Ever since Sectionals sophomore year, it was always the same. Every single time he walked toward her in that letterman's jacket, leaning ever so slighly toward her with that irresistible half-grin, she was taken right back to that moment. He had just saved the day like the hero he was, putting aside his own heartbreak to rescue New Directions from imminent disaster. And then he stood in front of her, looking like a dream with that jacket and that smile, and told her she could be a star.
"Don't screw it up," he had teased her as she made a silent, fervent vow to shine like she never had before. Not just for herself, not just for the team, but for him. The only boy who had ever looked at her that way. The boy who made her heart a drummer.
Two years later, decorating the choir room with the Glee family they helped build, she still couldn't help but melt at the sight of him in that jacket, beaming at her like she really was all he wanted for every Christmas for the rest of his life. She twirled toward him as Mercedes' voice filled the air with a joyful melody.
He thought she looked kind of like a Christmas angel in her red dress and her hair all braided around her head like that. She reminded him of one of those dolls his mom collected that no one was ever allowed to touch. Well, this doll's mine, and I can touch her all I want, he thought to himself giddily. He slipped his hands beneath her arms and pulled her into him, kissing her softly, intensely—maybe a bit too intensely for being in public, but hey, he thought, it's Christmas and she tastes like candy canes and feels like heaven.
She loved the way she felt so delicate in his grasp, the way he cradled her back, his strong hands nearly fitting all the way around her petite frame. She loved the way his kiss was just a little too steamy for the choir room. She loved the way he started to smile into her lips, as though he couldn't contain the joy she made him feel.
He loved the way she clawed at his jacket sleeves, as if his kiss was almost too much for her to handle. He loved the way her body naturally drew toward him and her lips moved so tenderly against his. He loved the way she lingered so closely as their lips parted, as if, as much as she loved them, she wished everyone in the room would disappear.
He kept his arms wrapped around her as she bit her lip, glancing up at him coyly before breaking out into a dazzling grin. A huge smile spread across his face as she threw her arms around his neck, giggling with delight. Deep inside, they knew that the new year would bring new uncertainties that they would have to face. But for today, she was his angel in a red dress, and he was her hero in that varsity jacket. It was Christmas, and they both had everything they wanted.