I wake up in complete pain which causes me to whimper as I slowly sit up straight in my movie theater chair.

I turn to my left and see Charlotte peacefully sleeping in her chair as her blanket lays on her legs.


We didn't have blankets when we came in here.

Someone must've walked in on us.

Ugh, I hope they don't get the wrong idea.


It's becoming harder to hide my affection for Charlotte.

But I need to, for the sake of our friendship.


I take a deep breath before I slowly, but surely, stand from my chair and make my way out of the theater room.

I remember her taking a left before walking down a long hallway.

I walk down the hallway before taking a right and meeting the main stairway.

I carefully walk down the granite steps and walk into the kitchen only to be met with Carolina drinking a cup of coffee.

"Hey" I rasp out as I carefully take a seat in one of the barstools

"Hey, I barely saw you yesterday" she says with a smirk which causes me to roll my eyes

"Whatever you're thinking that Charlotte and I did, didn't happen" I say but her facial expression doesn't change

"I'm injured, the only thing I can do correctly is sleep" I say with an eye roll

She raises her hands in surrender as she backs up and places her cup in the sink.

"Do you want to help me with something?" Carolina asks with a hand on her hip

"It depends on what it is" I respond

"Well, every Christmas morning I bake sugar cookies for everyone in this house. If you helped me it would go by so much quicker" she persuades as I smile

"It's six in the morning, can't we just buy sugar cookies?" I ask

"It's Christmas morning. Who do you think is going to be open?" She asks as she raises an eyebrow

"Mr. Carello" I state like it's obvious

"He banned you guys, remember?" She states with an eye roll

"That wasn't my fault. Plus, it's worth trying" I say as I shrug my shoulder

I grab the container of my pain pills off of the counter and take two of the pills out before I get handed a glass of apple cider.

"Thank you" I say before I place the pills on my tongue and throw them back with the beverage

"How about you take a nap while I go get the cookies?" She suggests as she helps me off the chair and through the foyer

I feel tired, but I still want to be helpful.

"But why? I wanted to help" I whine since I haven't been able to do anything with these injuries

"You're helping your body when you rest" she points out as she leads me up the stairs

"I don't want to keep passing out every couple of hours" I say with a frustrated tone as she walks into Charlotte's room and lays me in her bed

"If it means that you're healing and getting better then none of us mind" she says as she picks up a Christmas throw blanket and lays it over my body

I'm so comfortable.

And tired.

No, I will not fall asleep.

"Goodnight, Aspen" She says when my eyes slowly close

The next thing I know I'm asleep.

I slowly wake up to someone shaking my shoulder.

Thankfully my good one.

When my eyes are fully open I'm met with the image of that boy from earlier.

Weird.

"Um, Hi?" I say awkwardly which causes him to smile

"What are you still doing asleep? The party's about to start" He says which causes my eyes to widen as I look at the clock on Charlotte's bedside table

Nine in the morning.

Did Carolina seriously not wake me up.

"Thank you for waking me up" I tell him gratefully before I sit up and crack my knuckles

"I picked out an outfit for you to wear" He states as he points to a dress on the bed

"Not to be rude, but why?" I asks with genuine confusion

"Between you and me, Charlotte has been holding herself back with somethings" he says as he starts to use his hands for emphasis

"Since red compliments your skin I was hoping that it would push her forward into doing something that she's wanted to do for awhile now" he says

I arch my eyebrow in confusion.

Holding herself back?

Something that she's wanted to do for awhile now?

"What do you mean by 'holding herself back'?" I ask him which causes his eyes to widen

"I've said too much" he says before he walks out

Okay, that was random.

I look to my right and see a small present that's wrapped in gold wrapping paper.

I grab it before carefully opening it and placing the wrapping paper in my lap.

As soon as the whole box is unwrapped I'm met with a blood red velvet jewelry box.

Carolina walks in only for her eyes to widen as they land on the box.

"It's about time she gave that to you" Carolina mutters with an eye roll

I arch an eyebrow at her before I gently pry the box open only to cover my mouth with my hand in shock.

It's a small diamond snowflake pendant connected to a small gold chain.

It's elegant and matches the occasion.

"Do you like it? You haven't said anything" Carolina asks with a worrisome tone

"it's beautiful" I say as I lightly run my thumb over the snowflake

She lets out a breath of relief before grabbing the dress and holding it up in front of me.

"Let's get you dressed. The party's starting soon" she says