I was greeted at the door to Fitz and Biana's house by a shower of red, green, and gold glitter. Linh squealed with delight and spun around in the shimmering confetti. I just groaned and thought about how hard it would be to get it out of my hair. I glared at Sophie, Keefe, Biana, and Jensi, who must've devised the plan. Biana glanced at me, then at Sophie, then at Jensi, and then turned back to Sophie with a crazy glint in her eyes. Before I could ask what was going on, she shoved Sophie from behind and she crashed into me.

"Why-" I was cut off by a gasp from Linh, followed by hysterical laughter. I turned to look at her. "What?" I asked. She didn't say anything, she just grinned wickedly and pointed up.

Sophie groaned and buried her face into my chest, but I couldn't stop staring at the ball of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. How had I missed it on the way in? I had been so distracted by the confetti in my hair that I hadn't even checked! I silently scolded myself. It was common sense to always look up before going anywhere around Christmastime. But apparently I lacked that. Now what? Obviously I had to kiss her. That must've been the plan all along. My head spun, and I didn't realize right away that Sophie had pulled away from me. When I did, she was looking straight at me, her eyes dead serious. And then she grabbed my face and pulled me down and kissed me.

My eyes fluttered shut. I knew I should pull away. I knew it shouldn't last long. After all, she was being forced to do this, by way of the plant. It's not like Sophie would ever actually want to kiss me. But I couldn't stop, couldn't be done yet. Everything was too perfect, even though it wasn't really perfect at all. Everyone was watching, and, again, I reminded myself, she wasn't doing it at her own will. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever feel her lips on mine again. Assuming I wouldn't, I melted into the kiss, trying to make the best of the moment. Don't go too far. I warned myself, but I didn't need the warning. Sophie had already pulled away.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "That was my idea. I did it to catch Biana and Jensi. Not... you know..." She trailed off and I nodded.

I skirted around the plant on the ceiling, glaring at it as if it could just shrivel up and die right there on the spot. Linh stayed behind to help Keefe pick the glitter up off the floor so the next guest would be surprised. Then I froze and turned around. They were both just sitting there, picking up glitter without a care in the world of what was going on around them.

"Um, Keefe?" Biana said, fighting off laughter. I glared at her. Why would she tell them!?

"What?" He asked, looking up from his work with such a confused look on his face I almost took pity on him. Almost.

"Do you know where you are right now?" Biana continued, forcing a straight face.

Keefe looked around. "I'm in your house," he offered.

I dragged my hands down my face. How could he be such an idiot!?

By now Sophie and Jensi both had to leave the room and go laugh somewhere else. Biana's face was bright red from containing her own, and biting down on her bottom lip so hard it probably hurt. Was I the only one who didn't think it was funny?

"Keefe, how come you stopped helping?" Linh asked when she finally realized he wasn't picking up glitter with her anymore.

"Can you tell me what's going on?" he asked, ignoring her question.

"We're cleaning up glitter?" She said, sounding confused. "Oh, did you want us to leave the glitter, Biana?"

"NO!" Biana screamed before Linh could dump the glitter back on the floor.

"Linh!" Sophie called from the other room.

Don't say it. I willed her silently. She said it anyway.

"Look up."

They both froze, realizing instantly what she meant.

"Can we at least wait until the glitter's picked up?" Keefe whined.

"No," I said. "Get it over with now. And I'm not sticking around to see it."

With that I turned and went into the kitchen where Sophie and Jensi were. They both ran over to the entrance, giggling and eager to watch. I huffed, leaning up against the wall. Glitter fell out of my hair and I sighed. After a few failed attempts to shake the stuff out, I gave up. I glanced over at Sophie and Jensi, and, after a mental argument, walked over to them.

"Did they do it yet?" I asked, refusing to look into the other room.

"Not yet," Jensi replied, not taking his eyes off of them. Or, I assumed he was watching them.

"What's taking them so long?" I muttered, peeping over his shoulder, just for a second. I immediately regretted it. It was like they had been waiting for my curiosity to get the best of me, because almost as soon as I looked at them their lips met. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and started back into the kitchen. Unfortunately, I couldn't get far, because Sophie had grabbed my wrist and dragged me back.

"Chill," she whispered. "It's fine. Look, I know she's your sister, and I know you don't like Keefe much, but Linh's thirteen. She can choose who she wants. Whether you like it or not, she doesn't need you watching every move she makes." I swallowed hard, then twisted my hand so her fingers twined with mine.

I took a deep breath, trying to find some argument. I couldn't, she was right.

"Okay," I whispered.

Okay, I am so sorry for not updating in forever, and leaving you on that cliffhanger. I hope this ultra-long chapter satisfies all your cravings! And the title was my terrible idea of a pun, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

1,026 words!