Snow fell around me, forcing me to pull my hat over my ears. A smile formed on my lips as I watched Everly do a handstand in the snow. For that official winter snowstorm, we were all over the moon that it happened during Christmas break.

When Tristen arrived the same day I took Miles to the airport, I thought this holiday would drag on and, in some ways, it did. For the past few days, Miles consumed my thoughts. I worried about him. I was worried I said the wrong things. People like Rodger were driving him to the ground, and they didn't seem to care. Miles needed someone to talk to about it, and I feared I wasn't enough. I wanted to reach out to his parents, but I feared that I would make things worse, so instead I stayed quiet.

"Did you get that on camera?" Everly asked eagerly, snapping me back to reality.

Shoot. I forgot to film it.

"ISLA! Really? That was perfect," Everly pouted as Tristen came out of the house with a smile on his face.

He stretched with a yawn, hinting he just woke up from his nap. He looked at Everly, and his smile grew larger. He had something up his sleeve.

"No, don't Tristen," Everly said seriously as she took a step back from him.

He chuckled and before she had time to react; he ran over to her and scooped her up in his arms.

I quickly turned the camera on as Everly wiggled to get out of his arms. "Put me down," she commanded.

As much as Everly wiggled, Tristen just held her tighter, like a boa constrictor. He laughed as he turned her upside down, making her head touch the snow.

She put her hands on the ground to stop him, but only pulled them up, unwilling to get her hands cold. "Stop!!!!" Everly screamed.

However, her screams fell on deaf ears when she was upside down, hair in her mouth, and her jacket falling off. I resisted the urge to giggle as I kept the camera rolling.

"Tristen! I'm serious!" Everly screamed louder.

I sighed as I turned the camera off. The game was over. If he didn't let her go, she would start crying. And with that, he lightly put her on the ground. "Got that on camera?"

I nodded at him. "Sure did."

"Good. Now we have proof that Everly sounds like a man when she screams."

Everly quickly got up from the ground as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Nothing is questioned when you get it on camera," he said as he walked up to me to see the video. "Great job. Remember, no one can forget video." He quickly sent the video to himself as Everly ran into the house, crying.

I sighed. "You probably should go apologize."

"I should, shouldn't I?" he asked.

We were silent for a moment as we watched the snow fall around us. "So you leave in two days..." I stated, knowing that once he was gone, he would be like a ghost, unable to answer any of my phone calls.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets with a frown. "I'll be better this semester."

I knew what that meant, since he never kept his promises. "Ok."

"No, Isla, I'm serious. I made goals," he said with honesty as he wrapped his arm around me. "You're so important to me. I can't lose touch of that."

I felt my eyes well up with tears and I leaned into him. "I love you."

"I love you too, Isla." He shivered.

With a sigh, I pulled out of the embrace and walked back inside. "Let's get inside."

Silently, he followed my lead. "So there's no way that Miles is going to join us for New Years?" Tristen asked.

I shook my head. "There's no way," I said with disappointment. I remembered the phone call with him last night. "He's snowed in. It was a blizzard in Maine. All airports in the area are closed." I couldn't lie, I was bummed, wishing we could spend at least some of the holiday season together.

"You know, out of all the boyfriends you have had, I like Miles the most."

I eyed him. Tristen referred me to almost all my past boyfriends, so he implied I picked the best myself. "Are you just saying that because he's a pop star?"

Tristen laughed, shaking his head. "No. He's good for you. He has been good for this family. You're happier and then Mom, I don't know if it was Miles doing, but she's actually present."

I nodded. We needed a wake-up call and Miles was just that. "I can agree."

He pulled out his phone and looked at it. "I have to go. But first I'll say sorry to Everly."

"You better," I said as I sat down on the couch. "Say hello to your friends for me," I said even though I knew they wouldn't care if I said anything.

Tristen nodded as he hugged me then with that, he went upstairs to find his sister.

I pulled out my phone, hoping that Miles had texted me. He hadn't. He had been pretty quiet today which added to my worry about him. He was probably doing family things, but it still made me a little concerned.

Not knowing what to do next, I got onto social media and scrolled. Soon minutes ticked into an hour, and I hadn't left the spot on the couch, that was until there was a knock on the door.

"Isla, can you get that?" Mom asked from the kitchen with her hands deep in a turkey brine for tomorrow's dinner.

I nodded although, I didn't want to leave my comfy spot on the couch. Slowly, I strolled to the door unsure who would visit today. We did not host any parties on New Years. Our lively evening consisted of snacks and movies until midnight, just in time to see the ball drop.

I opened the door with my eyes glued to my phone. "Can I help you?"

"Hey Isla," Miles' voice rang out.

I dropped my phone as my head snapped up to meet his green eyes and a gray beanie. His sweats told me he had spent hours sitting. "You came, but how?" I asked as I moved out of the way so he could step in.

He shrugged as he walked into the house, pulling off his gray beanie to show that his golden blonde hair was shaved completely off. "Called in a few favors."

I smiled as I rubbed his shaved head. "I like the fresh look."

He returned the smile as he took off his coat, allowing me to see that his red wrists from almost two weeks ago scabbed, looking more like dry skin instead of self-inflicted torment. Stepping away was good for him. He probably needed more of that.

"I needed a change." He smiled then pulled me into another hug. "Goodness, I missed you."

I melted into him, breathing in his scent and steady breathing.

"Isla, close the door! The heat's on!" Mom called out.

"Sorry!" I said as I quickly shut the door. "A week and a half is too long without you."

He nodded then took off his shoes, plopping them by the door. "I agree," he said as we walked into the house.

"Mom look who came."

Mom looked up from her recipe book and smiled. "I thought you were coming around five. You're early."

"You knew?" I asked her.

She nodded with a smile. "Of course. He asked if it would be ok to join us for New Years eve. I said yes, of course. He's always welcome here."

"You sneaky devil," I said to Miles with a smirk.

He kissed my cheek. "To see that surprised look on your face makes it completely worth it."

His comment made my insides warm and gooey as we walked into the family room.

By now we had been dating for a month, but it felt like longer. He was the part that I never knew I was missing. We clicked together like a puzzle, and I was falling for him more every day.

Miles sat down on the couch with a tired sigh. I wonder how hard it was for him to get here. He shook his hand then smiled as if to say he was fine. But I could see that he pushed himself too much and he would feel terrible tomorrow from it. The thought made me feel guilty, but I chose not to linger on it because selfishly, I wanted him here.

"So, I wanted to ask you something." He pulled out a small, wrapped gift and handed it to me.

My heart raced, wondering what was in the box and what he would ask. I froze in anticipation as I trained my eyes on his, waiting.

"In two weeks, Rodger will throw an album release party in LA. I was wondering if you would be my plus one?" he asked.

A grin appeared on my face. Miles had talked about parties in LA. They sounded fancy, probably too fancy for me. But this meant a lot to him, I could see it. So of course I would go with him. As long as I was with him, that was all that mattered. "Of course. Of course, I'll come."

"Are you going to open the box?" he asked with a chuckle.

I almost forgot about that. Quickly, I opened the box to see a gold necklace with a single white gemstone hanging from it. It left me breathless. I had never received such a beautiful gift before.

"I was hoping you could wear that to the party," Miles said shyly.