She kept her promise.
 When we got out of the car she locked it and took us across the street to a small caf&eacute;.
 La Pi&eacute;r.
 She holds the door open for me which causes me to smile as I thank her and lead us inside.
 "Where do you want to sit?" She asks as she stops beside me which causes our hands to lightly caress each other
 My breath hitches as I feel a jolt of electricity go through my arm.
 Charlotte freezes but she continues to look around for an empty table.
 Did she not feel that to

Where the hell am I?
 I look around only to notice that I'm ducked behind a dumpster in an alley way.
 What am I doing here?
 I cautiously peek around the dumpster and gape at what I see.
 Charlotte is dressed in all black while shooting a gun at multiple gunned men.
 What the hell?
 I see a buff man, in all black, sneaking up behind her with his gun pointed at her head.
 Shit.

The past week has been... eventful.
 Maddie has kept her distance from me but every chance she gets she glares at me.
 Charlotte and I have barely spoken.
 The catch?
 We've constantly been around each other.
 She still picks me up for school.
 We still sit by each other in our classes.
 We still eat lunch together.
 We still walk beside each other in the hall.
 We just don't say anything to each other unless it's about school work.
 At first everyone was concerned, they still are, but they've gotten used to it.
 My mom, Carolina, and Kayden were the most affected for some reason.
 When I started ignoring Charlotte she didn't question it. It's almost like she knew why I didn't want to talk to her.
 -
 I wake up wrapped in her arms which causes me to let out a yawn as I scratch my head.
 I slowly get out of her grip and make my way towards my bathroom.
 I stare at my reflection with a blank look. My hair is messily covering parts of my face which causes me to roll my eyes.
 I turn the shower to the hot side before I immediately strip and step in. I let the hot water relax my tense muscles.
 We're taking a test at the end of the week before we get out of school. I've become very tense from staying up late and studying.
 I quickly bathe before I step out of the shower and wrap a pink towel around my body.
 I brush my hair and plug up my blow dryer.
 I take a deep breath before I look at my cheek. It's a light grey shade but it's fading around the edges.
 In a few more weeks this bruise will be gone.
 -
 After I finished blow drying my hair and applying a little bit of concealer onto my cheek I walk out of the bathroom only to see Charlotte already dressed.
 She was wearing a dark red bodysuit with black distressed jean shorts. She has one of my dark grey cardigans over the bodysuit and a pair of adidas superstars. Her hair is in a high ponytail while her baby hairs are free.
 I stare at her a little longer than I used to which causes her to look up me with a smile on her face. I blush as I look down and walk towards my closet.
 I quickly pick out an outfit so that we're not late for school. This week is important, if we're late we'll have detention.
 I decide to go for an edgier look as I pick out a grey spaghetti strap crop top and black leggings. I tie a light blue button up around my waist before I put on a pair of grey combat boots.
 I braid my hair in two dutch braids before I walk out of my closet only to see Charlotte holding two Starbucks cups in her hands.
 I raise my eyebrow at her questioningly which causes her to smile as her dimples show.
 Damn, that's hot.
 Wait, what?!
 "Your mom got them for us. I offered to bring it up for you" she says with the same adorable smile
 Awww.
 "Thank you" I say before I take the drink from her and take a long sip
 Hot Chocolate?
 "No problem" she says before she kisses my cheek which causes me to blush as I walk away to grab my backpack.
 As we walk into the kitchen I see a plate of sugar cookies on the counter with a note. I grab the note before opening it.
 Aspen,
 Since you and Charlotte were up late studying last night here are some cookies to help you get through the day.
 P.s. I expect you both to be on speaking terms after school. We're going to look for a tree.
 Love, mom.
 I smile before I grab a cookie and pass the note to Charlotte. She quickly reads it with a smile before placing a cookie in her mouth and grabbing my hand.
 We've become closer with each other the past week
 During school we've either been holding hands or laying our heads on each other's shoulder.
 After school we've been watching Netflix as she either gives me a head massage or I fall asleep in her arms.
 Of course Maddie has noticed how much closer we've gotten but she hasn't commented on it.
 Surprisingly she hasn't even threatened me about it either.
 Maybe she finally realized that her and Charlotte aren't actually going to end up together.
 -
 As we arrive at school Carolina stops us before we can get out of the truck.
 "I don't know what's up with you guys. You don't look mad at each other but you're not speaking to each other. Are you guys dating?!" She asks with confusion before it turns into excitement
 "Chill, we're not dating" Charlotte says with an eye roll which causes Carolina to frown
 "Seriously?!" She asks with a shocked tone which causes Charlotte and I to nod
 She rolls her eyes and mutters something under her breath about how "we're so clueless" but I brushed it off. She looks at me with a mischievous look before she smiles.
 "Aspen, would you like to come shopping with me tomorrow after school?" Carolina asks with the same mischievous look which causes me to give her a confused look
 "Why?" I slowly ask as Charlotte looks at Carolina with a warning look
 What the actual heck?!
 "Remember how you were telling us about your mother's annual Christmas Eve party?" She asks which causes me to roll my eyes before I nod
 Oh, how I wish I could forget about my mother's Christmas Eve party's.
 They're filled with wealthy people, some stuck up some grounded, who just stand around and chat with each other.
 This year they decided on a masquerade theme which means that I not only have to wear a dress but I have to wear an itchy mask too!
 They have some contests and activities towards the end of the event which is when everyone is either tipsy or becoming energetic.
 There is always at least one family that ruins the event by either doing something stupid or causing a scene.
 My plan was to sit out this year but once Carolina said that she would escort me I decided that I shouldn't be so bitter over it.
 Charlotte said that she was busy that night and that she wouldn't make it in time which caused me to frown but I didn't let it affect me too much.
 "Yes" I respond which causes her to smile
 "Well, you're obviously going to blow everyone away with your outfit so I want to come in a close third place with mine" she says like it's obvious which causes me to blush as Charlotte glares at her
 "Could you both speed this up, we kind of have a class to get to" Charlotte says bitterly
 What is her problem?!
 "I would love to go costume shopping with you" I tell her with a smile which causes her to beam as Charlotte groans beside us
 Why is she suddenly very impatient?!
 She was fine a few moments ago.
 Charlotte storms out of the car which causes me to stare at her retreating figure in confusion as I quickly hop out of the truck and follow her.
 Once I catch up to her in the hallway I grab her elbow and yank her back towards me which causes her to glare at me.
 "What is wrong with you? Why did you just storm out of the truck?!" I whisper yell since some people stopped to watch us with eager eyes
 She ticks her jaw before grabbing my wrist and dragging me to a more secluded hallway.
 "Can you please answer my question" I say with an annoyed tone which causes her to push me against the wall as she holds my hands above my head
 I bring my bottom lip between my two rows of teeth as she presses her body against mine, practically trapping me against the wall and her body.
 She's breathing heavily as her nose lightly brushes against the shell of my ear.There's that same untamable fire from a couple of weeks ago in her green eyes which causes my breath to hitch.
 She's looking me in the eyes with such an intense look that I feel like all the words have been knocked out of me.
 Is now a bad time to mention that I'm turned on?
 She's about to say something when we're interrupted by the warning bell going off which causes us to jump away from each other.
 I place my hands on my cheeks as I try to calm my erratic breathing.
 Oh god.
 What just happened?!
 Oh god.
 What would've happened if that bell didn't interrupt us?!
 What does this mean?!
 "Are you coming?" She asks as she points in the direction of the main hall
 "N-no, I'm going to go to the restroom" I say which causes her to look at me in confusion before she nods and walks off to class.
 As I'm about to walk to the bathroom I get interrupted by a voice that send a chill up my spine
 "It seems like things are getting pretty steamy between the both of you" Maddie says which causes me to turn around so that I'm facing her
 "What do you want?" I ask so that I can quickly get this over with
 "I would tell you but you'd only ignore me" She says with a smirk before she slowly walks towards me
 "I can't wait for Friday, you want to know why?" She asks with fake enthusiasm but I nod anyway
 "I guess you'll have to be here to find out" she says with a teasing voice before she struts away from me which causes me to look at her retreating figure in confusion
 Why does she want to ruin my life so bad?!
 What have I ever done to her?!
 And what's happening on Friday?!
 -
 The school day slowly but surely ended with Charlotte being more distant than before.
 Kayden didn't show up since he has the flu but that didn't stop him from asking me about all the drama happening at school.
 As Charlotte and I walk out of the school I see my mom waiting for us which causes me to smile as I speed my walking so that I can reach her quicker.
 "What are you doing here?" I ask with a smile as I hug her. Charlotte comes up beside me and hugs her too.
 "Christmas tree shopping" she says which causes my eyes to widen in realization
 Oh, I forgot.
 "Come on, it's going to take awhile to find the perfect tree" she says as she walks around to the drivers side
 As I'm going to reach for the handle of the backseat door Charlotte opens it before I can lay my hand on it. I look up at her which causes her to smile as she uses her hand to gesture for me to get in. I quickly thank her before I climb into the seat with her following shortly behind.
 As Charlotte gets slides into the seat beside me my mom starts the engine.
 Now starts the thirty-two minute drive to the Christmas Tree Patch.
 -
 "Aspen" I hear someone whisper before they tuck a strand of hair behind my ear
 I attempt to open my eyes but immediately close them when I get blinded by a bright light.
 When I successfully pry my eyes open I'm met with a sideways image of my mother. She's looking at me with a bright smile which causes me to scrunch my eyebrows together in confusion.
 Why is she happier than normal?
 And why do I feel very comfortable?
 I look down and notice that there's a red knitted blanket laying across Charlotte and I's laps. Her arm is wrapped around my waist and tightly gripping my hip as my head lays comfortably on her shoulder.
 When did I fall asleep?!
 "Come on, we've arrived at the patch" my mom says with an encouraging smile which causes me to reach up and sleepily rub my eye
 "How about we meet up with you when she wakes up a little more" Charlotte asks as she tilts her head to look at me and smiles
 My mom nods before she hands Charlotte the car key and gets out of the car. She quickly closes her door before walking away from the car.
 "If you wake up I'll buy you a hot chocolate" Charlotte says with an amused voice as I look up at her
 "Promise?" I whisper as I look at her with hopeful eyes
 She looks down at my face and smiles and she brings her hand up to caress my cheekbone.
 "Promise" She says with a slight head nod which causes me to smile up at her

She kept her promise.
 When we got out of the car she locked it and took us across the street to a small caf&eacute;.
 La Pi&eacute;r.
 She holds the door open for me which causes me to smile as I thank her and lead us inside.
 "Where do you want to sit?" She asks as she stops beside me which causes our hands to lightly caress each other
 My breath hitches as I feel a jolt of electricity go through my arm.
 Charlotte freezes but she continues to look around for an empty table.
 Did she not feel that too?!
 "There's a booth over there" she says as

Christmas Trees