Installment 1

Callista
I lay under the tree quietly, just looking up at the angel's hair and white lights. The house was filled with people bustling about, putting final touches on dinner and rounding up children so as to wash their hands.
It was Christmas all right, everything pointed to that fact, including my presence under the tree. Every year around this time I disappeared under the tree to be alone. I had always been quiet and introspective but at this time of year I was even more so. Shutting my eyes I listened to my younger brothers and sisters play with my cousins, their squeals of sheer delight drifting over the soft Christmas music on the CD player.
I heard the door open and my mother, Morgan, run to greet the late arrivals. No doubt my cousins Beccaleigh, Mikeala, and Noah with my Aunt Joanna and my Uncle Steve. They were always late to every family function and no matter what had some lame excuse, which no one bought. I stayed under the tree knowing that I didn�t want to see Noah (He's a royal pain in the posterior) and also that if Beccaleigh and Mikeala wanted to see me they would know damn well where to look, they always did.
" Hey, we missed you guys it's been so long!" Morgan exclaimed.
" Same here" Joanna added, hugging Morgan.
Everyone hugged and the gifts were dropped under the tree about a foot away from me. I turned to see what was going on and saw an extra pair of feet. I counted my aunt, uncle, mom, Beccaleigh, Mikeala, and Noah, but there were 7 pairs of feet there. The 7th pair of feet apparently belonged to a boy and was probably one of Noah's idiot friends. I remembered my mom mentioning something like, Noah will be bringing a friend, about a week ago. Not really caring about who this new person was I turned my head again, and inhaled deeply, the scent of pine filling my nose. Unfortunately a pine needle flew into my nose along with the air I was breathing in and it caused me to sneeze, blowing my cover.
Beccaleigh and Mikeala didn't even bend over, they already knew who it was. " Merry Christmas, Cally" they said in unison.
Noah bent over and looked me in the eye, " Damn I thought you weren't here! I was looking forward to a nice Christmas and now you've ruined it!" he said.
" I love you too!" I replied rolling over to my stomach.
Then the other pair of shoes, Noah�s friend bent over too, " Are you going to introduce me or not loser? " the boy said looking at Noah, he was unfortunately joking. I had been hoping for another person whom hated Noah so we could talk about him together.
" You don't want to know her." Noah replied nearly serious.
" Well then I'll just have to do it myself," the boy replied smiling at Noah and then lying down on his stomach. He slid halfway under the tree with me and looked me straight in the eye. " Hi, I'm Taylor Hanson. And you are?" he asked, extending his right hand warmly. That was when I got a good look at him for the first time. The white lights on the tree above us gently illuminated his smooth face. He had blonde hair that fell just above his shoulders, his eyes were the most stumbling blue eyes I'd ever seen in my 14 years of life. When he smiled, which he was doing at the moment, there was a dimple in his right cheek and he had a cleft chin.
" Hi, I'm�"
" Callista Jordan Cartwright," Noah cut in knowing full well that I hated my full name and never told it to anyone, especially guys.
" Ok, fine, call me Cally or CJ," I said blushing.
" Cool!" he exclaimed.
" Huh?"
" My name is Jordan too. My full name is Jordan Taylor Hanson"
" Woah, you�re the one in that band right?" I said finally making the connection.

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