1: Whispering Smoke - Evan Peters

Christmas Day

Christmas came around in a blink of an eye. My father had still not quite warmed up to Evan, but my mother certainly had. She saw his kind heart and pure intentions, and was able to laugh at all his stupid jokes. The tension between my father and I proved difficult. He wouldn't join us for dinner over the week, and didn't talk to me much when Evan was in the room.

I wanted to enjoy this time with my family, and I did, for the most part. Evan and I had collectively gotten a big pine tree for my parents and together, my mother, Evan and I, had decorated it. Evan had helped my mom put the ceramic angel at the top of the tree, and we listened to Christmas carols. I think I was pretty sick of Michael Bublé's voice by today.

Evan and I woke up together, to witness the light falling of snow outside our window. I got up from the bed and threw on a robe, before pressing my nose and palms against the glass pane. Dana and Elliot were already outside, laying in the snow in their parkas and leaving snow angels. I felt Evan come up behind me and wrap his arms around me, nuzzling his face into my neck.

"Merry Christmas Alex," he said softly, leaving a kiss on my shoulder.

"Merry Christmas Ev," I said, as I turned in his arms and gave him a kiss on his lips. His fingers cupped my lower back and pulled me in closer. When we broke the kiss, Evan smiled at me softly.

"I have a present for you," he said, leaving my arms and walking over to his duffel bag.

"Evan, oh my god I thought we weren't doing presents," I groaned, voicing what we'd discussed last week. Evan and I decided to save as much money as we could for the big move to LA.

"I know, I know. Don't kill me, it's just something small" Evan laughed as he pulled out a small box tightly wrapped in red and white striped wrapping paper, big enough to fit a ring.

My heart raced as he came back over to me and passed the box into my hands. I smiled up at him and gave him another kiss.

"You didn't have to Ev, now I feel bad," I said, laughing nervously at the obvious ring box in my hand. He smiled at me softly, and nudged me to open it.

I peeled back the wrapping paper and was not surprised to see a small royal blue ring box. I opened it, to see a delicate gold band with small marquise cut rubies. It was so beautiful, I could feel my eyes tearing up.

"Ev this looks so expensive, something small? My ass," I joked, trying to choke down the sob that was leaving my mouth.

"It's just a token of my appreciation. I love you, and if it wasn't already obvious, I want you to know that I'm serious about us moving to LA together when the time comes," he poured his heart out to me and I'd never felt more love for him than I did right now.

"I love it, so much. I love you so much," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into my arms for a tight hug. He held me, before pulling away and pinching the ring from the box and sliding it into my finger.

"I'm glad you like it. It was so fucking stressful at the jeweller. She asked me what your birth stone was and I had no fucking clue until she told me," he joked, before I kissed him again on the lips.

"Well she got it right," I laughed, holding my hand up to admire the rubies as they glistened in the sunlight.

Later that day, Evan and I were picked up by my mother from our bed and breakfast, bags packed. We would be staying at my parents for the night before heading back to St Louis the next day. My father was seated outside our family farmstead with a cigar hanging from his mouth, reading the newspaper as we crept up the driveway.

I reached out and grabbed Evan's hand, which he held, giving it a squeeze to let me know it was okay. I wish my father was as easy going and inclusive as his was.