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In three weeks times, our winter break is starting and I couldn't be much more happier than that, knowing time off from school and away from drama or so I thought.

School has been stressful with assignments and work. Elliot and Cole has partnered together and to me seem like have decided to ruin the lives of some bullies in school. Look at the changes, now they are actually standing up for students who was getting bullied. Elliot is a lot more different compared to the times he just enrolled to this school. His patience in our relationship is something I didn't expect. We are trying to maintain a healthy relationship where we try communicating our matters to each other, finding out the partner's opinion and talk about the matter we are having issues with. He is a lot different now. He didn't receive call to fight for a while and I was more than happy to hear that. He seemed happy too and mostly hopeful that someone has took over his place and they don't need him anymore.

I didn't see Landon after my encounter with him that day and I hope it stays that way, Abby and Cole get along in the most weirdest way, they quarrel more than talking to each other and it is very upsetting to see that. They quarrel for small reasons and sometime it ends up really bad that, they make us choose sides as to who is right or wrong. It gives immense pressure to Elliot and I.

The city was lit with Christmas decoration long ago, everyone was excited for the holidays, most of the stores and radios started playing carols and this time of the year the city look much more livelier.

Abby invited me to go shopping with her, she was going out with Tyler for dinner later this week, that guy need to figure out what kind of relationship he wants with her because neither is he making a move to ask her out nor making an effort to contact her after their date is over. He contacts her once in a while.I feel bad for Abby because she always have second thought as to why he is not contacting her after their dates. Elliot was hesitant to leave us alone, but Abby was firm with the decision and she said,

"You two always hang out with each other, you cannot leave her for sometime? She is your girlfriend, not your property that you need to keep hold on."

Elliot seemed reluctant before agreeing to it, while Cole joke,that it runs in the family.

Elliot's glare was enough to shut Cole up, he give me a tight hug and sighed as Abby pulled me towards her car.

I already finished my Christmas shopping, so I don't have anything in my mind to shop for.. and of all the days and of all the place. I see Landon with shopping bags.

"Hide me." Was my reaction as I pulled her to a random store.

"Who are you hiding from?" Was her question.

"Just a creep." Was my only answer.

She frowned as she tried to figure out what is going on.

"Everly." I heard a call and had a small fright thanks to Aiden. I haven't seen him much after the embarrassment.

"Aiden." I said, trying to keep calm.

"It's been a while since you are alone."

Abby give him a look. "I am here, too." She pointed out.

"Right, I meant not with Elliot. She is always with him, so I never got the chance to speak to her in a personal level."

"Are you hunting me something now?" Abby asked. "because I am not moving anywhere."

He chuckled, "I am happy for you Everly." He said, sincerely.

"I am sorry about everything." Was the only thing I could say to him.

"It worked out for you and it worked out for me, too." He smiled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I got myself a girlfriend, three weeks back and we are doing good."

"I am so happy for you." I said.

"Me too." He said, "I just wanted to tell you, not to feel bad for not feeling the same way or for whatever happened."

"Thanks." I said, really appreciating how thoughtful he is.

"I wanted to tell you a while back, but Elliot is always hovering around you and I didn't want to bring trouble or misunderstanding."

"I get you." Was my reply. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here for Christmas shopping." He showed us the bag.

"Alone?" Abby asked.

"No." He smiled, "my girlfriend is in the fitting room."

"Shouldn't you be with her? She might have misunderstanding."

"I told her I will be right back."

"Does she go to our school?"

"Yes." was his reply.

"Good for you." Abby said, patting his back, proudly. "Couples everywhere."

"See you later, I better go back before she starts looking for me." As he jog back to the fitting room.

"Well, at least he is doing better. I was wondering how he was doing, in class he didn't talk to me, so I thought he was mad."

"News travel faster and if your boyfriend finds out, that the dude who made a move on you approached you, he will feel like he is threatened or challenged."

"What is this? Some game of possession?"

"I don't know?"

I texted Elliot asking where he was, but he did not reply and I wonder if I should update him about meeting Landon, but it's not like I bump into him and spoke to him. It should be okay, I hope so.

"Now, would you like to explain who you are hiding from?"

"There is this creep who came to my work place and asked me out for dinner, a couple of weeks back and now he is here."

She was not at all surprised by that. "Poor lad, does Elliot knows that?"

"Yes."

"And that dude is still alive?" She joked, seeing my serious face, she sighed and said.

"Well, I am sure that he is over it."

"You think?"

"Definitely." She said, "I will protect you."

"He is just so creepy."

"You should have showed me how he looks!" She said, excitedly. "Is he young?" And gasped, "or a pervert?"

"He is older to us by few years." I said.

"Asked you straight out." She smirked, "means he is confident and good looking."

"He is a creep." I corrected her.

"How? Did he stalk you?"

"I feel so?"

She rolled her eyes at me.

"What is this? You have fan followers? You have the hottest bad-boy as your boyfriend and there are others who have a crush on you? Brianna must be burning with jealousy." She give me a smug look.

"It is embarrassing how I am falling into these awkward situation with people."

"More than embarrassing, I think you feel more awkward when someone is bold and share their feelings with you, but that's fine.. at least they are honest with themselves and with you about how they feel."

"It put me in an awkward position when I don't feel the same." I whispered.

"Your heart gets to decide who you want to love." She smiled.

"Love?" The word sounded different from my lip.

"Don't you love Elliot?"

"I think you are going too far? We are at the stage of infatuation, he will get bored of me very soon." I said, my heart sank at the words and thoughts.

She frowned. "I don't think this is infatuation. You guys are dating?"

"We are just curious about each other's lives and personality, once his curiosity dies, we are over."

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