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26

When dinner was over, Mrs. Adams told everyone to go back into the living room to watch movies while she prepared dessert. Everyone got up at once and when I turned to my left, the presence of the boy that made me feel every emotion at once, was gone. I needed to talk to Charlie. That fearful look in his eyes at the beginning of dinner scared me and I had to find out what was bothering him.

As I made my way for Charlie, I was stopped by his grandparents. They were telling me that they liked my outfit and hoped I was enjoying myself. I mentally groaned. I loved Charlie's grandparents, I really did. But when they were the one thing stopping me from finding him, I couldn't help but get a little frustrated.

After about ten more minutes of small talk, I made my way for Charlie once more but my mission was halted as I couldn't find him anywhere. I searched and searched until I flopped on the couch, defeated.

"Aubrey, how are you?" I looked up to see Mr. Adams smiling down at me. I returned the smile, hoping to hide my discouragement. "I'm doing great Mr. Adams. How are you doing?" Mr. Adams looked at me, not believing my happy tone for a second and sighed. As he spoke, he sat down next to me on the couch with a nostalgic look in his eyes.  "Did I ever tell you the story of how I got Caroline to date me?" His question took me by shock. "No, I don't think so." He sighed with a content look on his face before telling me the story.

"You've already heard the story of how I met my wife but as you know, she wasn't overly fond of me at first. I was, in her words, insane. Any chance I got to make her smile, made my entire day, even week sometimes. She still hadn't thought of me as anything but an annoyance but as time grew on, I tried to show my true feelings to her. It was hard considering I was never good at flirting and when I did flirt, Caroline thought I was joking and never liked her in a way more than friends. I didn't know what else to do except go to my last resort, her sister. Charlotte and I had always gotten along and I knew she was wiser beyond her years despite her being five years younger than Caroline and I. When I asked her what I should do as I wasn't sure if her sister felt the same way about me as I did about her, she told me to go for it. Do a big romantic gesture during her favorite holiday and that's what I did." Mr. Adams stopped his story with a smile on his face but I was still curious for more. "Mr. Adams, what is your wife's favorite holiday?" A small smirk came to his face and he slightly chuckled before getting up off the couch. "Christmas." With one word leaving his lips, Mr. Adams walked away and into the kitchen.

I got up off the couch and began to head towards the kitchen. I wanted to know more about this romantic gesture that Mr. Adams did for his wife.

As I rounded the corner to turn into the kitchen I collided with the only other person who knew I liked Charlie more than a friend. "Looking for Charlie?" Aunt Charlotte stood before me a small smile on her lips. "How did you know?" She gave me a knowing look before speaking again. "Do you even have to ask that question?" I shook my head and we both laughed.

As we walked into the kitchen, our arms linked together, I looked around for Charlie but he was nowhere to be seen. I thought she knew where Charlie was? As if Charlie's aunt was reading my thoughts, she spoke and motioned her head to the back door. "I think you'll find what you're looking for out there." My eyebrows rose in confusion but instead of questioning her any further, I let my curiosity get the best of me and headed for the back yard.

When I stepped outside, the cold breeze immediately hit my face making me shiver and I regretted not putting on a jacket before I came out here. I looked around me to see the many Christmas trees located in the backyard covered in lights. Each one beautiful without the overload of ornaments that normally overtook it's branches.

When I focused back on why I was here, I looked around for Charlie. I didn't see him but I did see a pathway of lights on the ground leading to the gazebo. I began to follow them on the soundless path and as I made my way along, I realized I was stepping on rose petals immediately making me realize why I didn't hear the crunching of freshly laid snow beneath my feet.

I was so distracted by the strategically laid roses that I didn't know I had reached the gazebo until I saw a pair of feet inside. I looked up to see Charlie standing in front of me, a small smile on his face.

I took a few moments to look at his appearance. He had changed out of his outfit from earlier and now had on a suit. As I looked from his face down to his feet, I only made it to where his hands were. They were holding a bouquet of bright red roses that had snow lightly covering bits of each petal. My face began to heat up and I didn't know what to do. I was frozen.

It took me a good minute before I could actually process what might be happening, but even then, I still wasn't sure.

"Charlie, what-" I was cut off by Charlie cupping my face in his hands. I tried to look anywhere but in Charlie's direction as he was making me feel extremely vulnerable and nervous. "AJ, I should have told you how I felt a long time ago." My eyes shot up to meet his gaze as he continued to speak. "I don't know what I was waiting for. I guess I was just so afraid of you not feeling the same way so I was scared." Charlie dropped his hands from my face and looked down at the frost covered ground. When he spoke again, his eyes locked on mine. "But what I know right now and being here with you is that I don't even have to kiss you to know that I love you. Because of course I love you. I have always loved you. Ever since I met you, you were different. You were someone who wasn't afraid to be what they wanted to be without caring what anyone else thought. You were someone I knew I could always be myself around without getting judged no mater how stupid something was. For years, I tried to deny my feelings towards you, but the truth was you were just too stubborn and forced your way right into my heart, making a home right in the middle." A laughed escaped my lips but, inside my heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest. "You are beautiful, uncommonly kind, and clumsy but in a cute way. You have always been absolutely perfect to me and I should have told you sooner." A blush crept onto Charlie's face as fear began to flood into his eyes.

I can't believe Charlie just told me he was in love with me, let alone like me.

I didn't know what else to do except move closer to Charlie. We were barely centimeters away and as Charlie looked down at me, I let my spontaneity take over.

Without giving it a second thought, I leaned up on my toes, my lips connecting with his for what felt like the millionth time but in reality it was the first time we had ever kissed.

It was as if I had kissed Charlie so many times before this because it felt so right. It felt like we were made to be together even if at some point in our lives, neither of us could have seen it.

Charlie's lips were soft against mine and it sent shots of warmth throughout my body. It was only fifteen degrees outside, but right now it felt to be about ninety.

There is a quote by Howard Thurman that states, "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Kissing Charlie was what made me come alive for the first time in my life and I knew from that moment on, I never wanted to be dead again.

After we broke apart, Charlie's face only inches from mine, I spoke. "I must be dreaming again." Charlie gasped. "You have dreams about me?" Even when the moment was romantic as hell Charlie knew exactly how to ruin it. I rolled my eyes and laughed, playing along with his game. "Only sometimes." I winked and it was his turn for his face to become as red as a tomato.

I spoke, causing Charlie to stop thinking about his reddening face as he looked at me. "I love you Charlie." A cheeky grin appeared on Charlie's face as he spoke. "Pfft, I know. You made it so obvious." I just rolled my eyes at his sudden burst of confidence as my hand reached for the collar of his shirt, pulling him towards me. Charlie smirked before putting his hand on the side of my face, brining his lips to mine. I smiled into the kiss feeling truly happy.

I knew this was going to be a Christmas I was never going to forget.