in which Portia writes about a Christmas in which Colton and Edward are still together and life still mattered.

It wasn't that Colton hated Christmas time, she just severely disliked it.

If the Holiday season was simply about spending time with Billy and Jacob, and Edward and Bella, and all she had to do was drink eggnog and, perhaps, give Edward the occasionally tipsy cuddle, then she wouldn't mind it at all. But unfortunately that wasn't all Christmas entailed to most of the student population at Forks High school, though Colton should hope that giving Edward Cullen a tipsy cuddle was not on the majority 'Christmas To-do list.'

For those people, Christmas was about parties and 'spreading the Holiday Spirit,' whatever the fuck that is.

"No."

It was a simple word. Two letters. One syllable. It was also the word that was most commonly heard coming from the mouth of Colton Black whenever Edward Cullen was seen wearing the sickeningly attractive, mischievous smile that brought her nothing but discomfort 90% of the time. The other 10% was just for them.

Edward just happened to be wearing the exact expression as he swaggered his way in the direction of where she stood by her locker. "Yes. We're going and that's final."

"Well," Colton started with a click of her tongue as she slammed the door of her locker shut, "Then it's a good thing that I already told Jessica that we couldn't come."

His grin simply widened which caused Colton's dread to increase, "Well, then it's a good thing that I told her that you had were mistaken in thinking that Esme and Carlisle were leaving for Alaska tonight and that we will most definitely be there tonight."

Colton stilled her pace so that she was no longer walking in front of Edward in the direction of the exit to the parking lot. Her eyes narrowed into tight slits, "You did no such thing."

"Oh," He hummed, turning to face her, topaz eyes sparkling with amusement and mischief, "But I did."

Her eyes widened in surprise before she was storming in front of him and out the doors that she was amongst the grey skies and frosty wind that bit into her exposed cheeks as she marched in the direction of the neatly parked Volvo. "I can't believe you actually did that," She seethed as she continued her furious pace across the sleet covered tar-mac, "You know how much I hate Jessica's fucking parties."

"I think it'll be,"Edward paused for a moment to search for the right word. "Fun. And isn't Alice always saying that we need to be more social?"

Colton barked a sardonic laugh and threw another glare his way just as Noah decided to join in on the conversation as he and Bella arrived at the car, "Oh please tell that you aren't trying to be social again."

"Your brother here thinks that it'll be a right all laugh to drag me to Jessica Stanely's stupid Christmas Party." She stated through gritted teeth as she continued to stare down her boyfriend who continued to ignore her heated look with an annoying amount of nonchalance.

"Don't exaggerate Cole," He clicked his tongue, "I'm not dragging you there, I'm dragging all of there."

Noah and Bella quickly matched Colton's expression and the she sighed gratitude, "Finally sanity."

"Nope," Noah began, "No, no, no, no. There is no way I am going to let myself be stuffed into a hideous sweater and pretend to actually care what Mike Newton is doing for Christmas which is probably stay at home and play video games. No, no way. I am not doing this."

Colton nodded in approval, "And neither am I."

COLTON HATED EVERYTHING.

She hated Nina Argo, the bespectacled girl from her Trig class, for talking her ear off for the past twelve minutes and thirty - five seconds, yes she was counting but what else was she meant to do while she attempted to look interested in a conversation about cats? She hated Jessica Stanely for throwing this god-awful Christmas Party. She hated the stupid maroon sweater she had been forced to wear that she was sure was going to give her hives with the amount of friction it was causing against her skin. But she especially hated Edward Cullen for looking so at ease amongst their peers, and for looking so god damn perfect in his forest green Christmas Sweater. She also hated him for dragging her but the first two were almost more frustrating.

It should be impossible for someone to look so good in a sweater that had a pouting baby Rudolf who looked more possessed than cute. But of course if someone could, it would be Edward fucking Cullen.

The devil himself was currently smiling and chatting away with a nameless girl from one of their classes. Colton on the other hand was trying to glare at him from over Nina's tinsel padded shoulder.

It took him longer than Colton would have liked for him to notice her glare and all he did was give her biggest grin before going straight back to talking to the simple human who probably couldn't still believe that the Edward Cullen was still listening to her prattle on. He even appeared to be genuinely invested in what she was saying, something Colton had yet to master as she attempted to nod her head in mock interest.

Finally, Colton found her escape. Through the door and out of the storm came the person she had been waiting for to save her from this evening. Bella Swan stood to the left of her boyfriend Noah Cullen, looking just as painfully awkward as ever and just as uncomfortable in her dark cherry red sweater that was covered in snowflakes.

They had been thankfully blessed with the excuse of having previous dinner plans with Charlie so while Colton had been here for almost an hour, they were only arriving now. But at least now she had someone else to be miserable with.

Colton took a swig of her eggnog and quickly made her get away. Leaving a very confused Nina behind her as she strode off while the girl was mid-sentence but Colton didn't care, her best friend was here to save her.

"Thank god you're here Bells," Colton sighed as she tugged her tiny friend into a tight hug. "I thought I was going to be stuck of Nina 'Nasal Voice' all evening. Are you ready to have a fabulously dreadful night Noah?

He gave her a sardonic smile, "Aren't I always?"

Bella snickered as they pulled apart, "What kind of friend would I be if I left you to the wolves?"

Colton couldn't help but roll her eyes at her friend's poorly placed pun and even poorer excuse of a cheeky wink, "Good one Swan, you're hilarious."

Bella's grin widened, "I know."

"Glad you both could make it," Came Edward's voice as an arm wrapped itself around Colton's waist. "This one here was getting a bit antsy."

"There's only one reason why we're going through this hell and that's because of you Eddie," Noah stated while glaring at his sibling, purposefully dragging out the cheesy nickname.

Colton scoffed, "And I was only getting 'antsy,' as you so eloquently put it, because you abandoned me at the first chance you got. Talk about boyfriend of the year."

"I told you 'spread out and mingle,' and that's what I did. I would have come to find you but you looked pretty busy with your eggnog." He chortled shamelessly and Colton felt herself scoff again.

"It was more like 'abandon Colton so that she has her ear talked off all evening.' The eggnog was the only thing that kept me from strangling myself."

"You still looked like you were enjoying that eggnog."

"I hate you."

By ten pm, Colton was ready to leave. Truthfully, she had been ready to leave before they had even arrived but now she was thoroughly tipsy and was anxious to go home. Which was why she had been especially apologetic as she had to ever so regretfully inform Jessica that they had to leave as they all had to be up early in the morning to wish Carlisle and Esme off at the airport.

But all that mattered was that Jessica Stanely bought Colton's fake apologies and took her reluctance to leave to be geniunie. She even waved off the couples with a plastic smile as they put on their coats and stepped out into the snow.

"We're free," Colton cheered as she all but galloped down the road that ran outside of Jessica Stanely's house and was now littered with the cars of their classmates.

Noah hummed in agreement, "Thank god that shit-show is over."

"Oh come on now," Edward huffed, "It wasn't that bad."

"Ha," Colton barked out a laugh as she lagged onto Edward's side, looping her arm with his. "Says the one who dragged us all there in the first place. I was having to constantly check that my smile didn't look that much like a grimace."

"And I have to say that while you didn't always succeed, at least you weren't like Noah who simply looked like he was perpetually cringing the entire nights." Bella snarked from beside her boyfriend as they walked up to their car that sat two parking spaces up from Edward's Volvo.

"It doesn't matter anyway," Colton waved off before Noah could shot anything back. "It's over and that's all that matters. Now I have nothing to do but eat myself silly until the New Year."

"How much eggnog did you have Cole?" Bella snorted.

"Only two or three mugs-"

"-or five or six," Edward added on and all Colton could do was glare at him.

"Judge me all you like old man I don't care," She snarked from across the frosted roof of his Volvo, her statement earning her nothing but laughter. "Whatever, enjoy your evening or whatever shit. Don't do anything I wouldn't and Merry Fucking Christmas to everyone.

 I couldn't help myself when I started thinking about what Edward and Colton would be like during christmas so this is where this came. So yeah not only is this for the twilight holiday thing that's being hosted by JustSav,  Ashlinized, greynightmares and my bae christophrelf, but I also wrote it for you guys for sticking out this unscheduled hiatus.

 I hope to see you guys soon, Happy Holidays!!