*.*.*.*.*.*

A week to Christmas, and it has already begun to snow. When I arrive in class on Monday, I'm bundled up in layers of warm clothing that my dad forced upon me. Ever since I got that pneumonia back in Freshman year, dad has been overly concerned about keeping me warm, sometimes to the point of suffocating me.

"You make a pretty snowman," Dray attempts to compliment me in his corny way, blocking my path to my seat in the front of class.

I roll my eyes and elbow him in the ribs to get him out of my way.

"Come on, why do you play so hard to get?" he whines behind me.

"Why do you act so desperate?" I call back sarcastically, taking my seat.

The teacher calls us to attention and everyone settles down. Just as she begins to hand us our sheets for a pop quiz, Xavier shuffles into the room and takes his seat beside me. I glance his way just as he looks towards me, and our eyes meet for a brief second that is unfortunately interrupted by the teacher slamming the test on my desk. I glower at her as she moves to the next desk.

With a sigh, I begin my quiz, internally hoping that Xavier knows at least some of the questions on the test. He's not so good at calculus, and we haven't studied this topic because of his double shift at work. Still, Xavier is the first person to hand over his quiz and leave the class, making sure we don't get a chance to speak, as always. When I leave class and find Nancy and Odette in the café, he's not there either.

"So, do you want to go Christmas shopping or what?" Odette asks me.

"When?" I ask, gazing around subtly to find the familiar grey-eyed boy who knows how to vanish into thin air.

"After school, we can go to my place and then to the mall," Odette suggests.

"Uh, I can't." I sigh, unable to find my object of interest.

"Why not?" Nancy frowns.

"I have to be home by eight."

"Your curfew is ten," Nancy reminds me.

"Yeah but ... I'm grounded," I blurt out, unable to think of a better lie.

"Grounded? For what?" Odette asks.

"I didn't do the dishes," I lie.

"And how long are you going to be grounded?" Nancy asks.

"Senior year," I say before I can stop myself, instantly regretting it.

"You're grounded for the entire year because you didn't do the dishes?" Odette says incredulously.

"Drop it, you can't fool us." Nancy rolls her eyes.

"Fine, I'm not grounded the entire year but I am grounded for now," I change my statement, frustrated. "I just have to be home by eight."

"Okay, we can go to the mall first." Odette shrugs.

"Sounds good," I agree, inwardly sighing in relief. "Let me just tell my dad so he doesn't wait."

As I pull out my phone from my bag, I'm vaguely aware of the exasperated looks on my friends' faces. They always tease me for how much my dad still pampers me, calling me 'Daddy's little girl' and mocking me for not being independent like all the other girls around. I don't see what the big deal is. So what if my dad is closer to me than my friends'? I don't have a mom, nobody complains about that. People just always have a problem with something.

The trip to the mall is exhausting, and I spend hours trailing behind Nancy and Odette as they shop. I buy things too, but I don't have a big family. It's just me and dad, so the only person I need to buy a Christmas present for is him. I don't have any siblings, and though mom always sends me something on Christmas, and my birthday, I've never returned the gesture despite dad's insistence. I just don't feel like pretending me and mom have a normal mother-daughter relationship, when we obviously don't.

We're at an accessory store when I catch sight of a beautiful black wristband. I walk towards the glass case holding it, staring down at the elegant, leather wristband. The price tag says it's for $45 only and that's pretty reasonable as far as I know. The band is beautiful, made of black leather and woven into delicate braids.

"Excuse me, I'd like to get this," I call towards the salesgirl, who looks at me, smiling professionally.

"That's for men," she tells me.

"I know." I open my wallet to the out my money and she picks the wristband case off the shelf and places it into a gift bag for me.

"Oh my God, that is beautiful!" Nancy squeals over my shoulder. "Who are you getting it for?"

"Dad," I say. It's actually a lie. The first person who came to my mind when I saw the band was Xavier.

Shocker, I know.

"Do you have another one like it?" Nancy asks the salesgirl. "I can get it for Brian," she says to me.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, it's an only piece," the salesgirl says sweetly, handing me the bag and taking my money.

"Aw," Nancy's shoulders slump. "Well, guess I'll look for something else then."

I'm partially tempted to offer Nancy the band. She has been searching for a gift for her boyfriend for hours now, to no avail. The friend inside me wants to let Nancy have the wristband, but then again ... maybe not. I'm sure she'll find something else. Brian is the usual guy, he would like anything, be it shirts, shoes, watches. As for Xavier, this band is exactly his style.

"I'm having a Christmas party at my house," Nancy says as Odette drives me home. "You're going to come, right, Haley?"

"Sure," I say without paying attention, playing a game on my phone.

Of course, I can go to the party; it's not like I have anything else to do on Christmas.

That night when I'm sitting next to Xavier at our regular studying place, I pluck up the courage to ask about his Christmas plans.

"What will you do during Christmas vacations?"

He shrugs nonchalantly, looking entirely disinterested.

"You can come here," I say, trying to keep my tone light and casual.

Xavier looks up at me as if to ask me something. He probably changes his mind, lowering his gaze again.

"I mean, it'll just be me and dad and I thought it'd be nice to have some company," I add.

He nods, and I take that as a yes. At least, I hope it's a yes.

*.*.*.*.*.*

The week passes by in a blur of snow and Christmas shopping, with dad busy decorating our humble living room and singing Christmas carols all day long. Christmas eve is spent with me and dad in the living room, watching Christmas specials. With every TV show about Christmas love and cheesy romance, there isn't much for a father and daughter duo to watch.

We end up watching Frozen for the tenth time.

The ringing of the bell makes me wake up from my deepening slumber.

"I'll get it, you sleep," dad says from the couch, beginning to throw off his bundle of blankets.

I wave away his words, rubbing my eyes and getting up from my comfortable place on the rug. Pulling down the hideous pink cardigan dad got me for Christmas, I trudge slowly towards the door, my sleepiness disappearing as soon as I see the familiar face through the peak-hole.

"Merry Christmas!" I greet as soon as I open the door.

Xavier looks entirely out of place standing on my threshold. In the context of the glistening white snow and the green and red Christmas festivities, his black-clad form looks strangely outcast. He also looks kind of uncertain, his fast breath visible in the frozen air.

"Merry Christmas," he mumbles.

"I didn't expect you to come," I say honestly. "But you're quite unpredictable so I should have guessed."

Instead of answering me, Xavier looks down. Not at the ground, at my body. Suddenly conscious, I look down too, my mouth dropping open instantly.

"Um ... ignore this please." I force an awkward laugh, trying and failing to hide the overly-embarrassing sweater that shouldn't even exist.

Honestly, why did dad even think getting me a pink sweater with a pig's nose and ears hanging out of it was a good idea?

Xavier nods, but I see a hint of amusement on his face.

"Hey, don't you dare laugh," I order. "My dad got it for me, okay?"

Xavier nods again, firmly this time, his face solemn.

Finding him totally adorable, I lead Xavier into the living room. Dad sits up straighter as soon as he sees him.

"Xavier, welcome! Merry Christmas," he booms.

"Merry Christmas, sir," Xavier replies politely smiling.

"I hate how you never smile for me," I mumble inaudibly, talking to myself and no one else.

Xavier glances my way but doesn't react, and I inwardly hope he didn't hear me.

"Mind getting Xavier some pudding, Haley?" dad asks.

I nod, heading over into the kitchen. I hear dad asking Xavier how his vacations are going, to which Xavier gives a noncommittal response, as always. By the time I return to the living room, dad is handing Xavier a bag with the Christmas theme colors of red and green.

Xavier looks confused, probably wanting to ask what my dad is giving him and why. I don't speak, knowing it's a gift. That's my dad for you, always giving.

"It's for you," dad tells him, closely resembling an excited ten-year-old. "Go on, open it and tell me how you like it."

Looking entirely dumb-founded, Xavier opens the bag and slowly pulls out a black article of clothing. He opens it up and I see it's a black hoodie.

"Oh my God, you got him that," I exclaim, faking being offended. "Dad, how could you love Xavier more than you love me? You get him such a cute hoodie and you get me this!" I indicate my own sweater.

Dad laughs. "Hey, I'm your father. I have a lifetime license to embarrass you publicly. As for Xavier, it's his first Christmas with us."

Dad winks at me, knowing I'm playing around. My dad can see right through me.

"I ... thank you, this is ..."

Xavier looks at a loss for words, and that's nothing new. But at the same time, he looks regretful. He looks ... sad.

"Thank you," he mumbles again, not looking up as he folds the hoodie up and places it gently back into the bag.

Silence falls over the three of us, and dad returns to watching Frozen, pretending he's loving every minute of it. Xavier continues to stare at his hands, a thoughtful frown on his face, while I watch him, not knowing what could be going through his head.

Maybe he wants to be with his family. Or maybe he simply doesn't like the hoodie but doesn't want to hurt dad's feelings by telling him. Or is he perhaps wishing his own dad was like mine?

"I should go." He rises to his feet. "Thank you again, sir, for this present. It's amazing and ... entirely unnecessary."

Dad returns his words with a kind smile and nod. Xavier makes his way slowly towards the exit and I follow him.

"Xavier, what's wrong?" I ask him at the door, unable to contain myself. "If you don't like it, I can talk to dad and --"

"Are you serious?" Xavier asks in disbelief. "This is ... just ... tell your dad I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?"

Xavier closes his eyes, once again regret flashing across his beautiful face. "I didn't think of ... I didn't get anything and --"

"This is what's upsetting you?" I ask in disbelief. "That you didn't get anything for dad?"

"Or you," he mumbles.

And I sigh, not knowing what to say. Should I be happy he's wishing he got me a present, or sad that he's guilty he didn't?

"You didn't have to, okay?" I finally say. "You don't have to get anything. Not for dad, not for me. I'm just glad you came, Xavier. Thank you for that."

He doesn't look comforted, not meeting my gaze.

"Wait."

I put my hand in my pocket, finding the wristband I had planned on giving him. I know it won't be a good idea to just give it to him, especially now when he's already second-guessing coming here. But I can't keep it. I got it for him.

Holding the band in one hand, I reach out and take Xavier's hand in my other one. Ignoring the shock on his face, I pull his hand up to my eye level, placing the leather band around his wrist without looking at his face. I'm pretty sure if I meet his gaze, I will lose this new-found courage.

"There," I say, dropping my arms after fastening the band around his wrist.

Xavier looks confused, looking from the wristband to my face.

"Haley --"

"I'll see you on Monday?" I flash a wide grin, opening the door to indicate that I don't want to listen to anything that he has to say.

Xavier sighs, looking entirely defeated.

"I've never met someone like you," he mumbles.

The words make me smile. "That goes both ways."

Xavier looks away, opening the door and walking outside.

"Monday," he says before leaving, and I'm already waiting for it.

*.*.*.*.*.*