Die Young, Stay Pretty (Short Stack)

Eight - Sweet December

I watched flakes of snow fall onto the front lawn from my window. It would be my first white Christmas this year, and it was approaching fast. It was still only December tenth, but I couldn't help but think that the winter had snuck up on me.

The sixth months since Mel had become a vampire had passed quicker than I'd thought they would. Things had been much simpler for me. I no longer had to keep secrets or hide things from my best friend and I'd been able to tell her the real reason I'd dropped out of college and moved out of the flat – or, rather, she'd guessed. Things had been better between Andy and me, too. I'd been less concerned with what was going on with Mel and Shaun and her mortality. I'd had more time to focus on our relationship. We were even sharing a room now.

I hummed along to "Ritual" by Black Veil Brides, as the song played in the background. It was a lazy day; I was still in the track pants and Asking Alexandria t-shirt I'd worn to bed the night before. The water in the bathroom shut off and a few minutes later, Andy joined me. Like me, he was in a pair of track pants and a Fall Out Boy t-shirt. He joined me on the window seat and wrapped an arm around me. He sang the last chorus of the song, voice melding perfectly with Andy Biersack's. 'Rise up and celebrate your life

We're not alone in our Ritual

Sing for what you feel inside

Becoming one with our Ritual'

The song changed to "Youth & Whiskey" and Andy stopped singing. He leaned against the wall, pulling me with him. I gave him a long kiss. Then we watched the snow fall in silence. Today had been the best day in a while.

†††

'Lita! Get up!' Mel's whining woke me up the next morning. I groaned. 'Go away! I don't wanna get up.' I replied, burying my head in my elbow. 'Do I have to come?' I added. I could practically hear her rolling her eyes. 'Yes! Now haul your ass out of bed and into the kitchen before I come in there.' I groaned again and listened as her footsteps disappeared downstairs.

I cracked my eyes open, winter sunlight hitting them. I untangled myself from the black sheets and got out of bed. Andy was already downstairs. He knew I liked my sleep, and usually left me to sleep in. I took a quick shower and got dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans, a Pierce The Veil t-shirt and a pair of black and white Converse. Even though I didn't feel the cold anymore, I put a black hoodie and leather jacket over the top. It was all for show now, since the sunlight wasn't strong enough at this time of year to affect us. Once I'd applied a fresh coat of eyeliner and straightened my hair, I headed downstairs.

The boys were nowhere in sight, but Mel was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet in the kitchen. 'Hurry up!' I gulped down a glass of blood and let her pull me out the front door into the snow covered front yard. I rolled my eyes and zipped up my jacket. She was like a small child. We began walking into the city. Mel was acting perfectly human; except for the odd intervals where she began skipping. We talked about what we were planning on getting the boys, and before I knew it, we were in front of Hot Topic.

We went our separate ways once we were inside. I found a few t-shirts for Mel, Shaun, Andy and Bradie. I was buying gifts for Shaun mostly for Mel's sake. I was trying my hardest to get along with him, but it was difficult. I'd had to stop myself from giving him smartass remarks on more than one occasion, but at least we weren't at each other's throats anymore.

Once I was done, I waited out the front of the store for Mel. She followed me a few minutes later. We headed to the music store from there and finally Game Stop. Just as we were leaving, Mel spotted a gift wrapping table and dragged me over. We got everything wrapped identically, in red and green, and attached the name tags.