THE DATE WAS DECEMBER TWENTY-SECOND AND THE TIME WAS SIX-THIRTY PM. Elli was getting ready for the Christmas party that Mary and Bonnie were throwing with a few friends and colleagues.

Elli was allowed to invite some friends too, so she invited Debbie and Shirley (obviously) , then Gilbert and his new friend Kenton—everyone called him Kenny.

She put on a nice red short-sleeved polka dot dress and some white flats to go with it. Mary was wearing a blue ruffled dress with white heals and Bonnie was wearing a yellow Rockabilly dress with yellow heals as well. They looked beautiful.

As Elli fixed her now straightened hair, as the hair she had for ages was improper in the time she lived in now, she started to looked at herself in the mirror.

She looked mature. Different. Older. Like a new person. If one of the Hargreeves were to bump into her on the street, they probably wouldn't even recognize her.

"Elli," Mary knocked on the door. "you ready yet? We have to start setting everything up and you have to bring Cutie up to your room and get her settled."

"Yeah, I'm ready," she called and turned towards Mary. Mary looked at her and froze for a second. "What?"

Mary blinked and shook her head. "You look so pretty, baby. So grown up," she grabbed her hands. "And I remember the day you ran into the shop. All scared and holding onto Bonnie."

"Then you came and saved the day," Elli snickered. "Scared those boys out of their socks."

"Yeah. Come on, let's get ready for the party," she walked out the room with Elli following.

•••••

"Can I hold the cute animal specimen now? Because I am one-thousand percent going to steal her when you're not looking, Liana," Shirley spoke as she watched Elli hold Cutie. "Wait, did I just say that out loud?"

Elli chuckled and handed the animal to her. "Don't steal her. She's adorable and mine thank you very much."

"Oh, please."

"So, what do you guys wanna do?" Elli asked the four of them as they were in Elli's room.

The people were Shirley, Debbie, Gilbert, and their new friend Kenton. He was brown skinned like Elli and was in the same grade as the rest of them. Elli met Kenny when she was out with Shirley and Gilbert one day. Gilbert introduced them as he was friends with Kenny for a while.

"What about spin the bottle with seven minutes in heaven?" Kenny suggested.

"What's spin the bottle with seven minutes in heaven?" asked Elli and the rest gave her looks.

"You don't know what spin the bottle with seven minutes in heaven is?" They all asked in unison and she shook her head.

"It's when we sit in a circle and place a bottle in the middle. One of us spins it and whoever it lands on has to go in the closet with the other person and stay in there for seven minutes. But, we'll reduce it to three minutes," Kenny explained.

"What do we have to do for those three minutes?"

"Kiss," he said with a cocky smile and blew her a kiss.

"Oh, please. Okay, sure. I'll play," she agreed.

"Me too," Debbie smiled and sat next to Elli.

"We will too," Shirley and Gilbert agreed.

"Aren't you guys dating though?" Kenny asked as he grabbed a bottle off of Elli's desk.

"Well, we're kinda friends right now. Not together anymore," Shirley spoke as she got next to Debbie.

"Oh, okay. Then all of us here are single, right?" They all nodded. "Okay. Let's start then. Anyone wanna go first?"

"I'll go," Shirley spoke as she placed Cutie on Elli's bed and placed her hand on the bottle, spinning it clockwise. The bottle spun for a few seconds before slowly landing on Gilbert.

"In the closet you two go," Kenny smiled mockingly as Shirley blushed and Gilbert smiled. They both entered the closet and the clock started.

"I think they're gonna kiss," Elli said in a whisper.

"Think? I know they're gonna kiss. Why wouldn't they?" Deb gave a look.

"They're probably even going to get back together," Kenny agreed.

As it neared the end of the three minutes, Kenny stood up silently and neared the door. He placed his hands on the handle and rapidly pulled it open to see Shirley with her arms around Gilberts neck and Gilberts arms around her waist.

They were in a make out season but quickly pulled apart. The others laughed as the two turned cherry red as they both sat down, not making eye contact.

"Looks like Shirley has Gilby germs again," Deb whispered to Elli who laughed covering her mouth.

"Okay, I'll go next," Kenny grabbed the bottle and spun it clockwise. The bottle spun for a few moments before landing on Debbie.

Debbie looked up at Elli then met eyes with Kenny and gave him a nervous look. ". . . D-Do I have to?"

"Yep. It's in the rules," Kenny gave a cocky smile towards her.

He stood up and held a hand out for Deb to take. They both stood up and made their way to the closet. Once the door closed, Debbie turned to Kenny.

"Do you guys think they're, like, actually going to kiss?" Elli rubbed her arm.

"Kenny does like Debbie," Gilbert said and Elli looked up.

"Really?" he nodded. "Guess my chance is out the window," she said to herself in a whisper.

The closet door opened as the timer went off and Kenny exited first then after Debbie. Kenny sat down with a smile as Debbie sat down and looked to the side.

"Okay. Elli, since you haven't gone, why don't you spin it?" Kenny offered and she nodded.

She spun the bottle clockwise and watched as it went in a circle. It started to slow down going from Kenny, Gilbert, Shirley, then finally landing on Debbie.

She looked at Debbie and stood up, her following behind. They got into the closet and saw Kenny at the door. "Three minutes. Starting the clock now," he closed the door.

Elli looked at Debbie and saw her staring at the floor. "Are you okay?"

"I have to tell you something. I tried to tell you earlier on your birthday but my idiot ass dad interrupted us."

"Um, okay. What is it?"

Debbie looked up at Elli and became jittery. "Well. . . that's the thing. I don't know how."

"Well, what's it mainly abou—"

"I like someone!" she said a bit loud then covered her mouth.

"Who is it?" Elli brought Debbie's hand away from her mouth.

"That's the thing, I don't know how to tell you. It's hard to explain," she fiddled with her fingers.

"Then show me."

"What?"

"Show me what you're talking about. Show me who your crush is." Debbie stayed quite. "Is it Kenny?"

Debbie gave a shocked look. "What? No. No, no, no, no. No! Never!"

"Then—what did you do while you both were in the closet?"

"We just. . . talked that's it," she answered plainly.

"Okay, then who do you like?"

"Again, that's hard to explain," she spoke harshly.

"Just show me, Deb. It can't be that—"

"I like you," she cut Elli off.

Elli gave her a shocked face before sighing out in relief. "Well, that's a relief."

"What? Why is that?"

"Because of this," Elli held her right cheek and pulled her into a kiss. Debbie, in shock, took a second to notice what was happening before she pulled Elli closer to her.

They broke apart and smiled at each other as Deb rubbed her lips together. They put their foreheads together and we're about to connect their lips when the timer went off.

"Act like we were just talking," Elli jumped back and Deb nodded. The door opened and the two walked out.

"So, what'd you two do?" Kenny leaned forward with his arms crossed.

"Just talked. Nothing more," Elli shrugged.

"Yep," Debbie nodded. "just talked."

•••••

The party was now completely over. Everything was put away, cleaned up, and the house was now clear of people. Mary, Elli, and Bonnie were now laying on the couch watching Alice in Wonderland.

This movie reminded her of Mace. The nickname he gave her: Cheshire. She smiled a bit at the pink and purple cat as it appeared on the branch directing Alice to the Hair of the Hatter.

Elli also couldn't keep her mind off of the incident that happened that evening in the closet. Debbie liked her. And by the looks of it, she really liked Debbie too. What Elli didn't know was she was smiling like an idiot thinking in her head.

"What're you smiling about, sweet cakes? Somethin' on your mind?" Bonnie nudged her arm as she took a sip of her wine.

". . . I had my first kiss today." Bonnie chocked on her wine as Mary sat up and gave her a jaw dropping look.

"You what?!"

"When?" Mary got intrigued.

"During the party," Elli shrunk into herself.

"And with who?" Mary asked.

"That's strictly confidential," Elli got up from her spot and tried to escape to her room. Mary and Bonnie followed behind and trapped her in her room by blocking the way out.

"Oh, come on. We're like your parents," Mary begged as she held Cutie. "Even Cutie wants to know."

"She already knows." Bonnie and Mary gasped as Bonnie brought Cutie close to her ear.

"Tell me, sweet bunny. I won't tell a soul," Bonnie tried to get an answer. "She won't say anything. You taught her good," she handed the rabbit off to Elli.

"Please, can we know?" Mary sat next to her and made begging hands.

"Fine. It was someone who came tonight," she smiled as she pet Cutie.

"That's a shit answer. More, more, more," Bonnie begged.

"First, do you guys have any guesses?"

"Yes. I have one and she has one. Now, who was it?" Mary asked.

". . . Debbie," she said sheepishly and looked off to the side.

"I knew it! Pay up!" Bonnie shouted to her wife as Mary groaned and pulled out a five dollar bill and handed it to Bonnie.

"Why did you guys bet on who I was going to have my first kiss with?"

"Well, I knew for a fact it was going to be Debbie because I know how you two act around each other. Mary thought it was gonna be Gilbert," Bonnie chuckled.

"Gilbert? Really?" Elli gave a questionable look.

"I'm not good at reading signs. Seriously, though. What can I say? Red heads are kinda hot."

Bonnie smacked Mary's shoulder and rolled her eyes. "Sure, sure, saying that while you are married to a white haired woman."

"Oh, yeah," Mary realized as Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Does she like you?"

"Yeah. She confessed to me while we played spin the bottle with seven minutes in heaven. Well, technically three minutes."

Bonnie grew a smile. "Aw, look. Our kinda child is growing up. You know, if you kiss a boy you get pregnant—"

"We are not about to have that talk. Out of the room," Elli started to force the two out.

"Okay, okay, we're going," Mary got off the bed. "Seriously though. You guys would make a cute couple."

"You would. Now good night," Bonnie smiled.

"Good night," Elli closed her door and then collapsed on her bed.

•••••

Three days passed and it was now Christmas Day. The day was filled with the family of three sharing presents, going out for breakfast, dressing Cutie in a Santa outfit with an adorable hat. They even got some photos too that Elliana put in her room.

As the day turned to evening, Mary and Bonnie went to the shop while Elliana stayed home wrapping the gift she got for Debbie.

She had already given Shirley, Kenny, and Gilbert their gifts which consisted of an Ant-Man comic for Gilbert, a blue dress for Shirley that she'd been wanting for months, and an Electric Race Car toy for Kenny.

All the money she got from her birthday or either working in the shop extra hours. Now, for Debbie she got something special. They were passing by a jewelry shop one day and Debbie saw a necklace she really liked.

So, Elli went back a few weeks later and bought it for her. It was a sliver necklace with a heart at the bottom which was a silver color as well. She also bought Debbie some new Elvis records that she could listen to.

Placing the top on the chocolate chip cookie tin that she just made for Debbie's family, she made her way over to their house next door. As she approached the door, she placed her gift to the side to knock.

After waiting a few seconds, Elizabeth opened the door. "Elli, what a nice surprise to see you here. Merry Christmas, dear," she smiled brightly.

"Merry Christmas, Lizzie. I brought you guys some more cookies," she handed the cookie to Lizzie. "Also got a gift for Debbie. Could I give it to her?"

"Of course, hon. She's in her room," Lizzie let her inside and she headed towards the stairs to Debs room. On the way up the stairs, she bumped into Nick.

"Oh, my bad. I didn't see you there. Merry Chr—"

"What are you doing here?" he cut her off and gave a stern look.

"Well, I've brought some presents for Debbie. Lizzie told me that it was okay if I brought them to her. So, if you will excuse me—"

"Get out of my house," he hissed and looked her dead in the eyes.

"I'm sorry?" Elli gave a confused look.

"You heard me. Get out of my house and never speak to my daughter ever again. She doesn't need you. No one does. I don't want my daughter associating with your kind. Your awful, disgusting kind," he got closer and closer to her.

Elli's eyes started to go to tears, threatening to fall but she held herself together. "These useless gifts she's not even going to use," he took the box with the necklace out of her hand and threw it on the floor, stomping on it repeatedly.

"No! No! Stop it!" Elli pushed him back and grabbed the gift off the floor, seeing as it was now broken. All her money and time working her ass off to pay for the gift was now down the drain. "How could you be so rude?" Elli asked as tears left her eyes.

She turned her heal and went down the stairs straight out of the house. Nick scoffed and went over to his daughter room. "Deborah, open the door right now!"

Debbie opened the door and gave her father a look. "Yes? And what was all that shouting about? Are you arguing with mom—"

"Why are you still talking to that girl?"

Debbie gave a confused look. "What girl?"

"The one next door. I thought I told you to never speak to her again," he gave her a serious look.

Debbie scoffed and picked something up from her bed. "I can talk to whoever I want to talk to. You don't get to decided that choice for me," she brushed passed him and out the front door.

Debbie made her way to Elli's front door and started knocking. "Elli, you home?" she didn't hear a response, so she knocked again. "Elli?" she heard nothing.

She went towards the backyard and opened the gate and walked up to the sliding door that connected to the kitchen. She slid the door open, happy it was unlocked, and began to enter the house.

"Elli?" Deb called out and heard footsteps coming down the stairs and towards the kitchen.

Elli walked into the kitchen with red eyes and was being followed by Cutie who was now in a reindeer outfit. "How'd you get in?"

"Oh, the slide door. You told me that if there's an emergency, then I could just come in. You weren't answering the door, so I thought something was wrong." Elli nodded and turned back around, about to leave. "Are you okay?"

"I came over to bring you your gift and your dad was a being a pain," Elli said as she picked up Cutie and lead the two to her room.

"I'm sorry. I should've done something. I thought he was just arguing with my mom," Debbie sat down next to Elli on her bed.

"It's fine. He kinda broke one of your gifts though."

Debbie sighed. "You know what? I don't care. Here," Deb handed Elli her gift.

"Thanks. Here's yours," Elli handed Deb hers.

They opened theirs at the same time and both looked at their gifts in awe. Elli looked at the pair of Hippie glasses and assortment of candies and stickers.

"I love it. How'd you know my favorite candies?" Elli asked as she put them on her bed.

"I pay attention. And thank you for the Elvis. I was running out of songs," Debbie smiled.

"I have something else," Elli got up from her spot and grabbed the newly wrapped box from her night stand.

Debbie took the gift from her hand and unwrapped it. She opened the small box to see the necklace. "It was broken, but I found a chain from another necklace I had and replaced it. It looks way better too," Elli explained as Debbie was astonished.

"It's beautiful," Debbie looked at it in awe. "Can you put it on me?" Elli nodded and took both ends of the necklace, placing it behind Debbie's neck and clipping it behind as Deb held her hair up.

Once finished, Elli traced her fingers across the chain and kept her arms on Debs shoulders. "It looks pretty. I'm glad I got it for you."

"I'm glad you got it for me too," Deb smiled as she slowly stated to lean in. "Merry Christmas, Elli."

"Merry Christmas, Deb," They both met each other's lips and pulled each other closer to one another. As they both started to separate with smiles on their faces a question popped into Elli's head and she asked, "What are we? Like, I know we're not friends, and I know we like each other, so. . ."

"How about we date? Unless, you don't want to. I don't—" Elli cut her off with a kiss.

"You talk a lot. Well, more like blab," she chuckled as Debbie gave an eye roll. "Yeah, I'll go with that. I, Elli, am now dating you, Debbie."

"Yep. And I, Debbie, am now dating you, Elli," They both smiled at each other until they fell over in laughter.

It was the best Christmas ever for the two of them.

Too sad it'll be the last they will ever have with each other because some things are to come their way.