✔︎ |𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄*𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐄

Christmas Chaos

On the third day of Christmas...

"Why don't you stop staring and go talk to him?" Annie snapped out of her trance and looked at her little sister. "What?"

"It's obvious you like Asher. Go talk to him"

"I-i do not like him. I barely even know him" Hayley folded her arms over her chest. "Well, it's obvious you want to get to know him" Annie blushed. "Seriously?"

"Annie, your face is turning red" Annie rubbed her cheeks. "Okay, I'll do it"

"Oh, but Annie.." Annie turned back around before leaving. "I told you so" Annie rolled her eyes, remembering what her sister said yesterday. "Whatever"

"Oh, right! You guys, my co-workers son is coming too this year" Hayley skipped happily to the stools at the counter, to watch her mom make the cookies. "So, we're adding one more person to our awesome eleven days before Christmas party?" Hayley rested her head in her hands while she waited for her mother to respond.

"Yeah, he's around Annie's age, I'm pretty sure" Hayley turned her head towards Annie and smiled wildly. "Annie's age huh?"

"Hayley, whatever you're thinking..don't" Annie glared at her sister. "Fine. I'll keep my mouth shut"

"Hey, Ash" Annie kept repeating 'stay calm' over and over in her head, hoping that it would work. "Annie! Hey, this party is great. Your mom sure know how to bake" Annie smiled. "Well, she's a woman of the kitchen...in a non, stereotypical way"

Asher laughed. "You are so cute when you're nervous" Annie looked down shyly then back up at Asher. "Okay..can I ask you a question?" Asher nodded his head.

"So, I have like this thought that's been running through my head ever since I met you, and I really hope it'll happen. But before any of that, I really want to get to know you" Asher smirked. Leaving his lingering stare on Annie, her waiting becoming suspenseful for an answer.

"Yeah, I'd like that. Wanna go somewhere more private? Its kind of loud in here" Asher said referring to the music. "Great, we can uh..go up to my room if that's okay"

"Fine by me"

My true love gave to me...
🎄🎄🎄

"Your room is like, so chill" Asher laid on his back on Annie's bed, as she joined him sitting up. "Thanks. I like chill vibes, it helps me think better"

"What to you normally think about?" Asher asked, propping up on his elbows. "Lyrics, mostly. I'm a singer"

"Wow, that's like actually really cool. I'm a singer too" Annie's face lit up. "That's amazing. Do you ever like, sing for your family. I do all the time" Asher's face dimmed as he just stares at the ceiling.

Annie sensed something wrong. "Oh, I'm sorry. If I—"

"No. You didn't do anything. Its just that..my parents have always wanted me to be a cardiologist. It's like they've planned my entire life before I was even born"

"How old are you?" Asher looked at Annie questioningly, wondering why she asked that. "I'm swenty-one. Why?"

"You could just not listen to your parents. I mean, I'm nineteen. Once I finish college I plan on getting signed or something"

"That's great. It's good to have plans for the future. I just really hate disappointing my parents. I've done it my entire life. I'm in my last year of college, and I still have no idea what I want to do" Asher huffed and leaned back onto the bed.

Annie put her hand on his as it rested against his chest. He just let he be there, not even questioning it. "You should do..what you want. No matter what your parents think"

"You know..so many people have told me that and it never changed anything. But for some reason, when you say it...I kind of believe you" Annie's face scrunched up as she laughed lightly.

"I was right about something though" Asher said breaking the silence. "Yeah? About what?"

"Your skin is really soft" Annie blushed. "I guess I have you to thank then, for making me leave the cold" Annie referred to what Asher said earlier. "You are so bright and cheery"

Annie smiled. Sudden feelings rising inside her. "And you're deep and mysterious" They both locked eyes, gazing at each other longingly. It seemed as if they both wanted the same thing, so Annie started leaning down.

Her nerves rising with every second, the tension intensifying, and both being released from it once they locked lips. It was full on passion.

Asher rose his hand to her face, pulling her closer to him. Annie slowly climbed on top of him, laying down as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Things were getting heated real fast, but soon they ended. A loud break of glass coming from downstairs had them both break apart and look at Annie's closed door.

"What was that?" Asher asked concerned. "I don't know. Lets find out" they both got off the bed and went downstairs.

"Annie! Yo! Kenzie's mom is tripping!" Isaak said running up to her. "What happened?"

"She's drunk, and she broke Caleb's photo" Annie's heart sunk. She rushed passed the crowd of people, lining up with Melissa at the same time Katie did. "Oh...no" Katie's eyes filled with tears. Billy came into the room and tried to get everyone to resume what they were doing.

No need to cancel the party, he'll tend to his family away from everyone else.

After the crowd continued dancing, talking, and eating, Billy brought Katie into a separate after cleaning the glass off the fall.

"Annie.." She turned around to the husk voice behind her. She was still staring at the floor where the picture was dropped. "Yeah?" She didn't sound to happy.

"I um..do you, wanna talk about it?" Annie felt butterflies in her stomach. "How do you do that Ash?"

"What?"

"Just..knowing, that I wanted to talk" Asher wrapped his arm around Annie's shoulder. "What can I say, it's what I do" he said with a smirk.

Three French hens🐓 Two turtle doves🕊 and a partridge in a pear tree
December 14, 2023