Here's part two: Kira's first four presents. Enjoy!!

The next morning, Kira was at her locker, struggling to open the resistant lock.

"Having trouble, Kira?"

"Oh, hey, Dr. O. My locker's being…mean to me." The man in black laughed.

"Here, let me try it." Kira read off her combination, and Tommy pushed hard on the lock, popping it open.

"Thanks, Dr. O."

"No problem, Kira. There was probably something stuck—hey, what's this?" He pulled a small bouquet of flowers—all different kinds, but all yellow—out of her locker and grinned.

"Looks like someone's got a secret admirer," he said, handing her the flowers. She blushed.

"It's probably just Conner," she said without thinking. He gave her a look that clearly said, Really, now, and Kira immediately backpedaled.

"I mean, not like that. I mean, uh, he said he was gonna get me stuff for Hanukkah. I just wasn't sure if he'd actually do it or not. It's definitely not…the other thing you were thinking of, Dr. O."

Dr. Oliver didn't seem convinced, to say the least. "Uh, huh. Well, whatever you choose to believe, Kira. I'll see you in class."

"Whatever I choose to believe? What's that supposed to mean…?" Kira muttered herself, reaching into her locker and trying to retrieve her Chemistry book. As she pulled the book out, a piece of folded blue paper fell out. There was a crude drawing of a menorah on the front, with the middle candle (the shamash), along with one other candle, lit. "Day One," it said on the front, in Conner's distinct scrawl. Smiling to herself, she unfolded the note, reading softly to herself.

"Dear Kira,

It's the first day of Hanukkah. Again, haha.

I hope you like the flowers.

Love,

Conner"

Kira went through the rest of the day, getting compliments from a few classmates on the flowers, an odd look from Ethan, and of course, a raised eyebrow or two from Dr. O (which she chose to skillfully ignore.) But she didn't see Conner until lunch.

"Hey, Kira. I see you got my Hanukkah present." Conner sat himself across from her at their regular lunch table, and Ethan, who had been there for a few minutes, laughed.

"Those were you, man? Wow. It took you long en—ow!" He was silenced by a well-placed kick to the shin. "Jeez!"

Kira raised an eyebrow, and Conner gave her an innocent smile.

"Here," he said, handing her another note and a small box wrapped in silver paper.

"What's this?" Reading the note, which had another menorah, this time with a second candle lit, she smiled.

"I thought it was only the first day." Conner shrugged.

"I don't know. Two a day, to make up for lost time. Open it!" he said, practically bouncing in his seat. Kira laughed.

"You'd think it was your present, the way you're acting." But she obliged, carefully opening the package.

"Oh, Conner…" she breathed, taking it out of the paper. "It's beautiful."

"What is it?" Ethan asked, trying to get a look.

It was a notebook in simple black with golden music notes embroidered on the silken cover.

"For all those songs you'll write about me," Conner said cheekily, and Kira reached across the table to smack his arm.

"Yeah, right." She said, shaking her head. "But seriously, Conner. It's beautiful. Thank you."

She and Conner smiled at each other for a moment, oblivious to Ethan's raised eyebrows.

"Can you two stop the holiday flirting for a few minutes so I can eat?"

"We weren't—" Ethan just shook his head.

"Yeah, right. Can I have your brownie, Kira?"

Kira handed it over, cheeks a little pink. But she smiled anyway.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring…

"Unhh…morning, Mom." Kira stumbled into her kitchen at exactly 11:32 that Saturday morning, greeting her mother and grabbing a box of Frosted Flakes from the cabinet.

"Morning, hon. Oh, by the way, your friend Conner called about an hour ago. He said something about the Cyberspace at noon—something about a gift?" Kira looked at the clock and nearly shrieked.

"Mom, it's 11:30! Why didn't you wake me up? I haven't even showered yet!" Inhaling her cereal, Kira rushed up the stairs and her mother heard the sound of running water. Exactly half an hour later, Kira rushed down again, wearing black sweatpants and a yellow t-shirt with a black rose printed on the front. Shoving her feet into black flip-flops (this was California, after all) she headed out the door, yelling a "bye!" to her mother.

"Sorry I'm late," Kira said, coming up behind Conner, who was sitting at the counter.

"It's okay. Your mom said you were still sleeping when I called. It doesn't really matter, anyway. Here," he said, offering her a long, thin box tied with a red ribbon. Inside, Kira found a black guitar strap, emblazoned with a bold yellow 'K'. Upon closer inspection, she saw a tiny pterodactyl under the letter, and she smiled.

"Conner, this is so cool. How'd you know I needed a new one? I didn't tell anyone."

"Well, the old one looked pretty ratty at your show yesterday, so…" Kira smiled, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Thanks, Conner. This—all of this—is very sweet of you."

Was he blushing? "It's not a big deal, Kira. Happy Hanukkah. Oh, and you better be free around six tonight."

"Why?"

"Day number four. Dinner, on me. Wherever you want, whatever you want. I'll even cook for you, if that's what you want."

"Really…I'd like to see that. Conner McKnight, cooking. Hmm…yeah, that's what I want." Conner laughed.

"Well, you better like spaghetti. It's the only thing I can make."

Kira arrived at the McKnight house at exactly six o'clock in black dress pants and a gauzy yellow blouse. She rang the doorbell twice before Conner answered in a red apron (what else?) Laughing, she followed him inside.

"It's strange, you in an apron." She told him, kicking off her shoes.

"What, you don't think it's sexy?"

The dinner was delicious, and Kira told him so while she put her shoes back on, getting ready to leave.

"Thanks, Conner. I know I've told you that repeatedly, but…thanks." He smiled, looking away.

"It's nothing, Kira—hey, what are you looking at?"

"What's that?" Conner followed her gaze to above where she was standing, where a small sprig of green and white grinned evilly down upon them.

"Uh…"

"Conner."

"That's, um…that's mistletoe, Kira." Her face went slack in realization. She may have not seen mistletoe before, but she sure as hell knew what it meant.

"Oh," she said simply, not knowing what else to say. Conner shifted awkwardly.

"Yeah…it's just…a stupid Christmas tradition. My mom—"

He didn't finish because Kira had stood up on tiptoe and kissed his lips quickly.

"It's okay if a Jewish person does it, right?" she laughed nervously before opening his door. "Thanks for dinner, Conner. Uh, good night."

Conner was still standing beneath the mistletoe, a huge grin on his face.

I wonder if it's okay to love Hanukkahwhen you're not even Jewish…

LOL I had to add the mistletoe. So easy. Hope you all liked it!