Chapter One

It was only a week until Christmas. I had planned on waiting until the very last minute to buy gifts as usual, but Freddie had dragged me to the mall so we could buy our gift for Carly. Thankfully, the dork agreed to have both of us pay for one gift for Carly. He knows how I'm always short on cash.

"So what should we get her?" he asked me.

"Food?"

"She's not you."

I sighed. "I don't know, Freddork. Carly and I have different expectations for Christmas gifts."

"Did she tell you what she wanted?"

"If I knew, we'd be out of here already!" I punched his shoulder.

"OW! No need to get violent. Why don't we just get her clothes or something?"

"Yeah. OK. Something she can wear Christmas Day."

All three of us are going to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve at Carly and Spencer's Christmas party.

"Why do you look so uncomfortable?" Freddie asked as we walked into Carly's favorite clothing store.

"I hate all this holiday chiz."

"I love it. Every thing's all bright with lights. Most people are happy and filled with joy. The holidays bring people together. It's a beautiful thing."

"Wow, Frederly. You're such a girl."

He rolled his eyes at me.

"Oooh!" I squealed. "I could totally see Carls wearing this." I showed him a knee-length, long-sleeved, green velvet dress. At the he of the dress is designs of little white snowflakes.

"Yeah," he agreed. "It's perfect. How much is it?"

"Forty-five bucks."

"How much money do you have?"

"Five dollars."

He snorted. "I'm surprised you actually brought money."

"You mean I could've lied and you would've paid for the whole thing?" I yelled.

"Yup. Too late now," he said with a smirk.

"Well, you're buying me lunch, then," I said while handing him my money.

"God, that's gonna cost more than this dress."

*** *** *** ***

We were sitting in the food court of the mall when Freddie asked, "Why do you hate the holidays?"

"Look around Frednub. everyday after Black Friday up until Christmas is madness. Everyone gets stressed about buying stupid gifts. That's all the holidays are about. Stress and getting new things."

"Has Christmas always been bad for you or something?"

"It was nice before I realized there was no Santa Claus. Oh. And before my mom had to start working on Christmas Day. But me and Melanie always made the best out of it. We usually have Christmas movie marathons. But not this year."

"Why not?"

"She's doing this study abroad thing with her school in London. She can't afford a ticket to come home for the holidays."

"That sucks. But that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable."

"Of course that's what it means! The only person I have to spend Christmas with this year is my cat Frothy!"

"At least the Christmas party at Carly's will be fun."

"True. I guess."

"So... What'd you get me for Christmas?"

I laughed. "Nothing."

"Oh, I know you're getting me something, Puckett."

"No way."

"Then I'll just have to keep the gift I got you."

"You got me something?"

"Duh. We are friends after all. Of course I'd get you something." He gave me a sweet smile.

It's too bad the dork wouldn't be getting me what I really want. I want him to be my gift. As in my boyfriend. That's right. I want to date that nerd. Ever since that stupid kiss, my feelings for him began to change. When I found out Melanie kissed him, I felt a pang of jealousy. But when I saw him dancing with Carly at The Groovy Smoothie, my heart felt like it was going to explode from the pain. The way he makes me feel makes me want to kick his butt even more than usual.

It's because of that that Carly knows about my crush on him. She was yelling at me one day for being so mean to Freddie, and I just kinda spit it all out. I told her everything I feel for him. She actually wants us to be together now. She leaves me and Freddie aline as much as she can. But I'm so afraid she's going to tell him. I would die.

"I guess we should go now," I said when I finished my food.

"Yeah. We gotta go to Carly's and rehearse for iCarly. I'll keep Carly's gift in my room," he smiled at me. "With yours."

The look he gave me when he mentioned my gift made my stomach flip. It also made me want to punch his pretty face.