Epilogue 

*~Christmas Eve 

*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

I shivered into my coat, waiting for Seth and Jodie to hurry the hell up in the small Gift Store inside. I drew in a deep breath and blew it out, stepping aside as a young mother of two small, blonde boys hurried through me in a excited manner, having the true way to treat Christmas Spirit. 

Haha. 

I sat on a bench on the Mall, seeing that this might take a while. Me, Seth, and Jodie were at the Mall...doing some "Christmas shopping". I already had my things. I like to be prepared you know. I bought my Mom a silky, blue scarf and a few jewelry accesories while for my sister I bought her the CD+DVD of her favorite show, "Shake it Up". It was an okay show, not really that "extravagant" as she points it to be. The CD part was filled with soundtracks from the Disney show and the DVD part held dance moves. I guess from the show...? I bought it her for her since it seemed to be the only thing she wanted this year. I can already imagine her light, hazel gleaming with happiness... I smiled, how sweet. 

And for Shadow...Now that was a hard one. I just hoped he liked it. 

I suddenly grew nervous, twitching a little bit...It's the cold. 

"Arielle!" Someone called my name, a bit muffled.

I straightend up, still shivering. "Yeah?" I yelled back. 

"Oh my God, you gotta see this! Like, it's so cute! I think Imma buy it for myself!" Jodie yelled from the Gift Shop. 

I stood up, curious. I shuffled toward the door and stopped in my tracks. There she was, Jodie, holding a humongous--but fluffly--dolphin in her tiny arms. I don't know why, but I found it to be the most random thing I ever went through in my life. And I have no idea why.

I just stared down at the thing, not so sure how to respond. And then I started laughing in hysterical giggles. 

"Oh my God, Jodie...- More laughs-"What is-" Now I'm panting and bending down my waist, probably looking like a moron standing there, but I mean c'mon!-"...the matter with you?!" 

Jodie's tiny arms around the light blue-silver dolphin slackened. She looked down at the thing, biting her lip. "What do you mean? I thought it was cute..." 

I licked my lips and raked my hands through my red hair, taking a few breaths as I smiled at her. "I'm not laughing at you, Jodie, but I mean, like, really? It's WINTER! Spring won't be here for like a month or so and Summer is faraway from our reach right now."

Jodie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, but I mean, look at it!! Isn't it cute?!? And cuddly-looking! Come on, you have to say it's adorable!" She gave the dolphin a squeeze and gave me the puppy-eyes. 

I laughed. "Okay, it's cute, but it's your money so why are you asking me?" 

She blinked and then cocked her head to the side. "You're right! It's my money! Yayy!" She beamed in happiness and squeezed her arms around the dolphin. Yeah, you might as well say... Who are you and what have you done with my Jodie?! Bitch, answer me!

I coughed, trying not to giggle. I entered the store and looked around at the cute gifts, taking a few grateful sniffs at the smell of perfume. And then my eyes landed down at the thing in Jodie's arms. I sighed, biting my teeth to not smile. 

"So, um," Cough, cough,"what is it? Stuffed animal?" 

Jodie laughed. "Noo. It's a pillow!" 

I stared at her. "Um, you want it...why..? 

" 'Cause I think it would be really cute and comfortable than my other pillows," she replied, flashing me another smile. 

I raised an eyebrow. Okayyy.... "Okay, um, where's Seth?"

She opened her mouth, but there was no need to respond to my question.

"Over here," said a familiar voice, coughing a little bit. And then he popped out from a... I raised an eyebrow. A rack of clothes. Woman clothes. 

Seth saw my look and blushed faintly, the pink contrasting greatly with his bright, green-hazel eyes and brown-reddish hair. "Don't say anything...I'm trying to find something for my mother," he explained, ducking his head as another blush creeped up his neck to his cheekbones. 

I gaped. "You still haven't found her anything?!"

"No! This is just back-up, okay?" He said, standing up, dusting off his jeans. "Who knows, maybe she won't like it." 

"Oh, okay," I muttered. Note to Self: Seriously clean up their late acts. 

Seth slapped the last dust from his jeans and looked up to meet up the dolphin's grey-blue eyes. He quirked an eyebrow and looked up at Jodies's innocent face. 

"Oh, what the hell is that?" He pointed at the dolphin, his fingertip almost touching the dolphin's nose.

"A dolphin."

He scratched his head, lips turning into a small grin."I see that, but what are you doing with it?" 

Jodie let out a frustrated sigh. "Jeesh, is it so weird of me to be carrying a dolphin?"

"Yes," me and Seth said in unison.

"Something's going on with you, Jodie," Seth said suspiciously, eyes squinted. "And I'll find out what." 

Jodie raised an eyebrow. "Well, first of there's nothing going on and if there were than I accept that challenge." 

I glanced between them, staying quiet. 

"Okayyy!" I said, flashing a fake smile, jumping betweent them. "Why don't we put all this determined energy into finishing our Christmas shopping and heading out toward some Christmas cheer! What do you guys say?" 

"Splendid," Seth said, showing no emotion in his voice, still staring at Jodie. 

"Couldn't have agreed more," Jodie replied as well, immitating Seth's voice. 

And then they seperated into their own seperate ways, brushing shoulders with each other. 

And now I'm alone.

Standing in the middle of the GIft Shop.

Great. 

Some--weird--friends they are.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Half an hour later I found myself back in my house, still going over Seth's and Jodie's unexpected turn in there conversation. I mean, what the hell? I get used to their silly disagreements, but I wasn't so sure about this one. Jodie has been acting different... Like Ruby different. No offense. 

I bit my nails, but then I felt a hand reach out and slap it away. 

"Stop that," my mom said, stirring something in the bowl in her hands. "You've been doing that since you came back from the mall. Is something bothering you?"

Oh, my mother, so perceptive, just like me. I bit my lip, pondering about it, but then I decided against it. They'll get over it. It was just a minor...incident. And it's ridiculous, really. 

I dropped my hand away from my mouth and shook my head. "No, just a little bit nervous." Not much of a lie. 

My mom looked at me, her blond-highlighted hair tied in a sloppy bun on the top of her head, she said to get the hair out of the way. An apron with christmas trees and small santas were decorated on the thing. Yep, in any holiday my mom will be the one with all the christmas cheer. Me, of course, it was lacking. With nervousness. Oh boy, if only you knew how nervous I was. 

"I should have known," my mom said, making me blink up at her as she interrupted my inner-conversation. "But hey, I think the dinner will go okay. Shadow's a nice guy and a nice guy equals a nice family." 

"Mom, it's only his mom and him," I answered.

She blinked. "Oh... Doesn't he have any other siblings?"

I slowly shook my head. "Well, I think a brother...., but other than that; no."

Her red lips twitched. "What about the father?"

"Um, again, no.

Then I really thought about that. Where was his father at? And why did he never talk about him? I mean, yes, we've only been dating for like a few months, but I should be knowing these things... Hmm? 

"I mean," I said, "I really don't know if he has a dad...He never talks about...that kind of stuff..." 

My mom frowned. "How odd. Well, I guess we'll never know right now..." 

I nodded, not really paying attention, still thinking about Shadow and his dad. 

My mom, of course, never liking a dull crowd, brightened up, and said,"Well, I guess that's that. Mind if you can help me out a little bit, Arielle?"

I guess I wouldn't mind. I flashed her a smile. "Sure, Mom. Whatever you need me to do." 

" 'Kay!" she said with enthusiasm. She handed me the bowl and I found out it was a type of salad that  she was making as she grabbed my elbow and steered me toward the kitchen, practicly bouncing on her heels as she went. 

I glanced at the turkey on the oven, probably one or two more hours till it got out of it's personal hell, and seated in one of the stools, hands on my lap. 

"Okay," my mom said, opening a cabinet and rummaging through it, "I need you to finish icing this cake for me and wait till further instructions."

"Oh," looking down into the chocolate, fudge cake," okay." 

I grabbed the icing and pulled the cake toward me, my mouth starting to water as I closely observed with admiration at the sweet cake and it's perfect layers of chocolate... 

I almost drooled over it. 

I shook my head and started icing...

I took another peak at the cake...

Damn... I want to nibble at it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oh my God, oh my God," my mom said, freaking out. "They're here and I look like a mess." Which was not true since she looked as flawless as a white rose. Literally. Sure, there was a milk mustache on her lip, but other than that she looked great. 

I, on the other hand felt seriously awkward and nervous in my dress. And the bra I was wearing was making a rash on my back and shoulder blades. I sighed. Oh well, time for the...show to start. 

"Arielle, call your sister out for me, will you? I gotta arrange some stuff before I meet them at the door...," my mom said, delicately jogging toward the kitchen, moving frantically.

I gave a little smile and walked toward the end of the stairs, my hand wrapping around the banister. "Vanessa!" I called out. "Mom said to come downstairs--NOW!" 

And then I heard a creak from above my head. The springs from the sudden, jerky movement from a body lifting up from it, I meant. 

And then there came the running, that rattled the tiny, cute figurines on the walls standing on the shelfs. I looked up and saw a breathless Vanessa, bending over the the top of the stairs, mouth opened in heavy breaths and blue eyes bulging out.

"Well, hello there!" I chirped enthusiastly, a smile cornering at my lips. 

Vanessa made no answer as she tried to jog down the stairs in two's and hopped off to glance around the place. 

"Are they here?? Now?!" She threw at me breathlessly, her big, blue eyes searching everywhere. 

I laughed softly. "Well, they aren't here, but they are outside." 

"Well, invite them! I wanna see him!" She exclaimed, tugging my sleeve sweater toward the door. 

I rolled my eyes, not trying to remind her that he was my boyfriend, not hers. "Let's just wait till the bell rings..okay?"

"Why?" She questioned, eyes narrowing into suspicious slits. 

I licked my dry lips, silently cursing at myself for not placing chapstick on them. "Well," I said slowly," I'm nervous. Don't I have the right to be nervous?"

My half-blonde, half-brunette little sister disagreed with me. "No. You're supposed to be...entertaining him..."

I gaped at her. "HEY! And what do you mean "entertain" him? Lil sis, have you lost you're mind or did those sour skittles give you a head-start?" 

She pursed her lips. "Well...maybe, but I'm just exciting. He's super nice and cute." I ignored the possessive spark than ran through me and gave my sister a pat on the shoulder. 

"Yeah, I'm excited too, but later on, it's probably be okay," I assured her. 

And then the bell rang. 

Vanessa beamed at me happily as I stood there frozen, swallowing hard. 

And then my mom came into our view, patting down into her glossy hair and slipping her mittens and apron out. And she still wore the milk mustache on... Guess I should remind her...?

Too late. 

She has already opened the door.

My heart dropped to my stomach and I felt myself growing smaller and smaller. 

"Come on, Arielle!" My sister protested, tugging at my sweaty hand. 

I quivered. Jesus, I might as well die right now-in the carpet--of my nervous attack. 

"Okay," I managed to say, letting my sister walk me toward the entryway of the hallway toward the front door like a living zombie. 

The second my feet rounded the corner of the hallway, Shadow's blue eyes snapped to my shy ones. My heart made a painful lurch and then it settled toward my stomach with acceptance. 

I just stood there, barely in view, and then I almost lost it as he gave me a slow, killer smile. My toes curled and I returned a shy one in return, flickering my eyes toward the carpet, trying not to swoon in public at how good and broodingly handsome he looked in a white, sleeved-shirt tucked in his jeans. His black leather jacket was included along with his motorcycle boots. I hid a laugh with a small cough at Shadow's evening, but casual clothes. But I gotta say, he looked goooooood.

And then my Mom noticed me by my cough. 

"Here you are, Arielle!" My mother beamed at me and then pulled me forward to meet Shadow's mom, Alexandria, who apparently--I glanced at Shadow--I have forgotten was in the room. 

I blushed in shame and yacked some more... My mom raised a concern eyebrow, but I just shook my head and gave Shadow's mom a sweet, but somewhat embarrased smile. She laughed and patted my shoulder, her laugh girly and sweet;

"Well, hello there, Arielle! Haven't seen you for like how many months...? Two or three perhaps? Wonder why that is?" She glanced at Shadow with arched eyebrows, but Shadow just ran a hand through his dark hair and gave a cheery grin that clearly said, I have no idea... People, you know. 

I smiled and gave a little chuckle. "Yeah, I know. I missed you. Thanks." 

She gave me a wicked smile (literally) and answered with,"I know me too. I--" 

"Hi, Shadow," my sister, Vanessa, said shyly, as she stood next to Shadow's left side; in front of me. I blinked and glanced down at her as she smiled cornily at him. Where the hell did she appear from?

Shadow's mom and mine frowned in confusion, not expecting her--my blondish, small little sister to appear. 

Shadow, of course, not at all disturbed, just smiled and bent down on one knee... I stared unnervingly at him.... How the hell did I end with this freaking God?!? Or at least, very, um... I coughed some more... Sexy... I winced... man? 

Yeah, I'm not that provacative. 

"Hey, Vanessa," he said, grinning as he glanced up and down at her. "I never thought you would be the kind of girl to wear a dress? Eh?"

Vanessa blushed, entertwining her fingers together. "Mom made me. She said I had to look presentable." She shrugged a shoulder, keeping a love-strucked eye on him. I laughed into my hand. 

He chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, standing up. "Mothers. I would know from those itchy small suits she would always want me to wear tp-- OW!" He glared at his mother, moving slightly away from her, who had just pinched him. "Mom, you're really odd." 

"Oh am I?" She asked, cocking her head to the side and having an amused note to her voice. 

My mother laughed. "Oh, okay. We can talk later about this small issue; teenagers have with us. I just need to prepare a few more things until we eat at the dinner table."

At the mention of them being here--dinner--I blushed a deep red and felt myself melting again with nervousness. Shadow glanced curiously at me as I started backing away, deeper into the hallway, into the dim shadows.

"Um, Mom?" I asked, avoiding Shadow's gaze on me. "I'm gonna go up to my room for just a minute. I need to do a few things." I guess, it was disprespectful of me to leave our guests like this, but this was kind of... important to me... Sort of.

My mom quirked her red lips. "Sure, hon. Just come back soon for dinner."

I nodded and quickly retracted quickly into the hallway, up the stairs. I grasped the railing with my left hand and made it up the stairs. I fidgeted with my hands and stroded toward my bedroom, quietly shutting my door. 

I immediately collapsed into my bed, face-down, and thought how horrible I was being because I practicly stood Shadow up down there! I guess I'm overreacting, but this was it. Our parents meeting face-to-face. Oh, God. 

I stuffed my face in my pillow and laid down in silence, hearing the sharp tick-tock of my clock and the scrambling of a few cars outside, doing who knows what. It was a peaceful kind of quiet. I sighed and took a deep breath.

I was taking in my quietness in so much that I didn't notice my doorknob turn in softly, soundlessly, and the broad-shouldered shadow that slipped in my dark room. 

My breaths were coming in calm swallows, but they intensified greatly as I felt two large hands wrap around my bare shoulders, sending me to sit straight up in my room, sending someone to slide down my bed toward the floor. 

I heard a grunt and then movement behind me as I crawled away, to the edge of my bed. I reached beside me and flicked on my bedside lamp. I squinted at the sudden light and barely made out the hazy, black figure in front of me. I rubbed at my eyes and gaped at--

"SHADOW! What the hell are you doing?!" I asked incredulously, crawling back toward him, where he was rubbing his nose with his hand on the ground, my silky sheets wrapped in a messy tangle around him.

He rolled his eyes and scoffed at me. "Wanting to talk to you, of course! You're like a tensed, freaking ninja!"

I stared at him, amused than the thought me that way. Hmm, I guess I was. Oh, wait... 

"HEY! I was calm; not tensed! And anyways, you could have whispered my name or something," I shot back. 

"I thought this would have been more romantic, but okay then. Sorry...even though I have no idea for what," he said, twisting his slender neck to look at me as I bended down till my eyes leveled with his.  

"It's okay," I whispered, getting soft and distracted as his electrying eyes focused on me, unwavering. He gave me a soft smile, eyes warm, and reached up to give me a sweet peck on the cheek. I melted right then and there. 

I scooted closer and slid myself into his waiting lap, my hands automatically finding his naval, his warmth spreading throughout me. 

"You're nervous, aren't you? Don't be; it's gonna be okay. It always is," he laughed softly at the last part, like it was obvious to him, but to me I was completely oblivious to it. 

I sighed. "Right, but I mean..."

He glanced down, playing with the zipper in his leather jacket. "Yeah, I know what you mean... Anyways, what the hell are you doing here?"

I gawked. "It's my room!" 

Shadow rolled his eyes. "I know that, dummie, but I mean, what are you doing hiding here?"

I froze in his lap. "Um, getting... chapstick?" 

Shadow frowned and of course, looked at my lips. "Chapstick? What for? They're fine." 

"Um," I hesitated, crawling away from his lap. "They burn and I had to go to the...bathroom...?" 

Now Shadow was