[^] Another side to you [^] Xiaother Highschool AU [^]

Christmas Wishes (Special)

I neatly wrote down the words;

'Dear Aether,

Merry Christmas.

Thank you for being so kind to me.

Love, Xiao ❤️'

I enclose the card in the envelope and stick it close with sticky tape before running to the kitchen. Maybe we have some chocolate?

"Daadddd?" I call out.

"Yes, Xiao?" Zhongli calls back.

"Can I gift this pack of chocolate to Aether?"

"Er... yeah sure."

"Thanks!"

-

I sit on the couch, waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting.

The clock hits 12:50PM and I stand abruptly.

"Let's go." I say and Tartaglia glances at me briefly.

"I'll drop you off." He says and I raise an eyebrow.

"You guys are coming though?" My gaze follows him as he walks to the kitchen bench, grabbing his keys.

"Nah, we gonna have lunch here, you go have fun, cmon."

I follow Tartaglia, confused but I shrug it off.

The care ride is quiet as i gaze out the window. Me and Aether haven't talked much or seen eachother since lantern rite, (which was only about a week) so I feel more than nervous.

My hands fiddle with the presents bow, in which i had Zhongli tie since when I try it looks like a worm tried cooking food.

Finally, I recognise the neat garden of Aethers home, the car slows to a stop and Childe punches my shoulder.

"Have fun kiddo." He nods.

"I'm two years younger than you."

"Yeah, you're a kid still, a little baby."

I frown, not even saying goodbye and I slam the car door. As the car hums away and I approach the front door, I hear the familiar jingle of bells from Mariah Carey's 'All I want for Christmas is you'.

I knock on the door and it swings open, standing face to face with me is Lumine. I'm a little disappointed.

Lumine is wearing her hair in a ponytail, tied with a sparkling red bow which matches the shade of her bright red lipstick, she also is wearing a soft looking red dress lined with white fluff and a shimmering balck belt around her waist.

"Xiao! Merry Christmas!" She leans in for a hug, and since i only have one arm free, I give her a bit of a side hug.

Small, excited footsteps trample down the hallway, and the twins younger sister, Paimon, barrels into me. I pat her head roughly.

As Lumine leads me down the decorated hallway, the music grows louder, and I hear someone singing, I don't particularly recognise their voice.

As I walk into the main room, everyone is here. Scaramouche, Alhaitham, Kaveh, Gorou, Itto, Ayaka.

The people i don't know is a tall boy, with blue hair and the same matching, sharp features as Ayaka, he sits close to a blond boy with a scar above his eyebrow.

The girl singing has bright red hair and she danced to the music with an incredible amount of grace.

"Ah, you may not know some of these guys, the blue haired boy is Ayaka's twin Ayato, the blond boy next to him is Thoma, and the girl singing is Nilou, she's a dancer, if you couldn't tell." Lumine snorts as she skips off to sit with Ayaka.