Their eyes meet across the yard. There's a spark, a thought, a wish ... a hope.
Nestled away in the Australian countryside, two teachers find each other, but how long before either of them act on their feelings? That's where the friends step in ...
Kylie groaned loudly in bed, rubbing her forehead as Lizzie burst into her room yelling at the top of her lungs, "It's Christmas Eve! It's Christmas Eve!" Kylie loved Christmas and she loved her niece, but half six in the morning, after a few cold vodka cruisers with Ali last night at the Vic till midnight, she was in no mood for good morning cheer. She didn't even remember getting home.
"Liz, come out here and leave your auntie alone for a bit," came Mike's drowsy voice. Lizzie wandered out and Kylie heard her announce to Mike that it is Christmas Eve. She checked her phone, the half lit screen too bright, even in the early morning sun – that had been up and cooking the country for over half an hour already – made her squint. She had two emails from Lynne about the principal's conference from the week earlier; fourteen Facebook notifications and noticed two chat heads were open: Ali and Jack Brookes. She read through the chat with Ali first:
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Ali must have fallen asleep because Kylie didn't get a reply from her all morning. Nervously, she opened the chat window with Jack ...
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It was now seven o'clock and her phone began to sing and vibrate in her hand, scaring the hell out of her, as a Spotify Christmas playlist sang out in her face. Lizzie ran back into Kylie's room, singing Jingle Bells at the top of her voice.
"Lizzie, love, too loud! Too loud," Kylie moaned, snoozing the alarm and noticing a new message from Jack.
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