The next day was Christmas! Which meant waking up early and heading down stairs for presents. Usually, Sam and Nikki would wake up early. And try to stay in bed as late as they could. But finally the 2 got out of bed and headed down stairs. They said some 'awws' and 'woas' when they saw the gifts under the Christmas tree. As Christmas' before, they would just be able to look though and open things left in their stockings. So that's exactly what they did. They put on the TV that had the Christmas music playing, and sat together and went through their stocking. While @ Simon's house, Ruthie still got up early and took Happy down stairs and waited for everyone to wake up and get down themselves. She looked around at all the presents and found where her gifts were. So when it was time to open gifts, she didn't have to look for them. It was around 7:00 when both families went downstairs for Christmas morning.

~Williams' house~

"Merry Christmas." Mrs. Williams said tired as she and her husband trotted downstairs.
"Morning kids. Happy Christmas." he said sounding even more tired then Mrs. Williams. "Oh, I mean Merry Christmas kids."
"Hey mom, hi dad. Merry Christmas." Sam said wide awake.
"Merry Christmas!" Nikki said as she ran up to them to hug them.
"I'm guessing you 2 went through your stalking right." Their dad asked.
"Yep, and just waiting for the jack pot." Sam said as they walked to the kitchen. It took them a few minutes to get coffee and to wake up a bit. They came back into the living room and sat down on the couch to watch the kids open their presents. Sam and Nikki alternated on who would open their presents next.

~Camden's house~

"Morning everyone!" Ruthie said as everyone came down to the living room from different directions. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas Ruthie. You've been up a while haven't you?" Mrs. Camden said to her.
"Yep, as usual." She saw Matt and her dad going into the kitchen. But before she could she stopped them. "Nope, not this time. I made coffee for all of you guys. Except for you Simon, you shouldn't drink coffee."
"Thanks Ruthie." Simon said sleepily as he walked over to sit next to the gifts on the floor. On his way over, his pajama pants made noises as they brushed each other as he walked.
"So, you guys get all up and awake, then we can start opening presents!" she said to them. They all took a seat somewhere in the living room and took their coffee's. In no time, they started to open presents. With parents first, then oldest to youngest. Then, since they all opened their first Christmas present of the year, they all rushed to the tree to find the rest of their gifts. Since Simon and Ruthie were sitting closest, they passed around the presents to each other.

So both of the families went present by present until all of the gifts were unwrapped and open. They all seemed to have a good load of gifts this year. But then again, both sets of parents reminded all of their children that gifts weren't the main thing about Christmas. It was about families celebrating the birth of their Lord. And bringing families together.

That day, there were still kids playing with the snow outside. Making snow men, and having small snowball fights. Sam and Nikki basically stayed inside and played around with the things that they've gotten. About 10:00, Tarti called Sam and said that she'd like to meet her outside her house. Just to talk and hang. At the same time, they both brought out a present they had for each other. They opened it right there, and found out that they knew more about each other than they thought. Sam had gotten Tatri a picture frame with a picture in it of the 2 of them. The frame had said, 'Friends Forever'. Also, she got Tatri a necklace with a matching bracelet. Tatri had gotten Sam a new purple cell phone case along with rolled up sign to put on her wall that read: Basketball star, and yes, I am a girl. They stayed outside for a while until Tatri's mom called her back in. They just talked more about the dance, and about what happened after Sam and Simon left. So Sam and Tatri went back to their own houses and spent the day in there. At around 3:00, Simon told his mom and dad that he was going over to Sam's house.

~Camden's house~

"Hey mom, I'm gonna go over to Sam's house. I forgot to give her her Christmas present last night. So I'm gonna go drop it off to her." He said to her @ their bedroom doorway.
"Okay, just be back soon." She said looking through her old Christmas record collection.
"Okay, see ya." He said to them. He walked on over to Sam's house and rang the doorbell.

~Williams' house~

DING DONG DING DONG

"Hi Simon. Come on in." Mrs. Williams let him in with a nice greeting.
"Is Sam home?" he asked. "I forgot to give this to her last night." He said holding up the package in his hand.
"Yeah, she's up in her room. Up the stairs and at the end of the hall." She said pointing up the stairs.
"Thanks." He said heading up the stairs as she walked back into the kitchen. He came to the door all the way at the end of the hall way. She had already put up the sign that Tatri had given her. Since it read basketball star, he knew it was her room. He knocked on her door 3 times and heard a voice say, "Come on in." he opened the door, and Sam was sitting on her bed Indian style putting her gifts into piles to put in her room. She was currently looking through her new c.d.'s.

~Sam's room~

"Oh, hey Simon." She said looking up. "Come on in." she said putting aside her c.d.'s. "What's up?" she said smiling to her.
"Well, first of all, I'd like to say that last night was really great." He said.
"Yeah, it was great." They smiled at each other.
"Your room looks so cool." He said to her sitting on the foot of her bed and looking around. "It just says.you." He said with a chuckle.
"Well, I hope so." She smiled.
"Thanks for your gift Sam. I really like it." He told her. "No prob." She replied with a smile. "Oh, this is for you." He said handing her the gift he brought her.
"Simon, thank you." She said taking it and looking at Simon. "You didn't have to." She said.
"Nah. I added something new to it. I hope you like it." He said getting up and heading for the door. "Merry Christmas Sam." He said opening her door.
"Merry Christmas Simon." She said back. He slipped through the door and headed down the stairs. As he left her room, she got up from her bed and went outside in the hall to watch him leave. On his way out, he called to Mrs. Williams,
"Bye Mrs. Williams. Merry Christmas!" she replied by saying,
"Merry Christmas Simon!" Sam saw Simon leave, and returned back to her room. She sat down on her bed near her pillow, and started to open the gift that Simon gave her. She opened the box and found that it was a white bear. It had a ribbon around its neck along with a little box in its hand. In the box was a little figurine of a dolphin with a girl riding it. It had engraved on it, 'Samantha the Paradise Princess' on it. Then, she took the bear out to look at it and found that there was something else under the bear. She unwrapped it and found that it was a little picture frame about the size of a c.d. case. Inside was the picture of Sam and Simon from the Winter dance. She smiled when she found it, and could only think about Simon for the rest of the day. The days went by until it came down to New Year's Eve. At the Winter Dance, the President of the class council had announced to them that there would be a New Years Eve Party at their school next week Monday.

So, they all got dressed up again, in their nice dresses and nice tuxedos. Mrs. Williams drove Sam and Tatri to the party and said that she'd pick them up later on after 12. The 2 girls walked into the school to the gym once again. They saw most of their classmates there and started to walk over to them. Sam kept an eye out for when Simon showed up. He walked in with Devon soon after Sam and Tatri arrived. The music started to play and soon everyone was dancing. It was around 11 when Tatri went up to Simon and asked him a question.
"So, did you memorize it?" she said trying to pretend she was pouring a cup of punch for herself.
"Yep, thanks for getting me the c.d. It helped a lot. I think I can do this." He told her.
"Well, you better. It's about time you get this out!" she said. They both went back to sit down with Devon and Sam. At around 11:45, Sam and Tatri went in the back of the gym to talk with some of the other girls. While Simon and Devon walked up to the stage to 'set up.' Someone announced to everyone that there was a special plan coming up next. Then out of the corner of her eyes, still talking with the girls, Sam saw someone step onto the stage carrying a microphone.
"This song is for someone very special. I'd like to dedicate this song to Samantha Williams." She heard him say. And with that, the music started to play, and she turned around. With her surprised face on, she saw Simon standing up there about ready to sing a song for her. He was going to sing a song by a local group from Hawaii that Sam loved. They were called Three Plus, and soon he started to sing.

Saw you there standin under the mango tree Beautiful women, looked so fine to me She had all the things that I've been searchin for She had 'ehu hair a flower in her ear and bongo shorts

She's my honey baby, my honey baby My honey baby, my honey baby

She started to walk closer and closer to the stage as she washed Simon sing and move around on the stage. She couldn't believe that she was seeing him do this for her.

Cause that I want you to know that wherever you go I won't be far away Cause as I kiss your lips and while you sway your hips You just hear me say

She's my honey baby, my honey baby My honey baby, my honey baby

I said my sweet honey baby yes you know I love you so Just hold on tight, baby never let go Because you know that when you call on me, I'll be there when I can And you can count on me, cause I'm your Suppa Man

My honey baby, my honey baby My honey baby, my honey baby

By this time, Sam was all the way in the front right by the stage. Looking up at Simon with the biggest smile ever. Just like all the other kids, they started swaying along to the beat of the ukulele and the music. And Sam followed them, still smiling up at Simon.

Girl I just told you how I fell for you And every word I said, yes you know it's true Before I go, there's just one more thing My darling Give a total commitment girl, with this promise ring

He bent down and was right in front of her and held a box that was open. Inside was a skinny shinny silver ring. All she could do was drop her jaw and hold the box. All the girls around her starting screaming while Simon got back up and kept on singing the rest of the song. She just looked back and forth from Simon to the ring with a smile on at all times.

She's my honey baby, my honey baby My honey baby, my honey baby My honey baby, my honey baby

Yes I want you to know that you're mine all of the time rain or shine, honey baby be mine, yes I want you to know that you're mine honey baby be mine.

At the end of the song, everyone was clapping for both Simon and Sam. He walked off the stage and Sam walked in that direction.

"So Sam, would you wear this promise ring for me?" Simon asked sweetly. Still shocked, she couldn't say anything. Finally she got out,
"Simon.it's.it's."
"I think I've finally found the right girl for me, and I don't want to lose you." He said with a sweet smile.
"I'd love to wear it." She said. He took the ring out of the box and placed it on the stage next to them. He slipped it on her right ring finger. After that, they heard cheering and clapping behind them.

"Okay everyone, grab that special someone! Because its 10 seconds till the new year!!" the school principal said into the microphone. "10, 9, 8..." they all counted down. Simon and Sam held hands together as they faced everyone else to count down. "4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!" she said to everyone. Poppers went off, screams filled the room, and of course, couples kissed away. And that's exactly what Simon and Sam did. At the stroke of 12, they laid their lips on each other. The doors were open and down in the middle of the town, they were setting off fireworks as a yearly thing. Everyone looked outside to see it. But for Simon and Sam, they didn't need to look outside.

(does camera style look. Fixes Sam and Simon kissing with their faces right in the middle of the doorway with fireworks going off between the doors. Cool huh?! ^^)

About an hour later, a little after 1, Sam's mom pulled up to the front of the school. Just as she pulled up, Sam and Tatri came walking around front. Before that, Sam had said goodnight to Simon as he waited for his dad to pick him and Devon up as well. She got in the car along with Tatri, and headed home.
"So, I'm guessing you girls had a good night huh?" Mrs. Williams asked.
"Yep, we sure did." Sam said happily. Mrs. Williams looked in the rear view mirror and looked at Sam. She knew something big happened, but only smiled. Once they got home, she pulled Sam into the living room where Nikki and her dad waited for them.

~Williams' houseliving room~

"So, how was the party?" Mrs. Williams asked Sam.
"It was great, really really great!" she said.
"Okay, what happened?" Nikiki asked. Knowing already what had happened. Seeing that it was Nikki who snuck out Sam's Three Plus c.d. so that Simon could burn the song off it.
"Well, um.just to let you guys know." Sam said. "Simon gave me a promise ring tonight." She said calmly.
"OH MY GOSH HONEY!!!!!!" Mrs. Williams said. "I'm so happy for you!!" she said hugging her daughter.
"Mom, mom I can't breathe!" Sam tried to get out.
"Oh, you must be so happy Sammy!" her mom said excited.
"Yeah I am." Sam replied. "But I still can't breathe!"

~Camden's house~

"Hey Simon, so how'd it go?" Lucy said as everyone else followed into the living room.
"It went great. Nothing better could have happened." He said smiling and dropping himself on the couch.
"Mom, Kevin, Mary, Matt, Ruthie come here quick!!" she screamed. Everyone rushed in and asked,
"What's going on?"
"Oh I don't know, but Simon's just really happy about tonight." Lucy said.
"Well, did anything happen?" Mrs. Camden said sitting next to him.
"Nothing bad mom." He reassured her.
"You gave it to her didn't you!?" Matt said happily.
"Yep, sure did." He said smiling and standing up.
"Gave what to who?" Mr. Camden asked coming in from parking the car.
"Since everyone's already here, I'll tell you." Simon said getting ready to tell them. "Tonight at the party, I sang a song in front of everyone for Sam." He said.
"Woa, you singing a song?" Robby asked. "On purpose?"
"Yes, and that's not all." He said again. "I also gave her a promise ring to wear."
"Oh my gosh! I didn't know how much you liked her Simon!!" Mrs. Camden hugged Simon.
"Mom, mom, can I please breathe?!" he told her.
"So, little Simon's finally growing up huh." Mary teased.
"Bout time." Matt teased some more. They all wanted to know about it, so then he told them. After a while they finally let him go to sleep. And once again, all the guys went to his room to talk about it. It must be some weird genetic guy thing Ruthie thought as she listened outside Simon's door. And so, this was the first day of the first year. And the first day of Sam and Simon's 'official' relationship.