After this chapter, in case you haven't already, go check out my new Cresswell one-shot: Daydreams in Orbit.

A Crown of Thornes: Part Two

Kai has been dazed since he was announced as the new School President for the year. Cinder's kiss and everyone's cheers felt numb, disappearing in a blurring whirl of sound he couldn't comprehend. His head was spinning and it didn't help that Wolf, Thorne, and Cinder were nudging him all over the place. He was bouncing off of them but was glad his friends were circling him so he felt like the ball in a pinball machine.

He had to go to the main office and sat with the principal and student council for a few minutes where he had to accept the position of School President formally. At least he didn't have to give a speech over the PA. He didn't write one.

The meeting was about five minutes long but he's already stressed out.

He didn't even remember walking out of the school or getting to The Rampion with his friends, but here they all are sitting in a booth. Even Scarlet was with them and not as the waitress. All his friends were more excited than him, thinking of ordering a whole table of food or milkshakes to celebrate. Kai didn't care what they ordered since he isn't sure if he could stomach it.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Kai states, lying on the table. Winter rubs his shoulder from beside him.

"At least you didn't bail on the post," Scarlet says.

Kai looks up and shrugs. "Someone has to do it and the people have spoken. I think I'd feel worse if I just gave it up, you know? My week is booked with planning events and sitting in student government meetings. At least I have treasury and student reps to help. I don't even know why people wrote me in."

"It's not like you were the mayor's son or anything," Thorne says sarcastically. "Or the current mayor's new kid."

"Or helped Mayor Torin score the election for your father when nobody had hope since the city was in grief," Cress adds.

Cinder leans on Kai's shoulder and looks up at him. "Hashtag ActOfKaindness."

Kai exhales as he fiddled with the menu in front of him. "Okay, fair points. But still. Whatever. I just need a Vice."

Winter doesn't hesitate. "I'll be your Vice."

Kai glances at her in shock. "Seriously?"

Winter nods, folding her hands on the table. "Serious. I've been looking at taking political science for university. It's an interesting and twisted program. This would be a good addition to my applications."

Cinder cringes from the other side of Kai, leaning forwards so Winter can see her. "Seriously? Levana has deterred me away from polisci."

"The last election fascinated me, and everything involving your mother. History is made up of politics which influence the present."

"More catalysts for me to go the other way."

Winter smiles at her cousin before she looks at Kai again. "Either way, Kai, I'll be your vice."

"You two would've gotten my vote if you were legitimate candidates," Wolf says encouragingly. "Make senior year worth it for us."

Kai smiles, feeling hopeful now that he has a Vice. "We plan to."

Thorne leans forwards on the table. "Am I allowed to bribe you? It's not laundering funds if it's a direct deposit to your bank accounts and had no affiliation with Lunar Academy."

Cress pulls Thorne back. "If you have to ask, then no."

"Stupid politics," he curses. "Piloting is where I'm at."

Scarlet raises her brows, nodding at Thorne's prospects. "Impressive."

Thorne smiles proudly. "I'm gonna be a real captain now, just you all wait."

"And there it is."

-o-

When Winter got home, she immediately changed out of her uniform and into pyjamas. After getting some student council emails and texts forwarded to her, she skimmed them while lying in bed. It helped that she was added to the student council group chat with Kai but she had to catch up on so much. After reading and texting Kai, her phone was nearly dying.

Winter's body is stiff as she stretches out of her fetal position and reaches for her nightside table's charging cord.

Winter is thrilled she gets to be Student Vice President. She spent the summer looking through universities and their programs, wondering what she'll do and where she'll go after graduation. When she first came across political science, she isn't sure why she was so drawn to it. Politics and politicians are scorned and unattractive to many people. The worst of people come out when power is up for grabs, especially when prestige is a factor.

Maybe it's the Blackburn in her that gave her the push. A beautiful dynasty burned down after a tyrannical regime. Out of all things for Winter to insert herself into, she wanted to dive into this one head-first.

Winter picks up her phone and dials Jacin's number. She looks at the time and counts the time difference, hoping he'll pick up. It's not like it's dinner time over in Artemisia or that he's already asleep. To her relief, he picks up.

Jacin Bae: I almost missed this call.

"Hello to you too," Winter greets.

Skipping all formalities and sweet nothings, Winter explodes telling Jacin about her day. She tells him everything from Cinder almost getting suspended to Kai becoming School President after a money-laundering scandal and how she's his Vice. For a moment, she doesn't hear anything on the other end and thought she accidentally hung up or lost service, but Jacin was silent and taking in Winter's babbling of chaotic events.

Jacin Bae: Wow, Trouble, you got a busy school year ahead of you.

"I know," Winter says, hugging a pillow to her chest. "At least I'm not President."

Jacin Bae: A non-blood Blackburn as Student Vice President at a Lunar school that only exists for Lunar refugees who left because of President Blackburn's maltreatment of her own people. Imagine that. History would repeat itself.

Winter laughs. The concept reminds her of her political science plans following graduation. A non-blood Blackburn wanting to go into politics? Imagine that … or simply live it in a year's time.

When Winter hangs up, she sits up in bed and sees Levana leaning against her doorframe. Winter isn't sure how long her stepmother was standing there or how much of the call she heard, but Levana's smiling with tight lips.

"Congratulations, Winter," Levana says with an ambiguous tone that comes across as sarcastic yet genuine.

-o-

Kai comes home and sees the most familial setting he's seen in the longest time. Torin and Mallory were standing in the kitchen, still in their work clothes as they prep for dinner together while the twins sit at the table eating an after-school snack. He assumes they all just got back. He remembers Torin telling Quinn and Skylar this morning that he'll be picking them up from school since his meetings got pushed to the end of the week. It made Kai think back to when his dad would rework his schedule, especially after his mom died. He saw the same joy he had on the twins' faces: wide eyes, automatic smiles, a tone too fast that words are a jumble. It's nostalgic.

Kai imagines the twins were just telling their parents about their first day in first grade, and now he gets to hear all about it. They were so distracted that he managed to snag a black sesame seed-coated rice ball from their places, one from each for fairness. These have no filling but they're still delicious. They're his favourite snack.

"Kai," Torin says as Kai takes a seat beside the twins, "how was your day?"

"Fine," Kai responds as one usually does when asked how school was, "apparently I'm School President now."

Torin and Mallory pause, looking at him confused. Kai smiles, especially when the twins look so perplexed.

"I thought you weren't running," Mallory says. "Or I don't think you were. Sorry, if you were and I forgot."

"I wasn't running," Kai says, "after an unfortunate money laundering scandal with the former President and Vice, I got the role since I was the second-place write-in. Winter's my Vice by choice and because she volunteered."

"High school politics are very different," Torin comments.

"What's a money laundering?" Skylar asks, looking alternatively between Kai and her parents.

"Is it like laundry?" Quinn adds, mimicking her sister's actions.

"Historically, yes," Mallory responds before giving a watered-down explanation.

As she was talking, Kai snagged more rice balls from the twins before Mallory gave him his own plate. He had more fun taking them when they weren't looking.

"I already have a council meeting tomorrow," Kai says.

Torin laughs. "Get used to it. Your father would be proud."

Kai smiles a little. "I bet he would."