It was the first time in a long time that I was excited for Christmas.  Kent had spent the past two Christmases somewhere warm with Jen’s family, but this year he’d decided to stay and participate in his usual traditions. One of them was spending Christmas Eve doing puzzles, watching horror movies, and eating junk food with me while our moms went to their annual Christmas party at Mrs. Frederick’s house.

Mrs. Frederick had been throwing the same Christmas Eve party for the past sixteen years. She hosted the first one when she was a nineteen-year-old newlywed and it had grown from a single couple into one of the most talked about events in my mother’s circle of friends throughout the years. My mother was upstairs getting dressed for the occasion, which she had been talking about ever since I got home on Christmas break, three days ago.

I, on the other hand, was very much looking forward to snuggling under a blanket with Kent’s shoulder touching mine. I couldn’t wait to be so close that so that I could smell him again. I didn’t wash my hair for three days after we’d studied together just so that I could still smell him on my body, somewhere.

I’d had visions that morning of him feeding me carrots, holding me to his chest, stroking my hair. And just as we’d finished the last movie we’d kiss, in the dim room, lit only by the twinkling Christmas lights and the rolling movie credits.

“Mom!  He’ll be here any minute!” I was standing in the kitchen, preparing a large tray of veggies and dip. My excitement was palpable and I could barely contain it.

“Give me a minute, Elly! Geez. Why do you have such a bug up your butt?” she called from upstairs somewhere.

I wanted to see Kent. That was the bug up my butt. I hadn’t seen him in almost a week and a half, since our final, and I’d been thinking about him non-stop since that night we’d shared together.

I jumped as a knock sounded at the door and ran to answer it. I made sure my clothes were properly in place before opening the door. Kent was there, my heart skipped a beat as I stared at him.

“Hey,” I said casually. I hoped he wouldn’t notice that I was nervous and giddy.

He flashed me a smile as he held up a couple of plastic bags. “Brought some stuff.”

“Great.” I stepped back to let him in and just as I was about to shut the door behind him I felt resistance on the other side.

“Not so fast, Elly. Don’t forget about me.” Jen smiled sweetly as she stuck her hands in the back of Kent’s pockets. As they walked through the foyer she pressed a few loud kisses to the back of his neck.