Status: Unedited

IT WAS OFFICIALLY the day before Christmas Eve and the house was filled with décor. My personal favorite were the reindeer antlers Evan and I were wearing.

Aaron had gone out to get some booze and ingredients for his mother's famous Christmas cookies that I was excited about.

They were round balls of dough with a chocolate Center and powdered sugar coated around them. They sounded divine.

"Christmas tree time." Evan announced bringing in a large cardboard box of different streams of metallic streamers, stars and all sorts of things.

I bit into the chocolate poke stick and looked up at him. "Shouldn't we wait for Aaron?"

"Aaron hates decorating. For him the morals of Christmas are easy: receive presents." We chuckled as I got a stool (my short figure really was a nuisance) and a box of hanging lights for Evan to put around.

I shuffled through the box and laughed at the pack of Polaroid photos at the bottom. There were photos of Aaron and Evan with their Santa hats, them wearing white beards, Aaron using Evan as a reindeer and riding him. They looked incredibly young. My guess would be from 7-10. "We should put these up." I suggested. "String them up with the streamers."

"Now way am I putting a photo of me trying to twerk over here." Evan objected trying to snatch the photos from me.

"Oh, come on." I insisted. "Why let them go at the end of the box, yeah? It'll be fun and different." He gave up and helped me string them on the pine tree. We went around throwing streamers, bows and hanging ornaments until it looked about ready.

Evangeline clapped and gushed walking into the room wearing a maroon dress with silver jewelry. "It looks marvelous."

I chuckled straightening my own red dress I was wearing. I had paired it with antlers and Christmas socks because this was Christmas and I could go crazy.

Tomorrow we would wear sweaters anyway so might as well be uncoordinated today.

"I still decorate as if I'm three." I proudly put out eyeing the tree up and down. "What about the star?"

Evangeline held up the gold star in her hand smiling down at it fondly. "Aaron always used to do this. He would go on his father's shoulder and place it on top. He'd always state that he was the star so it would be fitting." She mused.

"We'll let him do it now too." I suggested. "I think he'd like that."

"How can you tell?" Evan sighed plucking a splinter from the pine tree. "He never shows his emotions anymore."

I looked own at the white plain carpet and formed an answer. "He does. He just isn't good at expressing them. But he does appreciate them." Evangeline nodded.

"Then it's settled. The Mercer traditions are back on track. Bryce, darling, do you have any traditions back at home?"

I nodded enthusiastically bursting my sentence, "We always did karaoke. It was like a must do. That and have a spree of watching all soppy Christmas hallmark movies."

Evangeline rested a hand on my arm and smiled. "My type of person. Looks like tonight I'll have a partner."

"Not me though. Though I will assist in baking the Christmas triple layer chocolate fudge cake." Evan said.

"You, Bryce and Aaron do that. I have some last minute shopping to do anyway and your father will meet me at the mall. Have fun with it." We all knew the real meaning being Evangeline's words. Bonding time.

The door opened and Aaron came in with two  large bags and grunted as he set them down staring at us. "That's the ugliest Christmas tree I've seen. Iconic." He mused as I rolled my eyes at him.

"Are all of those ingredients?" I ask looking at Evangeline who looked equally confused.

Aaron sighed walking up to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "Nope. Those are just different kinds of alcohol. I even got to sample some."

"Did you get any ingredients?" Evangeline pressed.

Aaron scratched the back of his head shuffling in a bag and tossing her a smaller one. She checked through it and shook here head. "Right. Thank you very much."

I chuckled looking at the tree and then him. "It's your turn."

"For?"

Evan stepped toward with the hanging star and pushed it towards Aaron. "To place the star on top of the tree." Aaron looked at it skeptically protruding his tongue inside his cheek as he shook his head.

"Yeah. That's kind of your thing now. So... cool."

"I want you to do it." Evan said. "It's a pretty fucked up thing for me to put a star in anyway since you are one."

"Language!" Evangeline swatted her son. "But I do agree in a more civilian term, yes, I do agree."

Aaron looked at me hesitantly and I gave him an encouraging nod. I knew it was a big deal for him. To miss several Christmases and watch Evan put up the tradition instead of him. It must really hurt. It would.

"Fine."

Evan laughed in relief handing his brother the star. "Then it's settled. At twelve am you out the star."

"At midnight?" I asked curiously. "Tradition?"

"Not really. Our great grandad was a crackhead and the only time he was sane was at midnight so it became a running joke. At crackhead hour we place the star up." Aaron explained to me as I twisted my lips to hold in my laugh.

"...sounds sacred." I choked as Evangeline walked towards the kitchen. "Alright then. I guess we're free to do whatever we please."

Aaron pulled me to him by my waist and clicked his tongue. "No. Everyone else is. You are coming with me."

I raised my eyebrows amusedly and asked, "Where exactly?"

His eyes twinkled as he looked down at me. "You know exactly where." I smiled up at him craning my neck up.

"Awww." Evangeline cooed. "You guys are so adorable it's-"

"Disgusting." Evan shuddered. I laughed making my way up the stairs with Aaron closely behind me as we entered his room.

I went to my suitcase and unzipped it shuffling for some warm clothes. I tried to keep the pile of clothes neat but fucking hell I was never not messy.

A weight pressed onto my back nearly collapsing me as I huffed. "Fuck, Aaron."

"Those words would sounded nicer in better situations." Aaron mumbled. "Wanna experience one?" I rolled my eyes as he continued leaning onto me whilst I shuffled through my bag.

"You're going to break my back." I pushed him off of me and watched him collapse onto the bed instead. "You wanna talk about it?" I asked picking out a matching grey sweatshirt and sweatpants.

He hummed turning his face so he looked at me. "Why would do I need to talk?"

I pretended to think as I answered, "Because you've been moping and spooning the whole day looking lazy as hell. I think that pretty much sums it up."

"I'm just really fucking tired." I stopped what I was doing and looked at him wanting him to continue. "My father has been ignoring me ever since we got here. And it fucking sucks because Evan and my mom are missing Christmas with him because of me."

I sigh falling on the bed next to him and staring at his face. "You can't keep beating yourself up. What your father does or doesn't is his choice. You aren't bothering anyone. In fact I think you made Christmas ten times better for your mom and Evan. They seem really happy. And I know you feel happy too but your depression is consuming you. You can't let that happen."

He sighed staring at the bedsheets as he whispered. "How do you- how do you push it away? That overwhelming sense of dread and anger and irritation. The need to punch and scream and just sleep. How does it go?"

"It doesn't." I tell him sadly. "But... it helps to have someone there with you. Someone who knows what you feel. If you need anyone let me know. Tell me what you want. If you want to shout at me then shout. Let your anger out. If you want to cry then I'm here. You wanna scream? Then scream. I won't think you're psychotic at all because I know how you feel. How hopeless and powerful that feeling is. But in the end it's the same thing, yeah? We can't let it dictate our life. Because the more days it takes the more days you lose." I pushed his hair back as he listened patiently.

"I don't want to shout or scream at you. That'd just backfire at me getting crushed." He mumbled tracing my bottom lip with his thumb. I shivered against him as he continued, "I don't know what to do. But I'll figure it out with you."

"Sounds like a plan." I grinned. "Now what else is it?"

He screwed his face at me knowing I could read him. "I don't know what to do Bryce. I'm so lost here. Like crossroads."

"About what?"

"You. Us." I tried not to thicken a reaction that would cause him to panic. "How does a boyfriend act? Do I take you out to a date now or later? Is it early or late? Am I supposed to do certain things or just give certain things? I don't know what you expect of me. I don't even know if I meet your standards after those books you read." Aaron grumbled as I laughed out loud covering my face.

I sobered up shaking my head as I answered, "You exceed my standards Aaron. You're my favorite person out of every fictional person."

"I know." He exhaled. "But it feels nice to be complimented every now and then."

I scoffed at him. "Half the time you compliment me in hopes of getting one back."

"It's called multitasking, love." Aaron mused. "And you always love it when I compliment you."

"Name one time." I challenged.

He smirked at me propping on his elbow. "When I was inside you or... when I have you screaming my name." Butterflies shot in me so swiftly it felt like a mini hurricane. "Good answer?"

I shook my head as he chuckled coming closer to me so we could hug. "If we don't go now we won't make it to Blue Haven in time." I told him.

"Two minutes." He said back. "And then we get ready."

"Alright." I watched him close his eyes as he rested his face in my neck his lips at my pulse. It made me feel so vulnerable but so... alive at the same time.

I guess he had that affect on me.

...

I tucked my white hat down from the front as I got out of Aaron's Bugatti. It was the most amazing car I had ever seen. I could not stop ranting about it until we reached here. I think Aaron half the time muted me out anyway.

My feet crushed on twigs and snow as I looked around rumbling field caked with snow and tall trees.

There was a lake that look crystallized under h the glove of cold. I watched the mountains stand tall behind them and houses that scattered around looking like twilight stars.

It was so beautiful.

"It looks ten times better outside the winter zone." Aaron told me coming to stand behind me.

"It looks..." I said at the loss of words. "I love it."

"Of course you do. What's not to love. Down the side of that mountain-" He pointed. "Is where our home used to be. Go a little down and they have an all year amusement park, chains of food and road to the main city." I followed his line of sight and could not begging to comprehend how stunning it would be in summer. The mountains were more of small hills and farther away from most of the houses fortunately.

I always was against staying at mountain sights after my geography classes. But this landscape seemed pretty safe.

"You lived there?" I asked pouting to the glass and white stone house I could make out.

"Yeah." Aaron answered shortly. "I always preferred that house though anyway." He nodded his head towards a farther away one.

It was made of white stone and stood indecisively large and tall with about four stories. A staircase trailed from underneath the snow towards a higher ledge where a ginormous pool and patio was situation  in front of the house proudly. It was the type of houses I loved to look at on Pinterest. The fairytale yet modern ones.

"I love that one." I murmured turning to see Aaron stare at me. His cold blue eyes were fixed at me and resembled the ice chips at the lake behind us. "What?"

He shook his head with a small smile. "Nothing ." I looked at him skeptically as he went on, "So what do you want to do? Amusement park?"

I looked at the hills and then at him. "Is it crowded?"

In brutal honesty... I hated amusement parks. I hated being I'm crowds and having to do things with soo many people around me. But I could tell Aaron really wanted to check out his past memories and so I suppose I would do it for him.

"Yeah." He nodded licking his lips. "Do you want to go?"

"Sure. You want to go too right?" I asked him hoping to backfire the question.

"No." He laughed shaking his head at my expression. "I'm sorry. You looked so disorientated when I brought up the amusement park."

I looked at him irritated as he continued to get drunk on his own laughter.

"Can you imagine me on a rollercoaster? Or being the guy who'd win you a giant pink bear?" He choked as he straightened up.

"If you're done dry heaving-" I gave him a noted look. "Then let me know what you want to do."

Aaron looked up at me with a smirk and then said, "It's a surprise."

"So...it's one of your lesser brilliant ideas?" I playfully put out as he took a step towards me placing his hand on my waist.

"I think it's one of my more brilliant ideas." I raised my eyebrows at him to which he rolled his eyes. "But first. I have a question. Would you go ok a date with me as my official girlfriend?"

I nearly said yes until I noticed I could use my own source of entertainment too. So instead I substituted my words. "No. Not really."

His face fell slowly as he adhered my words. "Wait. Why?"

I shrugged popping my lips. "I don't know. Not in the mood I guess."

"You're not in a mood to go on our first date?"

"Yeah. I guess I should have let you known sooner." I say in seriousness.

He looks at me a little take a back as I continue,  "I'm seeing someone else?"

Aaron blinked before fury took his eyes and he took a stride towards me so we were pressed as he growled, "Who?"

I swallowed and look away shaking my head. Aaron grabs my chins and points my attention back to him wanting an answer.

"He's unique." I start off. "He's a little older then me. I'd say it's a good age gap really. Like it makes sense." I took in his confused expression as I went on. "He's sixty but is insanely attractive. All the traits I look for in a man. He's bald, has them sexy fake teeth and god those wrinkles-" I choke on my words as Aaron scowls placing his head on my collarbone.

"Why do you have to be so fucking mean?" He groaned as I placed my hand on the back of his head laughing.

"I just enjoy teasing you." I say back chuckling.

"Like you don't already do that." He pulled back as I gripped his face and pressed his lips to mine.

"Yes." I breathe against him. "I'd like that first date very much."

...

Taking another bite of my burger I looked out the iron fenced patio littered with snow and Christmas lights illuminating under the cloak of the setting sun. The city was brilliant.

People buzzed in and out of the center going into malls and other outlets whilst other drove farther back to where Aaron's parents lived.

I loved that Blue Haven was not immensely secluded. It was just a town in a large city. It was small and simple and so lovable.

"You like it." Aaron concluded as I swallowed my food.

"I already told you that." I say covering my mouth and finishing the last bit of the burger.

"I know. But I can read your face now clearly. So basically I win."

"I didn't realize it was a competition."

He pushed his hair back twirling the knife between his fingers expertly. "It isn't. But I call it a win every time I get you to love something that I do."

I smiled cleaning my hands with a napkin and looking around. "I can't imagine anyone would want to leave this place."

Aaron paid the bill and exhaled a cloud of air building in format of him. "They wouldn't." He pushed his chair out and stood up. I followed his actions as he grabbed my hand and walked me out the outdoor restaurant. "I have another plan for this date."

I snorted looking behind me. "Having the best cheeseburger with crinkled fires wasn't the best part?"

He chuckled rolling his eyes at me. "No. This one's a little old fashioned but I think you'll like it. Plus there's gelato in the play too."

"I stand corrected." I excitedly put out fixing my hat. "What's the plan?"

"Well the plan is simple. You get in the car and I drive you there." Aaron held the door open for me and I halfheartedly got in strapping myself in his expensive car as he came in to starting the engine.

I hated surprises. But I was willing to take this one. I mean it was not one of those birthday present scenarios where you hoped for something and got the complete downside of it.

Aaron placed an arm behind his headrest as he looked back reversing the car out of its parking spot. He got onto the road and drove their with a mischievous smile on his face making me want nothing more then to trample him under the car.

We drove for about ten minutes until I sighed out loud. When he did not answer I did it again.

"Can I help you?" He asked teasingly as I frowned.

"Yes. How about... Are we there yet?"

"That we are." He mused as I looked out the window with my mouth agape.

A dozen cars were set in rows around us all pointed towards a large inflated TV screen with a projection running on it.

I looked at it and then at Aaron in shock. "Car cinema." I murmured. I had always wanted to go to a car cinema but I never had that chance. Not until now.

Looking around I spotted a gelato stand nearby with popcorn, pretzels and other delectable' vendors beside it.

"It's hard to top me isn't it?" Aaron arrogantly put out. "What flavor?"

"Chocolate." I instantly put out instead ping my seatbelt.

He nodded and jogged off quickly collecting them in a cup and bringing them back. I opened the door for him only to have him object. "Get out."

"Okay then." I got out the door and went to his side as he placed the cups on the roof of the car.

He then helped himself up the hood of the car sitting up and reaching a hand down to me. I rolled my eyes and climbed perfectly well myself hoping him at the top.

"This is the best date I've ever had." I admitted taking the shovel like spoon and scooping gelato into my mouth.

Aaron grinned a smile that could have lit up the sun itself. His dimples defined prominently as he looked at me. "Glad to hear that. Honestly I got this car for two reasons."

I nodded for him to go on.

"One we could sit up here comfortably. And two..." He leaned down next to me his lips tingling my ear as he spoke seductively. "Because the windows are tainted enough to let me fuck the hell out of you. I'd like to put both options in use, yeah?"

I smirked at him shaking my head. "We'd mess up your car."

"We'd make my car better West." He countered taking a bite of his gelato. "Or...