could get some sleep that way.

     "Because I just do," Cassius said in the same tone as before - not quite understanding why that was such an abnormal thing. "I don't care if you two don't that much, but I need to look my best," he said it with such importance that Adrian was tempted to say he looked awful, would never look good enough, and walk out, just to get the reaction he wanted.

     "Okay, I'm out," Miles stood up, with such purpose, the once dented couch from where he was sat, poufed up a little. Miles lifted his coat bag from the ledge of the sofa, and headed for the door, hoping to miss any of Cassius' protests. He turned around briefly, "Ade?"

     "Yeah, I'm off," Adrian too stood up, gathering his things, including the dress robes that he had picked out and purchased over an hour ago. "Good luck, mate." he faked a smile in Cassius' direction and followed Miles out of the door. The pair had already started to make their way to the Three Broomsticks, with suits in hand.

     As she stood in front of the mirror, elevated on the stand, Bianca now realized that she probably should have established what she considered to be "her colour". The one that suited best for her skin tone. The one that complimented her bone structure the best. Et cetera

     And yet as she stood in front of the mirror, Bianca could not tell.

     "That's the one," Angelina said enthusiastically, as she slurped on her complimentary tea. She placed it back on its saucer with the sound of mild clatter, before standing up and approaching Bianca on the stand. "I'm sure of it."

     Angelina circled Bianca a few times, taking in the dress from all angles, continuing to nod her head with delightedness.

     Bianca turned back to the mirror. She tilted her head and her adjusted eye line, observing the dress the best she could.

     "I dunno," she said, her face sulking.

     "Are you kidding?" Angelina scoffed, "Blue is totally your colour." she beamed.

     Bianca trusted Angelina wholeheartedly. Especially when it came to topics surrounding the shades of dresses and making decisions regarding said subject.

     Angelina watched as the girl shifted around, her feet shuffling on the step. She was turning her head this way and that to study how the dress looked from the back.

     Angelina thought the dress was flawless. It needed no alterations, the colour flattered the girl in every possible way, and yet the one thing that was wrong was Bianca's face.

     Bianca's eyebrows were still slightly arched, and her eyes hadn't lit up like Angelina's had when she first saw herself in her emerald green, slick mermaid cut dress, with a golden jeweled over layer.

     "If you don't buy it, then I will," Angelina stood beside Bianca, and they both gazed into the mirror at the dress.

     The pair glanced from the mirror then to each other, and Angelina offered the most reassuring smile, Bianca had ever been given.

     It was the kind of smile that wasn't reassuring her in an ushering get-on-with-it kind of way, because she was bored, and wanted this dress shopping shenanigan to be over with already. And not because she was lying about what she thought about the dress. But the kind of smile that was so genuine, that the comforts Bianca found within it, could convince Bianca to do anything she wanted to.

     And for the first time whilst in the dress, Bianca felt a smile tug at her lips.

     The dress followed her figure, right up to the dip in the fabric at the height of her chest. The rich shade of blue made her cheeks pop, and the outlining shape flattered her skeletal framework perfectly.

     The silky texture brushed at her skin, and the straps were nowhere near as tight and restricting as she thought they would be.

     The material was hemmed at her lower back, meaning her shoulder blades were left bare, and the dress flowed at the perfect length, stopping just below her feet.

     Bianca had tried on four dresses prior to this one. All different styles and colours and cuts. But none, as annoyingly cliche as it sounds, looked as right as this one.

     Bianca had never really been the indecisive type. And that had remained the same as she and Angelina left "Feliciana's formal wear", two bags clutched in hand, the other arm once again, linked in a comfortable hold, as they practically skipped their way out of the antiquated shop on the corner; the pair very pleased with their purchases.

     "Angie?" Bianca was the one to break the tranquil lull again, as their skips faded to strolls.

     The girl hummed in response; her head angling towards Bianca, despite her eyes not moving from their feet imprinting in the snow.

     Bianca stopped, unlinked their hands, and turned to face Angelina, who followed her movements and met her in the middle.

     "Thanks for today," Bianca said, her smile inching up from the corner of her mouth.

     Bianca had never imagined that she would enjoy what she believed to be a tedious job, that is shopping for a ball gown, as much as she did.

     "No, thank you," Angelina smiled back, and brushed her hand up against Bianca's arm. "If it weren't for you, I'd have had to come on my own. Even if I practically dragged you along."

     Bianca chuckled, "You wanna go grab a Butterbeer?" Bianca inclined her head to the tavern, almost behind them.

     Angelina's shoulders slouched, "Can't," she said solemnly, "Divination assignment."

     "That's alright. I'll see you later, yeah?"

     "Great. See you then," Angelina smiled broadly, despite the loss of a warm jug of the famous foamy beverage. "Thanks again."

     Angelina smiled appreciatively, as she hauled her dress bag, over her shoulder, edging closer to Bianca, rising just a little in her toes, to share a kiss on the cheek.

     Bianca followed her movements, meeting Angelina's side.

     And yet instead of a swift shared moment of friendship, when Bianca aimed for Angelina's left cheek, and Angelina aimed for Bianca's right, it ended in a quick collision, and a kiss on the lips.

     It was a short peck that didn't feel like an accident. And yet it was.

     Bianca had no intentions of kissing one of her closest friends whilst out dress shopping and yet, something as simple as it was, as accidental as it was, turned out to be much more consequential than Angelina would have ever even thought it could be.

     "Sorry about that," Bianca interjected quickly, adjusting her grip on her bag strap.

     "No need to apologize," Angelina assured, her smile polite.

     It was the first time in these four tedious kiss-searching months that a kiss was brushed past in a matter of seconds.

     There was no uncomfortable lingering silence where the pair would stare at each other until Bianca plucked up enough courage to say something to break it. No confusing moment when Bianca's mind raced for what to do next because Angelina had sorted that out before it could even pose as a problem in Bianca's mind. There was nothing of concern at all.

     A kiss, and then a brief period of moving on.

     Angelina gave a polite wave goodbye, before adjusting her hat, and now, with no arm to link her's around, tucked her hands away in her pockets.

     Katie Bell and Oliver Wood had now come into view, as they approached the girl.

     Bianca's smile widened at the sight of their locked hands, and chipper faces. She may have physically lost a friend, but now Bianca had gained two more, to share a drink with if they'll have her. She didn't mind the idea of third-wheeling in all honesty.

     As the newfound couple joined Bianca halfway, mid-street, Angelina's crunches in the snow, receded until they were no longer in earshot.

     Bianca didn't even know if their kiss counted. But if Marcus Flint wasn't being the eyes of Adrian Pucey's operation, and stalking Bianca wherever she went to make sure she wasn't lying about who she was and wasn't kissing, then for all Adrian knew, this kiss one hundred percent counted.

approximately nine minutes prior

     Adrian Pucey was never one for Butterbeer. He was just as confused as his friends, but there was something so sickening about the taste that made him refuse to like it.

     Adrian's dislike for the drink didn't change the fact that every trip to Hogsmeade, meant an inevitable visit to the Three Broomsticks.

     The two boys shook off the snow from their heads and shoulders upon arrival in the cozy tavern, removing their coats.

     Adrian made his way to an empty booth by the window, placing his and Miles' suit bags across the back of the cushioned seat, as the other boy traveled to the bar to order.

     "Isn't resting them like that going to crease them?" Miles had arrived at the booth not shortly after. He placed his pint of Butterbeer onto the table, along with Adrian's ginger ale. He glanced to the two suits that were hanging off of the edge of the seat's indent.

     "Do I look like I know anything about dry cleaning?" Adrian said, looking over to the zipped cases, then back to the boy.

     Miles shrugged it off, having knowing no more about the subject than Adrian did.

    The pair of Slytherins sipped in silence, as students came and went, occasionally murmuring things to the other, until their drinks were at their lowest.

     Adrian gazed into where the fabric from the seat, met the punctured-in button, and how the pattern looked as though it had been designed for an old Tudor English home. But it didn't come off as the vintage, historical look that people seemed to like, but rather Adrian's grandmother's curtains.

     The cushion became boring, but the snow was beginning to fall just outside the window, and the trickling sprinkle-sized snow specks, clouding up the window, and decorating the floor, was a much more interesting scene, than some tattered, badly-coloured combination seat fabric.

     Students were ambling past; some entering the inn, some strolling by the door, and some wandering into the other various shops surrounding the Three Broomsticks, as the snow descended between them.

     And then there was Bianca. Bianca Larsson and Angelina Johnson promenading into the view of the framed window, with comfortable smiles, and arms locked in a friendly bond.

     Adrian's once slumped back, straightened up, making sure it was as subtle as he could muster. Miles was now leaning forward, and slurping the remaining foam from the rim of his pint glass.

     Adrian focused on the pair outside, as floating waves of robes fluttered past the window. He observed the pair of Gryffindors, in a way that felt as normal as it could be.

     He watched as Bianca stopped at a standstill, Angelina following. He watched as they spoke with grins, and nods, and the brushes of arms.

     And then he watched them kiss. He watched a light stumble backward, and another exchange of words, and he felt his eyes narrow and his body inch closer and one of them walk away.

     It was only when Bianca's fellow Gryffindors joined her on the pavement, that the world started to piece back together around him.

     "Ade?" he heard Miles mutter, "Adrian?" the boy called out to his friend again, in a louder voice.

     Adrian drew his lingering eyes away from the window, and back into the crowded tavern; the stuffy air drifting back to lungs, and the scent of sweetening butter flooded to his nose once more. He grimaced at the smell he hated so much.

     His head shot back to Miles' direction, "Y-yeah?"

     "You good?" the boy asked after a second.

     "Yeah," Adrian muttered with a forced and feeble smile. "All good."

present

     All Adrian really wanted was to amuse himself with a more exciting spectacle than the worn green and gold combination of the booth opposite him. That is not the calming, nor reassuring sight he wanted to see, and his gut ached with the smug attitude that Bianca would surely be holding for at least the next twenty-four hours.

     Bianca, accompanied now by Katie Bell and Oliver Wood, paraded through the door of the inn, depositing of their coats, grins plastered on display for all to see.

     It wasn't hard for Adrian to notice the three Gryffindors stroll in. Maybe that was because he just watched them meet outside, and head in the direction of the pub. Probably.

     But also because of how lively they had become. The tavern on its own was a jolly place, with the comforting atmosphere that the village of Hogsmeade in general possessed, but their expressions were ones to add to that mood, and improve it in such a way, that Adrian wishes he was there too.

     But as if their entrance was going to change the circumstances of which Adrian was in, Miles continued to sip on his Butterbeer, and life went on around them.

     Adrian watched as the blonde headed for the bar, taking up a stool, a beaming smile on her face like she hadn't a care in the world. In fact, Bianca had many. Cares that is. And yet, there are some moments that she found herself in pure bliss when those little things couldn't even get to her.

     It was almost like they were living in two different worlds.

     Adrian drew his eyes away for a minute, and he returned to the boy opposite him, who was currently wiping the foam from his upper lip. "Miles, can I ask you something?" he had leaned over, and his volume was below his average.

     Miles disregarded his napkin to the edge of the table, "Yeah, sure."

     "And you have to promise not to ask follow-up questions or query anything, okay?" Adrian spoke.

     Miles' eyebrows furrowed, concerned by the unusual hints of severity in his friend's tone, "Okay." he said slowly.

     Adrian took a breath in, "Did you really like Bianca?" he said, trying to keep himself focused. Miles tilted his head, not quite understanding the question. Adrian sighed, thinking of another way to phrase exactly what he wanted to say, "Like, like-her, like-her?"

     Miles narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean by that?"

     Adrian stifled yet another sigh, as he inched a little closer, shifting in his seat, "Did you really have feelings for her, or?"

     Miles chuckled upon understanding, "Why are you asking me this, Ade?"

     Adrian did not laugh, but his mouth dropped with severe annoyance due to a lack of the cooperation that he so desperately wanted. "I literally just said-"

     "Okay, okay." Miles interjected before his friend could huff no more, "No, follow-up questions. I understand."

     "I just wanna know how you knew, okay?" Adrian's shoulder's dropped, as he inclined his head.

     Miles didn't know why Adrian was suddenly so forlorn, and yet he felt as though he didn't need to.

     Miles knew he would never understand Adrian's relationship with the Gryffindor conformist, but he knew enough to see the feelings that were there.

     Miles' tongue twanged the top of his mouth, as he thought of where to start his answer, "Uh, okay, I guess I liked her sense of humor." he opened out his arms, with the start of his speech.

     "I like the fact that she has a personality, and isn't just a plain somebody, that will suck up to everything you do, to win your liking." he thought again, "Um, I like how she's not afraid to put herself out there. I guess I admire her confidence." he finished with a shrug, now wondering what Adrian would do with this information.

     Adrian nodded slowly, with no intentions of answering verbally.

     His once unfocused eyes traveled back to the blonde head of hair, where they once again focused on the girl who was laughing her contagious smile away, with the drink he so hated in hand, as she sat at the bar, only a few meters away from him.

     Adrian could name so many more things about Bianca that he liked so much than just the three that Miles had listed.

     He liked how you could tell when she was bored because she twirled with the ends of her hair around her fingers. And how she plucked off the individual feathers from her quill when she was concentrating in class. He loved how whenever a test was returned in class, Adrian was the first person she would look at, with the biggest smirk.

     Adrian loved it when at any mention of any book, Bianca was there, with an understanding of the context and an enthusiasm to talk about it, whoever it was with. He loved how she bit her lip when she was nervous, but stopped to make sure she didn't draw blood.

    Adrian loved it when a smile tugged subconsciously on her lips when she was looking through a telescope during Astronomy because she was so amazed at what she saw at the other end. He loved it even more when she pulled away, and finally realized that she had been smiling, so she then, humiliated, tried to cover it up.

     Adrian loved it how Bianca was never hesitant to help him in class, and how he never felt embarrassed to ask for her assistance, however much she teased him about it. He loved her drive to make sure that she did well, even though it was plain to see that there was no doubt that she would eventually make a name for herself.

     Adrian could name so many more things that he loved about the girl that it felt as though he was about to explode.

➼

     THE RACE WAS NOW ON. THE WAS BALL WELL ON ITS WAY. Dresses had been bought. Students now had dates. And plans were in place for the evening of the dance.

     And Bianca felt no different.

     "I saw you in Hogsmeade today," Adrian said, as he took the telescope in his hands, checking what he saw at the end of the tube, against the notes in his book.

     Astronomy had always been Bianca's favourite subject. And having Adrian as a partner wasn't so bad. He had become rather good at the subject, even if he needed Bianca's help to succeed sometimes.

     Since their shared moment on the Quidditch stands, Adrian dreaded to think that he and Bianca had lost a kind of sync between them. He dreaded to think what she thought of him every time she saw him.

     To Bianca, she didn't see much wrong. Sure there were more moments of tense awkwardness, but nothing too unbearable. She told him to forget it because she pretty much had.

     Adrian knew his boundaries, and Bianca thought it best to ignore anything that had ever happened. Because to her, nothing had happened at all.

     Adrian begged to differ.    

     "Not sure what that has to do with Astronomy, Adrian," Bianca replied.

     The boy shrugged, "It doesn't have anything to do with Astronomy, you're right, however, it has come to my attention that you seem to think that your little "stunt" today was valid. Johnson did not consent to that kiss." Adrian spoke, simultaneously chewing.

     He spun the telescope on its stand towards her, and Bianca's grasped her hands around it. His breath smelled minty, like the gum that was clicking against the roof of his mouth.

     "Are you speaking in an overly formal tone to try and convince me that any of what you just said is logical?" she said, as she gazed into the bright friends of the moon and their pattern that seems so fixed and yet ever-changing.

     Adrian picked up his book and stared into it to distract himself and make it hard for her to look at him, "No." he said bluntly.

     Bianca pulled away from the telescope, "Good because the gum isn't doing well for you." she smiled sarcastically.

     The boy continued to chew, more aggressively now out of spite. The gum clacked against his teeth loudly.

     "She didn't give you permission, therefore that kiss wasn't consented against," he said.

     Bianca chuckled dryly. She could see how desperate the boy had become now knowing she was closer than ever at winning this bet. And she found it hilarious.

     "It was an accident, Adrian. She had nothing against it. Get over yourself. Bitterness doesn't look good on you." she paused, taking ahold of the telescope again, "But then again, nothing does."

     Adrian scoffed; Bianca's head still buried in the tube.

     "You can keep up this smug, I'm-not-in-love-with-Adrian act for as long as you like, Larsson. You won't win." he edged closer to her.

     Bianca stifled a laugh, as she grabbed onto her books, and bag, subtly glancing at her watch, before she sat to face him, looking him dead on, "Oh hun, I kind of already have."

     On queue, Professor Sinistra dismissed the class, and the peace was broken, as students began to bustle their way to the exit.

     Bianca stood up before Adrian had the chance to collect his thoughts. She leaned down and grabbed a fresh piece of gum from the packet that was showing from inside his pocket, and placed it on her tongue.

     She readjusted her bag on her shoulder, and with a grin of goodbye, she followed the trail of students out of the Astronomy tower, showing her gratitude to the Professor on her way out.

     Bianca was glad she was out of there.

     She repeated what she had said to the boy over and over in her head: "I kind of already have."

     "Kind of" alright.

     Bianca hadn't spoken to Duncan Inglebee since he bluntly said that he didn't like her. And to save herself from any further embarrassment, Bianca decided not to approach him anymore. Which meant a kiss was off of the table. In fact, a kiss was so far from the table, that it is was on the floor beside it.

     So, truth be told, Bianca hadn't already won their bet, and in the short terms, she was a long way off.

     Duncan hadn't and will not kiss her any time soon.

     The end of the year was fast approaching and when December had drawn to a close, Bianca would have supposed to have kissed at least three people and so far she had kissed one. It was only the early days of the last month, but her failure regarding Duncan had sort of thrown her off her game.

     But Duncan. Adrian didn't know about Duncan.

     And Bianca was very determined to keep it that way.

     Besides, what he doesn't know, won't hurt him.