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

Christmas Wishes (Special)

Placing my gift under the tree, where it sits among many, many other presents form everyone here, I wonder: Where's Aether?

Almost as if my thoughts were heard, someone runs down the hallway with long red socks, his blond plait placed over his shoulder, he slides on his socks through the room, stopping right in the middle, and everyone laughs, applauding his entrance.

He snatches the microphone off Niolou and bursts into song.

"Have a Holly Holly Christmas, it's the best time of the year!" He sings passionately, and he's actually pretty decent.

I sit on an empty couch, as many are sitting around the coffee table on the floor. The whole song, his gaze travels to me once, and it was at the end of the song.

At sight of me, his eyes seem to light up and his grins widens more than it already has, he skips over to me, falling onto the couch, his breath heavy from singing.

"Merry Christmas, Xiao." He smiles and I feel myself blush a little.

"Merry Christmas." I return the holiday phrase.

Lumine and Ayaka both stand up and begin singing 'Underneath the Christmas tree', and they're both quite good.

As the day goes on, and so does the karaoke, Aether sits close to me, leaning his head on my shoulder from time to time.

Finally, the gift giving time starts, and as everyone receives cards, vouchers, and other miscellaneous, my turn to give Aether his gift comes around.

As Aether's lips break from a smile to a grin, he tears the packaging at a relatively calm pace, and he brings out the chocolate bar and card I wrote for him. He takes a couple seconds to read it when he looks at me adoringly.

"I almost didn't have a present, and I knew how much you love chocolate.." I duck my head as I smile shyly.

"Awwhh, thank you!" Aether wraps his arms around my shoulders and kisses my cheek, the room breaks into a bit of a gasp, and sweetened laughs, I blush, smiling hard.

Aether passes me a present, and when I open it, it's a framed picture of us two at lantern rite at the dock, Aether's arm slung over my shoulder, grinning as I smile.

"I remember this, that pink haired photographer took the photo for us, didn't she?" I say.

Aether nods. "Yeah!"

I hesitate, unsure how to say thank you, so I hug him as an excuse to give him a small kiss on his jaw, since I'm too embarrassed to kiss his cheek infront of everyone.

Aether blushes, lowering his head as he laughs.

The day goes on, and I don't think I've ever been so comfortable around so many people at once. Ayato and I converse a couple times, and Nilou asks how I know Aether. Kaveh being the gossip-girl(boy) he is, kept asking me questions about Aether.

Its refreshing.

A little too refreshing.

I excuse myself to the bathroom, feeling burnt out. I lean over the sinkagainst my elbows, gazing into the mirror blankly. It's too many people. My head lowers downwards and my hands run through my hair.

A knock on the door, I jolt upwards. Crap.
.
"Xiao?" Aether's soft voice calls through the door, I unlock the door and when Aether walks in, he closes it behind him.

"Uh- Hey.." I mutter and I shuffle over so Aether can stand next to me.

He too leans on his elbows next to me.

"Hey..." He says gently, leaning toward me. "You good?"

"Yeah, burnt out, though." I turn away.

Aether's fingers hook under my chin and he tilts my head to face him. Our faces are close and the breath is drawn from my throat. Aether smiles. Pecking me on the nose.

I'm still nervous around him, more than ever... I pull myself away from his touch, and his eyes reflect confused and sad, his smile lessens.

"I'm sorry." I mutter, standing up, considering leaving.

"Hey." Aether says again. And I pause.

His gaze studies me. And I turn my eyes away, avoiding eye contact. Aether stands up, his hands reaching out and holding my hands, cupping them together.

"You're withdrawing my touch." He murmurs. And the sadness, the guilt that he doesn't need. "Why?"

It takes a second for me to answer.

"I don't want to do something wrong." I then lock my eyes with his. "I don't know how to care for someone. And if I was to hurt someone, I don't want it to be you."

Aether sucks in a breath, his hands tightening around mine.

"Then I'll help, Xiao. You aren't going to do anything wrong. I know it."

I wrap my arms around Aether, holding him close tightly, not wanting to let go.

"Thank you."

- End.

» Word Count: 1718 «

[A/N]
Yup, merry Christmas. Totally still Christmas period.
Totally not January 22. Mhm.
But this chapter was fun to write! Any suggestions for next chapters, I'm open to literally anything and everything.

Except Mpreg