"I'm surprised you didn't show up in tank top and heels."

Yeah, you read that right. Despite the shock of the moment, those were actually the first words I said to Aimee when she reached us.

"Well these are in style now," she replied, flipping her hair as she did so.

I roamed my eyes over the thick long blue coat, Wellington boots, and scarf that covered various parts of her body. "Ah, but of course. There's no other reason to dress warmly other than for fashion."

Rolling her eyes, she grinned. "Of course! I mean, dressing for warmth? My natural hotness has got me covered!"

"Well that certainly explains why you took a bikini pic in this cold weather and posted it on Instagram!"

"Yeah, it does-" All of a sudden, Aimee's brow furrowed. "Wait, how do you know about that though?"

At that moment, I realised my mistake.

I could feel my cheeks growing warm as I said, "I-"

"Do you follow me on Instagram?"

I heard Annie say, "You follow her on Instagram?"

"I- No!"

Smirking, Aimee crossed her arms. "So you stalk me then."

"I mean, yes!"

There was silence for a few moments after I said that, during which Aimee just stared at me with wide eyes.

Heat was still rushing over my skin as I growled, "What?"

She blinked severally, then said, "Okay, wow. So, um...I mean, I'm flattered that you stalk me on insta-"

My breath caught as I heard that and I quickly said, "I meant I do follow you!"

"So you follow and stalk her?" Annie piped in.

"No!"

"I think you're both being too hard on him. I mean, we've all had that person we've stalked online at some point-"

I whirled round and glared at Max. "I expect this from them, but you?"

He didn't even bother to hide his grin as he replied, "Now now, don't take what I'm saying the wrong way-"

"There's no other way to take it but the wrong way, because I don't stalk Aimee online! The only reason I followed her is 'cause Instagram suggested her profile to me since I have her number. End of story!"

"Well-"

"Sorry for interrupting, but is it okay if I could go wait in the car?"

I let out a soft breath as my attackers turned to face Tim instead.

Of course, before anyone else could speak, I took the opportunity before me and changed the subject. "Why are you both here anyways?"

"They're spending the day with us," Annie replied.

"What!"

Aimee looked back at me and smirked. "For someone who stalks me on insta, you don't sound too plea-"

"How come you didn't tell me you guys were? Or even that you were back in town?" I quickly asked.

"Because the look you always get on your face anytime I shock you is wayyy too priceless!"

Honestly, it was like my face had decided to attempt becoming a living furnace ever since Aimee and Tim had walked up to us. "Well I'm glad you get a kick out of it," I grumbled.

I turned to Annie as I heard her say, "I spoke to Aimee a few days ago and found out that unfortunately, they don't have any other family member in town to celebrate Christmas with. So I invited them to spend the day with us. That's alright with you, isn't it?"

"Does it really matter if it isn't?"

She simply winked at me in reply, then looked back at Tim and held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Annie!"

Tim looked at her hand for a bit, then slowly placed his in hers. "Timmy," he mumbled.

Annie seemed to deflate a bit from his reaction, but she quickly widened her smile and said, "Nice to meet you, Timmy. I hope you don't mind coming over to spend the day at ours."

I followed Tim's eyes as they glanced over at Aimee, and I noted the way she shook her head a little .

Looking back at Annie, he replied, "I don't mind."

Whether she had or hadn't noticed the brief interaction between Tim and Aimee, the resigned tone Tim gave his reply in still spoke volumes about his true feelings.

There was a brief moment after that where it seemed no one knew what to say, then Max ended it by asking, "Have you both eaten? We can start heading home right now if you haven't."

"We have, but thanks for asking," Aimee replied.

"Ah. We should still start heading off now though. It's sort of become a tradition for Pierre and I to make a massive Christmas lunch every year, so I have to get started on that soon."

"You mean we have to get started on that soon."

"Today is Christmas, Ann," I scoffed. "Save the jokes for April fools."
. . .

"Wow, you guys sure know how to get into the Christmas spirit!"

Shutting the front door behind her, Annie gave Aimee a smile. "Thank you. At least it's nice to know that someone here appreciates the effort I put in."

I almost rolled my eyes. "You've been in charge of decorating for nearly five years now."

"And during those years I've never even received a 'thank you' from either of you!" She jabbed a finger in Max's and I's direction.

Max smiled. "Fair enough. Thank-"

"Don't thank her!" Turning back to face Annie, I shook my head. "I'm disappointed. One would expect that anyone that chooses to decorate the house does so with no expectations of getting a reward."

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot that it's such a hassle for you to show a bit of appreciation!"

"No problem, I'd be sure to remind you about that next time this issue comes up."

"Wh- You know what, fine! But this is the last year I ever decorate this house!"

"So she says," I muttered under my breath.

I had good reason for saying so as well. See, Annie is every bit of a holiday freak as her obsessions with Christmas tunes suggests. I mean, she even goes as far as to hire people to cover our entire estate with fairy lights (I cringe anytime I think about what our power bill is at the end of every December).

Don't get me wrong though, it's not like Annie's decorations are terrible. The fairy lights that seemed to be draped around every inch of the house, not including my room of course, added a nice colorful glow to it. Not to mention that we had not one, or two, but three massive trees, which were placed and fully decorated in the two living rooms and the dining hall respectively.

After taking off his coat and placing it on the coat rack, Max went off to the kitchen to get started on lunch. Meanwhile, I led Aimee and Tim into the larger living room, with Annie following not far behind us.

Clapping my hands together when we got inside, I whirled round to face them. "So, here we are."

Aimee rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Mr Tour Guide."

I smirked as I shrugged off my coat. "You're welcome. The coat rack is in the corner, by the way."

"Ok-"

I tossed my coat on top of her. "Help me drop mine there, will you?"

"Angelo!"

Freeing her face from the confines of my coat, Aimee smiled at Annie. "It's fine. Christmas is supposed to be all about good deeds, isn't it?"

Dropping onto the couch, I said, "See, she doesn't mind!"

Aimee didn't react to that. Vocally, at least. I have a suspicion that her attempt at stomping on one of my feet as she walked past me was in no way accidental. Luckily, my lightning fast reflexes helped me evade her.

Unfortunately, the fact I was caught up with evading her meant I didn't notice the projectile hurtling straight towards me until it was too late.

Therefore, when I rose up my face I got smacked right in it by Annie's coat.

As I pulled it off my face, I heard her say, "Well you can do me a good deed and go hang mine!"

Suddenly, the coat was yanked from my hands, then I heard Aimee say, "Don't stress yourself Romeo, I'll take it."

For a moment, I was stunned. That was until I felt her hand yank my hair roughly back as she drew the coat over it.

"Ow!"

In a voice that practically dripped sarcasm, Aimee exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, how clumsy of me!"

Whirling my head round, I shot her a deadly look. "How clumsy of you?"

"Now now Angelo, no need getting so worked up over a mistake."

With how fast my head kept rotating round, I'm surprised I didn't get whiplash. "A mistake?"

"Yes, a mistake. Stop being such a baby about it."

Maybe Annie's words would have been actually convincing if she had gotten rid off the smirk on her face.

"Anyways," she continued, "so I was thinking we could all play a game together while we wait for lunch to be ready. How does Monopoly sound?"

"No thanks."

A few moments later, Tim finally took his eyes off my game shelf and realised all eyes in the room were staring at him. Widely, I might add.

His face flushed when he did. "Uh... what I meant was, is it okay if I play these video games instead? I'm not really a fan of group games."

"What are you talking about?" Aimee said. "You're usually the one that gets everyone together for family games anytime Dad is-"

Tim snapped, "Well I just don't feel like playing now, okay?"

Just like that, tension rushed into the room, ushered in by the glares that were being sent back and forth from Aimee and Tim.

Finally, Aimee snapped back, "Fine! Go hurdle yourself up in one corner and play video games then!"

She marched to an empty armchair and dropped onto it, bringing out her phone and violently swiping across it's screen.

Annie and I shared one of those 'well, that escalated quickly' looks (if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you've clearly never witnessed sudden drama occur). In fact, I even mouthed to her, 'You grab the popcorn, I'll grab the soda', to which she rolled her eyes.

We both looked back at Tim, who had gone back to staring at the huge collection of games with a gleam in his eyes. Annie said, "I'm sure Angelo would be glad to lend you any of his games later on-"

I scoffed.

"-but right now Timmy, I really think it'd be a good idea for us all to spend the day doing something together. As a way of getting to know each other."

Slowly, Tim dragged his eyes away from the shelf and to Annie's face. "Didn't you say you were going to help out with lunch?"

I let out a snicker as I saw Annie's smile twitch severally.

A bit of time passed before she replied, "Well I decided to sacrifice that for the sake of entertaining my guests, just like a good host would. Now, would you like the hat or the shoe as your token piece in the game?"

"But I haven't agreed-"

Grinning, I shook my head at him. "Believe me Tim, as far as she's concerned you have."

Hey, I was doing him a favor. Annie looked like she was a few moments from plastering his mouth with duct tape.

Tim's mouth hung open for a few seconds, before he finally let out a sigh. "Sure, I'd be happy to be play."

Annie beamed. "That's great! I'll just go get the game and put on some tunes as well."
. . .

Originally this was just the first part of a chapter, but I decided to split it apart because the chapter was too long. So yeah, you're getting a double update today!

Make sure you leave your thoughts in comments, and drop a vote if you liked this chapter!

Till next time!