Good morning, sleepyhead," mom poked her head in my room and said.

"Merry christmas, mom," I muttered and started stretching.

"Merry christmas, dear," she said and came in. She kissed my forhead.

I got up and dressed. I checked my phone. There were texts from Ryan and Britney saying merry christmas. There was a text from Stefan too. I tapped on it to read it.

"I'll pick you at 11 am. Tell your parents you'll be staying for dinner too."

I typed 'okay' and came downstairs to tell mom. It was 10:45.

I wore a red sweater and black jeans that I got from mom. Dad gave me a new phone. It was the Samsung C9 Pro.

The bell rang. I opened the door. It was Stefan.

"Hey," he said. He had dark circles. Looked like he didn't sleep. I tried not to think what he was doing at night. I don't know why I just couldn't look into his eyes. So I settled for looking at his shoulder.

"Hey," I said back.

"Let's go," he said and started walking towards his car.

I followed him in silence. The car ride was silent. Did I not deserve some explanation? Was I reacting too much?

"Kiera!!!" Sofia screamed and jumped into my arms. We were so much in sync that I opened my arms and she jumped into them at the perfect time.

"Merry Christmas!!" she screamed again in my ear. Ouch. At least someone was excited today.

"Merry Christmas!" I said back.

As we got in what I saw made my heart drop. I actually felt it drop.

Celine was sitting on the couch. She smiled at me. I suddenly regretted turning down Ryan's offer to go with him. Running into Ryan's ex would be less painful I think.

"Kiera, this is Celine, my ex," Stefan said. I stared blankly at him.

"Celine, this is Kiera, my best friend," he said to her.

"Hi, Kiera," she said and I cringed for some reason though I think no one noticed.

"Hey," I muttered. Sofia came back from her room with a bracelet. It looked handmade.

"Kiera, please come with me to my room," she said and started pulling me by the hand. I went.

"Will you stay with me here?" She asked with puppy eyes.

"Why, baby? Why not be together in the drawing room?" I asked her.

"I don't like Celine," she muttered.

"Why?" I asked.

"She hurt Stefan. I watched him cry. And she is not nice to me. Yesterday she slept in my room and she took the bed and made me sleep on the couch," she said. God Celine was horrible. Sofia was a kid. Celine could have shared the bed with her. Though I was relieved to know they did not sleep together. I mean Stefan and Celine.

"Does Stefan know?" I asked her. Would Stefan allow his sister to be upset? I don't think so.

"No, she was around him so I didn't get the chance," she said.

"Okay, sweetheart, let's stay here and have some fun," I told her. We settled on playing UNO and having snacks and juice. Stefan came in after some time.

"Can I join?" he asked Sofia. Sofia looked at him with a poker face.

"No," she said and smirked. She looked so much like Stefan when she did that.

"C'mon let me and Celine join," he said. WTF?

Sofia took the cards, put them in the packet and gave them to Stefan.

"Go, play," she said and turned to me.

"Why are you acting like this?" he asked her.

"Stefan, are you out of your mind? Did she do some black magic on you? Did she drug you?" Sofia asked like an adult and I stared at her. Stefan stared too.

"No, why?" ha managed to stay after some time.

"Why did you bring her here?" she asked and gave him a look. If looks could kill, Stefan would be dead by now.

"I thought you were with Kiera," she added and I choked on the juice I was drinking and started coughing.

Stefan tried to rub my back but I moved away from him. It was involuntary.

"You too?" he asked me and I stared. What was I supposed to say? I was not the one hanging out with my ex around my present love interest with no explanation. Wait, love interest? I think I exaggerated.

"Okay listen, she was heavily drunk yesterday and called me and I'm not totally over her and I could not bear her being in danger like that and picked her but her house was locked and I got to know she changed houses but she was too drunk to tell me where her new house was so i had to bring her here and I haven't talk to her a lot. I ignored her mostly and I have been trying to be nice because this is awkward as hell and you people don't get that and I'm tired of getting cold shoulders from my women," he finished in one breath.

"Your women?" Sofia asked and I laughed.

" You, Kiera and grandma," he said and I blushed. Thankfully they didn't notice.

"Okay, we get it but you could have told us this before, you know," I said giving him a sceptical look.

"Sorry," he said and he actually looked sorry.

"It's okay," I said and he hugged me. I hugged him back.

"Can I join?" Sofia asked and we laughed.

"Of course, honey," I said and she hugged us.

Now it felt like Christmas.

After we let go Sofia started bombarding Stefan with questions.

"When is she leaving?"

"In an hour her boyfriend is going to pick her from the gas station,"

"Why the gas station?"

"I can't disclose this hidden place,"

"Why didn't you tell us before?"

"I thought you guys would understand,"

"You said your women. So grandma said something?"

"She is ignoring me so I think you guys should tell her," he said.

"Okay, I'll help you out and tell her," she said and ran off shouting 'Grandmaaaaaaaa!!'.

"Kiera, I'm never getting back with her," Stefan said. It felt like he was reassuring me.

"Even if you do, I shouldn't care," I said. And then I realized what I said. Not won't, I said shouldn't.

"I want you to care," he whispered and I felt his warm breath on my face. It was then that I realized how close he was.

"Grandma forgave youuuu," Sofia came screaming into the room and halted staring at us with wide eyes.

We both looked at her then looked at each other and took steps backwards.

"I-uh- Sorry," Sofia said and I laughed. Her expression was so funny.

"Guys, the mistletoe is in the drawing room," she said and when we caught on she laughed and ran off.

I looked at Stefan and found him staring at me. I blushed and looked down.

"Let's go," he said taking my hand and leading me to the drawing room.

And his phone just had to ring. It was Celine's boyfriend. He was at the gas station. So, we took Celine and went to drop her. The car ride was silent and we took the longer route so Celine could never find her way back there again.

While going back we took some ice cream too.

Dinner was fun. Grandma made a lot of food and even packed some for me to take home.

All in all, even if it wasn't my best christmas, it was definitely good.

Sorry for the late update guys.
Please read, vote and comment.