Char

The nights out continued every week, I got to know more people—Alex's friends, some strangers too. We frequented one bar, but from time to time we went to meet new ones.

Many traveled with their families for the holidays, and many of them decided to spend it together.

The planning took weeks—who was bringing what, how they were going to decorate the place, everything.

"Char, can you pass me those lights over there?" Mosi, climbing a ladder, points me to a box full of lights.

I nod, getting up from the one where I was with Emi and other girls, making some decorations with a lot of glitter.

I grab the box carefully, pulling out the lights. I reach for one end and pass it to Mosi, standing still, waiting for him to put them up to give him more.

The doorbell rings, and Alex appears from the garden, where he was with some other guys tidying up some tables. He runs to the door and opens it, handing a bill to the delivery boy before closing the door with bags of food.

"I'll put them in the kitchen and bring out some plates," he says to no one in particular.

The guys outside start to come in, eager to eat after a morning of much decorating.

"Thanks Char." Mosi's hand passes over my head, he comes down the stairs, and I smile at him. "Come on, I'm starving."

We go into the kitchen, where the plates of food are ready for everyone to grab one.

I walk over to Alex.

"Do you need help?" His eyes twitch at my voice, and I laugh as I see the big smudge he has on his face.

I grab a napkin and dampen it a bit before carefully wiping it away.

Alex smiles as I finish.

"Grab a plate, eat, I'm almost done here," he says. I walk to the counter and grab a plate, analyzing the free stalls around the table.

I walk to the free place next to Emi, but the girl puts her hand on it.

"Alex is going to sit here," she says, and I smile.

The table is momentarily silent. Alex stops serving and turns with a frown.

"Come, Char, sit here," a red-haired guy next to Mosi calls out to me. I smiled at him by way of thanks before walking over to him.

Alex turns around, his face indicating he's annoyed.

Mosi gets up from his seat and pats his friend's shoulder.

"Sit here, I'm bothered by the light," he says, walking over to Emi and sitting down next to her.

Everyone notices the change, everyone notices the lies, but only Emi seems annoyed about it.

Alex settles in next to the red-haired guy, gesturing for everyone to go back to eating.

The dishwasher is exploding, but the red-haired guy manages to put his plate in before closing it.

"Sorry about Emi, she's always been so overprotective over Alex," he says, and I smile.

I take some time to think about his words as I take a sip of my soda. Alex mentioned no alcohol until later; otherwise, the whole party would die before its time.

"I don't mind." I say it with all sincerity.

From the first day I met Emi I knew about her interest in Alex. It's normal that she wanted to defend what was hers. I'm not talking about Alex himself, I'm talking about the group of friends they already had, a group I joined without anyone's permission.

The redhead smiles at me again, dries his hands with a blanket, and then moves a little closer to me, putting his back to the counter.

Our arms touch, but I don't move.

The voices of the other guys can be heard in the living room, they've put on music as they try to glue up the decorations as best they can.

In no time, everyone will go home to get ready before coming over later tonight to celebrate the holiday.

"Are you bringing anyone tonight?" The redhead's question makes me look away from Alex, who has climbed up the ladder with Mosi behind him to keep him from falling.

The light eyes of the guy next to me look at me curiously, a question that holds more than simple curiosity.

"I haven't thought about it yet." I say, and he smiles sideways.

He nods a few times.

Mosi calls him to help Alex, and the guy says goodbye to me and runs into the living room.

I walk out the front door of the house, but I turn around when I hear it open again.

Alex comes out, waving his car keys from side to side.

"Are you going out?" I ask, and he looks at me a little confused.

" I was planning on giving you a ride home," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

I laugh and shake my head.

"Don't you have to get ready too?" I say, motioning with my hand, giving him the understanding that the only reason we're all leaving is for just that.

"Don't worry about me, Char, being perfect doesn't take me any time at all." Alex points to himself, and I roll my eyes. "It doesn't take me any time to drive you either, I have some shopping to do anyway," he says, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards his car, as if sensing my refusal before it left my lips.

"Let me come with you." I say, and Alex pauses with mocking eyes, wanting to say that the point of dropping me home is for me to get ready, as I had made him understand earlier.

But he sees the plea in my eyes—not one I've rehearsed since he's known me, but a real one.

Alex frowns.

"I can't buy your Christmas present with you by my side," he says, and my eyes fill with surprise.

"Gift?" My hands start to shake briefly. "I didn't think we were getting each other anything." Alex notices my reaction to his words.

He moves closer to me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"You don't have to gift me anything, Char, I'm not asking you to give me anything."

"Then don't buy me anything." I whisper, feeling the need to moisten my parched lips.

Alex moves his hands to the sides of my head, moving my hair a little.

"It's too late now," he whispers, smiling. He grabs my hand, and we walk back to the car. "Come on."

It's been a long time since I last came to a mall for the holidays. I had completely forgotten that there are a lot of people running around, trying to find last-minute gifts, food for their dinners, or just out to enjoy how busy it all is.

I stare at the decorations with a small smile on my face. My eyes darken at the memory that starts to want to attack me, but I quickly chase it away.

"Char." Alex's voice calls out to me, handing me a small cup of hot chocolate.

He stands next to me, and we both drink as we watch the kids play on a makeshift ice rink.

"About the gift..." My voice breaks the silence between the two of us. I turn to look at him, but he has disappeared.

Alex has broken off to throw his empty cup into a trash can.

"Are you done?" he asks when he notices me watching him. I nod, and he grabs my glass and throws it away too. "Okay, we have to go to the grocery store for some quick groceries, and then I'll take you home."

Alex smiles at me, my mouth falls open, but I only manage to sigh before nodding.

The queue at the supermarket is bigger than we expected, and I get home much later than planned, so we don't have much time to say goodbye. Alex goes home to finish tidying everything up before the guests, who won't be long in arriving, show up.

I watch as his cart disappears.

I reach into my bag, seeing the small chocolate in the shape of a pine tree. I had managed to buy it without Alex noticing.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment.