Our Love (Advent Calendar 2015)

The 9th of December

"Redress!" Is the first thing Kristen hears when she answers her phone. "Hello to you too, CJ Romero," Kristen says, chuckling. CJ ignores her. "I can feel you're not following the dress code and it's making me uncomfortable." "Sure. What is the dress code again?" Kristen asks, looking down at herself. She's wearing a pair of skinny jeans, a threadbare t-shirt, a hoodie, an old, faded denim jacket and her beloved converse.

"Red. Red like the passion of a kiss under the mistletoe, red like the shining Christmas balls on the Chri-" CJ reminds her with poetic intonation.

"Thanks, CJ, I think I got it," Kristen says, walking over to her closet to search for something red. She only finds a flannel shirt, a hoodie, and a thong that she wore last year for a rather different and more... intimate Christmas party.

"Okay, CJ, I'm gonna redress. See you there at 8?"

"Sure we do, baby girl. Remember, red!"

"Red, I got it. Bye, Ceej!"

"Bye, hon!"

Kristen throws her phone on her bed and drives a hand through her hair. She shrugs off her denim jacket and her hoodie, and pulls off her t-shirt. She puts on the red flannel, buttons it, and looks in the mirror. She catches herself cringing at the sight. It's not that she doesn't like her red flannel – she loves it – she just wants to feel... sexy.

After searching through her closet for twenty minutes, she doesn't find anything that is both sexy and red, apart from her dress from Cannes that she existed on keeping, but she thinks that'll make her a little overdressed.

She calls Scout, asks her to meet her at the mall, grabs her keys and gets in her car.

Three hours later, she's wearing a tight, backless cocktail dress with long sleeves in a dark but bright red colour; her short hair is loose with a little bit of mousse in, making it more voluminous; her make-up is simple but sexy – mascara, smoky eyes and red lips; on her feet, she's still wearing her worn-out chucks.

"Watch out, boys and girls, here comes Kristen Stewart," Scout says as her and Kristen admire Kristen in the mirror. Kristen smiles at her friend.

When Scout is done with her make-up and Kristen have talked her into not letting her do her nails, they get into Scout's car and drive to the bar where they're meeting with their friends.

They're going to their yearly Christmas party, which is not so much a party but more a Christmas-themed night at the bar. And it's not so yearly yet either; this is the first year they're doing it.

The bar is decorated with Christmas lights and other decorations, the waiters are wearing Santa hats, and the menus at the bar are listing all the Christmas specials. However, the first thing Kristen sees is their friends waving at them. The next think she sees is the back of a well-known head of messy hair next to Tom by the bar. The person who she can recognise in any crowd, at any time, turns around, and when he sees her, his face turns to one of shock and his mouth falls open. She forces her gaze away from him and walks over to the booth where their friends are seated. "Hey guys," her and Scout greet them, giving them all a slight wave. A couple of excited "hey's" follow. "You're wearing red!" CJ exclaims so happily it sounds like he's gonna burst out in tears. "I am!" Kristen says, trying to match his enthusiasm. "And you're doing it bloody well," Marcus comments. He starts snickering, "Rob will have a hard time keeping his hands off you."

"Talking about Rob, why didn't anyone tell me that he was coming?" Kristen asks, looking at her friends.

"You didn't know?" Suzie asks, trying to appear innocent.