Back to December

Celia took the cup, smiling. "Pride and the Prejudice. Romeo and Juliet. And I'm halfway through Wuthering Heights. I've been in a classic mood recently. " she paused. "Have you read a anything?"

Henry scoffed. "No." He'd talk to her secretly about books he read, but he always kept up an image of sorts. He smirked. "Romeo and Juliet?"

Celia blushed, "Yeah...." why did she mention that one?

Kale watched her. "S'that a bad thing?" He watched her. "Do you need me to leave?" He was always trying to make things better for her.

Jarred chuckled and kissed her gently. "Yes, I definately will."

"Interesting, didn't have enough after your own Romeo and Juliet story?" Henry said, his eyes twinkling, and edging towards what they were both thinking about.

"No! You don't need to leave," Meredith said, shaking her head quickly. "I just...I'm surprised at how ... easy it's been to slip back into being, well, friends."

She paused, then added. "It's nice."

"Good," She mumbled kissing him back and feeling relief. She missed him as a person more, but she missed the kisses, too.

Celia almost flinched, instead she held it back and smiled. "I'd rather not get to the ending of my Romeo and Juliet story...I don't think I'd enjoy the whole stabbing myself part."

Jarred let the kiss get deeper, both of them coming to stop under the misletoe.

Kale raised a brow and gave a small laugh and nodded, looking down at the floor. "Ya, it is." He felt a stab at his heart a little, he still missed her. Still wanted her. But friends was better than nothing.

Anna pulled away, her head spinning. She looked up and smiled. "Look. Mistletoe...perfect." She laughed quietly.

Meredith realized he still had her hand in his, and hesitated.
"Friends is what I'll settle for, I mean."

Kale watched her and nodded, taking his hand from hers. "I understand."

Jarred smiled and glanced up, chuckling. "Yes, it is perfect." He said and kissed her nose.

"I don't think you do," Meredith said, sitting back and hugging herself a moment then sighing. She figured he only wanted to be friends. After what she did to him, she wasn't surprised.

Anna giggled when he did that. She was just happy now, and wasn't even sure what to say, what to talk about.

"You want to be just friends. I can do that.." Kale said a little hesitantly. Could he really do that? Could he stand talking to her, hanging out with her and not being able to call her his? Not be able to kiss her? Not be able to whisper sweet nothings and hold her during one of her stupid chick flicks?

Jarred smiled down at her, his forehead resting against hers. "I don't have to chase anyone off, do I?"

(that last part made me laugh xD)

"What? No. You want to be just friends...I thought," Meredith said, her brow furrowing as she glanced over at him.

Anna laughed quietly. "What do you mean? A boy? No."
She found his hand again, lacing their fingers together.

"I have to chase off someone else?" Jarred asked looking a little confused. The way she had said it made it sound like he still had to chase someone off.

Kale raised his brow and sat up and looked at her. "Meredith? Do you know what I want?" He asked as he watched her. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her gently. "That's what I want. Not just friends." He pulled back and let her go.

Anna shook her head quickly. "No! There's no one to chase off, guys or...otherwise." She wrinkled her nose. Ew.

Meredith was frozen for a second, her big, doe eyes locked on him. She sat back in her chair and shook her head, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "You do? Even after how I acted?"

Kale chuckled and nodded. "Ya, actually. Even after." He looked at his hands. "Love isn't about being perfect. It's about being able to see past all the imperfections, and still love a person."

Jarred smiled widely and chuckled. "Good, because I didn't want to get this tux dirty."

"You love me?" Meredith asked, her eyes widening, as that was what it sounded like. They hadn't said the "L" word before, but...thinking about it, if he loved her, she probably did love him, too.

Anna smiled and dropped his hand, straightening his tie. "It's a nice tux. Suits you."

Kale looked over at her and gave a small nod. "Ya, Meredith. I think I do."

Jarred chuckled. "It's a rental, but they had to find me a larger shirt and jacket. Aparently I'm to buff for the size that should go with my pants."

Meredith bit her lower lip again, looking down at the floor tiles they'd dubbed "eggshell." She slowly looked up at him. "I think maybe I love you, too, Kale."

Anna laughed. "You're kidding me!"

Jarred chuckled and shook his head. "No, honestly. No kidding. The lady said I needed to stop working out."

Kale looked at her and smiled. "Really?"

Anna hugged him. "Well I like that you work out. Muscles are hot."

"Maybe," Meredith repeated, nervous. "No, probably. Wait, no...yes, I do. I do "really" love you."

Kale looked slightly confused, but smiled anyway, his eyes sparkling with happyness. Maybe there was hope after all. He felt his heart pick up speed at the prospect.

Jarred chuckled and held her. "well, as long as you think so. Then I'll probably keep them." he winked at her.

Meredith looked away, not sure what to do now. She was kind of awkward at times like this.

"Sorry, thinking of myself again. Keep them if /you/ want to," Anna said, looking up at him.

"Uh, yeah...that wouldn't be fun," Henry agreed.

Jarred chuckled and kissed her nose. "I think I might. You going to come work with me at the Shack?" He asked. The Shack was the little store of nick-nacks that they had worked at together.

Kale watched her then sighed. "Wanna dance?"

Celia blushed, realizing what she said. "Um, not like I would do anything like that. I mean come on." She blushed further, "So, um, the punch is good."