Always Believe

*CHRISTMAS SPECIAL*

"Hey! How bad did you beat Kylar up?" Katana inquired.

Stephen chuckled. "Not too bad. Nothing that will show until tomorrow, anyway."

"Whatever. Why did he stay on the phone with me anyway?"

"Uh, no reason." Stephen quickly replied.

"Uh huh. I'll pretend to believe you."

"Thanks."

"How's your Christmas going? Presents tonight or tomorrow?"

"Well, Zach is chomping at the bit to get to them, and so is Kylar, even though he won't admit it, so we'll probably end up doing them tonight. What about you?"

"I'm...not having Christmas this year."

"Why not?"

"My parents aren't here. Again." She felt tears building up behind her eyes, but she blinked them back after the first one escaped.

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Pack pajamas." Stephen hung up after that.

Katana stared at the phone before jumping up and turning the light on.

She pulled out her purple and turquoise backpack and threw some clothes in for the next day, her toiletries, and a pair of black and white leggings and a kitty t-shirt for sleep. She threw her phone charger, earbuds, and a book on top. She then grabbed her phone, slid it into her black skinny jeans pocket, and skipped down the stairs, feeling much happier than she had before.

She turned all the lights out and went to wait on the front porch, pulling on a coat and shoes as she went.

It was cold, but not cold enough for snow, sadly. This part of the state got cold but usually didn't snow, much to Katana's disappointment.

She loved snow. Loved everything about it. It's sparkle, it's wetness on her tongue, the way it caught in Kylar's hair and made him look even cuter, if that's possible. But, she got snow as rarely as she saw her parents.

Stephen pulled up and Katana got in the car.

"You don't have to spend Christmas Eve with me. You should be with your family." Katana said worriedly.

"I'm not spending it with you." Stephen said, carefully looking both ways before crossing the semi-crowded street. "You're coming home with me and spending it with me and my family."

"But I can't! It's your time with them! I don't want to intrude!" She protested.

"If you were intruding, I wouldn't have come to get you." Stephen said dryly.

"But-"

"Nope! There is no way for you to get out of this!" He stated, pulling into the driveway of their ginormous house. "Unless...you wanna walk home?"

She shook her head vigorously. "No! I'm good!"

"That's what I thought." He said, leading her up to the house and ushering her inside.

Katana looked around in awe. The whole house looked as if Christmas had exploded from a box. Tinsel draped along the walls, wreaths on the stairs, ornaments hanging on the larger-than-life tree, Christmas lights on the ceiling corners. Mr. and Mrs. Camden, Kylar, Stephen and Zach all decked out in their Christmas best. It was the most beautiful thing Katana had ever seen in her life.

"Come on." Stephen pulled her into their midst and put his arm around her shoulders.

Katana felt so happy she could burst. Her grin stretched from ear to ear making her cheeks hurt.

"Hello darling!" Mrs. Camden exclaimed. "Just in time for our family photo!"

Katana started to panic. She was underdressed, and didn't belong in their family's picture.

She shook her head and backed up.

"I can't." She said, but they all overrode her protest.

Mr. and Mrs. Camden positioned the three boys sitting on the loveseat, placing Katana on Stephen and Kylar's laps before standing behind the white couch and putting on their best smiles, arms around each other.

The photographer took the picture, waited a moment for it to develop, then waved the Camdens over to inspect it.

Katana got off of the boys' laps, blushing as she did so, and followed the family over.

"It's perfect!" Mrs. Camden gushed. "Another girl in it makes the perfect touch."

Katana scrutinized herself. She was wearing her black skinny jeans with the silver ironed-on swirls, a purple hoodie that said "Christmas Cheer" on it with a fuzzy snowman, and her hair was flowing around her shoulders, curling slightly. She still looked out of place next to their suits and dress, but she had to admit it did look good.

"Aww, look, your face is all red!" Kylar cooed playfully. "Must have been your close proximity to me and my charm.

Stephen smacked the back of his head, but smirked. "Shut up."

After that, Mrs. Camden and Katana went to the kitchen to make cookies, whilst the boys went into another room to prepare the dinner.

They baked dozens of cookies. Russian Tea Cakes, Peanut Butter Surprises, Sugar cookies, fudge squares, Jingle Bell Balls, butterscotch rice crispies, peanut clusters, peanut brittle, marshmallow delights. By the time they were finished, the whole house was filled with delicious mouth-watering aromas.

They then joined the boys for dinner, eating and laughing and talking, before taking the cookies to the living room and eating then while opening presents.

"I know this was a last minute thing for you Tana, so it's alright if you don't give us anything. As for me, I have something for you that I was going to give you next time I saw you, but you're here now." Stephen explained, handing Katana a prettily wrapped present.

She smiled and took it, opening it slowly.

There was a jewelry box inside.

She pulled the top off to find a beautiful silver heart pendant with amethyst stones studded around the border, with a diamond in the middle.

"Open the locket." Stephen prompted.

Katana pried the heart open gently to see a picture of her and Stephen from their trip to Florida during the summer.

Her parents had been, as usual, busy all during the summer, so the Camden's invited her to go with them on their Florida vacation.

It had been so much fun, and she and Stephen had grown so much closer. Plus, she got to spend time with Kylar and see him shirtless.

"Thank you so much, Stephen. Without you, I'd be spending another Christmas alone." Katana gave him a hug, feeling a few tears fall down her cheeks.

"You're welcome babygirl." Stephen said, rubbing small circles on her back.

They finished the evenings festivities and then decided to get ready for bed.

Kylar, Stephen and Katana decided to sleep on the couch bed in the living room.

They got their pajamas on and settled onto the bed, pulling all the blankets up. They fell asleep, Katana snuggled up in between Stephen and Kylar, resting her head on Kylar's shoulder with his arm around her.

"Goodnight boys." She whispered before falling asleep. "Thank you."

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Hey, so what'd ya think? Pretty cute huh? Some background on Kat and Stephen. Plus, her crush on Kylar in the beginning stages. ;)

Have a wonderful Christmas!!

Hugs and kisses! xxoo

~Mandie