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t e n

"It's Christmas!"

"It's the Christmas season, not Christmas. Today isn't the twenty-fifth. Or twenty-fourth."

"You're so technical, you nerd."

"Well someone has to be."

Jonathan rolled his eyes and continued to look up at the falling snowflakes; Evan joined him once he finished tying the laces on his boots.

"Did you know that Syracuse, New York tried to make snow illegal in 1992?"

Of course Evan, being the nerd he is, would know something like that, Jonathan thought.

"How'd that work out for them?"

Evan chuckled and pushed up his glasses. "It didn't. The city's Common Council passed a decree that stated any more snow before Christmas Eve was illegal... but then it snowed two days later."

Jonathan laughed. "I guess Mother Nature wasn't happy with their new law."

"I guess she wasn't. I love that story, though. Anyway, are you ready to go now or are you going to keep watching the snow fall?"

"I'm ready. Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Evan murmured.

• · • · •

"Jonathan! Oh, my lovely son!"

"Thank God you're here, Jon! Mom and Dad have been bugging me forever!"

"That is not true, Josephine! Besides, you've only been here for two hours. Your mother and I are not that bad."

"Speak for yourself," Jonathan muttered, earning a giggle from Evan.

Josephine skipped up to the couple and smiled widely at Evan. "Oh my goodness! Is this Evan? The Evan? My, if you weren't dating my brother I'd have to take you for myself!"

"Josephine!" Jonathan's mother barked. "Why don't you sit down and chill out? They just walked in!"

The young woman rolled her eyes but did as her mother instructed. Jonathan laughed.

"Wow, Josephine, I've been here for five seconds and you're already trying to steal my boyfriend, you homewrecker. I expect nothing less from you."

Josephine mimicked her brother, which resulted in him mimicking her mimicking him.

"If you two don't stop, I won't hesitate to separate you like you're little kids," Jonathan's dad warned. "We haven't gotten to introducing ourselves to Evan and he's probably already scarred by you dorks. Now the both of you shoo while we formally meet the boy."

Josephine rolled her eyes and walked out of the room; Jonathan shook his head and followed his sister, but not before looking behind him at Evan to make sure he was cool with it. Earning a nod, he too walked off.

Jonathan's parents both sighed and turned to Evan.

"It's a miracle someone deliberately wants to date and deal with Jon," the man said, earning a soft punch from the woman.

"So you're Evan," the woman smiled, ignoring the man's statement. "I'm Arabella and this is my husband Jeremiah. It's very nice to meet you. Jonathan has told us a lot about you."

"It's nice to meet you both, as well. The fact that Jonathan speaks of me a lot concerns me," Evan smiled back.

"Nothing but good things, Evan, I assure you. Please, sit."

"Thank you."

"If only Josephine could bring someone home as sophisticated and respectful as Evan," Jeremiah sighed.

Arabella laughed. "Catherine is a fine young lady, Jeremiah."

"I thought she was still dating Nathan?" he said, walking towards the kitchen.

Rolling her eyes, Jonathan's mother turned back to Evan. "So Evan, how old are you?"

"I'm eighteen."

"Graduated at seventeen, I assume?"

"Yes."

"I did as well. What are you majoring and minoring in?"

"My plan is to major in Creative Writing and minor in Music Production."

"Wow! That—"

"Arabella!" Jeremiah suddenly yelled from the kitchen. "Can you come here please?"

She sighed and excused herself, going to the kitchen before her husband blew something up.

From around the corner, Jonathan did everything in his power to get Evan's attention. When he finally did, he signaled for him to "come here."

"Stand here," Jonathan whispered.

"Why?" Evan whispered back, confused.

"Look up."

There, right above their heads, was a small yet defined miseltoe.

Fingers carefully pulled Evan's chin down and the two of them locked eyes. Jonathan took the lead and leaned in first. Their lips touched and created a smile on both of their faces. Never had a kiss been so satisfying before.

"I told you that I was giving you a kiss under the miseltoe for Christmas."

"It's not Christmas, remember?"

Jonathan laughed. "Don't ruin this, Evan."

"Sorr—"

And then they kissed again.