{Extremely long Chapter ahead~}

{So the bermonths has started and malls and our neighbors are already playing Christmas songs soooo Merry Christmas Everyone HAHAHA!} I'm kidding please bear with me...

"Hey."

My eyes opened when I felt a hand gently tap my shoulder. "What?" I rubbed my eyes and yawned.

Aiden chuckled. "We're here."

By hearing those words my eyes instantly widened and just like that, my whole body's awakened. I suddenly became aware of my surroundings. I'm inside Aiden's car, outside, the streets are filled with blankets of snow, familiar houses with festive Christmas lights lined the streets. I felt excitement flow through my insides. I took off my seatbelt.

I'm home!

My eyes went to the house infront of where Aiden's car is parked. A smile formed on my lips when 3 familiar girls came running out of the main door in their winter clothes. They all ran to my door excitedly and opened it from the outside.

"Paige!" They said in unison.

Before I could respond, Anna, Dell, and Zoe pulled me into a big hug.

"I missed you!" Anna tightened her hug on me.

Dell hugged me even tighter. "I missed you more!"

"I missed y'all too!" I laughed.

"Hey lets not squeeze her to death." Zoe scolded the two making me laugh. She's always been our moderator.

"Whoops." Anna and Dell loosened their hug and let me go. Zoe then hugged me but this time without squeezing me.

"You look so pretty." She eyed my face.

"Yeah, that school sure gave you a full makeover." Dell agreed.

Anna added. "We watched you last night at the Christmas ball, you looked like a princess."

"What? No!" I brushed their compliments off.

"But the question is." Anna looked at me excitedly. "Did you meet the Prince?"

"Did you get a billionaire boyfriend?" Dell asked.

"Are the students there nice?"

"How was the ball?"

"Wait, wait, wait." I paused them. "I'll answer all your questions when we get inside, we might wake the neighbors."

"Oh please." Dell laughed. "The whole neighborhood's been awake since dawn waiting for you to arrive."

My eyes widened. "What?" They all nodded. I then shifted my eyes to the other houses in our street. They were right, some of our neighbors were peeking behind the curtains of their windows, other's were glancing at me from their front porch.

"You're pretty famous now that you go to Eres." Anna said.

Then I remembered. I almost forgot how a big deal my school is to the outside world. When I first entered school, I felt overwhelmed by everything, but as time went by I soon got used to it and it started to feel normal. Only now did I remember that that school is definitely far from normal. Suddenly, the memories of the past few years flashed back in my mind.

When Aiden would come back for Christmas and summer break. Those were the times when our neighbors would be so nosy around him, Sometimes we'd eat at a mall or stroll in a park and press would capture pictures of us together. But his father filed a case against the press so after that, we could hang out freely again.

The girl's eyes shifted to the person behind me. Smiles filled their faces. "Aiden!" Anna and Dell hugged Aiden the same way they did to me. Zoe on the other hand hid a strand of her hair behind her ear and kept her eyes on the ground.

"What's up?" Aiden smiled. He turned to me and placed a warm winter coat around my shoulders. Only then did I realize that I wasn't wearing a coat and I've been hugging myself this whole time. I haven't noticed it since I was busy chit chatting with my girls.

"Thanks."

"We should get inside, it's freezing out here." He reminded.

"Oh yes your Mom's waiting." Anna said and tried pushing me towards the house.

"Wait I have gifts for all of you." I walked towards the trunk of Aiden's car and Aiden helped me take out the shopping bags out of the trunk. The girls squealed with excitement when they saw the shopping bags. Aicko and I went Christmas shopping for our families before the ball. She bought stuff for her family while I of course bought stuff not just for my family and friends but for most of our neighbors as well. Growing up in this village with friendly neighbors who I see day after day made me look at them more than just neighbors but as family.

The girls helped Aiden and I carry the shopping bags inside the house. As I approached the familiar pathwalk to the main door, a hint of warmth settled in my heart. I'm finally home.

I then noticed the minor changes of the house, the window sills are painted different, the roof looks repainted and the porch is polished. I took a deep breathe and stepped inside. The amazing aroma of homemade goodies from the kitchen greeted me. I placed my bags down and ran to the kitchen. I can't wait to see her.

I entered the kitchen where the aroma was stronger. My eyes lit up when I saw her.

Mom turned around and faced me. She was in a red holiday sweater and a holiday apron. "Hello sunshine."

No words came out of my mouth. I ran towards her and she brought me into a huge warm hug. I missed this hug, I missed her arms. In here I feel safe. "I missed you Mom."

She chuckled and cupped my face. "I missed you more sunshine." She kissed my forehead.

"Hi Mimi!" Aiden entered the kitchen. Mom let go of me and hugged him as well.

Mimi is what Aiden calls Mom. Since both our mothers are best friends, they both agreed that they didn't want their best friend's children to call each other as aunts, they both agreed that Mimi's the right word, together, Mom served as Aiden's second Mom, and his Mom served as mine. Her death may have affected both Aiden and Mom, but it also affected me.

"You're so handsome now." Mom complimented him. Well it was true. She then turned to me. "Why is it like you haven't changed at all? Doesn't the Californian glow up affect you?" She eyed me.

My brows furrowed. "Mom!" I crossed my arms. Does she really think that I haven't changed a bit.

She laughed. "I'm just kidding sunshine, you look uh." She eyed my face. "Better than before." She laughed.

I don't know if that's a compliment or a rude comment but I didn't mind it. I jumped and sat on top of the counter top and reached for a cookie from Mom's cookie jar before munching it.

"I see her appetite didn't change." Mom whispered in Aiden's ear.

"Nope." Aiden chuckled.

I rolled my eyes and and continued munching my cookie. Don't they understand that the train and car travel made me hungry.

"Oh my Aiden." Mom took a step back and eyed Aiden top to bottom. "You're so tall." She covered her mouth. "It's just like only yesterday when you were still running around this house in diapers." She laughed.

Aiden laughed as well.

"How bout me?" I called Mom's attention. "I grew taller too."

Mom eyed me and chuckled. "Not you." Aiden burst out laughing.

I glared at him and took another bite on my cookie.

"Auntie!" Anna entered the kitchen excitedly, she was already holding the designer shoes that I got her. "How does it look?" She waved the shoes in the air for Mom to see.

"Wow!" Mom smiled. "It looks amazing."

"Thankyou Paige!" Anna hugged her shoes. She then turned to Aiden. "Thanks for the T-shirt, it smells just like Eres." She showed the Blue school merchandise T-shirt that Aiden got her and squealed.

Dell suddenly appeared beside her. "You should see your presents Auntie."

"Wait I have some too?" Mom raised her brow.

Aiden chuckled. "Of course Mimi." He then took out Mom's apron. "You should see them."

"Oh fine." Mom nodded, Anna and Dell together with Aiden pulled Mom out the kitchen door to the living room where the shopping bags were. And here they left me munching on a cookie. Wow they forgot all about me. I just laughed and then took a strawberry tart out of the fridge and headed to the living room as well.

Dell and Anna excitedly handed Mom the shopping bags that I got for her. Aiden just stood there smiling. Zoe sat there in the corner watching them, when she saw me approach she gave me a small smile.

"Thanks for the gifts."

"No problem."

I sat in the corner with a tart in one hand as Mom unwrapped the designer bag and clothes that I got her, Aiden got her a purse and pair of shoes. Together we gave Mom a new wardrobe update.

"Oh my." Mom stared in aw of her gifts. "You both didn't have to."

It isn't every day when I get to give her stuff like this, Aiden gives her these stuff every year. But it feels different when I do as well, I never knew how good it felt to give your Mom something that comes from you. Seeing her happy warms my heart.

After giving them their gifts, Aiden and I had breakfast while the girls and Mom showered us with questions while watching us eat. It's a good thing that Anna, Dell and Zoe are here to keep Mom company while I'm gone, Mom said that they'd visit her every weekend to bake with her so that she wouldn't feel lonely. They even slept here last night so that they could greet me when Me and Aiden arrives. I'm just so lucky to have them.

After eating, Aiden had to go to his house and I headed to my room to take a nap, the early morning travel definitely made me sleepy. While I take a nap the girls decided to help Mom in the kitchen.

I climbed upstairs to my room with my things. It's been a while since I saw these stairs. I got to the second floor and immediately spotted my white door leading to my room. My white door is a lot different from the huge maple wooden door in our dormitory back at Eres. I turned the knob and entered my room. My eyes roamed around my pink colored room, my many bookshelves were stationed on the walls, my window was at the side, my tiny twin sized bed with white sheets stood at the corner, beside it was my nightstand and my small closet drawer was at the other side of the room.

Reality suddenly hit me, I could now see how different my room is to my room in my dormitory, I've gotten so used to the dormitory that I forgot how small my real room is compared to it. I smiled and stationed my suitcase on the side. My room maybe smaller and plainer, but it's my room and every little flaw about it is why I love it. I excitedly jumped on my bed, it may not be as comfy but it's mine. Nothing changed. The tall cherry tree that stood by my window was bare and filled with snow. Aiden used to throw rocks on it to wake me up.

I cuddled inside my sheets and fell asleep. I woke up to the sound of the knock on my door. I sat up and looked out the window, it was snowing outside, I turned to the time and it was already noon. I opened the door and the girls pulled me out for lunch.

Aiden then came back later in the afternoon and he placed the star on top of the Christmas tree, that has always been his job, ever since Mom's stool broke, it has always been Aiden since he was the tallest and no one else in the house could seem to reach the top of the tree.

That evening, I agreed to join the girls to town center. So I wore long sleeves, a fleece sweater and a winter coat, with thick gloves to keep me from the cold. I've gotten used to the warm Californian weather making me feel uneasy with the cold season. Aiden tagged along and we all went on foot since the town center is just a walking distance.

Every Christmas season, our town gathers up at the town center for the Christmas Village, kids would go there to see Father Christmas, People would gather up to watch Christmas plays and also go ice skating on the skating rink. At the center of it all is the Huge Christmas tree.

When we got there, I immediately suggested that we have a nigh time food trip. Good thing they all agreed. Anna, Dell and Zoe left to check out some of the food stalls. Aiden like a tail, just followed me wherever I went.

I stopped in front of hotdog stand. The guy in the hotdog stand looked up to me.

"Hey Paige!" He smiled. "You're back."

I smiled at him as well. I ordered two hotdogs, one for me and one for Aiden. When the guy handed the hotdogs, I turned to Aiden and gave him a cute smile.

He raised his brow at me understanding what I meant. He chuckled and reached for his wallet in his pocket and paid for the hotdogs. I laughed, he knew me too well.

"Oh what would I do without you?" I said to Aiden.

He placed his wallet back inside his pocket and turned to me. "You'd go hungry." He laughed.

I rolled my eyes at him.

I was about to reach for my hotdog when he stopped me and blew on it before giving it to me. We continued walking around the festival while eating our hotdogs.

We passed by the skating rink, where many kids and their families and friends skated.

"Do you wanna skate?" Aiden turned to me.

"Nope." I shook my head and pointed to my hotdog. I know how he loves skating during the Christmas season, but I don't.

Later that night, the girls and Aiden went back home and I was left with Mom. She cooked warm soup for dinner and it together with my grey fleeced sweater helped ease the cold. Together, Mom and I lit up the candles on our wreath and afterwards I got ready for bed.

I jumped in my bed wearing my sweater and bugs bunny pajama pants. I lay down on my bed and looked up at my ceiling. It felt weird spending a whole day without seeing my friends at school. My day wasn't complete without Aicko talking about shopping, without Shari giving the googly eyes to Ram, without hearing Eloise's prim and proper voice. I've gotten used to all that.

I rolled on my bed and got my phone which was positioned on my nightstand. I opened my social media accounts and saw my friends posts. Aicko arrived back at Japan, Shari's back at Arabia and Eloise is back at the French palace. I opened my messages from Aicko and the girls. I then realized that I've gotten a lot of inbox messages. I replied to each one of them until I saw the last one.

From: Jerk

Where are you

I frowned. Why is it like he's demanding my location.

To: Jerk

In my room.

I laughed at how specific my answer is.

I saw him typing.

From: Jerk

And where is your room?

I smiled and typed.

To: Jerk

In my house.

I laughed again. It feels nice pissing him off.

From: Jerk

I'm serious puppy.

To: Jerk

I'm serious Jerk

I never knew how great if felt to piss someone off.

From: Jerk

Is it wrong wanting to know where you are?

To: Jerk

I said I'm in my room.

From: Jerk

How should I know where your room is?

I thought of a nice reply.

To: Jerk

Then find it.

I laughed with amusement. I expected him to reply but he just seen my message. I rolled my eyes and went to sleep.

The next day. I spent it at the Church. Anna and Dell were in charge of decorating the Church, I helped them afterwards I joined Aiden and Zoe practice with our village's choir, since it's a tradition that our choir will go caroling.

"Aiden!" The choir members greeted him when we entered the backroom of the church.

They greeted me as well and Aiden pulled out his guitar and they started rehearsing for tonight.

"Paige!" Lisa, one of the girls approached me. "Here's your costume." She smiled and handed me my costume.

I smiled and eyed my costume in my lap. Oh yes, I almost forgot my yearly duty.

Ever since we were young, Aiden's always been the lead singer during Christmas carols. Singing wasn't my gift so since we do everything together. If it's Aiden's job to be the lead singer, it's always been my job to be the Choir's Christmas elf. I'd dress up in an elf costume and I'll be the one collecting the money that we earn in the caroling. Cool job right?

___________________

Once the people clapped when Aiden and the choir finished. That was my cue.

I walked up to the front holding a Christmas stocking with a huge smile on my face. I wore a green and red striped elf clothes with elf shoes, elf hat and elf ears.

"Mommy an elf!" A little girl pointed at me. Here we go again.

"Sweetie that's Paige from next door." The Mom smiled at me.

"Hi Paige Elf!" The little girl said before inserting some money into the stocking. I thanked them and turned to Aiden who was stopping himself from laughing. My Christmas role here at the village never fails to amuse him. I turn to his other club mates, they were all restraining themselves from laughing.

Correction, My Christmas role here at the village never fails to amuse everyone.

After the caroling finished, Aiden and I parted ways with the others and he walked me home before leaving to his own house.

"How's elf duties?" Aiden asked with a smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes and took of my elf ears. "Very funny."

I frowned when he took off my elf hat and ruffled my hair beneath it. I punched on his shoulder making him wince.

"Hey." An idea popped into my head. "Race you to the house." I challenged.

Before He could say anything else, I raced for it.

_______________________

"Why are you two out of breathe?" Mom crossed her arms when she saw me and Aiden enter the house.

I was too exhausted to answer. I threw myself on the couch and fanned my face. It maybe cold but Ironically, I'm sweating.

Aiden laughed and took the glass of water that Mom handed him. I thought he was going to drink it but instead, he handed it to me. I gulped it down my throat.

"It's her fault." He pointed at me. "She challenged me to race going here."

"Oh I see." Mom nodded. "And let me guess, you won?"

Aiden nodded proudly.

I crossed my arms. "You're a cheater."

"What did I do?" Aiden sat beside me with a teasing look. "I wasn't the one who challenged you, plus you had a big head start." He laughed again.

"You're lucky, your legs are long."

"Yeah, I sure am." He crossed his arms and raised his chin up proudly.