~~~Adrian's POV~~~

I pulled up to Clarence's house at around nine o'clock in the morning, per Jill's informative phone call a half an hour earlier. I seriously owed her one.

I was just finishing my... ah, alterations to my painting when she called. Jill had been pretty quick to get to the point.

"Zoe's going to be gone most of the day and we're putting up the Christmas tree. Come over."

And so I did. Because who am I to deny them the presence of Adrian Ivashkov?

I walked up the pathway and knocked on the door. Repeatedly. The sun was starting to work its way across the sky, and I really didn't want to be outside when it was at full blaze.

After about twenty seconds, the door opened and I was looking into the golden-brown eyes that dominated my dreams. I grinned.
"What are you doing here?" Sydney asked, furrowing her eyebrows. I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. How was that the first thing she said when she saw me?

"Nice to see you too," I said, sliding past her and into the hallway. I spun to face her again.

"You know that's not what I meant." Sydney blushed, and for a moment I lost my train of thought. "What if Zoe was here?" she asked. I shook my head, getting back on track.

"First of all," I said, putting up one finger, "I know no such thing. Second, Jill called and said you had room for one more in your little party." Sydney still looked a little shocked, and a little part of me started to worry. "What, don't you want to see me?" I asked, keeping my tone light.

If possible, her cheeks turned even more red. "Of course I do!" she exclaimed. "But..."

"But?"

"I didn't get to wrap your present yet."

I burst out laughing. "It's not funny!" she exclaimed.

"You're right, you're right. It's hilarious."

Sydney crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at me. Oh God, she was just so cute. I leaned forward and kissed her, just a small peck on her lips. That alone was enough to send shockwaves through me.

"I'm sure it'll be fine," I murmured, pulling away. Sydney looked up at me, staring. Analyzing. It was like her eyes were piercing my soul, searching for the truth. After a few seconds, she nodded and turned around, hurrying down the hallway. I sighed and followed her. That's when I noticed some fake pine needles in her hair.

"You've got a little..." I trailed off and pulled some of them out of her hair. Sydney just sighed and continued walking.

When we got to the living room, I saw Eddie and Jill finish putting some lights on the Christmas tree. Eddie plugged it in, and the tree lit up in colorful blinking lights. Jill cheered, and Sydney cracked another smile.

Eddie looked up and noticed me for the first time. "Oh, hey Adrian," he said. "You here to help?"

I was about to remind him of my "laziness" policy when Sydney said, "Yeah, he is." I shot her a questioning look, and she sent me a cold one back that made me rethink my position.

"I suppose," I said slowly, and she smiled.

Sydney declared, "I'm going upstairs to wrap some presents. I'll be back in five minutes. Don't get any ideas." That last comment was directed towards me.

"Trouble, Sage?" I said earnestly. "Moi?"

That earned a giggle from Jill and eye-rolls from Sydney and Eddie. Sydney went upstairs.

"So," I started as I picked up a red ball-shaped ornament and hung it on the tree, "Who knows what Sydney got us for Christmas?"

The room was silent.

"Come on, guys!" I exclaimed. "What about our agreement?"

Eddie, Jill, Angeline and I had made a pact about two weeks ago. It all started when Sydney told us that they were going to be staying over at Clarence's for break. Angeline had made a comment about being able to tear the house apart to find our presents, and Sydney responded simply with, "You can try." She sounded smug.

Too smug.

This sparked the formation of Stealthily Accumulate our Gifts by the Eve Alliance, or S.A.G.E. Alliance for short. Clever, right? Jill was responsible for checking Sydney's gym locker, Eddie looked in her car, Angeline in her room, and I searched Clarence's. I told them three days ago that I had come up empty.

The dhampir shrugged his shoulders and dug around in the box for an ornament that was to his liking. "What do you want us to say? It's Sydney."

I frowned. "Are you saying you're giving up, Castile? Because I don't tolerate that sort of thing."

At that, he snorted and Jill giggled again. I realized that might not have been the best choice of words. "At least," I added hastily, "I don't tolerate that from you."

"Hey, you didn't find anything either!" Jill said, still smiling.

"Well, that's because they weren't in this house. But don't worry," I said, "We can still find them."

Jill raised her eyebrows. "How? It's Christmas Eve, and we can't get into Sydney's room. Especially now that Zoe's here."

"Well, we'll just have to find a-"

Before I could continue, I heard Sydney coming down the stairs again and quickly shut my mouth. When she finally got to the living room, her eyes looked around, stopping at the Christmas tree and then turning to me. "I thought you said you'd help!" she said, putting her hands on her hips. Her trying to give me the evil eye with my superior height was really something to see. "It doesn't look like you've been doing anything."

"I have so!" I said, pointing to the red ball that now hung on the tree. "See this one? Mine."

"So what you're saying is that I'm gone for five minutes and you put up one ornament?"

"You can't rush perfection, Sage. My mom took nine months to get me right."

"And who said you were perfect?"

"Well, as I recall, you were the one that said I was brilliant."

Sydney scoffed. "First of all," she said, mimicking my tone from before, "That's not what I said. And second, brilliance isn't the same as perfection."

She would know. Sydney was always brilliant and perfect. I didn't say that, though. Maybe I would if we were alone, but I'd probably get in trouble if I said it in front of Eddie. I'm pretty sure he already knew about Sydney and I, but I wasn't gonna push it.

Jill cleared her throat. "We should get back to the decorations," she said.

I tore my eyes from Sydney and smiled at Jill. "Of course, Jailbait," I said. Jill smiled. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sydney approach me.

"Well, there's your Christmas spirit!" Sydney said, grabbing silver tinsel and sprinkling it on my head.

"Hey!" I cried in over-dramatic horror, trying to pull some out. "My hair!"

Sydney's face broke out into a grin. "You've got a little..." she said, pulling tinsel from my hair.
I grabbed some gold tinsel from the bag and threw it at Sydney's face. She gasped and ducked, letting it hid Eddie in the face. It got all over his hair and even in his mouth.

"Sorry, Castile," I said, making a point not to sound too sorry. He looked up at me and gave me an evil grin.

"Not yet," he said, grabbing a bag of red and green tinsel. "But you will be."

A/N: I really hope you guys liked this chapter! Also, I have a good idea for the gifts, but please keep reviewing and giving suggestions. Thanks!