Title: Growing Up

Chapter 52: Christmas Eve

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the characters you don't recognize.

A/N: I hope that you all liked the last chapter. I also hope that you enjoy this chapter. I plan to finish this story before this summer comes up hopefully. I have a bit more free time on my hands and I plan on using most of it to finish this story. I hate saying make sure you review, but reviews are the only way that I know that people are reading the story and want me to continue it. So if you could, please review. It only takes a few minutes, and I'm very thankful for all that do review. I also understand if you can't review. Thank you to all my readers.

XoxoxoxoX

It was a snowy, white Christmas Eve. It was truly noticeable that Christmas was here. It was snowing, the grounds, trees, houses, cars, and most everything was coated with snow as it continued to fall. Every family had their Christmas trees up and decorated. There were Christmas lights up on every house in the neighborhood. People were joining together for their Christmas Eve parties and some were just enjoying their time with their families. As for the gang, they all were hanging out at Randy's house this year. They always alternated, and it was now his turn. They were all there with the exception of Candice. Her and her mother had gone out to dinner that night, because Candice's mother had something to talk to her about. All six of the friends, misusing Paul and Stephanie, packed themselves into Randy's spacious room. Chris sat on Randy's desk chair that was near the window, and alongside him, Randy sat in his bean bag chair. Both Stacy and Trish had made themselves at home by laying on Randy's bed.

"I bet this is the most action Randy's bed has seen." Trish laughed at the random thought that had came into her head.

"That was a good one." Stacy giggled along as the two rolled around on the bed.

"Dude, you're totally going to let them clown on your like that?" Chris spoke laughing as well.

"You all need to shut up." Randy stated as he smiled at their joke. "I get action."

"What, with your hand?" Trish couldn't help but laugh, as she felt very humorous tonight.

"Damn Trish." Chris and Stacy spoke at the same time as their heads turned to Randy.

"You're lucky its Christmas Eve." Randy shook his head at his friend.

"Ok, ok." Trish took deep breathes to calm down. "I'll stop… for now."

"You're mean." Stacy nudged her friend in the side.

"It was funny, and you know it." Trish smirked getting a smirk in return from Stacy.

The four began another conversation as they all just hung out. Somewhere in the middle of the conversation, Stacy's mind wandered off. She was in her own little world as she looked around Randy's room from her now sitting position. Her eyes scanned his room as she saw numerous pictures of himself and Candice. A small frown formed on her face taking in all the pictures of Candice that she seen. Stacy loved Candice to death, but that didn't mean she could be a bit jealous of her. She began to think when her own picture was everywhere in his room. As she looked around the room, she came across one picture of her and Randy. It was in a frame on the shelf above his desk. It was a random snap shot of their faces. Their faces were touching cheek to cheek and they both had big, white teeth smiling smiles. They both wore a pair of sunglasses covering their eyes. It was one of their favorite pictures, though the picture was taken when they were just friends. It was taken their junior year of high school at the beach. A sad smile came on her face remembering the good times. She sighed as she came back into reality. Stacy had to remind herself not to dwell on the past, since Randy was clearly moving on with Candice. When Stacy finally decided to engage back into the conversation her friends were talking about, she noticed them all staring at her.

"You ok?" Chris questioned. "You looked like you were about to cry."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Stacy smiled. "Just went off in la la land."

"Scared us there for a moment." Trish stated as she sat up next to Stacy.

This time when the four started talking, Randy couldn't help but watch Stacy. She had gone from almost looking like she was going to cry, to being happy. She was sitting on his bed with her legs crossed and laughing and smiling. He could still his friends talking and would nod here and there to let them know he was still paying attention. His eyes stayed focused on Stacy, but not too intently. He didn't want her to know he was staring at her. Something was wrong with her, and he still couldn't put his finger on it. He didn't think it had anything to do with Andrew, he was pretty sure about that. As Randy watched Stacy, he couldn't deny that he was still in love with her, but as time was going by, he fell for Candice. Being able to watch Stacy in the way he was, he knew that he would always love Stacy. Randy came to the conclusion that he was in love with Candice. A smile came to his face as he began to think of when to tell Candice. It had to be special. He'd wait until Valentine's Day. Randy quickly dropped his thoughts as he joined the conversation again.

"Where the hell is Paul and Steph?" Trish questioned. "They were supposed to be here an hour ago."

"You know those two." Stacy giggled at the thought.

"Don't remind us Stace!" Randy covered his ears.

"What are you talking about?" Chris asked, not knowing the closeness of Stephanie and Paul's relationship.

"Let's just say…" Trish thought of how to put it. "Paul and Stephanie's beds get more action then Randy's bed."

"HEY!!" Randy hollered as Trish and Stacy laughed. "You said no more."

"No, I said for now." Trish giggled.

"You mean to tell me they…" Chris cut himself off not wanting to finish the sentence. "That's my cousin."

"Your baby cousin is all grown up." Stacy smirked as she was still laughing.

"Seriously though, I really wonder where they are." Trish spoke as she again calmed herself down for the second time.

XoxoxoxoX

Meanwhile, Paul and Stephanie were walking together at the park in the snow. They had been at the park walking for a couple of hours now. They had spaced on time, forgetting that they were supposed to be at Randy's house. Time had flew by before their eyes. The couple was still walking around the park, both unaware of the time. They walked side by side, as Paul's arm was wrapped around her shoulder. Stephanie hand was stretched upwards to hold Paul's hand in her. The two walked in silence and talking here and there. They were basically just enjoying their time together. Stephanie casually looked over at Paul's and her hands entwined as one. A smile came on her face, and then she noticed the watch on Paul's wrist. Her eyes slowly widen as she looked up at Paul.

"We're late!" Stephanie screeched. "They are going to kill us."

"What?" Paul questioned removing his arm and looking at his watch. "Wow, time sure flew."

"We better get over there now." Stephanie stated as they both turned around. "Or they'll start talking about us."

"Let them talk." Paul laughed. "We pretty much gave them something to talk about."

"Not intentionally." Stephanie blushed thinking about when her friends had walked in on them.

"True." Paul smiled as he looked around, picking this as the right time. "I have to talk to you first."

"Can it wait?" Stephanie asked. "We're already an hour late."

"No, it can't wait." Paul spoke. "What's another few minutes going to hurt?"

"Ok, what's up?" Stephanie questioned looking at Paul.

Paul moved in front of Stephanie as he took hold of her hands. He held them as his fingers played with hers. Stephanie looked down at their hands and back up at him. She was a bit confused at his actions and what he wanted to talk about. A lump got caught in her throat as the thought of him breaking up with her came into her mind. He wouldn't do that would he? No, he loved her, she was just being paranoid. She watched him taking a deep breath and her heart raced. Stephanie just wished that he would come out and say it already as she waited. Steph's heart continued to race when she seen him take a deep breath before he started to speak.

"Steph, you know I love you right." Paul spoke as he looked down at her.

"Yeah…" Stephanie's voice quivered as she spoke.

"I know, that you love me too." Paul continued on.

"Yeah…" Stephanie again stated as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

He paused again, causing Stephanie to become nervous. Her heart never stopped racing as he just stood there looking at her with no emotion. Stephanie started to bite on her lower lip as she waited impatiently for him to keep going. She desperately wanted him to just spit it out. Her head looked down at their hands still connected together. Tears stung the back of her eyes as she felt them starting to well up. Paul taking his sweet time with his words was driving her insane. She didn't know how much longer she could wait. He instantly took notice of her uneasiness and the welling of her tears. A small smile came on his face as he took his hands away from her, and took his gloves off. He then took his hands to each side of her face, and gently wiped the forming tears away. Stephanie looked up at the smile on his face, as if it were to reassure her of his motives.

"I'm sorry this is taking so long." Paul began. "I just wasn't sure where to begin."

"Can you just tell me please?" Stephanie begged with her eyes.

"Yeah, I can." Paul started. "Stephanie, I love you. We've become so close over the last few months. Our friendship blossomed into this amazing relationship that we have. We've had our ups and downs, but we always manage to get through them." He kept going as he took a hold of her hands again. "I've been thinking lately, about you, myself and us. I can't picture you with anyone else, and when I do, it makes me angry and upset. Then I remember, you're mine anyway. Then I try to picture myself with someone else, but I just can't. The only person I want to be with is you and only you. I couldn't imagine not being with you. Stephanie, you are the best thing that's ever happened to me and I don't ever want to let you go."

Paul looked down at Stephanie's hands and began to take her white gloves off. Stephanie bit her bottom lip as a few tears had slid down her face from his little speech. She had gotten herself all worked up over nothing. Stephanie's eyes watched him intently as he placed both of her gloves in his pockets. He then pulled out a small black velvet box. She quickly looked from his hands to his eyes and back to his hands. Her eyes watched as he slowly opened the box and closed the gap between them. Steph's eyes grew slightly bigger as she analyzed the contents in the small box. A sparkling silver ring was inside. There were no rocks on it what so ever. The ring had pink sparkles embedded into the ring. Paul pulled the ring out of the box and showed her the inscription inside. "Paul & Steph Love Always" Her eyes began to tear up again as she read the small saying over and over in her head. She looked up at him as he began to speak.

"I know we've pretty much been going steady." Paul smiled at her with love in his eyes. "But, I want to be with you forever. So, I got you this promise ring, that is until we're both ready to settle down. Steph, would you wear my ring?"

"Yes!" Stephanie practically cried out as he slipped the ring on her ring finger. "I love you!"

Once the ring was fully placed on her finger, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. His arms quickly wrapped his arms around her waist tightly holding on to her. She had just made him the happiest guy at the moment. Stephanie pulled slightly out of the hug and smiled up at him. She then leaned in and kissed him with a lot of passion. He returned the kiss quickly. After a short make out session, they broke apart as they held each others hands and looked into one another's eyes.

"We can go now." Paul smirked wrapping an arm around her waist and giving her gloves back with his other hand.

"Aw, do we have to?" Stephanie questioned admiring her ring before putting her gloves on.

"We're late babe." Paul spoke as they walked. "Like you said, they are probably already talking."

"Well, like you said…" Stephanie grinned up at him. "We've already given them something to talk about."

"You do have a point." Paul leaned down and kissed her cheek. "But they are our friends."

"Fine." Stephanie giggled as they headed for Randy's house.

XoxoxoxoX

Twenty minutes had passed since Randy, Stacy, Chris and Trish had realized that Paul and Stephanie hadn't shown up yet. They all had shrugged it off and were watching music videos on Randy's TV. All four of them had crammed into the bed, to be more comfortable. Chris and Randy were sitting up against the headboard while Trish and Stacy sat between their legs. Trish was subconsciously leaned back against Chris' chest and her hands rested on his knees. Stacy was sitting normally and not touching Randy at all. Randy and Stacy sat in a complete friendly manner where as Chris and Trish could give off the impression that they were together again. Paul and Stephanie silently walked in and took in the scene that was in front of them.

"If looks could kill." Paul chuckled as he entered the room fully.

"You're telling me." Stephanie giggled shaking her head.

Trish and Stacy's heads shot towards the door. When seeing Stephanie, they both shot up off the bed and ran over to her hugging her. All three guys stared at the three girls. Stephanie herself was in shock by the reaction of her friends. She gladly hugged them back. Paul, Randy and Chris all exchanged looks between one another. Paul took his jacket off and hung it over Randy's chair. He then sat down in the same chair. Stacy and Trish looked Stephanie over examining her.

"We thought he killed you!" Trish spoke over exaggerating her words.

"Shut up." Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Why would he kill me?"

"Well then, what the hell took so long?" Stacy questioned looking at her friend.

"We just got caught up." Stephanie blushed as she felt the ring from under her gloves.

"OHHHH!!!" Trish and Stacy replied in union.

"It wasn't even like that." Stephanie smiled as her pinks turned a darker shade of pink.

"Hello, guys over here!" Randy waved his arms in the air.

"Yeah, there are other friends in the room." Chris joined along.

"Just let them talk." Paul smiled as he watched Stephanie. "Their about to leave the room anyway."

"How do you know?" Chris questioned looking at the girls watch Stephanie take her jacket off.

"Because I'm the cause of it." Paul grinned as Stephanie placed her jacket on the chair he was sitting on.

"Stephanie what the…" Trish's words failed as she looked at the shinning thing on Stephanie's hand from when she took the glove off.

"OMG!!" Stacy's eyes widen at the sight in front of her.

"We'll be back guys!" Trish and Stacy spoke pulling Stephanie out the room.

The girls left the room with the guys staring after them. All three guys sat in the room staring at the door. After a minute, Chris and Randy turned and looked at Paul. They shook their heads as they looked at him. Paul had just put the icing on the cake. There was no way, that Randy nor Chris could top this one. They guys always liked to out do one another with their girlfriends. Although, Chris didn't have a girlfriend at the moment, he was keeping his eye on Trish. So, in the end it would get back around to Chris obviously. Randy had the same deal, but with Candice. Things were going great with her, and now Paul had to go buy Stephanie a ring.

"Are you serious?" Randy questioned looking at Paul.

"Yeah, what the hell man??" Chris asked in confusion.

"What?" Paul smiled at his friends. "Can't a guy buy his girlfriend a ring?"

"A fucking promise ring?" Chris let out. "That's like giving up everything in the world."

"You're tossing everything out the window for Steph?" Randy said shock clear in his voice.

"I love her." Paul responded. "I can't picture myself with anyone else."

"Damn dude, what are you getting married next?" Randy said sarcastically.

"When we're ready too." Paul replied.

"We haven't even graduated high school yet!" Chris exclaimed rubbing his forehead.

"You can't help who you fall in love with." Paul smiled. "You both should know."

"Yeah, I guess." Randy replied. "But it's not that strong."

"Maybe it is, and you two just can't see it." Paul continued. "Because all you were able to see were the faults in the relationship."

"Maybe." Randy and Chris said at the same time.

"Switching topics off of me." Paul smirked. "Chris, you and Trish looked pretty cozy."

"We're friends." Chris stated the truth.

"Doesn't hide the fact that you want her." Paul grinned.

"And she wants him." Randy eyed Chris.

"No she doesn't." Chris sighed to himself.

"That's not what it sounded like." Randy crossed his arms.

"What happened?" Paul questioned. "Why am I the one left out?"

"One, because you're always with Steph." Randy laughed. "Two, you were late because you were with Steph."

"Fine, what happened?" Paul asked Chris.

"We almost kissed twice, but she pulls away." Chris told Paul as he ran a hand through his hair.

"She'll come around." Randy nodded. "We are still getting over what happened."

"I know." Chris stated looking at his hands. "She's the only one I've actually ever been happy with."

"Hmmm." Paul smirked to himself cockily. "What was that?"

"Dude, just shut up." Chris laughed.

"I was right." Paul put his hands up in the air.

"Don't let it get to your head." Randy stated throwing a pillow at Paul.

XoX

All three girls were pilled into the bathroom across the hall from Randy's bedroom. Trish and Stacy pushed Stephanie into the bathroom and locked the door behind them. The two girls crossed their arms and stared at Stephanie. They were waiting for answers, while Stephanie played innocent to the whole thing. They tapped their foots on the ground as they continued to wait for the answer.

"Well…" Stacy pushed the issue.

"What?" Stephanie blushed slightly.

"What the hell is that on your finger?" Trish stated taking Stephanie's hand.

"It's a ring." Stephanie said bluntly.

"What kind of ring?" Stacy interrogated her brunette friend.

"Just a promise ring." Stephanie smiled as she looked down at her hand.

"Paul gave you a promise ring?" Trish nearly choked out as she admired the ring.

"Yeah, he was so sweet about it." Stephanie beamed.

"You know what this means right?" Stacy stated looking up at Stephanie.

"What?" Stephanie smiled at Stacy.

"You're 'the one' for him." Stacy replied with a small smile.

"That's pretty much what he said." Stephanie continued to blush.

"That's so sweet." Trish gushed at her friend's happiness.

"Well, I get to be the maid of honor." Stacy spoke up.

"No way!" Trish looked at Stacy like she was crazy. "I'm the maid of honor."

"GIRLS!!" Stephanie shouted. "I'm not getting married yet."

"Well, you have to start planning." They both said at the same time.

"Not yet." Stephanie looked down at her ring. "I don't want to scare him away."

"Ok, we'll keep it quiet for now." Stacy smiled as she hugged her friend.

"You're the luckiest girl right now Steph!" Trish spoke as she joined in the hug.

XoxoxoxoX

The girls then went back into the room and started to hang out with all the guys. Everyone hung out with one another having a good time. They were laughing, talking, smiling, cracking jokes, and enjoying their time together. Halfway through the night, they all exchanged gifts with one another and opened them. This was their own clear way of spending Christmas Eve together as a group.

XoxoxoxoX

That's it for this chapter. I hope you all liked it. Please let me know what you all think and review please.

Citcat