The tree was set up perfectly. Each little blue, red, yellow, and green bulb was positioned correctly. Candy canes and tinsel were strung around the evergreen coniferous that sat in the living room. Hanna put the last bit of ribbon on the top of it while Caleb held her steady. He didn't want her to fall from the ladder. Lucas returned to his living room with a bowl of popcorn, sitting on the couch. He watched as the two of them put the finishing touches on the Christmas tree. Hanna put the last bit of tinsel on, climbing down. Luca had requested to put the angel on top of the tree, so he climbed from his couch to do so. Hanna kissed Caleb on the cheek as she went to the bathroom. He smiled at her back as she left.

Lucas stepped up on the small stairs while Caleb made sure he didn't fall. Lucas put the beautiful accessory atop the large pine and adjusted it a bit. It was perfect. Caleb, smiling to himself, pinched Lucas's butt.

"Ah!" Lucas cried, jumping a little. The small steps fell out from under him. For a moment Lucas felt sick, but Caleb caught him in his arms. Lucas, blushing, looked up at the boy who saved him. Caleb kissed him on the lips, making sure Hanna wasn't near them. He set Lucas on the floor, picking up the steps.

"Like that?" he asked, smiling at the boy's face. Lucas bit his lip and nodded. He wasn't sure what to say. Caleb nodded to himself as he put the stool back in the closet. "Well then I know what to give you as a present for tomorrow." Lucas was curious now. He didn't know if that was meant to be sexual or not, but he liked it just the same. Hanna walked back into the living room, looking at her two favorite boys.

"The tree looks perfect, guys. Lucas, your parents are gonna love it." She walked to the couch, grabbing the bowl and sitting down on the far left side. She patted the middle seat next to her. Caleb obliged, sitting down next to her. She leaned her head on his shoulder, looking up at Lucas. "We should watch a movie. Do you have 'A Christmas Story'?" she asked. Lucas nodded excitedly and made his way to the movie shelf next to the television. He found the DVD and put it in the player, pressing start on the remote. He flicked the lights off, sitting next to Caleb. Caleb smiled when their knees brushed.

He didn't want to cheat on Hanna. He really did care about her feelings. She was his first time, after all. Caleb didn't have any romantic feelings for her anymore. He wanted to be with someone like Lucas. Not only a boy, but someone bashful, shy, and still somehow commanding all of the attention from his suitors. The movie started after a few old movie previews. Lucas moved to Caleb's neck, kissing him softly and quietly. Hanna's attention was on the television, not the boy stealing her guy. Caleb wrapped his hand in Lucas's, trying to focus on the movie, but having the hardest time doing so.

Mona was tired of setting up for Christmas. She was tired of Noel refusing to help her out. Hell, he didn't even answer her calls or texts. She had a feeling he was either cheating on her, or he was dumping her. Either way, she wasn't going to allow that. Mona's parents were out doing some last minute Christmas shopping and had asked her to set up the lights outside. She pulled the ladder out of the back and set it up to continue on from the spot her dad stopped at. She frowned at all of this work. She was a girl, and she shouldn't have to be doing this stuff.

She hung the thick ropes of Christmas lights up, humming a popular pop song from the radio she fell in love with. There was a crunch of snow under her. She looked down, trying to locate where the sound came from. Her vision was altered by the angle she was in. She didn't see anything and returned to her task. Another crunch made her nervous. Mona slowly began climbing down the ladder, slinging the lights over her shoulder so she wouldn't trip on them.

Mona let a cry out when the ladder was pushed out from under her. For a moment she fell, but gripped onto the lights. Her stomach dropped. Someone under her grabbed the string of lights, wrapping them around her throat. Mona kicked wildly, screaming for help. No one came. When the person finished restricting her throat, they wrapped the lights around her wrists behind her back. Mona's screams came to a halt. Her eyes began watering as she swung around. Her head drooped to the side. Finally she gave up. She knew she was going to die. Her eyes closed slowly, the last person she saw standing in front of her. Looking up at their handiwork, they smiled. Mona caught their face. She knew that her killer was-

Noel heard something. Something that sounded like a scream for help. He ran to the sound of the noise, his heart pounding. It sounded like Mona. He might not like the girl, but he didn't want her to get hurt. What good would she be to him then? He opened her front door, running to her bedroom. She wasn't in there. Everywhere he looked was empty. He opened the back door and stepped outside. He spotted the fallen ladder first. Then he noticed Mona hanging from the roof. His stomach dropped and he almost threw up. Her eyes were closed as she gently swung back and forth. Noel ran to her body, terrified to touch it. The Christmas lights she hung from blinked a few times, then shut off for good.

Noel spotted a piece of paper attached to her stomach with tape. He pulled it off, his hands shaking slightly. His eyes scanned over the note:

Little boys like you shouldn't interfere with relationships. The girlfriend always gets hurt, just like Mona. Stay away from Ezra, or another girlfriend will be next. I see everything, Noel. Everything.

-A

Noel almost fell to the floor. His head swirled and his stomach did a few flips. Someone had seen him with Ezra yesterday. Someone was threatening to kill Aria. Someone killed Mona. He shoved the note in his pocket, dialing 911 with frigid fingers. He couldn't form a clear sentence, and had trouble telling the operator what happened. Finally he got it out before he turned away from the dead body in front of him. Mona was dead. Whoever this "A" person was had killed his girlfriend. He had to tell Ezra about this psychopath.