December 25

8:45 A.M

I sat criss crossed on the floor next to the Christmas tree. Gerard, holding a small video camera, was waiting for Frank to get out of the bathroom, as was everyone else. Lyn-Z was in the kitchen making hot chocolate and Pete was telling me how if I got a bass guitar he would teach me how to play it. Ray and Patrick were talking about god knows what, and Joe and Andy were telling Lyn-Z random crap to add to the hot chocolate. Brendon and Ryan were trying to put crappy dollar store reindeer antlers on Brendon's dogs, it wasn't working very well. The only person missing was Mikey. I wonder where he is.

"Frank get your lame ass down here!" Gerard shouted from the bottom of the stairs. "Christmas is only one day!"

Finally, we heard the toilet flush and Frank came prancing down the stairs. "Geez sorry I had to take a sh-"

"Adie open your first present!" Patrick interrupted, not wanting Frank to finish his sentence. I laughed and heard the camera button click, signaling Gerard was filming.

"Why are you even recording this?" I asked, grabbing a random present from underneath the tree. I slid the present across the floor because it was too heavy for me to lift. Gerard looked up from the screen.

"It's your first Christmas with us, why would I not be recording it?"

I smiled, taking one corner of the present and ripping it. It revealed a large cardboard box, held together with packaging tape. Ripping the tape off, I took a look inside the box. There sat a shiny black bass guitar, tuned and ready to play. A wide smile grew on my face as I shrieked with joy.

"You're welcome." Andy said from the corner of the room, smiling. I knew they had gotten me a bass, Pete was pretty bad at hiding things. After saying thank you, I opened the next present which was significantly smaller than the last one. A card was taped to the top, so I read that first.

"Merry Christmas Kiddo! Love ya!

Brendon, Ryan, Bogart and Penny."

I smiled up at them, and they returned it. Opening the package revealed a Polaroid camera. I gasped, opening my mouth and forming a smile.

"Thank you so much!" I squealed, tracing my fingers on the surface of the camera. I heard them say "you're welcome" as I slid the box to the other side of the tree. Lyn-Z walked over to the coffee table, placing all the mugs of hot chocolate on its surface. Grabbing one for herself, she sat next to Gerard.

"Open mine next!" She said, a warm smile gracing her face. I looked under the tree and only one present was left. Assuming it was hers, I slid it out from under the tree and opened it. It was a white cardboard box that was taped shut. Lifting the lid, I saw a Mindless Self Indulgence T-shirt. I was about to say a bland "thanks" for promoting her own band, but she said something before I could.

"It's the newest T-shirt design, you are the very first person to own it." That made me a little more excited. The front of the shirt was white with the logo on it, there was black paint splatter on it as well with "MSI" written below the logo. Upon flipping it, what I saw made me gasp. Written in black marker in the middle was:

"Merry Christmas Adeline!

Signed

Lyn-Z, Kitty, Jimmie and Steve!"

I covered my mouth, Lyn-Z smiled. "I put a T-shirt design seal on it so wouldn't come off."

"Thank you so much!" I said grinning like a crazy person. I folded it back into the box, and slid it next to the other two presents.

It was then I realized I didn't receive anything from Gerard.

Or Frank

Or Ray

Or Mikey.

I wasn't mad, just a little confused. I wanted to ask them, but before I could Gerard shut off the camera and looked at me, he grinned.

"You're probably wondering where our present is." He said. I slowly nodded, everyone else looked a little confused, including Lyn-Z.

"Mikey's driving it here." Frank said, he was leaning against the stairs. I furrowed my brows, confused.

There was a knock at the front door.

Gerard smiled, opening the camera again and pressing the record button. "Go on, open it."

I slowly got up, walking over to the door. Before turning the handle, I turned around, everyone was watching me. There was another knock, and upon hearing it I opened the door.

There stood Tyler Joesph and Josh Dun, holding a plate of food wrapped in tin foil and another present.

In that moment, I swear I nearly pissed myself.

Before I could even mutter a word, Tyler said something to me.

"Now Adie, this is your present from us." He said, gesturing to the box Josh was holding. "But your probably wondering what Gerard and them got you, right?"

My mouth was still open in shock. "Uhhh-" I started. Tyler and Josh moved out of the way, revealing a girl.

Kay.

I put my hand over my mouth, eyes welling up with tears. I ran to her as fast as I could and attacked her with a giant hug. She hugged me back just as hard.

"I missed you so much!" I sobbed into her shoulder, she pulled apart from the hug.

"I missed you too." She smiled, pulling me in for another hug. I heard a few "awes" coming from inside the house. In the distance, I saw Mikey emerge from the car that was probably Tyler's. As he was waking inside, he patted me on the shoulder.

12:37 P.M

I felt my phone buzz from my back pocket. Kay was sitting next to me, she watched as I pulled out my phone.

"Who's that?" She asked, leaning her head over to look. I smiled at my screen.

"This boy named Jesse, I met him a few months ago." I said, unlocking my phone and going to my messages.

"Merry Christmas Adie ❤️"

Kay smiled at me and shoved my shoulder. "I think he likes you." I smiled back and started typing.

"Merry Christmas Jesse❤️❤️"

Kay gasped "Ooh! Double hearts!" We both laughed and waiting for a response from him.

"My present for you is a question, do you know what it is?"

We both looked at each other, wide eyed.

"Is he going to say what I think he is going to say?" She asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Let's find out." I said, and began typing.

"What?"

He replied almost instantly.

"Would you maybe.. wanna go on a date with me?"

We both screamed in joy which earned us a few concerned looks. I typed quickly.

"Of course I would."

I closed my phone and put it back into my pocket. Kay and I both screamed again and started laughing right after. There was a moment of silence, Kay turned her attention to the Polaroid Brendon and Ryan got me.

"Have you used that yet?" She asked, gesturing to it. I shook my head.

"Nope." I replied, leaning over to drag the box over to us. Kay took it from the box and held it up. She cleared her throat.

"Everyone gather around on the couch, I wanna take a picture!" She shouted, catching everyone's attention. She turned to me, smiling. "Go on." Kay said. I got up and walked with everyone and sat on the couch.

Pete sat next to Patrick. Frank, Mikey, and Ray were standing behind the couch along with Joe and Andy. Brendon and Ryan were seating next to each other, holding hands. Josh and Tyler were sitting cross crossed in front of the couch, doing a peace sign. And I was sat between Gerard and Lyn-Z. Kay stood in front of everyone, and held the camera to her eyes.

"Everyone say Merry Christmas!" She shouted

"Merry Christmas!"

Click. Flash.