Jingle Bells and Parallels

1. Nolan

Quick note for those who have read the Protector series: This is following another timeline that's in my head, meaning Jerome and Mae are already step-siblings, and Jerome has had a boyfriend before Nolan. (low key wanting to write this alternate timeline but I already have enough to write lol)

Chapter 1

~Nolan~

       Decorating my house was always one of my favourite things to do around the holidays. I always wanted to start decorating November first but apparently, that was too early and I had to wait closer to Christmas.

       At least we were finally able to decorate it now. Mom and Dad had gone out Christmas shopping bringing Rose and William with them but Dad was sure to take out all the Christmas decorations before they left because he knew how much I wanted to decorate.

      Two of our neighbours came over to help as well. But that was only because one was my boyfriend and the other was my oldest brother's girlfriend.

       I stood in the archway between the kitchen and the living room, trying to hang up the mistletoe. Tulip always insisted on one being in the house every Christmas since Jerome and Mae came over a lot, so that would give her a good excuse to fan girl over her ships if Jerome and I or Ryder and Mae were ever under the mistletoe.

       I was the only one who could put the mistletoe in the archway since I was the tallest one here. Well, Jerome was a bit taller than me but he was currently hanging up Christmas lights outside of the house.

       I was starting to wonder if I was the only one in my family who got my dad's tall genes. 

       I didn't mind. I liked making fun of my siblings, especially Ryder. He would never stop bossing us around because he was the oldest, so I would always point out that he wasn't the tallest.

       Right as I finished hanging up the mistletoe, Jerome walked inside the house and over to me. "Tulip said you needed my help with something," he said.

       I furrowed my eyebrows. "I don't know why she told you that. I don't need your help with anything. I was just hanging up this mistletoe." Now I got it. "Mistletoe. Of course." I looked over at Tulip, who was innocently decorating the coffee table. "Real smart, Tulip."

       "I have no idea what you're talking about whatsoever," Tulip said as she looked over. "You and Jerome are under the mistletoe, by the way."

       "I'm aware of that since I just finished hanging it up, and you know that," I said. 

       "You two have to kiss or you'll be breaking Christmas tradition," Tulip said.

       Jerome really loved irritating Tulip and getting that nine year old girl angry so he just patted my shoulder. "Later," he said, walking away and to the front door. "I have to finish putting up the Christmas lights outside."

       Tulip stuck her tongue out at Jerome as he walked outside.

       I didn't get her obsession with relationships.

       She once cried for days because her favourite couple in a TV show broke up. Literally. She even locked herself in her bedroom. Mom and Dad had to bring dinner up to her every night. They knew better than to fight it. They thought it would be better to let her have her meltdown.

       Alan was outside with Ryder, putting up some decorations in the yard and one they both came inside, Alan said he wanted to go make some hot chocolate. Before he could even got into the kitchen, Mae offered to make some for us.