"Have you heard from your Uncle or your dad?" JJ questioned as he and Coralina walked through the halls of Kildaire High School. Stopping at her locker Coral shook her head, "Uncle T sent some money, to cover rent and electric when John B managed to get him on the phone to tell him dad took December's rent with him. He said he hasn't heard from dad but he's caught up at a building site somewhere in Texas and would hopefully be up this way in January if he can't get a hold of dad sooner," she told him,as she pulled out her school bag.

"You're working today, right?" JJ asked leaning against the lockers watching Coral shove books into her book bag. "Yeah till ten," she answered while checking over she had everything she needed while they were off for winter break, "I think I'm working with Kie tonight."

"You've been seeing more of her since starting work at The Wreck," JJ commented. Slamming her locker shut the two headed down the hallway to the parking lot. "Yeah, I'm really glad she came through with getting me the job at the restaurant," she answered, pushing the school doors open as she pulled out a pair of sunglasses.

Heading across the parking lot to their dad's old VW van Coralina linked arms with JJ, "So, I know we didn't really talk about it but I got you something for Christmas," she told him. Humming JJ glanced at her, "Well I got something for you too, Babygirl," he responded, winking at her as they reached the van and he slid the back door open for her.

"What time am I picking you up?" John B asked, pulling up to the front of The Wreck. "Ten," Coral answered, jumping out of the back, "Don't get into too much trouble," she called waving to the boys in the van. "No promises," JJ called back.

Walking into The Wreck Coralina greeted Kie's parent's, Anna and Mike, as she made her way into the backroom. Opening her locker she pulled out her t-shirt and went to the bathroom to change. Grabbing her apron, order pad, and a pencil she walked back out front to start her shift, tying her apron on as she went.

"Coral, Honey, Kie's running late so can you cover both sections till she gets here?" Anna questioned. "Sure, Mrs. Carrera," Coralina agreed. "Oh, Honey, please call me Anna. No need to be so formal," the older woman told her, "We aren't too busy right now, but let me know if you need any help before Kie gets here," Anna said. Smiling Coralina nodded before heading over to take orders.

About an hour into her shift Kie finally showed up bringing a group of Kooks with her. Rolling her eyes at the rowdy crowd Coralina approached Kie behind the bar as she was tying her apron on, "Hey," she greeted. Smiling Kie gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "Thanks for covering for me."

"Yeah sure," Coral replied, "That's your section though," she told her curly haired friend pointing over to the section where Sarah, her boyfriend, Topper, and their friends Kelce and Scarlet were sitting. Laughing Kie nodded, "Understandable," she replied before heading towards her friends.

Pulling out her phone from her back pocket Coral sent a text to JJ:

Coral🐚: Red alert Kook douchebags in the house

Within a few seconds he had texted back:

Pretty Boy🏄: I won't tell if you spit in their drinks 😜

Coral🐚: 😂Lol. What r u guys doing?

Pretty Boy🏄: Workin on a surprise

Coral🐚: What?! Tell me

Pretty Boy🏄: Not a surprise if I tell u keep yr pants on u c tonight

"Hey, who are you texting?" Kie asked from behind her. Pocketing her phone Coralina turned around, "Just JJ. Apparently there's a surprise the boys are working on for tonight," she answered. "Any ideas?" she asked, as she filled soda cups for one of her tables. "No, he won't tell me," Coralina replied.

"Hey, I was wondering, Topper's birthday is this week so he's having a party next Friday for the New Year and his birthday combined. Would you maybe want to come with me?" Kie asked, loading her tray up with the drinks.

Raising her eyebrows Coralina scrunched her nose, "A Kook party? I don't know about that Kie," she replied. "Well let me know. Rafe was asking about you. He's home from college plus I miss hanging out with you," Kie told her before heading out with her tray of drinks.

Five hours later Coralina was done her shift and bone tired. Apparently two days before a holiday everyone on the island had decided not to make dinner and come to The Wreck instead. Dragging her tired body outside she was really glad her brother was on time when she saw the van sitting in the parking lot.

Hopping into the passenger seat she glanced in the back, "Where's JJ and Pope?" "Back at the Chateau," he answered, giving her a mischievous grin. Narrowing her eyes she asked what in the world they had done. "You'll see," her brother laughed as they headed down the road towards home.

Pulling into their dirt driveway Coralina jumped out of the van once it was parked. "Wait, wait, wait," John B called, rushing around the van, "You need to put this on," he told her, handing her a bandana she recognized as JJ's. "Why, exactly?" she questioned. "Because it's a surprise," he replied, rolling his eyes before tying the bandana around her eyes. "John B I can't see," she whined.

"I've got you," he said, taking her hand and guiding her to the house. After cursing at her brother when he let her fall up the steps Coral sensed they were standing in the living room. "Okay can you take this off me now? I'm not really into being blindfolded," she snarked.

"What about whips and chains, Babygirl?" asked JJ from somewhere in the room. Laughing when she heard a slap and JJ's whine, "Dude, that fucking hurt." "Well don't talk about my sister, like that, you douche," John B retorted.

"Ummm….hello?" Can I take this off now?" Coral called, waving her hand towards her face. "Oh, yeah go ahead," John B answered. Pulling the blindfold off she blinked a few times before focusing on the brightly lit Christmas tree in the corner of the room. Jaw dropping she looked at the three boys, "Where did you get that?" she exclaimed.

Scratching the back of his head John B looked at the other boys, "Well you know. Where we got it isn't really important. The important thing is you wanted a tree and here you go," he told her smiling widely. Laughing she launched herself across the room hugging each of the boys in turn, "I can't believe you three. Thank you," she told them, kissing each of their cheeks.

Pulling away from her brother Coralina looked under the tree, "Oh, there's presents too," she squealed, dropping to the floor to look through the small pile of presents, "Wait, I have some to add," she said hurrying to her room to grab the few presents she'd managed to buy on a waitresses salary.

A few hours later as Coralina laid on the floor wrapped in a blanket watching the lights twinkle on the tree she vaguely heard Pope say he needed to get home. Raising her arm she waved as the boy left. "I'm heading to bed. Coral don't stay up to late," John B told her, "JJ keep your ass on the pull out," he called walking into his room, not seeing when Coral flipped him off, as he shut the door.

Hearing JJ pulling out the bed on the sofa, Coral turned her head, "You looking for some company there hot stuff?" she giggled. Shaking his head JJ smiled, "He will literally shoot my balls off, Coral, but I guess I'm willing to risk it," he told her, winking. Scrambling up Coral jumped onto the bed with him.

Curled up next to JJ Coralina continued to gaze at the tree, "JJ, where did the tree come from? He didn't take money from the squirrel fund did he?" Coral asked quietly, referring to the canister of cash they added to each paycheck to go towards bills. Clearing his throat JJ told her it didn't come from the squirrel fund, "I uh, I've been working down at the tree lot the past two weeks and instead of taking cash Old Man Cutter said I could take a tree instead," JJ revealed.

Sitting up Coralina looked at him confused, "JJ why would you do that? You need the cash more than I needed a tree." Sitting up next to her JJ moved a strand of hair behind her ear, "I don't give a shit about the cash. Especially after seeing your face when you saw the tree. I told the others not to tell you because I knew you'd feel guilty, but don't, I wanted to do it for you," he told her quietly.

Smiling Coralina shoved him back before climbing on top of him and kissing him long and hard, "You better be careful, JJ, people are going to find out you have a heart in there," she teased. Flipping them over JJ kissed across her jaw, ending right under her ear, "Only for you, Babygirl," he whispered.

Giggling Coralina shoved at his shoulder, "You're kind of corny." "Corny for you," he teased biting at her neck as she giggled. "Stop, stop," she whispered breathlessly, "My brother could come out here," she reminded him. "Fucking cockblock," he muttered, rolling off her. Turning to her side to face him Coral smiled, "Well I may have an idea for next Friday."

Turning to his side so he faced her he raised his eyebrow, "I'm intrigued." "Okay, so Kie invited me to some kook party at Topper's, apparently it's his birthday sometime this week. I could tell John B that's where I'm going and that I'm going to spend the night at Kie's but instead we could go back to your place," she proposed.

"Babygirl, my dad," JJ started to say before she interrupted. "It's New Year's Eve next Friday, JJ. Guaranteed he'll be so drunk when he gets home he won't know we're there if he even comes home at all," she said, giving him puppy dog eyes. Sighing JJ rolled his eyes, "Well how can I say no when you're looking at me like that?" "You can't," she answered, shrugging.

"You know your brother's going to find it odd I'm not here for New Years Eve, though," JJ commented. "Just tell him you're spending it with a girl," she suggested. "Coral, I'm trying to prove to him I'm not some player bouncing from girl to girl. Telling him I'm with some random girl kind of defeats that," he told her.

Biting her lip Coral tucked her hand into his, "Why are you trying to prove that to him?" she asked quietly. Swallowing JJ blinked, 'Well I thought eventually we'd tell him. Don't get me wrong the sneaking around is hot as shit, but I also want to be able to kiss you whenever I want. I mean if that's what you'd want to do," he answered, looking at her.

"Just tell him you got sick then because I'd love for you to just kiss me whenever," she told him, referring to his excuse for next Friday. "How long do you think we should wait?" he asked.

Pursing her lips Coralina thought it over, "Well my brother's a stubborn ass so I'm thinking it may take a few months to ease him into the idea," she answered. Nodding JJ told her they'd take it one day at a time, "Till then, our secret," he whispered before kissing her.