Notes:

Additional Cast:

Paget Brewster as Laureen Nelson

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Harry Nelson

Chris Wood as Daniel Alexander Nelson

Danielle Panabakeras Olivia Wright

Halsey as Callie Domingo

Jordan Rodrigues as Jake Torres

Claire Holt as River Abrahams

Chloe Moretz as Jen Parrish

Rhiannon Fish as Vivianne Woodson

Jessica Parker Kennedy as Sam Harris

Toru Uchikadoas Ren Kurosawa( 黒澤恋) 

Joseph's POV

Christmas in the Nelsons' house is a family holiday. We all gather together to eat mum's turkey with cranberry sauce, which is one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted. Seriously, my mother is a very charismatic and talented chef. She has confessed that if she hadn't accomplished her dream to become a marine biologist, she would like to own a restaurant, where she would cook all her specialties.

Dan came from Boston yesterday, but he didn't come alone. Olivia accompanied him as well and she will stay in our house for one week. Olivia is my brother's long term girlfriend. They have been dating for 5 years and they met at Harvard. She was a Physics student and she's doing her Phd on it as well. She's the kind of girl I would call sweet, one year younger than Dan, with light brown hair and dark brown eyes. She's very slim and quite shorter than him.

We are all gathered now around the wooden table in the dining room. The whole house is decorated with ornaments and lights, because my mother adores Christmas decorations and truth be told I really like watching my house like that. A Christmas tree is at the living room by the window. Me and Dan used to decorate it, with the help of my mother and after Dan left to college I used to do it with only her and sometimes Sophie came along to help us.

My father is sitting at the head of the table and next to him my mother from the one side and Dan from the other. I sit next to my mother and Olivia next to Dan. We all are dressed in formal clothes. The turkey and appetizers are on the table and we start serving ourselves.

"Laureen, everything looks delicious." Olivia points out with a smile. She is wearing a green lace dress and her hair is in a bun.

"Thank you my dear. Please don't be shy and serve everything you want! Have some potato salad." My mum puts some on Olivia's plate. She's wearing a black one sleeve dress and her hair is straight.

"Mum, please sit down and enjoy the meal." Dan chimes in. "You've put a great effort to cook all this stuff." he looks at mum with a soft look, which she gives back. Olivia smiles lightly and caresses Dan's shoulder.

"Honey, Daniel is right! Everything is perfect!" My father says as well. "Olivia, would you like some red wine? It's my favourite year." he smiles widely and his white teeth are shown.

"Yes Harry! Thank you!" Olivia stretches her arm with the glass and father pours a bit of wine it. Then my father pours in everyone's glasses his favourite wine. I have to admit my old man knows how to pick a good one.

"Merry Christmas!" my mum exclaims raising her glass and we all do the same saying 'Merry Christmas' as we clink our glasses.

"So, tell me guys, how is life in Boston?" Father starts a conversation as he's cutting his turkey.

"As you know it. Boston is a busy city. We had a lot of work the last few weeks and the only thing we did was to come and go from university to home and backwards." Dan answers his question and puts a piece of turkey in his mouth.

"That's true! Our professors were really pushing us, so we didn't go out a lot." Olivia adds, sipping from her glass. "Well to be completely honest, my professor is more lenient. Dan's is very strict!" Mum's face darkens a bit from concern, as it was expected.

"Don't worry about Daniel. He is a tough man. He can pull anything off." Dad squeezes Dan's arm. "His professor knows that he's dealing with an intelligent and responsible young man, that's why he depends a lot on him." He brags about Dan with a wide smile crossing his face. Dan flashes an awkward smile. It was expected he would effuse over his dear Daniel, who does everything perfectly. Anyway, I am used to it by now. Same old things. I huff, without anyone noticing and I return to my plate. I think my food is more interesting than the things that the old man has to say.

"Thanks dad! I am just glad that I have some days off to rest." Dan remarks.

"I will make sure of that as long as you're here." mum chimes in. "That goes for you as well." she turns to me with a serious and concerned look. "You will recover strength for the next semester, because you look more tired than ever." Her voice is strict and sweet at the same time. I know she isn't joking about me and my brother's wellbeing. She is capable of supervising us until we eat all the food in our plates, like when she used to do when we were children. My father sniggers the moment he hears the last sentence.

"It seems like partying, drinking and fooling around with women finally took the toll on you." He remarks coldly, sipping wine from his crystal glass. That makes me freeze. Every Christmas my father complains about my life, but I didn't expect he would dare that in front of Dan's girlfriend. It's not the first time she's been here and she feels like a member of our family, but dad has never crossed the line. Olivia looks astonished and Dan seems tight. I clasp the fork tight and I am about to answer back.

"Harry, this is unbelievable! It's Christmas for crying out loud. I won't accept this behaviour towards Joss." Mom barges in as she always does when me and dad start fighting. Father stays speechless, because he doesn't want to go against his beloved wife. He knows he will lose any battle, when it's him against me or Dan, but let's be honest it's always me.

"Laureen I love you, but you have spoiled him. He wastes his life away." He counters back and mum's look becomes more intense.

"He wastes his life, because he wants to live his youth? Maybe he acts out sometimes, but it's rational for this age." She defends me strongly.

"I don't remember Dan going wild in Joseph's age." He points out sharply. He remembers correctly, because Dan is stuffy and doesn't know how to have fun.

Olivia stays silent and I can tell she's feeling awkward. She knows what's going on between me and my father, but she had never witnessed it. Dan squeezes her hand on the table to make her feel somehow comfortable if that's even possible.

"That's because Daniel and Joseph are two different people." Mum raises her voice and I can see dad cower a bit. "This conversation is over!" she waves her hand abruptly. "I don't want to hear another bad comment about my baby. Period." she states strongly and my dad nods. He knew from the beginning that this was a crushing defeat, but he just couldn't back down. I like it when my mum defends me, but I'd prefer to be the one who would put this old man in his place. I don't want to be like a kid, that hides behind its mother, even though I am aware that she broke in, because she knew that a bickering between me and him wouldn't end well.

"My dear Olivia, so sorry about that! You know every family comes with its drama." Mum tries to light the mood and I guess she succeeds, by the appearance of a faint smile on Olivia's face.

"Don't worry, Laureen.I know what family drama means, being a sister to 4 siblings. Every Christmas the twins would fight with each other, my mother would grumble to my sister and my brother with my father. Thank God we have grandma, who sets the house in order." Olivia says, beaming and mum and Dan chuckle.

"Long live the grandma!" I exclaim and Olivia, Dan and mum chuckle again.

"I am sure she will. Working at the farm made her stronger than all the male family members." Olivia addresses to me with a beam.

"I think we need grams Dorothy as referee as well." Dan points out with a smile, referring to my father's mum.

"When she stops reliving her second honeymoon with General Nelson." my father chuckles. "You know what they say. Life starts at 60."

"Did they go for a trip?" Olivia wonders.

"After General's retirement they started traveling quite a lot, but Louisiana is always their base." He answers, sipping a bit wine. "This year decided to spend their Christmas in Nashville, but they will come for New year's."

"How nice. It's good that they are eager to experience new things." Olivia exclaims. "Did you go to your hometown in Louisiana, Harry?"

"Unfortunately it's been a while. I am always busy with the company. Me and Laureen didn't even go to her hometown in Miami." my father answers.

"That's too bad. You have renewed your parental house in an amazing way." Olivia turns her head to my mother.

"Well, that's the only thing I've left from my parents. I think mum made the perfect gift for her grandsons. A house by the beach. Unfortunately she died when I was pregnant to Dan. I wish you could have met her." My mum says with a sad voice. Her dad passed away long ago, before her mum. The only grandparents I know are from my father's side.

My father caresses her cheek to make her feel better. Her mood lights up instantly. How can my father be so good towards every member of this family, except me?

"Anyway, that belongs to the past." The smile returns to my mum's face. "Will you go to Wisconsin for the holidays?" She asks, putting some green salad on her plate.

"Yes. For New Year's. No matter how I mutter when I am with my family I always miss them, when I am away." Olivia confides with a coy smile.

"So how did you decide to come here for Christmas? Don't get me wrong I love having you, but you always come in the summer." My mum asks curiously. Dan and Olivia exchange a meaningful look.

"Maybe she wanted a change of climate. Wisconsin becomes North Pole in this time of the year. I guess she got bored of hanging out with polar bears" I chime in and everyone in the table laugh and even my father cracks a smile.

"Oh Joss, you have inherited my father's sense of humor. He was such a quipster." My mum acknowledges. Dan and Olivia still exchange meaningful glances.

"I think it's time to say it." Olivia tells Dan.

"Tell us what?" Father wonders, narrowing his eyebrows.

"Well..." Dan starts saying. "Olivia and I..." he pauses and Olivia stretches her left hand, which was underneath the table the whole time, and there is a ring with a diamond rock on her finger. "We're getting married." Dan finishes his sentence, but my mum is already up going to hug her future daughter in law.

"Oh my God! This is wonderful!" my mum exclaims hugging Olivia. "I've already considered you my daughter, but I am so happy it has become official. Congratulations!" Then she hugs Dan as well.

"Congratulations!" my father pops up a wide smile and the happiness is painted on his face. He hugs Dan as well and he taps his back proudly. Then he hugs Olivia. "I am so happy for you both! Well done, Dan! This girl is exquisite."

I stand up as well to hug the happy pair. I couldn't say that I didn't expect that. They were dating forever and seriously they are made for each other. Olivia is a really cool girl, well obviously cooler than Dan.

"Congrats Olivia. I hope you are aware what you're getting yourself into." I hug her and she chuckles. "Congrats bro! You couldn't even dream that you would be so lucky to date a girl like her. I still wonder how she laid her eyes on you." I smirk playfully to Dan and he eyerolls, before he hugs me.

"Why not? I combine looks with brains." Dan answers with a smirk as well.

"Don't steal my catch phrases, big bro! Not cool." I shoot at him and both Olivia and him chuckle.

"Olivia, you are taking the best guy. Believe me!" Dad chimes in, squeezing Dan's arm.

"I know! He's such a keeper!" Olivia beams caressing Dan's cheek. Dan takes her hand and kisses it.

"So how was Dan's cheesy proposal?" I ask having a mischievous smile. Dan eyerolls and dad gives me a glare. Mum doesn't do anything, because I am sure she hasn't recovered from the happy news.

"It wasn't cheesy." Dan answers back.

"We're talking about you here. I am sure it was. I am sure you did this thing with the ring and champagne, right?"

"Shut up, Joss! What do you know about romantic gestures?" he answers back playfully.

"I know enough to say that this is a lame one." I raise an eyebrow.

Olivia finds our brotherly bickering really enjoyable, looking once at me and then at Dan, trying not to laugh.

"Joseph, your brother is right. Olivia is not like the girls you're going out with." My father breaks in and I eyeroll.

"What do you know about the girls I am going out with?" I ask him piercing my eyes to his. I guess we couldn't avoid the conflict after all.

"I know that they are not quality girls. Maybe they cover your standards for one night, but sometime you have to grow up and stop messing around with women you pick up at bars and parties." He directs to me in a severe tone. Another thing that my father thinks a good excuse to tell me off. I am sure he's proud that I can charm women real easily, but he isn't very fond of the one night stand lifestyle. He would like for me to find someone more permanent and let's say serious girl, with a proper background. Alice comes directly on my mind, as the girl that my dad wants to see me with. Maybe because she was the last girl that I did something with. Well, we only kissed and she declared to me that even those kisses didn't count as regular kisses. If those doesn't count, that were total fire, I wonder how a regular kiss with her might be. Anyway, she made it pretty clear and I am relieved, because I was in no mood to have a heartbroken Alice as an expense. I think I am. I should be. If I am,why do I have an annoying feel inside me? It sucks.

"I pick them up from campus if you want to know." I shoot back.

"That's where your mind is and my money goes in total waste." he raises his voice.

"What did I tell you before?" My mum interrupts us for another time, looking at my father. "We are celebrating here, so no more fighting! Did I make myself clear?" She addresses to my dad and then at me. We both nod, staying speechless and she continues talking. "Sweetheart, tell us how my sweet Dan made the proposal." Her eyes are on Olivia, who's feeling awkward again, but my brother encourages her to go on.

"We had our 5th year anniversary and my sweet Dan here booked a table at my favourite restaurant. I had no idea. Sometime Dan started saying a really romantic speech and then he put a small red box out of his pocket. I shouted yes even before he said the words." Olivia narrates the proposal story. Dan cheeks have become red and it made me fleer. My mum has a dreamy face and father looks at both of them with a wide smile. "It was simple and it was perfect." Then she leans for a peck on his lips. "The whole restaurant applauded when we kissed. It was amazing and magical." Olivia's eyes sparkle, remembering that day.

"That's so sweet. You took that after me, honey!" Mum exclaims touched.

"It was a very romantic proposal indeed." My dad agrees.

Me on the other hand, I am trying to find a place to puke. All this romantic shit makes me ill. First, why should you find a woman to spend a lifetime with, when you can have many different? And second, because you probably hit your head really hard, if you want to get marry, why do you propose in such an idiotic and cheesy way?

"Harry, how did you propose to Laureen?" Olivia aks.

"Yes dad, you have never told us!" Dan exclaims. It's true he had never told the story.

"It was similar to yours, son. I took your mother to a seaside restaurant, because she's a sea lover and I have arranged that our song will be played at a specific time and then I kneeled, looked her deeply in the eyes and I proposed." My father says. My mum grabs his hand and leans for a kiss on his cheek. Olivia says 'Ohhh' and Dan looks surprised as me. I have never imagined my dad such a romance trash. "My father's proposal was very romantic as well. The romance runs in Nelson's veins." He adds proudly. I guess I am officially adopted.

"Let's see if Joss keeps the tradition." Dan says playfully.

"You won't see, because it won't happen." I say sharply and he eyerolls.

"Joss is still young. He will find the right one someday." My mother says. Poor mother. She has her hopes up.

"Anyway, Joss we will give you the plus one person option in the invitation." Olivia smiles.

"Are your bridesmaids that bad?" I quip to her and she chuckles, as dad and Dan give me glares and mum hits me lightly on the shoulder saying "Where are your manners?". Olivia is aware of my humor, so she doesn't get offended by it. Actually Olivia feels like a big sister so we act like family. The marriage is just a contract to make it official.

"Don't worry, I've got you covered." She winks at me. "I almost forgot. Dan told me about the project of yours. How is it going?" She asks intrigued and I can see my dad eye rolling. I guess he still believes that this is a facade. I can't believe he doesn't believe me. If Dan was in my place, he wouldn't stop bragging. Why does he always find something to tell me off about? I wish he would be proud of me for once. Also how am I going to tell him that mr. Roberts proposed to me an internship? He will be furious, knowing that father wants me to do it in his company. I know that this is not the time for a talk like that, not to say that maybe I am a bit afraid to tell him. Though I have to eventually.

Then I start saying to Olivia about my project and how interesting it is. How fascinating I am by it and that it looks like this path of creating new applications is the ideal career for me. It keeps my brain alert and makes me feel useful and innovative. Olivia shakes her head enthusiastically and Dan with mum listen to me carefully with pride. Father keeps a neutral face without saying anything and that makes it even more horrifying.

I am clueless on how I should bring the subject of the internship up. My old man just want me to focus on the family company and I believe it's because I am his only choice left. But this doesn't express me. I want to do something else.

After dinner and dessert, the family gathering is over. It's more late than I thought, but I have to say I had a good time with my family. Me and dad didn't fight more, so the night rolled calmly. I go to my room and I see my phone's screen flashing. I have texts from Chris, because we're going out tonight and the other are 'Merry Christmas' texts. I press the screen to see them.

Vanessa: May your home be filled with the joy of the Christmas season. Here's wishing you a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

Nathan: merry xmas.

Robin: Merry Xmas dude.

Sophie: I am coming by tomorrow morning for the annual gossip, I have a lot to tell you, be awake. I want milk and cookies waiting for me.

Grant: Dude Merry Christmas. You have one more week to break last year's women record.

Matt: Merry Christmas Joss! See you next year!

Merry Christmas Joseph. Try not to get too much wild and annoy people in elevators. 😝

I chuckle the moment I see it. So typical of Alice.Then I see she had sent me another text.

This is the reason your stupid bimbo wanted to whoop the crazy out of me.😝 Too bad she didn't succeed. 😉

Then I see a link and the moment I press it a list of seminars on the west coast on the subject that I love appears on the screen.. The one near my house is next week. Great, I can go! Not so typical of me to spend one holiday day like this, but I really love this field. Then the internship thing strikes me again.

I ignore your stupid quip about the elevator, because of the holy day and before you say anything, yes, I respect those days. 😝 Also thanks about the seminars and I know you were searching excuses just to get on her nerves.😉

I press send. I know we decided to forget about everything and be just friends, but I just can't stop talking to her in a flirty way. It's impossible. Then I am about to call Chris, when I hear a text sound.

I will follow your example and I will ignore your stupid comment as well. Christmas spirit it is! Good luck with the seminars.😉

I feel a smile crossing my face and I think I should call Chris, but I feel I need to do something first. I press the reply button to Alice's text.

Can I ask you something? The answer comes right away.

Sure!

How do you say to someone something that he doesn't want to hear but you need to tell him anyway?

I type the message without realizing what I wrote and I press send. I take another look at it. Fuck! It is pretty lame. What was I thinking? Not to mention the question is fucking generic. She will answer me with question marks and she will ask me if I am on drugs. Then my phone vibrates again.

Take a deep breath and do it. I know you have the guts! 😉

I keep looking at my phone's screen astonished. I know it's stupid, but it gave me strength. Alice told me what I needed to hear and all that by the lamest sent text in the history of sent texts.

Robin's POV

"Dude, Vanessa Ives is fucking crazy! Look at that demonic look. Jesus!" Callie comments at the scene.

Cal, Jake, River, Jenny, Viv and Sam came by my house at 11 a.m and insisted we watched Penny Dreadful...again. We do love scary shit. I am sitting on the couch with Sam resting her head on my left shoulder, while Jen-Jen sits to my left, with Viv resting her head on her lap. Cal sits on the floor in front of our couch while River and Jake have taken the other couch. We always watch scary stuff when feeling blue. I will tell you why all 7 of us feel blue.

Jake misses his girlfriend, which is understandable and so Jake-like.

Sam misses Nicks because she is on a last minute trip, visiting her aunt in Vancouver and won't be here for New Years, something both of them have been waiting for with anticipation, since it's their first holidays together.

River is feeling blue 'cause her parents have a business trip to NY and she won't be spending New Year's with us, which is like, a tradition for us since we could remember.

Callie got some discouraging news from the label, but we will manage to cheer her up eventually. We plan on making her sing to us later and we will be very encouraging groupies. That will lift her spirits for sure!

Jen-jen stalked Nadia on social media and saw her kissing some chick at a party. Jen told us that they just hooked up once or twice, but she was planning on maybe asking her out once the holidays were over. Now, given the new data, Jen is a bit out of it.

Viv, being the empathetic and supportive bff to Jen, feels bad 'cause Jen is sad. A.k.a. this moron is crushing on Jen and is unaware.

And me... Well as expected, I miss my pretty girl. Tomorrow is her actual birthday and I won't get to be with her. For me, birthdays are more important than holidays, somehow. I don't think there's a reason behind that, I mean I have never spent time analyzing it further, but I do know I like them more. So, I really wanted to be there for Sophie on her actual bday. Breakfast in bed, take her on a date and give her her gift at the end of the evening. But now I will just call her and wish her happy birthday on the phone. We can't even skype... It's kinda cold here in the closet.

Not to mention yesterday. She couldn't pick up her phone 'cause she was with her parents at a friends' house all day, so I just texted her...just like I texted Vanessa, Nate Joss and Alice. No difference.

It was supposed to be different...

I open the message app and stare at the messages I exchanged yesterday with the guys.

From babe: sorry baby we are visiting a friend's house and I can't pick up the phone :( merry christmas <3

From Joss: merry xmas blondie. I promise to take care of her, even though she ate my xmas dessert. :P

From Alice: merry xmas! Have a nice holiday or I'll kick your ass. P.s dad says thank you for the wishes.

From Vanessa: May your home be filled with the joy of the Christmas season. Here's wishing you a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

From Nathan: merry xmas.

I hope these dorks have a great time...and I want that for Soph too, but I still believe it would have been better if she had stayed. Anyway, I have to stop complaining about it. It's a family holiday and you are supposed to be with family....but...the heart misses without control...geez, I am a sap!

I focus on Vanessa extraordinary Ives, when 'American Idiot' by Green Day, interrupts the vibe, and a phone vibrating on the couch makes me turn to Jen and Viv.

"Yo, pick up the phone, Viv!" I tell her, 'cause Green Day is Viv's guilty pleasure. And I will tell you the exact moment that happened. We were 16 and scrolling through youtube, me, Viv and Jen, when we came across Wake me up when September Ends. We played the song and from the video clip we got it was about our soldiers in the middle east. And that's when Jen broke down in tears, staring at the pc screen.... Her dad died there....

Viv was the one holding her tight in an embrace as I stroke her palm with one hand while trying to stop the song, but Jen stopped me. She said it made her relate to it and think of her dad. So it became her favourite song and Viv's. Don't ask me the reason why Viv got hooked on the song, I can only assume, but that also made Viv hooked on Green day.

"It's not mine." Viv says and sits up.

"Chill, peeps. It's mine. Where the fuck is it?" Jen rushes as she scoops under the cushions. "Aha! Oh shit!" she says and her eyes widen. "It's Nadia." she gets up abruptly and leaves the room and goes outside to speak while we all exchange meaningful looks. This Nadia girl is trouble. I turn my eyes to my little Viv next. It lasted milliseconds but I did see her swallow hard and close her eyes at Jen's motion. But rather quickly she got back to her usual smiley self and focused on the screen.

Jen comes back minutes later.

"Hey Ro, you have a delivery. I signed the paper for ya." she comes in the living room holding a small package. Sophie's present! Ohhh, it's finally here!

She sits on the couch and gives me the package as everyone else gather around me, curious. I tear the package only to find an even smaller box, the size of a phone actually, wrapped in a christmas paper with a green bow and a small christmas card attached to it. I unwrap it and read the card before opening the small box.

'To make you feel closer to your roots.'

Yours, Sophie.

I smile at the phrase and open the box curiouser than ever.

Inside it, there is a music cassette, with a post-it on it, that read 'track 3'.

I stare at the item as the others around me go wild with comments.

"Who the hell uses cassettes? Is your girl in a cult or something?" River.

"Yo, has she ever heard of 2016?" Jen.

"Man, that is the most useless gift in history" Sam.

I eyeroll and get up making them gasp and paying no mind I race to my room, though they run after me as well. I enter my bedroom and reach for dad's cassette player, put the cassette in and go to track 3. Taking a deep breath I push PLAY, and a clapping sound fills the room....then a crowd yells...then cheers..... and then a guitar sound begins. That's the moment I get it.

"Holy fuck, is this what I think it is?" Riv questions.

"Fuck yeah! Is she for real?" Jen joins.

"Oh my God, it's the same concert, right? The concert papa and mama Summers met?" Viv's next as the familiar song progresses.

"Dude, this Sophie chick, has game, bitch." Cal concludes.

I don't care about what the are saying right now. No. All I care about is how swollen my heart is from love. How touched I am at her move, at how can a person that knows me so little can know me so well. At how can a person I have known for 4 months, make me love them so effortlessly.

I pick up my phone and facetime her and soon her face is on my screen. She is wearing her glasses which means she is reading something again, and her hair is down on one shoulder.

"Hello." she says shyly but the smile that forms on her face is killing me.

"Hey pretty girl." I greet her too as I hear Viv's 'awwww' in the background.

"I just got your present." I tell her and she smiles wider.

"Did you like it?" I can hear uncertainty in her voice. I am about to answer when the gang decides to participate in this not so very private convo.

Callie grabs my phone from my hands and brings it close to her face.

"Hello Sophie, I am Callie and you are awesome." Callie says before River gets her turn.

"River Abrahams, nice to finally meet you! This dork hasn't shut up about you, and it's driving us insane. Kudos on the present. We loved it!".

Jake eye rolls and snaps the phone from her. He gives Sophie a warm smile and waves at the screen. "Hello, Sophie, this is Jake. Nice to meet you. This was a lovely gift. Have a nice holiday and hope to meet you face to face next time."

Viv gets near Jen and take the phone from Jake and introduces herself first.

"Hey there, oh god you really are pretty. The photos on social media do you no good. You should have Ro take your pictures! I am Vivianne. I am so happy for you, guys. You really are a sweet person."

And then Jen. "Hey ya, this is Jen. You definitely have our approval. You may marry this idiot and have beautiful babes together".

Sam butts in at that. " What up, Sophie? Nice move. Now she is gonna be even more whipped." At that I get my phone back from them, before this gets too embarrassing.

"Hey, get out of here! Let me speak to my girlfriend alone for a sec." I wave them off and they leave the room laughing like idiots. I close the door behind them and sit on my bed.

"So......you made them like you. That doesn't happen easily." I say and her cheeks redden. "Thank you for your gift baby girl. I loved it." I love you.

"I am glad you liked it baby." she takes her glasses off and puts them on top of her head. "Are you having a good time?"

"Yeah yeah, these dorks make me forget the fact that my pretty girl is away." I pout on purpose and to make her react. She eyerolls.

"Ro, I will be there in like 8 days or something. Have fun with your friends." and then "but not too much...I mean, you know, getting drunk and all. Your outings should be safe, and always have a DD or U-ber. Oh, and if you do go out, please let me know when you come home, ok?" she adds getting all motherly at me.

Gods, I love this dork. I love all of her.

"Don't worry babe, I will. Make sure you have fun as well ok? Do something fun for your bday tomorrow. I expect lots of photos!" she giggles and nods.

"Listen baby, I have to go. My mother is making gingerbread houses and Ben and I are helping her. I will text you tonight. Will that be ok with you?"

"Of course, sweetheart. I will be waiting. Send me a pic of the gingerbread. I need to post it on insta. Lower the light exposure like I showed you! Bye baby!"

I love you!

I end the call and lay in bed with a huge smile plastered on my face.

This dork is gonna be the end of me.

Alice's POV

"You really suck at video games!" Ren mocks me while he's leaving the joystick on the couch. We returned an hour ago from downtown, where we went for a coffee with two friends of mine from DC. When we got back, we decided to play the new 'Need for Speed' for a while,which was one of my Christmas presents to Ren, but him being a master in video games, he beats me every time.

"Shut up!" I yell throwing a pillow at him and he chuckles, catching it. "I had you, but this stupid track decided to appear out of nowhere the last minute and I struck on it." I say remembering how I lost the last car race. I was so close on winning, but I crashed my car, so Ren passed me.

"Remind me to -not- ever get in your car again." He teases me with a big smile.

"I am an excellent driver!" I defend myself, giving him a glare.

"I think the truck driver thinks otherwise." he answers back and I eyeroll. I missed hanging out with my best friend and I can't believe he is leaving in a week. I had a wonderful Christmas with him at least and I had someone to have fun at a boring Christmas party, that a member of my dad's team threw.

"Where's Stephen san?" He asks aways adding the polite japanese honorific, meaning sir next to my dad's name. I guess no matter how close he is with my father, the japanese culture of respect, especially towards the older people is still a part of him.

"He's at Quantico. He has some stupid paperwork at the office, so I guess he will come home late.I wonder why they called him when he's at his days off." I answer him with a huff. Dad took some days off, so he didn't work on Christmas and I could spend the holidays with him, but still his phone doesn't stop ringing. It's super irritating.

"I know what you're talking about. It's the same shit with my dad, but we knew that their job is demanding!" he answers casually. Ren had his mother around, so it was easier for him to be without his father. Well, I had Ren and his mother, when I was in Europe, but I still wanted to have mine around. Things changed when I came in US. I had to take care of myself on my own, when my father travelled around US, that's why my independent nature was developed stronger and faster than teenagers' of my age and sometimes the absent spot of my mother looked to me more intense.

"Anyway, tell me about this Michiko girl you're having your eyes on for the last two months! Any progress?" I ask with a simper, trying to change the subject.

"Don't get me started! I think I am wandering around the friendzone!" he huffs.

"But you were texting yesterday!" I exclaim.

"Yes, but the conversation was generic and friendly." he answers back.

"Ok, step on the next level. Flirt with her!" I remark, emphasizing the last sentence.

"Easier said than done! Do you know what did she say to me a few days, before I came here?" His eyes widen and I look at him with a puzzled expression.

"What?"

"She said that I am the first guy who hasn't made a move on her and that she's glad, because she's sick of having guys around her who are only interested in hitting on her." he answers me.

"You're screwed." I point out.

"I know and I don't know what to do!" he exclaims moving his hands animatedly.

"You have to change that impression. You like her and she should know it." I remark to him.

"Then she will hate me!" Ren huffs.

"Why? You don't want to mess around with her, like the guys I guess she's referring to. You're a serious guy, who knows what he wants. Not like the others." I say and I suddenly realise that I was shouting and Ren is looking at me astonished.

"I guess we're not talking about me here, anymore. I know something is bothering you for the last days and I wonder why you don't talk to me." Ren says in a soft voice and he turns his body completely towards me. He knows me so well!

"You're right and I really wanted to discuss it with you, but I thought that if I didn't talk about it I would let it go." I tell him in a huff.

"Alice, you're not the kind of person who can keep things inside. You will burst out if you don't talk to someone." Ren points out and he's so right. All this time I was keeping everything inside me and it has become a bomb ready to explode. Ren is here now and he's my best friend. I can confess anything to him.

"It's about Joseph..." I mutter.

"What happened with him again? I thought you were getting along now." Confusion is painted all over his face.

"We kissed..." I say and his eyes widen. "We kissed twice!" Saying it out loud made it real, even though I have played the scene in my head a thousand times.

Ren stays still like a statue from astonishment for a second and then speaks.

"When you said to me that you two are in good terms, I didn't imagine that good." he teases me to lighten the atmosphere and I crack a smile.

"Well, it was out of the sudden and I was the one who did it!" I continue saying. "Both times."

"What? You still manage to surprise me, after all these years!" He remarks with wide eyes, because he's shocked, by the news he's just heard. "So how did it happen?"

Then I start narrating to him how Joseph's brainless bitch wanted a piece of me and that I acted completely on impulse, by grabbing him and kissing him. Then I told him about our second kiss, adding him the dress story and without realizing I ended up telling him everything that had happened between me and Joseph, except the hacking incident, because I still believe it's Joseph's and my secret. I told him about our talks and how I added another piece at the puzzle that Joseph is and how I found myself drawn even more into him, by those. I told him how I got jealous of his best friend, believing that he found the one for him, even though I should have known better and I told him about our Halloween dance. I didn't even leave out our almost kiss in my dorms and how I wanted to make sure he was ok after his intense call with his father. I told him everything and I felt a huge burden leaving me. It was the most relieving thing I have felt in my life and I wondered how I managed without bursting for so long. Ren listened to me carefully without interrupting me. It felt so good that I could share all these things with my best friend. After I finish, I look at him, waiting for any reaction.

"Are you feeling better?" he asks me with a soft look.

"Much better. It felt so good to be able to get rid off this burden." I exhale.

"Alice, you have a huge crush on him. You're totally smitten!" he remarks grabbing me by the arms and looking me directly in the eyes.

"I am doomed! I know!" I admit huffing. "It's the first time I lose control over myself. It happens only with him. I hate that it's him." I sign. "He's a player and he knows how to play in the women's court. I hate that I am one of those women that he managed to charm, even when I have full consciousness of what he's doing." I spat annoyingly.

"That's why you didn't admit anything about the kiss." He concludes in a serious tone.

"Exactly! Joseph must be kissing around 10 women per day and it doesn't matter to him. I am not going to be another one on his list. I know what I am dealing with. He's a womanizer and he's not going to change." Truth really hurts.

"I am glad you're aware of that. I don't know the guy, but you should be really careful when you're close to him. He's having an impact on you. I know when you just want to fool around with someone and this is not the case." Ren advises me. I am so glad that he understands me.

"I don't know what's going on with me and it scares the hell out of me." I finally find the courage to admit. "I don't like being scared." I say firmly after a brief pause.

"Alice, I think you are falling for him and you have to stop it, before you find yourself heartbroken." Ren directs to me coming closer. His words hit me like a lightning. Me falling for Joseph? Is that happening? "Just take a small distance from him! I think that will help!" He adds.

"I texted him for Christmas!" I blurt and he gives me the eye. "And we talked a bit." I add. I texted all of my friends and of course I wanted to wish Joseph too. Then I remembered about the seminar thing and I couldn't help it, but inform him about it as well. The thing that I couldn't believe was the question he made. Something was really bothering him and I wish I could be there to help him. I just wanted to give him courage and motivate him. I don't know how he gets under my skin everytime.

"That's why your whole face lit up at the Christmas party." He remarks. "It's funny how things turn out! I remember yelling about him over the phone and now.."

"Well, the universe has a weird sense of humor." I remark and he chuckles lightly. Then there is a small pause, before I speak again because a flash of realization hit me.

"Ren, do you remember that I had told you that I wasn't feeling any huge spark when I was kissing Neal, my ex?" I ask him and he nods."When I kissed Joseph, a whole room of fireworks exploded. I haven't felt anything like that. How bad is my condition?"

"I think it's pretty bad!" he points out. "Cold showers are mandatory!"

"I am so screwed!" I huff and I toss my head on his lap. Ren chuckles a bit and he caresses my back.

"I think you are, but realization is a good first step." he says still caressing my back.

"I need chocolate!" I groan.

"I think you need a whole chocolate cake now! Let's go buy some!" Ren tries to cheer me up.

Then we went to the nearest pastry shop to buy a chocolate cake and the moment we got back, we started devouring it, while playing video games. We also watched a bunch of movies until my dad came home. I am so happy that I told Ren everything. I didn't know what I would do without him. I guess taking some distance and keeping it completely friendly with Joseph it's the ideal solution to get him out of my head.

A/N: And that's a wrap on Christmas! What is your fave Christmas memory? As always, don't forget to comment & vote! Thank you.