Aww Pickles, My Neighbor is A Hottie

***Karie's POV***

***Christmas Eve***

"Are you serious?" I rolled my eyes at Gerard as he put another mistletoe over my head.

"Christmas Law. You have to kiss me if your under a mistletoe." He shrugged his shoulder.

"How many times is this?" I went in to give him a quick peck. He would put that stupid mistletoe ball over my head every time I turned around. I didn't mind that much. He laughed into the kiss.

"Twenty-two. Damn Karie, I thought you wouldn't fall for it again." He put his arm around me. I laughed.

"Christmas Law." I kissed his cheek and slipped out of his grip to finish decorating the tree. Bryan was helping Mrs. Way and my mom make cookies and eggnog. Over the weeks, our family's became super close. It was the best feeling in the world. I grabbed another ornament and put it on the side of the tree.

"Where's Mikey?" I went to grab a few more ornaments. Gerard had a thoughtful look on his face.

"He's been meeting some girl." He rolled his eyes and gagged at the thought of it.

"Hey! Offensive much!" I fake gasped.

"It's different. I'm his older brother and now he is growing up." Gerard wiped away his fake tear. I waved my hand in disgust at him. Gerard laughed and helped me decorate. Finally. He had been trying way to hard to get me under that mistletoe that he forgot what our task at hand was. Our families had gotten super close over the few months. My mom was happy about it and I'm pretty happy about it too.

"Are you mad that Mike isn't here?" I turned to Gerard. He sighed.

"I'm not mad, but I'm sad. I have decorated the tree with him every year. I mean, you're great, but I guess I wish he was here too. I wouldn't mind if he brought this new girl with him." He rolled his neck and smiled at me. It was fake and I knew it.

"Why don't we go pick him up?" I offered. Gerard shook his head.

"He would hate me forever. Let's just finish this up." I stopped talking about Mikey after that. He didn't seem to interested to be here and Gerard didn't seem to interested to talk about it. We finished up the tree and hung around the fire.

"Christmas law." I turned to see Gerard hanging the mistletoe over me. I poked him on the nose and than kissed him.

"Why?" He laughed after. I bit my lower lip.

"My dad used to poke my nose and then kiss me on the forehead. Today is the day that he left us. Sixteen years ago." I threw my head in my legs and frowned. Gerard rubbed my back.

"You were eight. I remember watching you run out of the house and look around for him. He was gone though. I remember wanting to give you a huge hug. That's why I took all the bullying and never fought back. There was always a reason behind it," He looked down as I looked up, "I let you bully me because I saw the tears that streamed down your face after your dad left that night. I remembered how shitty of a Christmas that must have been. Christmas Eve at 10:32 at night, your dad left with all his shit and I never gave you that hug. What difference that hug would have made." I could feel a tear stream down my face. That hug could have stopped me from bullying Gerard. I could have been his friend from the very start. I bullied him to take my anger out and he just took it because he saw me that night.

"Can I ask you something?" I whispered. He held me close to him.

"Anytime." He gave me a wide smile flashing all his teeth.

"Why do you still like me? I mortally embarrassed you that night. That Halloween party. I made that night and the rest of high school torture for you. Now you sit by me and hold me close to you." I put my head in his lap. He stroked my hair.

"Because I can't hold grudges against pretty girls." He winked at me. I gave him a weak smile. It was a great compliment, but I needed to know more. I decided to put off the subject until after Christmas.

Notes

A/N- Sorry for a shorter chapter