tis the damn season

"Its nice to have a friend"

The crisp December air bit at my skin as I stepped out of the car, the warmth of the heater already a distant memory. The Christmas festival was in full swing, the streets of the Outer Banks lined with twinkling lights, the scent of hot chocolate and cinnamon swirling in the cold breeze. It was like stepping into a holiday postcard, and for a moment, I almost forgot about everything—the tension with Rafe, the whirlwind of emotions that had been chasing me. Tonight was just about being with the people who knew me best.

Kiara, as always, was the first to spot me. She waved enthusiastically from across the street, her grin wide enough to light up the whole festival. As I made my way over to her, she pulled me into a hug that felt like home, wrapping her arms around me tightly.

"Jules! You made it!" she said, her breath visible in the cold as she pulled away, still beaming. "I was starting to think you were gonna bail on us."

I laughed, shaking my head. "No chance. I needed this. After everything lately, I need a little distraction."

She gave me a knowing look, her expression softening. "You sure you're okay?"

I nodded, pushing the worry from my face. "Yeah, just... one thing at a time, you know? But this? This is perfect."

Kiara gave me a quick side hug before turning to the others. "The gang's over there! Let's go!"

The group was clustered around a food stand near the giant Christmas tree, all wearing variations of coats and scarves, a few holding steaming cups of hot chocolate. John B was busy arguing with Pope about which booth had the best churros (a debate that seemed to come up every year), while JJ was shamelessly eyeing a vendor selling fried Oreos.

"Hey, Jules!" Pope called out, waving his cup of hot cocoa as I approached. "Glad you made it! I was just telling John B that churros are overrated. You agree, right?"

"Totally," I said with a grin. "They're good, but honestly, fried Oreos are where it's at."

JJ perked up immediately at the mention of fried Oreos. "See! Someone gets it!" He darted over to the food stand, practically tripping over his own feet in excitement.

As we all laughed and exchanged banter, I felt a lightness in the air, the weight of the past few weeks momentarily lifted by the sheer normalcy of the moment. This was what I had been missing: the banter, the easy laughter, the sense of being part of something bigger than the mess I'd been entangled in.

Kiara nudged me, a mischievous look in her eyes. "So, tell me, Jules. How's it going with Rafe? You guys still... whatever you are?"

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, the mention of Rafe's name striking a chord I hadn't realized was still there. "It's complicated," I said, my voice softer than I meant it to be.

Kiara's eyes narrowed, her expression instantly protective. "Complicated how?"

I bit my lip, thinking about everything that had happened with him—the kiss, the tension, the unspoken words between us. "We're... figuring it out. But I don't want to talk about it now. Tonight is supposed to be fun, right?"

Kiara gave me a knowing look, but she didn't push. "Okay, okay. But just know I'm here if you need to talk, yeah?"

"Always," I replied, my smile a little more genuine this time.

We spent the next few hours wandering through the festival, eating far too many sweets, laughing at JJ's endless antics, and somehow getting ourselves roped into a competitive game of carnival ring toss. It felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket of familiarity, the kind of comfort I hadn't realized I missed until tonight.

Later, as the crowd around us began to thin, John B suggested we all gather by the giant Christmas tree. The tree's lights sparkled, casting a soft glow over the group as we settled onto the grass, bundled up in blankets we'd borrowed from the vendors. The hum of distant music and the soft chatter of families around us filled the background as we all leaned back, looking up at the stars.

"Best Christmas ever, right?" JJ said, his voice full of exaggerated cheer as he rested his head on his arms. "This is the most festive I've been in... ever."

"You say that every year," Pope teased, nudging him with his elbow. "But I agree, this is pretty good."

I stared at the tree, letting the peaceful moment sink in. For a fleeting second, I let go of everything. There was no drama with Rafe, no confusion about what the future held. Just my friends, the people who had always been there for me, making the world feel a little less heavy.

Kiara looked over at me, catching my eye, and smiled softly. "You okay?"

I nodded, the corner of my mouth lifting into a small, real smile. "Yeah. I think I am."

And for the first time in what felt like a long time, I truly believed it. The night had been full of laughter and light, and for that brief moment, I let myself forget about all the other complications in my life.

"We should take a picture," Kiara said suddenly, reaching into her bag for her phone. "Come on, Jules. You know you want to."

John B groaned, but Pope was already striking a pose. "I'm not missing this."

I smiled as I joined them, the click of the camera capturing a moment of pure happiness. There was something about the way we all fit together, the way we understood each other without words, that made everything seem a little brighter.

As I looked at the photo afterward, with all of us grinning in front of the Christmas tree, I couldn't help but think that maybe—just maybe—I was starting to find my way back. Back to who I was before everything got complicated. And for the first time in a while, I felt okay with it.

The night ended with hot chocolate in hand and laughter still echoing in the cold air. The festival was winding down, the streets emptying, but I felt full—of warmth, of friendship, of hope.

And maybe, just maybe, I was starting to feel like I was in the right place again.