I wake up with a jolt as I feel something fall on top of me. "Aria! Aria! It's Christmas! Aria! Wake up!" Jumping to a sitting position I grab onto the person jumping on my bed and slam them down. Charlie. He has a huge smile covering his face and is already dressed for the day in a green knit sweater and light washed jeans. I let out a sigh of relief.

I hold his hands down against his chest. Now fully awake a smile breaks out on my face "Charlie you silly boy! What are you doing up so early? The presents aren't going to fly away!" I laugh letting go of his hands allowing him to get up.

He jumps off my bed "Bernard promised that my presents would be great! I just can't wait!" he squeals. My breath hitches as I hear that name. No, it's just a coincidence, I shrug it off.

I jump out of bed and give Charlie a reassuring smile "How about I get dressed and meet you downstairs? I promise I'll go as fast as I can." Charlie gives me a thumbs up and wastes no time running downstairs.

Sighing, I turn around to my closet to pick out my outfit. I pull out a green cropped fleece sweater and loose light washed jeans. A smile grows on my face as I think of Charlie yelling at me for matching with him.

Turning to my mirror I stop in my tracks when I realize what my pajamas are. A navy blue nightgown. "No no no no. It was a dream! There's no way that happened. I didn't go to the freakin 'North Pole!" I yelled at myself. I begin pacing my room back and forth trying to remember last night.

Okay, I remember going to sleep after going to the disaster that is Dennys, showered, went to bed, and then had a weird dream about the North Pole. Yeah right, that's what happened. I try to reassure myself. I slow down my pacing and eventually come to a halt when I hear a bell jingling.

I carefully reach into my pocket and pull out a golden bell, I gasp and throw it on my bed shaking. I slap my sweaty forehead "Okay now think this through, it's a coincidence Aria chill out." I take a deep breath "Yeah that's right, a coincidence." I convince myself.

Shaking my head I grab my green scrunchie and throw my hair into a messy bun. Checking my hair in the mirror I conclude there's no way to fix it. I reach for my clothes to get dressed.

I walk into the living room from the kitchen with a trash bag in my hands. Charlie and I just finished opening presents. I mostly got records and a bunch of graphic tees from Dad. Charlie is practically drowning in all the toy trucks he received. He just couldn't wait for Dad to come downstairs and tore open all his presents. I ended up not being able to resist either.

I get on my knees and start gathering all the green and red wrapping paper scattered over the floor. Dad stumbles into the room and flops onto the couch wearing bright red silky pajamas making me jump. He's all sweaty and is clutching his chest "Are you okay, Dad?" I ask quickly getting up and walk to sit on the couch next to him tucking my feet underneath me.

He continues staring at the wall "Yeah I'm just fine." He says waving his hand in dismissal. Charlie gets up from the ground clutching his yellow truck walking towards us. "Are you having a heart attack? I know CPR." He claims.

Dad lets out a nervous laugh and looks down at his pajamas "S.C.?" He looks up at Charlie as he starts tracing the initials on his shirt. "Yeah, Santa Claus. Hey. Same initials as your name, Dad. Scott Calvin." He smiles up at Dad.

I break out into a sweat for the third time today when I hear this and start nervously rubbing my palms together. This is not real, I'm going to check myself into a mental asylum. A sudden loud knock at the front door makes me jump out of my skin.

I shoot up from the couch in a panic and run down the hall to the door "I've got it!" I yell. Grabbing onto the handle I swing it opening relieving Mom. "Oh, Aria! Oh, merry Christmas, honey!" She exclaims walking into the house giving me a crushing hug.

She pulls away and holds my face in her hands "How was Dad?" she whispers looking concerned. "Good!" I nervously squeak out as Charlie runs around the corner.

He quickly greets her "Hi, mom! Oh, I had the best Christmas ever!" He yells before running back to gather his bags to leave. I give her a thumbs up from beside her in agreement with Charlie.

A small smile comes across her face "Great- Oh, ho, Scott. Nice P.J.s. Very festive. Where'd you get them?" She asks as Dad comes out of the living room into the hallway with Charlie's new scooter, looking him up and down.

I leave their conversation and run upstairs to grab my bags from my room. Turning around to take a last look around making sure I don't forget anything. A gleam of light hits my eye before I leave, making my attention go to my bed.

The bell. I quickly walk over and shove the bell in my pocket. I swing my bag over my shoulder and run downstairs to say bye to Dad, who is already outside with Mom and Charlie.

Approaching the car on the curb Neal gets out of the driver's seat walking up to me. He raises his arms about to hug me. "Thanks Neal!" I say faking excitement and throw my bags into his arms. He stumbles back from the force and gives me a bewildered look.

Tilting my head up at him I ignore his expression and turn to face Dad standing with Mom, who was talking to Charlie already buckled in the back seat. "Dad took me to the North Pole, and Larry showed me the workshop." Charlie smiles up at Mom kicking his feet happily. Mom just stares at Dad and me in confusion.

So we just had the same dream? "Right well…" I trail off "Bye Dad, thanks for all the gifts." I say wrapping my arms around him and quickly let go. Running to the other side of the car, I hop into the seat next to Charlie.

"Charlie, we'll discuss this at home." Mom says seriously closing Charlie's door and getting into the passenger seat. Neal starts the engine and begins driving away. Mom and Neal continue to argue about the delusions Dad is feeding Charlie about Christmas. Charlie suddenly unbuckles himself and turns around to look at Dad who is yelling something at the car waving his arms.

Ignoring this, I curl into the seat realizing how tired I still am, I feel like I got no sleep. "Right well, I'm going to need a nap." I whisper to myself. I watch the houses pass by us and my mind drifts off to this morning. Is it really a coincidence? It's highly impossible that we all had the same dream. No one would ever believe us. I decide that I should pretend not to know anything.

I find myself missing Bernard. Whether he was real or not he already felt like my best friend. Not to mention how pretty his eyes were. How beautiful.

10 months later

December 1st, 1995

"Come on Aria, it'll be fun!" Mack begs grabbing onto my arm. Her short black hair bouncing around as she jumps. I swing my arm away from her sighing. "I can't go, Mack, I have Charlie's soccer game today." She plays with her lace black top and pouts. She quickly closes my green locker on me. "Bro come on stop bailing out on us!" She complains grabbing onto my shoulders and putting her forehead against mine "Tyler will be there." She whispers and smirks at me.

I nod my head slightly and grab her shoulders as well. "Well, that just convinced me. I'll see you there." I smile wide. "Really?" She says, sounding hopeful.

My smile drops "No." I reply, pushing her away from me, letting out a laugh.

"You tricked me! You can't do that Aria!" She pouts pointing her finger at me causing other people in the hallway to turn at the sound of her loud voice.

I turn on my black boots and start walking down the hallway to leave school. I turn over my shoulder and yell "Just did. Love ya!" I see her stomp her feet and give me the finger. I laugh before turning back around and continue walking only to bump into somebody.

My body goes flying back and I land hard on the ground, I let out a groan of pain. "Oh my, I'm so sorry Aria I thought you saw me!" A voice apologies. I shake my head moving into a sitting position. I look up to see Tyler standing there. He reaches out his hand, I grab onto it and he pulls me up. "Thanks." I muttered brushing the dust and dirt off my overalls. I look up at him with a bored expression.

He runs his hand through his blond hair and fixes his black tee. "So are you coming later today?" he asks with a smirk. "Uh no." I reply vaguely, stepping to the right to go around him.

He puts his foot out and stops me. "Why not?" He raises his eyebrow. I let out a groan of annoyment "I really have anything else to do." I retort finally getting around him.

I hear him call out to me as I walk away "Call me!" I don't look back and give him a thumbs down walking out of the school to go home. I drag my feet against the wet pavement slowing my walking, not truly wanting to go home so fast.

What an arrogant jerk. Mack seems to think we'd be perfect together. Bless my best friend's heart. She sees the best in the worst people. Tyler, though good looking, is the biggest player. I don't think he could say he genuinely likes a girl without choking on his own spit.

Mack and I have been friends since high school started. She was the first friend I made. We blend perfectly, oh the mischief we have gotten in. When I reach the house I carefully walk up the steps trying not to slip on the new-formed ice. Ah yes, Christmas is near once again.

I take my backpack off my shoulders and reach into it to find my keys. Pulling them out I unlock the door and a blast of warm air instantly defrosts me. "Hey, Mom I'm home!" I call into the hallway my voice echoing.

I close the door and kick off my now wet black boots and walk down the hallway to the kitchen where I hear pans hitting each other. "Hi Aria, how was school?" Mom says as I turn the corner to see her at the stove cooking. I walk up to her and give her a quick side hug "It was, you know, school." I half-smile at her.

She puts down the wooden spoon she was using and turns fully to me with her eyebrow raised. "School was school?" She questions before grabbing my hand "Alright sit down let's talk" She ushers me to the glass table to sit.

When I sit down I sigh "It was nothing just Mack trying to get me to go out again." I confess. She sits across from me and puts her chin in her hands "Why don't you want to go out with her? You guys are always together." I begin to trace shapes into the table with my finger "I don't want to see Tyler. It's like he breathes over my shoulder, he's always around. I just want him out of the picture. Mack and him don't seem to understand he's not my type, not to mention a player." I finished my rant feeling like a weight came off my shoulders.

Mom reaches across the table and holds my hand "Look at me Aria." She says softly "Don't feel pressured to be with anybody. If I listened to someone else I'd still be with your father. Your time and perfect someone will come at a time you least expect it." She concludes smiling softly tapping the top of my hand.

I can always rely on Mom for this stuff. "Thanks Mom, I really needed that." I smile getting up from the chair and sliding my hand out of hers. Walking to the other side of the table I give her a small hug.