After all the excitement of the show, after the laughter and teasing from Isabella, after Bryan smirked at me one too many times and made my brain short-circuit, I finally had a quiet moment to myself.

I sat cross-legged on my bed, my hair still damp from my post-performance shower, my muscles aching in the best way. The flowers Bryan had given me sat in a vase on my desk, making my entire room smell like fresh lilies and roses. The applause, the warmth of the stage lights, the feeling of moving freely again—it all still felt surreal.

But right now, all I could think about was Christmas.

In two days, it would be Christmas Eve.

And for the first time in my life, I wouldn't be home.

I pulled my phone to my ear, closing my eyes as my mom's voice filled the line.

"Amber," she said, the warmth in her voice making something in my chest tighten. "I was just about to call you. How are you feeling? How did the performance go?"

I exhaled, a small smile tugging at my lips. "It was amazing, Mom. I still can't believe it."

"I knew it would be," she said, and I could hear the pride in her voice. "Isabella sent me a copy of the performance. I just finished watching it."

I sat up straighter. "You did?"

"Yes," she said softly. "You were... breathtaking, sweetheart."

The emotion in her voice hit me hard.

I swallowed, suddenly blinking back unexpected tears. My mom had always been my biggest supporter, the person who had driven me to every early morning class, who had sat through endless rehearsals, who had stayed up late sewing my costumes when I was younger. She had been there for everything.

And now?

She had watched my biggest moment through a screen.

My throat tightened. "I wish you had been here."

She let out a quiet sigh, and even though I couldn't see her, I knew she was smiling sadly. "I know, honey. I wish I had too. But I'm so proud of you."

I bit my lip, trying to push past the guilt that had been gnawing at me all day. "I feel bad, Mom. Christmas is in two days, and I'm leaving you all alone."

"Oh, Amber," she said softly. "I don't want you to feel guilty. I know how much this performance meant to you. You needed to be there."

"But it's Christmas."

She hesitated, and for a second, the only sound was the faint hum of the phone line. Then, she said, "It's just one year, sweetheart. We'll have many more Christmases together. And I'll see you soon, okay? I promise."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me.

It wasn't the same.

Since my dad died, it had always been the two of us. Christmas had been our thing—watching old holiday movies, making his favorite gingerbread cookies, opening presents in our pajamas while we talked about all the things he would have loved if he were still here.

And now, I wouldn't be there.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing my voice to be light. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, sweetheart."

We stayed on the phone for a little while longer, talking about everything and nothing, until Bryan sent me a text letting me know he was outside waiting to take me to his house for dinner.

I sighed. "I have to go. Bryan's family is having dinner, and his mom apparently cooked to congratulate me."

"Oh, that's so sweet," my mom said, her tone softening. "Tell them I said thank you for taking care of my girl."

I smiled. "I will."

"And Amber?"

"Yeah?"

"Try to enjoy yourself, okay? Even if this Christmas is different."

I nodded. "I'll try."

But deep down, I wasn't sure if I really could.

Bryan and Lily were waiting outside when I stepped out of my dorm, bundled up against the cold.

Lily immediately grabbed my hand, grinning up at me. "We're eating my favorite dinner tonight!"

I smiled down at her. "Oh yeah? What is it?"

She gasped dramatically. "You'll see."

Bryan, standing next to her, rolled his eyes but smirked anyway. "She made Mom cook something fancy because she thinks she's a food critic now."

Lily stuck her tongue out at him. "It's called having taste, Bryan."

I laughed, my chest feeling a little lighter.

The drive to their house was filled with Lily's nonstop chatter and Bryan's occasional sarcastic comments, and by the time we arrived, I was actually looking forward to the distraction.

Bryan's mom greeted me warmly, pulling me into a hug before ushering us into the dining room. The table was already set, the smell of homemade food filling the house.

"This is for you, Amber," she said with a smile. "You were incredible tonight."

I smiled, genuinely touched. "Thank you. That means a lot."

Lily practically dragged me to my seat, and soon, we were all eating, the conversation easy and filled with warmth.

Then, halfway through dinner, Bryan's mom asked the question that made my stomach drop.

"Amber, do you want to spend Christmas with us?"

My fork froze mid-air.

The table fell silent.

Lily's eyes lit up immediately. "YES! Yes, yes, yes! Stay for Christmas!"

I hesitated, my heart twisting. "I—"

Bryan's mom smiled softly. "I know this year is different for you. But if you don't want to spend the holiday alone, we'd love to have you."

I looked at Bryan, who wasn't smirking for once. He was just watching me, his expression unreadable, waiting for my answer.

I took a breath, pushing past the lump in my throat.

Christmas had always been me and my mom. But this year, I wouldn't be home. I wouldn't be able to do the things we always did, and that thought made my chest ache.

But at the same time...

I wasn't alone.

Bryan was here. Lily was here. His mom was offering me a place at their table, offering me warmth, offering me family.

I exhaled slowly.

"...Yeah. I'd love to."

Lily cheered immediately, clapping her hands.

Bryan's mom smiled. "Then it's settled."

I felt Bryan's foot nudge mine under the table. When I looked up, his smirk was back in place, but his eyes were softer now.

"Don't worry." he said. "We'll make sure your first Christmas away from home is a good one."

—---------

I woke up to a steady warmth against my back, a strong arm draped over my waist, and the faint scent of Bryan's cologne mixed with the fresh linen of his sheets. For a moment, I just lay there, my mind still fuzzy with sleep, my body sinking into the comfort of his bed. The early morning light peeked through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room, and for once, everything felt... peaceful.

And then, like a slap to the face, it hit me.

I had forgotten to buy Christmas gifts.

For Bryan.

For his mom.

For Lily.

My eyes shot open.

Panic flooded my chest as my brain caught up to reality. Oh my god.

How had I let this happen?!

I had been so consumed by rehearsals, the performance, the nerves—that I had completely neglected the most important part of Christmas. How was I supposed to just show up tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, empty-handed, like some kind of ungrateful guest?

My breath quickened, my heart pounding as the anxiety fully settled in.

I needed to fix this. Immediately.

I reached for my phone as quietly as possible, trying not to wake Bryan. He was still asleep behind me, his breathing slow and even, his arm heavy around my waist. If I moved too suddenly, he'd definitely wake up, and there was no way I could let him hear me freaking out about this.

I carefully slid out from under his arm, biting my lip as he stirred slightly.

Please don't wake up. Please don't wake up.

He let out a soft grunt, his face scrunching for a moment before he settled again, shifting onto his back.

I exhaled in relief, grabbing my phone and tiptoeing out of the room.

The moment I was safely in the hallway, I hit Isabella's contact and pressed call.

She picked up after two rings, her voice thick with sleep.

"Amber?" she mumbled. "Why are you calling me before noon? Did Bryan finally make you combust from excessive sexual tension?"

I froze, face heating instantly.

"What? No!" I hissed, whispering aggressively. "This is serious!"

She groaned. "Are you pregnant?"

"ISABELLA!"

She cackled, her sleepiness fading instantly. "Okay, okay, chill. What's the crisis?"

I pressed a hand to my still-pounding heart, leaning against the hallway wall. "I forgot to get Bryan a Christmas gift."

There was a long pause.

Then—a loud, dramatic gasp.

"Amber. How. Dare. You."

"I KNOW!" I whispered-yelled, sliding down onto the floor. "I was distracted! The show took up all my brain cells, and now it's literally Christmas Eve tomorrow, and I have NOTHING."

A pause. Then Isabella, voice dripping with judgment:

"Please tell me you at least got something for his mom and Lily."

I whimpered.

"AMBER!"

"I FORGOT, OKAY?" I threw my arm over my face, dying inside. "What do I do?! I can't just show up empty-handed like some kind of heartless monster! Bryan's mom literally cooked for me last night!"

"You are the worst guest ever," Isabella said dramatically.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Izzy, help me!"

She sighed, like this was the greatest burden she had ever been forced to carry.

"Alright, listen up, disaster child. Get dressed. We are going shopping."

Forty minutes later, I was sitting in the taxi, clutching a coffee like it was my last lifeline. The mall parking lot was a war zone, cars aggressively fighting for spots, and people rushing into stores like they were preparing for the apocalypse.

Isabella adjusted her scarf dramatically. "Alright, soldier. Are you ready for battle?"

I groaned, sinking lower in my seat. "This is going to be awful."

"This is what you get for forgetting the most basic part of Christmas," she said, sipping her latte. "Now, what's the game plan? We start with Bryan?"

I nodded, biting my lip. "I have no idea what to get him. What do you even buy for a guy who already has everything?"

Isabella tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, thinking. "Something that reminds him he's obsessed with you."

I gave her a look. "Be serious."

"I am serious," she said. "Something personal. Something meaningful. Something that makes him think of you every time he looks at it."

I bit my lip, thinking hard. Then, it hit me.

"A leather bracelet," I said suddenly.

Isabella raised an eyebrow. "A bracelet?"

"Not just any bracelet," I said quickly. "A simple one. One that I can get engraved with something personal."

She grinned. "Oh, I like where this is going."

The mall was absolute chaos.

People shoved past us in a frenzy of last-minute shopping, Christmas music blasted from every store, and children screamed in line for Santa. Isabella and I dodged through the madness, determined to fix my failure as a functional human.

First stop: Bryan's gift.

We found a sleek, understated leather bracelet at a jewelry kiosk. It wasn't flashy—just the kind of thing he would actually wear.

Next up: his mom.

Isabella dragged me into a luxury candle store, insisting that "every mom loves an overpriced candle."

I hesitated. "Isn't this too basic?"

"No," Isabella said firmly, shoving a lavender-vanilla candle into my hands. "This says 'thank you for letting me invade your home and feed me like a lost child.'"

I sighed. "Fine."

And finally: Lily's gift.

We went straight to a dancewear boutique, where I found the perfect ballet leotard and matching chiffon skirt. Soft pink, delicate, and exactly the kind of thing she'd love.

Isabella smiled as I held it up. "She's gonna lose her mind."

I swallowed hard, warmth filling my chest. "She deserves it."

With our shopping bags already weighing us down, Isabella and I made our way toward the escalators, finally about to escape the madness of the mall. I was already feeling ten times lighter, knowing that Christmas wouldn't be a complete failure on my end.

But of course, because this was my life, things couldn't go that smoothly.

Because right before we reached the exit, we nearly collided with two of Isabella's friends—Sofia and Luka.

And they were, as always, mid-argument.

"I'm just saying," Sofia snapped, crossing her arms as she walked ahead of Luka, her long, dark curls bouncing with every step. "It was stupid of you to buy that sweater if you were just going to complain about it."

Luka scoffed, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he followed after her, his tall frame radiating pure exasperation. "I'm not complaining. I'm stating facts. The sweater is aggressively festive."

Sofia rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "You literally called it 'a Christmas crime' five seconds ago."

Luka shrugged. "I was being dramatic."

Sofia turned so fast that Luka almost crashed into her. She pointed a finger at him. "Oh, now you're dramatic? Last week, you said emotions were for the weak."

"I meant unnecessary emotions."

"Like what? Joy?"

Luka opened his mouth. Then closed it.

Isabella grabbed my arm, whispering urgently. "They are the weirdest."

I nodded, both fascinated and slightly terrified. "Are they even friends?"

"Debatable."

At that exact moment, Sofia finally noticed us. "Oh my god, Isabella!"

She stormed over, Luka trailing behind her with an unimpressed expression.

"What are you guys doing here?" Sofia asked, her attention flicking between the numerous shopping bags in our hands.

"Saving Amber from ruining Christmas," Isabella answered smoothly.

Luka raised an eyebrow, his gaze sliding to me. "Let me guess—you forgot to get Bryan a gift?"

I groaned, throwing my head back. "Why does everyone just assume that?"

Sofia smirked, crossing her arms. "Because Isabella spent the entire week stressing about gifts, so it tracks that you didn't."

I sighed, defeated. "You're not wrong."

Sofia grinned victoriously. "I never am."

Luka rolled his eyes. "Wow. That must be exhausting for you."

Sofia shot him a sickly sweet smile. "Not as exhausting as having to explain simple concepts to you every day."

Luka scoffed. "You're stupid."

"And you're still following me around like a lost puppy."

"I drove you here, you psychopath."

I turned to Isabella. "Should we... be here for this?"

She sighed dramatically. "They've been like this for months. If they don't kiss by New Year's, I'm going to lock them in a closet."

I snorted. "That feels illegal."

Sofia, completely ignoring Luka at this point, turned back to us. "Anyway. Where are you guys off to next?"

"Nowhere," Isabella said. "We are finally done, and I am treating myself to Starbucks as payment for fixing Amber's disaster."

Sofia nodded approvingly. "Solid plan."

Luka huffed. "Enjoy your overpriced sugar milk."

Sofia whipped around so fast that Luka actually took a step back. "I swear to God, if you insult Starbucks one more time—"

And just like that, they were back at it.

Isabella grabbed my arm and started dragging me away before we got roped into their never-ending bickering.

"Okay, no time for banter," she announced. "We have survived this mall. We are getting coffee. We are going home."

Sofia waved us off, already too busy arguing with Luka to notice us leaving.

As we finally made it out of the mall, I exhaled deeply, my arms weighed down with shopping bags but my chest feeling lighter.

Tomorrow would be my first Christmas away from home.

—--------------

Christmas Eve at Bryan's house was nothing short of magical. The entire living room smelled like cinnamon and vanilla, the soft glow of fairy lights twinkled along the walls, and the Christmas tree stood tall in the corner, buried under a mountain of presents.

Bryan and I were both wearing the ridiculous matching pajamas Isabella had forced me to buy—red plaid with little snowflakes, which Bryan had grumbled about but secretly loved.

The dinner table was packed with food, plates overflowing with tamales, roasted pork, rice, and every possible dessert you could imagine. Bryan's mom had gone all out, and between the warm food, the Christmas music playing softly in the background, and Lily giggling at every little thing, it felt... perfect.

After dinner, we all gathered around the coffee table, piling onto the couch and the floor for a night of board games.

Lily was hyper-focused on winning, Bryan was playing strategically just to mess with everyone, and I was too distracted by the warmth of the moment to care about winning.

Somewhere between Bryan cheating at Uno and Lily demanding a rematch, I realized—this was my first Christmas away from home.

But I didn't feel alone