A/N: Enjoy :)

It was cold outside when Spinelli made her way to Vince's house for the cozy get-together of their group of friends. TJ was already there since this morning, because both boys wanted to watch the football game on TV together, so she walked there alone. For once not having company to talk to she let her thoughts wander. Soon they all would enter middle school and even though Spinelli would never admit it she was a little afraid of the change it would bring.

If she was completely honest with herself things were already starting to change for her. While TJ and her were already best friends forever, she had started to feel different around him. It had all begun with the experiment and their kiss. Back then she hadn't said the truth. The kiss hadn't been disgusting, quite the opposite. For a moment she had forgotten that everyone was watching them and they were standing behind a dumpster. She was sure that if it had been anyone else and not TJ she would really have felt disgusted, but seeing that she had always a soft spot for him it made sense to her that he awoke this new feeling in her.

Spinelli had tried to deny her new founded feelings for TJ since then, but with their graduation from elementary school around the corner and the atmosphere of Christmas the feelings slowly won over her denial. Sighing she quickened her pace. She had forgotten her gloves at home and even with her hands buried in her jacket pockets her hands felt cold. Why did she have to think about TJ anyway? He was her best friend and there was all there was to it. Ignoring her protesting heart Spinelli finally reached Vince's house.

The sports fan let her in with a bright smile and lead her in the living room where everyone was already waiting for her. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't stop her heart from beating faster the moment she saw that TJ had saved her a seat right next to him. When she sat down he smiled kindly at her. If only he knew what that smile did to her heart. The rest of the evening she tried to push her feelings back deep into her heart, but the warm atmosphere of being around her friends and TJ's closeness made it impossible to forget them completely.

When it was getting late TJ and Spinelli walked home together, which wasn't surprising since they lived near each other. TJ took the opportunity to look at Spinelli from the corner of his eyes. The lights of the streetlamps made her eyes sparkle in the night while she was telling him about the wresting match earlier today and TJ had to blush. Change was around the corner for them when they would enter middle school in a few months, but he hoped that Spinelli would never change. He knew how girls could be, he had a big sister after all. He didn't want Spinelli to get self-conscious over her look or start caring about boys. The thought of her with another boy, kissing him and spending all her time with him didn't sit well with TJ and he felt his fists clench. Surely they would make new friends in middle school, but he was her best friend and the thought of someone being closer to her and meaning more to her than him didn't seem right.

If TJ was completely honest with himself he knew that his worry about being replaced as her best friend wasn't the only reason for his reaction. Since their kiss a few months ago his feelings for his beautiful best friend had started to change. They were always close and he always had a rather obvious soft spot for her, but now his feelings developed into so much more. Maybe some would think that he was too young to know the depth of his feelings, but he was sure of his feelings for her. There was no one who knew Spinelli better than him. He had seen her at her best and her worst, had seen her soft side that she denied she had and was always there when she needed someone. There was no one he was closer to and he trusted her with everything. They might just be best friends for now, but he wanted to be so much more for her.

Realizing that he was again too deep in thoughts and hadn't listened to anything she had said TJ turned slightly to her, only to see her rub her hands together before bringing them to her face and blowing against them.

"Where are your gloves?" He asked concerned.

"I forgot them, because I was running late. I couldn't miss the end of the wresting match and when I looked at the clock it was already late so I had to hurry."

Without hesitation he removed one of his gloves and took her hands into his. Gently he pull the glove on one of her hands before he took the other in his own bare hand and put their intertwined hands into his jacket pocket.

"Don't deny that you are cold and just let me keep you warm." He whispered softly before he gently pulled her along.

TJ knew that Spinelli normally didn't listen to anyone, let alone just admit to having a weakness even if it was something so small as being cold, but to his surprise she didn't protest. Looking at her he saw that she was blushing bright red and when he realized that he was now holding hands with her he blushed as well. He hadn't thought much about the consequences of his actions. She was cold and he wanted to help her. However now that he was holding her hand and she willingly let him, he couldn't help and be glad that he hadn't overthought his actions, because then he surely wouldn't have been brave enough to do this.

When they reached Spinelli's front door TJ hesitant to let go of her hand. The short time he had been able to hold her hand he had realized that he wanted this kind of relationship with her. It had felt so right to just walk with her their hands intertwined. He wanted to be able to hold her hand and call her his girlfriend in front of everyone.

Slowly he pulled their still intertwined hands out of his jacket pocket and faced Spinelli. Even if the lights on her porch were dim he could see her blush. He was sure that his face was dusted red as well, but he wanted her to know about his feelings.

"Spin, I know that we promised each other that we would never keep secrets from each other, but I have a secret for a while now." He took a deep breath and squeezed her hand gently. "I like you, in a romantic way."

With his feelings out in the opened he felt relief for a second before it was replaced with nervousness. He had not thought about what would happen if she didn't return his feelings. Would she end their friendship? Would she completely shut him out of her life? Before he could take his words back in fear of losing her, she spoke up.

"I didn't know that you feel that way about me." Her voice was a whisper and she was blushing bright red, but her next words came out with all the strength she possessed. "I like you in that way too."

Relief flowed TJ's heart together with all the feelings he had denied himself for far too long. Not knowing how else to react he pulled her into an embrace. For a moment she seemed surprised before she returned his embrace. When the two pulled away from each other TJ smiled shyly at her.

"I know that tomorrow is Christmas, but can I see you? Maybe we could watch a wresting match on TV together or just a movie."

"I would like that." She smiled just as softly at him before she leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

"Thanks for keeping me warm, even though I wasn't cold to begin with." She stepped away from him and unlocked her door before turning back to him. "I'll see you tomorrow. Just come over around four."

"That I'll do." He grinned brightly at her, before he added in a softer voice. "Goodnight Spin and merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas TJ. Goodnight and I'll see you tomorrow." With that she gave him one last smile before she closed her front door.

On the short walk back to his house TJ smiled to himself, this year Christmas would be even better than the years before. While snow began falling again, TJ couldn't help but wish that it was already the next day and he could be with Spinelli again. This year he had gotten his Christmas present early.

A/N: Merry Christmas :)