don't call me that

6: Celebrating

The news that I'd let Harry into Jade's VIP group spread like wildfire. Louis had thrown a hissy fit when he found out that Harry had beaten him to access, and eventually I broke down and told Lou he could use my nickname too.

By the end of the week, all five of the boys had my contact as 'Blue' in their phone, and I could do absolutely nothing about it. Besides a weak little "guys, don't call me that," every once and a while.

The truth was, I had been ready to let them in for weeks, just hadn't admitted it out loud. But now that step had been taken for me, it really was much easier.

That was that. As of that moment One Direction became forever a part of Jade and I. And we both knew there was no going back.

---

"I can't believe it's Christmas already," I commented, kicking idly at the snow that stuck to the sidewalk. Harry and I were walking home from the store back to my apartment, where everyone was waiting.

Harry swung his arms at his sides, plastic grocery bags barely holding on to his gloved fingertips.

"Me neither," he replied. "Seems like only a few weeks ago that I was watching you study out in the courtyard at school."

"You watched me study?" I asked, hardly surprised. Harry shrugged, and silence ensued.

After a moment, about three blocks from home, it began to snow. This time, like a Christmas postcard, the soft, light flakes fell silently around us and landed in Harry's dark curls like stars.

Harry glanced up, squinting against the snow. Then he looked down at me with a cheeky grin. "Looks like a movie, doesn't it."

I nodded, smiling around at the beautiful wonderland. We were passing the park, each damp tree coated in a layer of sparkling white. It really did look like a movie.

"You know what happens in movies like these, don't you?" Harry asked, nudging my arm.

I nodded knowingly. "The father finally comes home from work to spend Christmas with his family, then his car slips in the snow and he crashes and dies."

Harry giggled, almost dropping the shopping bags. Then he shook his head. "You're awfully morbid, Blue. No. You've got the wrong kind of snow. With this kind of snow, the pretty girl and the awkward guy are walking home to spend Christmas with their stupid friends and then they realize their undying love for each other and kiss."

I rolled my eyes. "Easy there, tiger."

"Lots of romantic snowflakes on eyelashes," Harry said promisingly, holding out his arms like he was making a great sales pitch. "Come on love, the script says so. You can't deny screenplay."

"Yes I can," I replied quickly, moving slightly ahead of Harry so he wouldn't see my cheeks flushing nervously. "Come on H, everyone's waiting."

Harry grunted and jogged to catch up with me. "You ruin all the fun."

We arrived back into my warm, cinnamon-scented apartment just in time. Niall and Jade were complaining about being hungry, and I heard from Zayn that Lou wouldn't stop trying to peek at his presents.

"Not 'till the morning, Louis," I warned good naturedly, picking through the bags that Harry had left on the counter. "We have dinner!!"

Christmas dinner, in our sense, wasn't what you'd call traditional. It involved a lot of macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and some assorted veggies from a freezer bag, and of course, a pizza.

And everyone was completely content with that.

Jade put on our favorite holiday radio station and joined us at the table just as her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and flinched. "It's Evan."