Chapter 1: Christmas

The two girls lie cuddled up in bed, with Arya nuzzled into Altair and Altair slowly stroking Arya's hair.

"Merry Christmas Altair!"

"Merry Christmas to you too Arya!"

"It's cold, I don't want to get out of bed."

"B-But the presents..."

"THE PRESENTS!" Arya exclaimed. She immediately got out of bed and ran to the living room and dived for the presents under the small Christmas tree in the middle. Altair followed her and sat beside Arya, who was busy separating her gifts from Altair's.

Altair noticed a small package buried under her pile of gifts.

It had a gift card reading, "To Arya Amore, From Matthew Baltazar."

"Matthew? Who's Matthew?" Altair asked.

Arya froze. How could Altair know that name? The name that caused her an immense amount of pain years ago, two years to be exact.

She looked at Altair only to see her holding a small silver package and its gift card with her name and another person's name written on it.

"Who's Matthew?" Altair asked again.

Arya couldn't speak. Her mouth was shut as memories flashed before her eyes, both good and bad, sweet and bitter. Memories she thought she had already forgotten, memories that reminded her of him.

"H-He's my e-ex," Arya stuttered, trying to find courage to reveal the thing behind the mysterious name written in the card.

"How does he know our address?"

"I don't know either…"

Altair handed Arya the package and then said, "Why not open it? You don't know what's inside after all."

Arya nodded and proceeded to unwrap the silver packaging off the object, revealing a box and a note attached to it.

"I miss you Arya."

Arya felt numb. Nothing but the sheer coldness covered her body, making her unable to speak.

"Are you okay Arya?"

"Y-yeah…I-I am."

"Then you better open that box."

"I will."

She slowly opened the box the to reveal an old-looking bracelet, dusty and worn out by the passing of the years.

Arya was brought to tears as soon as she saw the bracelet, alerting Altair and making her sit next to Arya.

She put down the box, the bracelet, and the note and hugged Altair.

"Hey, it's okay…just let it all out." Altair whispered as she tried to comfort Arya.

Arya let her tears fall freely, making Altair's shirt wet with her tears.

"Aww look at you, you're such a cry baby."

"Stop it sweetness, you don't know how much this hurts," Arya cried as she lightly smacked Altair.

Altair chuckled back and gave Arya a small kiss on the forehead.

"You'll be fine."

"How are you sure about that?

"Matthew maybe your ex, but it's only you who'll I love."

"Aww…"

Arya wiped her tears away from her face and noticed the damp spot her tears left on Altair's shirt, "Sorry about your shirt."

"Oh, it's fine, I'll change later anyways."

"So, what will you do about Mat-"

Arya leaned in, kissing Altair, not letting her finish her sentence because if she didn't, Altair would then bombard her with questions about Matthew, the box, or the bracelet. She pushed her down, letting Altair's back rest comfortably on the carpet, trying not to let her speak.

Altair finally pushed Arya back, breaking the kiss and leaving herself breathless.

"What was that for?"

"I-I just felt like it?"

"Oh, really now Arya?

"I just don't want to remember him."

"Who? Matthew?"

"Y-Yeah…"

"Look Arya, you have to talk to him."

"But-"

"No But's"

"Alright…but would it be okay for you?"

Altair remained silent for a couple of seconds before replying," Unless you tell me that you still love him then it's a no."

"Aww someone's jelly," Arya chuckled. "NO, I'M NOT!" Altair replied.

Arya continued to laugh at Altair as they unwrapped their gifts. They got shirts, stuffed toys, chocolates, mugs, and many more from friends, family, and neighbors alike.

"Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt!" The vibrations broke the ambient vibe between the two. Arya reached in to get her phone to see the what the notification was. "Hm, a new message from an unknown number?" She opened the notification and there it was, in big bold letters, "Can we talk?"

Altair looked over Arya's shoulders and then said, "That's Matthew right there. Psh, that guy had the audacity to leave you to years ago ang now has the guts to ask you if you could both talk. I mean how did his gift got in the house?!"

Arya realized the same think and they end up laughing on how ironic the situation was.

Altair spoke again, this time with a more serious voice, "But seriously though, you have to talk to him or at least clear up things with him. You know, he might have a different picture in mind, just saying."

"You may be right sweetness but Matthew doesn't know about me being gay. Plus, he also doesn't know about you." Arya told Altair.

"It's for the best Arya. It's better to face your past than ruin your future."

"I guess so…"

"Trust me on this Arya."

"I am, Altair. I am."

Both Arya and Matthew agreed to meet after the holidays in a restaurant named Giekro, and this is how it goes.