merry christmas.

It's Christmas Eve and George and Angel aren't together.

In the same city, miles apart they both sit in their own apartments, surrounded by their family but wishing they were with one another.

But they were both content with where they left their relationship. He still has her number, in case, but he promised to not call unnecessarily.

They would pick their relationship back up when they were both ready to. Which, would be a long time, but George was worth waiting for.

Angel hovered in the kitchen, leant across the counter as she watched her siblings tear through patterned paper which had taken her hours to perfect.

The torn-up paper was left in a messy pile, discarded as he held up the large Lego box Angel had bought him, "Can we make it? Now?"

Angel shook her head slowly, gesturing to her sister who hadn't opened her present yet, "Wait for Ness, she waited for you,"

He sighed dramatically, turning to face his sister who delicately peeled away the sellotape from the paper.

She pulled the box from the paper, gasping as she read the front label, "A gingerbread house!"

It was meant to be a barbie set, but Angel shopped too late and they were all out of stock, but she seemed happy enough with the gingerbread house.

As the two children ran up to the kitchen counter, Angel's mother scooped up the torn-up paper, stuffing it into the recycling bin near the door.

Angel's eyes were fixated underneath the Christmas tree, two unopened presents sat tied neatly with a bow. A small name tag sellotaped to the top present.

George's presents.

They were meant to spend Christmas Day together at George's house. Which is why their families had to visit Christmas Eve.

The smell of gingerbread biscuits and sugar was all too familiar for Angel, all too overwhelming.

"Angel," George groaned as his two connected rectangles fell apart, "Hold these together,"

Angel replaced George's hands with her own, holding them together weakly, the icing had already hardened and wouldn't rejoin.

"Hold it here, I'll-," he was cut off as both the 'L' shapes he had made fell apart once again, landing in a messy pile, "I said hold it!"

Icing and candy was all over Angel's counter, as well as crumbs of gingerbread. Their attempt at making a standing house had failed.

"I was holding it! You didn't put enough icing in the side," Angel gestured to the slither of icing George had used as she tried to bite back a smile.

Angel jogged around the kitchen counter towards the Christmas tree, pulling George's presents out from beneath the forest green ferns.

"Who's presents are they?" her brother spoke with a hopeful smile, hoping that they were for him.

Angel's eyes drifted over to her mothers knowing eyes, her voice seeming to catch in her throat when she tried to say his name, "George's,"

She held the presents close to her chest, slipping her finger beneath the ribbon band before pulling it out again.

"Are you going to give them to him?" her mother questioned, having been told all about the situation with George.

Angel nodded silently, unhooking her coat from the hanger, "I'll be back in no time,"

It might be a mistake for Angel to go to his house, a mistake she would grow to regret once she becomes lost in his chocolate eyes once more.

But it seemed worth it.

After all, it's Christmas.

The presents were covered in a blanket of snow once Angel reached George's front door, dusting off as much as she could before knocking.

In the small window beside the door, she could see George sat in the warm light, smiling as he watched his mother unwrap the gift he had brought her.

It was a bracelet with tiny charms hung from the thin silver, he had wanted to get her something expensive this year, to show his appreciation for her.

Angel knocked gently on his front door, her knees starting to become uneasy with sugary nerves as she waited for him to open the door.

Open the door, George.

Locks turned and churned until George was met face to face with Angel, a gentle peppermint smile on her lips.

George glanced back at his parents in the living room, their curious eyes watching him from afar. He clicked the door shut, steering Angel away from his parents view.

"What are you doing here?" his eyebrows furrowed softly as he spoke, confused to why she had came back, "I thought we-,"

Had she changed her mind?

Angel extended her arms out to the boy, smiling as gentle relief appeared on his face, "These are for you,"

He took the presents tentatively, unwrapping the heaviest and biggest present there was. He tucked the ripped wrapping paper into his hoodies pocket, smiling as he recognised the gift.

"Are these my books I gave you?" George's laugh disappeared into the misty air as Angel nodded, her eyes unknowingly flickering from his eyes to his lips, "Did you enjoy them?"

She had treated every book with an abundance of care, careful to not to crack the spines or fold the pages.

"I did. There's another," she smiled excitedly, pointing to the rectangle box in his arms. He dragged the smooth lid from the base, hooking his finger around the beads of the necklace.

It was a matt black dog tag necklace, Angel's name engraved into the dark metal. In one swift movement, he hung the necklace around his neck, smiling at the engravements with endearment.

"Wait," George disappeared through his front door, returning without the wrapping paper in his pocket and a small box which had a plastic bow stuck to the top, "This is for you,"

An envelope was tucked under the small box, Angel's name written in beautiful calligraphy across the paper.

"Read it later, open the box!"

The box opened with stiff hinges, revealing a silver ring tucked within black velvet plush. It was a promise ring.

As she pulled the ring from the box, she noticed the engravements of 'Angel & George' wrapped around the inside. It was the best present she had ever received.

"Oh, George," Angel's eyes glistened, slipping the ring onto her ring finger, "It's beautiful,"

She wouldn't take that ring off ever. Nor would George remove the dog tag necklace. Both of the gifts being a promise to one another.

A promise that they would be together again.

She hugs him tight, as tight as she possibly can.

She hugs him until dawn fades into morning and birds start to sing. And as the sun bathes the world in golden light she pulls back leaving his warmth behind.

"This must be goodbye," the girl whispers staring sadly at the flowers near her feet.

To those melancholy words he tilts her chin to meet his eyes, "There will never be a goodbye for us. I will see you again. I will see you in your dreams and you shall see me in mine,"

Both of them have eyes lined with the heaviest tears as he lets her go.

"Every night. Every night I will see you,"

"Every night," the boy promises with a small smile.

With that the boy smiles one last time and turns away, "It's time to go home," he says as a tear escapes. And as mist drifts through the trees he turns and walks.

He reaches to the handle and pushes open the door, and with one parting glance he sees her in the distance. There on a grassy knoll she stands waving him home.

She can barely see through the tears in her eyes but his sucrose smile shines brighter than the her blurred vision.

"I love you, Angel," George spoke, his voice was sour candy, a sweet treat with a burning sting.

Angel resisted the urge to return the declaration of love to the brunette, to run up to him with arms open wide.

No matter how overwhelming that urge was, she couldn't.

"Merry Christmas, George," Angel replied, her liquorice lips trembling with hesitation.

With that, Angel turned and was enveloped in the snow's thick embrace, walking away from the boy she loved.

But she knew they'd be together again, if not in this lifetime, another.

Not every happy ending includes George and Angel, not even in their own story.

Gigglges