"Woohoo! Aren't you excited that it's Winter Break, hoot hoot?" said Hooty.

"Shut up, Hooty," said Luz.

King ran up to Luz. "You're home! I can't believe you're back from spending your time in those school dorms!"

"So they have dorms now," said Eda, "Hexside sure is evolving, but I didn't know it would become a boarding school."

Eda turned to spot Luz with Amity. She was wearing her regular clothes and Amity was wearing a Hexside shirt and black pants. "Luz, I missed you! So I'm guessing it's break?"

"Yep," Luz said.

"Hmm, and with your girlfriend," Eda said.

Amity blushed. "I am not her girlfriend! I'm just here for a Christmas party!"

"So you even taught this girl about the human wonders of holidays," Eda said, "Congrats, kid. You've done well."

She went to grab cookies out of the oven. "King helped bake these Christmas cookies. I'm not an experienced cook at all, you know that, Luz, but at least they're edible."

"Um, I'm sorry to ask this, Owl Lady, but do you have any Christmas music?" Amity asked.

"Now this old record player can be put to use," Eda said.

"I remember when we first got that. I listened to my voice on repeat for the whole day!" Hooty said.

Like always, everyone ignored him.

"So what do you guys like? I've got all sorts of Christmas records. Take your pick."

Amity looked at Luz and Luz looked back at Amity. This process continued.

"I can't watch this," Eda said, laying on the couch, "I'll just wait until you two make a decision. For now, I'll just relax."

"Well, that's Eda for ya," Luz said.

Amity chuckled. "How about you go first? I'm fine with anything."

"Oh um, OK," Luz said.

Eda sat up. "You made your decision, kid?"

"Yes," Luz said, pointing to the record in Eda's left hand.

"Alright. Merry Christmas and enjoy," she said, starting the music.

Amity and Luz shared the same look on their faces, but Amity spoke out first as she did on Grom night.

"May I have this dance?" she said.

Luz took Amity's hand with a big grin on her face. To admit, she was also blushing a little unlike the first time she had asked that. "Sure," she said.

"So, Luz, this is beautiful," Amity said after a moment of awkward silence, "N-not us dancing together, not at all! But the music is pretty!"

"It is, isn't it?" Luz said, "I just love Christmas music!"

Amity let out a chuckle. "Really?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's one of my favourite holidays," Luz replied, "Maybe even above Halloween!"

"Ah, that we have on the Boiling Isles," Amity said, "I'm glad that you—no. Thanks for inviting me... N-nobody does this. But it's not that I like it. Sure the decorations and music are beautiful, but everything else is—yeah, I don't like it."

"It's actually pretty cute when you deny," Luz said.

"Did I say something? Wow, the candles are really burning bright at this hour!" Amity said, "Is it hot in here or is it just me?"

"I think it's just you," Luz said.

"Maybe it is, but it doesn't matter," Amity said, "Let's continue dancing."

So they did until it was 11:15 P.M.

Eda came up to them. "I'm a sleepy little owl, so I suggest you girls get some sleep too," she said, "Goodnight."

King ran after her and eventually cuddled in his bed beside Eda's nest.

Luz smiled. "You can sleep with me in my room," she said.

Amity's face lit up like Rudolph's nose. "Don't get the wrong idea," she said, "I'll take the couch."

But in reality, Amity was desperate to find out what Luz's bedroom looked like. She also really wanted to experience the delight of sleeping in the same room as her. Though it gave her comfort, it also gave her uncontrollable anxiety.

"OK then," Luz said, turning out the lights, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Luz," Amity replied.

But Amity just couldn't get herself to sleep no matter how hard she tried. So she rose up and went to Luz's room. She knocked on the door.

"Sorry if I'm disturbing you," Amity said, "But I just can't sleep on my own if I know that you're here. Say, in the morning, would you like to go out with me?"

"Sure, but I'm a sleepy little otter with a dark side," Luz said.

Amity blushed. "You're adorable, you know that?"

Luz blushed too. "I do now," she said, "And we'll talk about it in the morning. Goodnight, Amity."

"Night, Luz," Amity said.