I accidentally almost published the previous chapter.

A Crown of Thornes: Part Seven

Lunar Academy, Commonwealth

Civvies day has arrived and Winter and Cress were sending pictures of possible outfits back and forth in the girls' group chat. They were going over cute ensembles, making suggestions. Meanwhile, Cinder and Scarlet just sent one basic outfit, basically a complete version of what they wear on regular uniform days but without the polos and pleated skirts. Their respective and signature white sneakers and red hoodie were with dark jeans. Cinder even threw up peace signs in the background of Winter's selfies since she was lying on Winter's bed the whole time.

The guys? Didn't care to that extent. The only real downfall to a civvies day was the need to plan that didn't happen with uniforms.

"This was the best decision you ever made," Thorne says as they sit in the cafeteria before classes start. It felt strange to see everyone in different outfits, some revealing true styles.

"I love seeing the teachers in such a panic because they can't tell people to change their shoes," Scarlet says with a small laugh.

"Of course you would," Cress smiles.

"I still think we should abolish the uniform policy," Cinder says, tugging the drawstring of Kai's grey sweatshirt.

"I'd be down," Wolf adds.

Kai sees his girlfriend's grin and looks at Winter who doesn't seem opposed. Her lips are pursed as if she's thinking it over. A grin tickles her lips as she meets Kai's eyes.

"Yeah, I don't think we have the power to do that," Kai states.

-o-

Andromeda Academy, Artemisia

After school hours at Andromeda Academy, cadets were out of their uniforms and hanging out in their student lounge. Most were sitting in groups either chilling and socializing or reviewing drills and logistics for their classes. The usual outfits were sweatpants and sweatshirts, baggy and comfortable clothes after being in formal and training uniforms all day.

Iko enters their common room after showering and changing into her pyjamas. She looks around and sees Kinney sitting by the window alone, scrolling on his phone.

"Where's Jacin?" Iko asks as she takes a seat on the bean bag chair next to him.

"Out with his parents," Kinney responds. He puts his phone away to face her. "Why?

"Just curious."

Kinney glances at his phone and quickly types responses to messages before putting his phone away again. He sees Iko fiddling with the ends of her blue braids so she's either got something on her mind or forgot her phone in her dorm, likely both.

"I was sending memes to Cinder, as we usually do," Kinney says. "What's up?"

"Can we talk?" Iko asks softly so nobody around them hears.

Kinney nods. "Yeah."

Iko pauses when Kinney doesn't get up. "...in private?"

Kinney tries not to show his face dropping with a neutral expression. "Oh, yeah, sure."

Iko and Kinney get up and head out the side doors. It's dark outside with dim lights coming from the windows and street lights. They walk out to the courtyard and sit on the bench, close enough that the only space between them is unspoken words.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Kinney asks, leaning back against the bench.

Iko turns to him, shifting her body so she's facing him. "No insult? No one-liner?"

Kinney grins. "You gotta give me something to work with first, Iko."

Nothing better than to get it out. "Okay so I've been thinking about the Hashtag Asteroid Belt."

Kinney shakes her head. "I'm not giving you some of my cut. We took my car and used my fuel."

Iko lightly smacks his arm. "Not that, moron. Look, I don't know if you remember what we did at the end of the night because we were drunk."

"What? The gas station? I swear I fell asleep there."

"No, before we left."

"What?"

Iko's about to scream but stops herself when she takes a good look at Kinney's face. That smug dimple on his cheek with a cocked brow, dark eyes looking at her as he waits for her to spell it out. His cheekbones and jawline cast shadows and she can't look away.

"Aces, Kinney…" Iko mutters. "You want me to say it."

Kinney's grin grows. "Say what?"

"You know."

"Do I?"

Iko takes irritated breath. She should've left him inside. "We made out."

Kinney gasps. "Did we?"

Iko rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. Now his annoying behaviour makes sense. "Of course you remember."

Kinney sits up. "Of course I did. We were drunk enough to make it happen but sober enough to want it to happen. If it helps your need to confess, we don't have to make it a big deal. It was a dizzy day of drinks, heatstroke, and second-hand fumes."

"Right."

Kinney eyes her. "Why are we talking about this?"

"I wanted to see if you remembered or if I dreamt it."

"Did you want it to be a dream? Were you that bad in it?"

Iko nudges him and he laughs. "You had your hands all over me. I was amazing."

"You were."

Iko pauses. She looks at Kinney and there's no grin about to burst into a laugh. He's serious. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah, of course you were. Stars, Iko."

"What? You're not going to ask how you were?"

"Please, I know I was great."

Iko scoffs.

"You could agree though," Kinney states.

"I'll give you that."

Their conversation drops. They sit in a tense silence now that they know how they felt about a drunken make-out that probably only happened because they were waiting for Jacin to leave. They had nothing to do but each other so they did … each other.

"So what now?" Kinney asks.

"At least Jacin doesn't know," Iko says.

Kinney laughs a little. "Yeah, let's keep it like that."

"Okay, one thing."

"What?"

"I should ask but it'd ruin the point. I want to see if kissing you sober is worth it."

"Then you should probably sober up first."

Iko is about to nudge him again but he slides her body closer to him, pressing her body against his as he holds her chin to kiss her. Iko relaxes in his hold, resting her hands on his firm chest. They linger for a moment longer before parting.

"That better have checked your boxes," Kinney states.

"I forgot to take notes," Iko responds before kissing him again.

Oh yeah, Jacin totally doesn't know.