"How long have you been doing this business of yours?"
Grace and Chris were walking down a narrow paved path slowly; it was in the garden between the mansion and the parking lot. Even though snow was falling on them, they didn't mind the slow walk. The chill in the air didn't feel that cold anymore for Chris as Grace walked by his side.
"It's been a few days; I might be able to earn quite some money before my birthday. The winter break is also coming, so I think it will be perfect for us to visit Europe. We will be going to Penn State anyway. This might be our last big break before college ends."
Chris walked slowly because Grace was smaller than him, and also she was wearing heels. Both of them had scored almost similar scores on the SAT and also got into The Pennsylvania State University; Chris got 1299, and Grace scored 1321.
Grace blushed, but she was also thinking deeply about everything. Chris's mother was a person who gave her mother bone marrow when she was about to die; she was also a person with a teen pregnancy, making her body weak.
"You have to ask Dad about this."
Grace, with a red face said, both of them had been very close since childhood but had never crossed any boundary yet, so she was, of course, nervous and shy on this topic.
"I will, don't worry, eh! My car is almost covered with snow.
Chris nodded his head and then looked at his car; the mint Mazda looked white because of the snow. Grace smiled and walked with him; she felt very comfortable around him. He knows exactly when to end a topic that makes her uncomfortable.
"I want us in public as well. I don't want to hide our relationship anymore; school friends can go to hell."
Grace, with her shivering legs, stood beside Chris's car. Chris was removing the snow that was piled up on the car roof. Hearing her confident tone, he paused and looked at her for a second, then continued what he was doing.
"Are you sure? I thought you wanted to hide it."
Chris was smiling and almost done with the snow on the roof. Grace looked very tough, but she was actually a very delicate person; she did not want their relationship to be public knowledge from the very beginning.
"Yes, I am certain."
Grace nodded her head; she never wanted to make her life public. She was born pretty and in a rich household; even her little frown would be seen and discussed by people, even teachers. Three years ago, when she shared she was dating Chris with her "best friend," her best friend eventually asked how big Chris's "it" was.
"Alright then, if you feel comfortable."
Chris came and held her hands gently; both of them being attractive does always attract public attention towards them. He also never wanted to be the center of attention, but if that's what she wants, he can easily comply.
"I don't have those friends anymore. People think twice before saying or acting against me, so yeah, we can do it."
Grace smiled brightly; her hands felt cold because Chris was using his hands to remove the snow, but this hand had a weird warmth in it. She can't explain it with science.
Chris slowly bent a little and touched her lips with his. Grace's eyes went wide at first, but the hot lips felt like they were overdue, too late yet perfect. Her tiny scared tongue tried to hide inside her little mouth, but it was not spared. Chris's tongue touched hers, and she could taste the sweet hot chocolate flavor on it.
"Haaah! Happy Eighteenth Birthday, My Love."
Chris removed his lips from her but didn't take his face away; he looked her in the eyes. A thin line of saliva was still connecting them, then slowly it faded. Grace looked flushed, but her eyes had their own happy expression at this moment.
"T…Thank you."
Grace was barely able to utter these words, then she saw Chris taking off his huge coat and wrapping her in it, then she realized she was trembling and suddenly feeling very cold, and his coat could not be any warmer; it felt perfect.
"Go back now; you will catch a cold otherwise. My car has a nice heater, so don't worry about me."
Chris, with a smile, took a step while still looking in her eyes. It took Grace five whole seconds to process what Chris just said, and then she nodded like a chicken pecking her food.
Chris walked to his driver's seat and sat down, turning the heater on; he would have frozen otherwise, as it was late in the night, the snow was falling hard, and you can imagine the coldness outside. Grace needed two coats just to adjust her body temperature, and he also knew she would stand there as long as he was here, so he had to take a step back.
Chris waved at her and then slowly drove his car forward. Grace also took several steps back, as she would go inside when she no longer saw Chris's car anymore.
Chris's car drove down the road; the road felt free and looked beautiful; the area, which was cold before, felt comfortable; this was their second kiss, but after a year it felt like the first; his car stopped in front of the huge iron gate of Silverpine Ridge Community.
The old security guard came out of his security box, and seeing it was Chris, he smiled and wanted to go back inside to press the button to open the gate, but Chris waved at him to come close.
Chris saw the old man walk slowly towards his car; he then opened his glove box and saw the ten-grand bundle. He picked it up, and as the guard came forward, he looked at his nameplate, "Darryl."
Let's make it work like this.
Chris rolled down his window; his face looked as if he was happy to see Darryl. Darryl also smiled broadly.