December 24th, 2019 -

Part One

You're sitting on the couch with Marie and Pearl. The three of you find yourselves absorbed in the latest news report. The program documents a recent Shark incident, "Another Shark attack has been reported at the popular riverside restaurant, Aqua. If you remember their last offense at the fish hook theater, you would know that the famous idol Callie was caught in the crossfire. Thankfully, she came out of the situation unharmed. How many more lives be put in danger before the Sharks are apprehended? Channel five will continue to fill you in on any news regarding the Sharks," The news reporter says, signing off.

It's been weeks since you've last interacted with Callie. She hasn't returned any of your calls and has ignored all your posts on Instaclam. You're beginning to wonder if there was any point in trying to reach out to her. She's probably off fooling around with some chump. Did she even like you in the first place? Cod, she made you so angry. Why can't she just answer you already? Arrggggghhhh, it made you want to pull your hair out.

Marina walks into the room, carrying a batch of gingerbread cookies. The sweet aroma fills the air, catching the attention of Pearl and Marie. Marina's mannerisms exhibit one of an affectionate mother. Her apron is even covered in an elegant snowflake pattern to match that persona.

"We don't need that awful news disrupting our Christmas decorating," Marina says, turning off the TV.

"Aren't you the healthy type; I'd thought you'd think cookies are pure evil," Pearl reasons.

"Well, Christmas is my cheat month. Now, dig in guys. I didn't spend hours in a smoke-filled kitchen for nothing," Marina declares.

Pearl and Marie devour the cookies in seconds. You use this opportunity to examine the girl's current attire.

Pearl sports a pair of cute ribbons in her hair. The same kind of fabric is attached to the presents under the tree. Her aura exudes one of an innocent little girl.

Marie trumps the clothing competition with the ultimate ugly sweater. It's an eye-bleeding striped pattern mixed with an obnoxiously colored Christmas wreath. She struts around the room like a runway model, setting a new stylish precedent. Considering Marie's popularity, she could probably make wearing a garbage bag into a new fad.

"Where's Callie, I baked enough cookies for the five of us," Marina inquires.

"She's avoiding Agent 4," Marie replies.

"When's the last time you talked to her?" Pearl questions.

• You inform the crew that you're the last conversation was about a month ago.

"Sheesh, that's harsh. Has she said anything to you?" Pearl asks Marie.

"Nope. Every time I talk to her about it, she ignores me. I think she's blaming herself for what happened that night. I didn't want to tell you this Agent 4, but there's a reason that it took you a long time to get in contact with her again. She always does this when she's scared. She's scared to hurt the people she loves, so she tries to distance herself from them. The only reason she can't neglect me is that I'm her cousin," Marie describes.

How was she going to hurt me?

"That's something you need to ask her. I don't know what goes on inside that head of hers. The only way to get real answers is to confront the source," Marie proclaims.

Ironic coming from her.

"We'll try to pinpoint her location, but your the one who has to knock some sense into her." Marie sighs and folds her hand over her mouth, "Tracking down the love of your life on Christmas Eve. I'm not surprised something like this happened. After all, she is the Queen of Chaos."

Part Two

"I think you should put all this drama aside and enjoy the holidays. Come on, are we going to get started or what? Christmas is tomorrow, and we don't have all day together," Marina urges.

"Why didn't you start already," Marie asks.

"I was waiting to get together with you guys," Marina responds.

"Yeah If we don't finish in time, Santa Claws might not come," Pearl adds.

"You still believe in San-"

"Shhh," Marina interrupts.

"Yup, Santa thinks you're a good girl too," Marina affirms.

"Yeeeahhhh," Pearl smiles.

Marie leans over to whisper in your ear," I don't think that's healthy. Isn't she like twenty-one? Let's keep an eye on those two; I don't know what other lies she's told her," Marie informs.

The girls proceed to get busy with the tree. They start by untangling lights and attaching ornaments to the branches. Marina's living room illustrates her family's insatiable Christmas spirit. The table is decorated with multiple scented candles and nutcracker figurines. Stockings are strapped to the fireplace, and garland dangles from the ceiling. The atmosphere was straight out of a storybook, a lively display of tchotchkes and knickknacks.

"Could you hand me that reindeer ornament, actually no, give me the snowman one, the heavier ones should go on first?" Marie orders.

Marie assumes the leader role, strategizing the next ornament's placement. It's no wonder that she took up an executive position at Grizzco years down the line.

"PEARL, did you eat some of the candy canes," Marie roars.

"Um no," Pearl says with a face full of sweets.

"They're for the tree," Marie lectures.

"They just looked so tasty; I couldn't help myself," Pearl explains.

It was jarring to see the three of them getting along so well considering the future state of affairs. It seemed as if they were friends for years, experiencing all the good, the bad, and the ugly together. Whatever happened to their friendship?

Things would be perfect if Callie were here. She'd able to balance out Marie's controlling personality. She'd match Marina's fashion style, and imitate Pearl's playful character. Overall, it felt like a pretty big chunk of our lives was missing. Why do things have to be this way? Why did she have to do this? Why was I so stupid?

Marie notices your solemn look, "Don't be too hard on yourself Agent 4; I know you're stronger than that. I saw you wrestle a turkey in a leaf pile and confront some of the deadliest of ghouls known to man. Heck, your latest brave endeavor had you trying to rescue Callie from a burning movie theater. If that isn't strong, I don't know what is...

Come on; I'll let you top off the tree."

I think she was exaggerating some of those scenarios, but her message was ultimately heartfelt. Marina and Pearl scramble through a stack of old cardboard boxes. They're searching for a unique item that is very near and dear to Marina's grandmother. Pearl holds up the device when she uncovers it from the clutter.

It's a golden star, adorned with crystal markings. The precious trinket is one of a kind and showcases a hefty price tag. You almost cut your hand when handling the object, due to its sharp nature. It was also deceivingly heavy but offered a bright shine to the room. It was the perfect way to finish off the Christmas tree.

You unfold the stepladder and climb to the top rung. You carefully secure the star on top of a cluster of twigs. As you descend the ladder, the group applauds for your heroics. Thanks guys, you really know how to cheer a guy up.

Part Three

As your heading to the bathroom, you pass by Pearl in the hallway. She was most likely stealing some desserts from the fridge, but you refrain from interrogating her about it.

"Hey, I saw that," Marina screams.

"Saw what," Pearl responds, frantically trying to conceal the bowl of ice cream under her shirt.

"You both stepped under the mistletoe at the same time; you know what that means," Marina announces.

"Oh, Cod," Pearl facepalms.

"You two have to share a romantic kiss. It's Christmas law. Mr. Claws won't be happy if you don't," Marina informs.

"No, no, no. Agent 4 likes Callie guys," Pearl stammers.

"Just give him a peck on the cheek and get it over with," Marie instructs. "It's not that big of a deal, think of it as a kiss from a family member," Marie continues.

"Um, I ugh fine," Pearl says, quickly pressing her lips against your face before running away, flailing her arms.

Marie snaps a photo. "That's going in the album," Marie smirks.

"Did you get it?" Marina asks eagerly.

"Yep, I'll add a few filters, a little cropping, and some finishing touches. And... post. This post on Instaclam will be impossible for Callie to ignore.

Pearl comes back into the room. "You put it on social media. Are you crazy? Callie will kill me," Pearl says, hyperventilating.

"Don't worry; I have a plan. If I know Callie, she can get jealous rather quickly. I'll bet on the count of three; she'll already have a rival kissing photo on her story. One, two, three...

"Beep, beep, beep," The phone sounds. "Oh, a notification, I wonder who it is," Marie gasps.

"Bingo, It looks like I was right," Marie grins, showing you her phone screen. "She took a kissing pic with her pet clam, quite the downgrade if you ask me," Marie comments.

"And with this photo, Callie has revealed to us a vital piece of information," Marie details.

"Yeah, that she's a stalker," Marina snickers.

"That, and where her location is," Marie notifies. After Marie inspects the background of the image, she determines a shocking revelation.

"No way, she's at the java coffee shop right next to Inkopolis square. Oh, this is good," Marie says, rubbing her hands together. "Agent 4, your mission if you choose to accept it. Reach the cafe on 6th street, hunt down Callie, and disarm her. We're counting on you Agent 4, and if you're successful, our Christmas pairings will be saved.

"Don't you think he should give Callie some space? There's plenty of fish in the sea. Maybe he should engage in a few relationships first. You never know; the girl of your dreams might be right around the corner," Marina advises.

No, you finally determined that Callie was the girl of your dreams. You were never going to find another girl like her. This month was one of the hardest times of your life. Not having Callie in your life made you realize how important she was to you. No way in hell you were going to let this opportunity slip away.

"Then go, she might leave the shop soon," Marie exclaims.

Sure thing C, I'm glad your on my side this time.

You rush out of the apartment and race down the stairs. You hurry along the sidewalk, evading bystanders. You charge into oncoming traffic and vault over the stopped vehicles. There are thousands of people out on this busy holiday, and you're caught up in the center of it. You pass by the java place, investigating the glass window.

Callie notices your presence and immediately flees out the back door. You give chase and follow her through the alleyway. Your chest feels like it's going to explode from the amount of running you've endured. However, you couldn't stop, not when you were this close. After your hot pursuit through the city streets, Callie opts for a more secluded route. She veers left into Coral Park. You run past a set of multicolored fountains spraying water into the skyline. You catapult your body over park benches and trash bins. After jumping the fence, you then follow Callie into the frozen forest. There's an ice skating rink buried between the trees. Callie throws herself over the wall and slides on the ice. She maneuvers her body through the crowd of people holding on to couples for support. You launch over the Ice rink wall and stumble on your face. You mimic Callie's actions, attempting to gain distance on her. She escapes the rink and heads for a large stairwell. Dammit, why did it have to be stairs? You charge up the stairs with your last ounce of strength and come face to face with a massive Christmas tree. This was it; there was nowhere for Callie to run. Callie realizes this and finally throws in the towel. She turns around and confronts you.

Part Four

"I can't believe you chased me through town," Callie shouts.

I can't believe you took a kissing photo with a clam just to get back at me.

"Well, I can't believe you kissed Pearl to make me jealous," Callie fires back.

Umm, I can't believe you ignored me for a month.

"I can't believe you."

I can't believe your attitude.

"I can't believe you believed that."

This exchange goes on for several minutes before any actual progress is made.

Callie takes in a deep breath. She calms down and resumes the conversation. "I have a confession to make," Callie asserts.

After hearing those words, your heart sinks to the floor. No good could ever come from a phrase like that. You can't help but expect the worst: Agent 4, I have a medical condition, there's someone else, I don't like you anymore... I never liked you in the first place.

Callie pauses before speaking,

"I hate...

going to the movies."

Uh, what?

"I know I suggested the idea, but I'm not too fond of going to the movies. It's dark and cramped. I know I sound like a baby, but I'm a little claustrophobic. That's why I've been pushing it off for a while," Callie reveals.

You hug her and lift her off her toes. You swing her around like a rag doll as she yells for you to get off of her. After a couple of revolutions, you set her down.

• You ask her if that's the reason she's been avoiding you.

"No, it was something I wanted to get off my chest," Callie shares.

You sigh and wipe the sweat off your forehead.

"I am pregnant though."

WHAT

"Just teasing," She chuckles.

She better be. You two aren't exactly parenting material.

"In all seriousness, I want to ask you a question, Callie says, brushing her tentacles across her shoulder.

"Do you like me, more than a friend," Callie queries.

Ha, you were waiting for an opportunity like this. You weren't going to slip up and say something stupid. This was a loaded question with a lot of adverse outco-

Gah, what am I saying. I should stop trying to analyze everything and just speak from the heart.

• I like you a lot Callie.

Callie attempts to obscure her face by submerging it in her scarf. Her cheeks burn a bright red hue, the color of kindling by the fire. Her flustered reaction reminds you of the time you first met — a midsummer day late in July. You'd rescued her from the evil clutches of DJ Octavio and restored her memories. It was an odd interaction. Your first impression of her was someone who was boisterous and wore skimpy outfits. However, upon closer inspection, that couldn't be further from the truth. She was a kind-hearted girl who radiated nothing but charisma. You remember that she was nervous around you. At the time, you couldn't tell if she liked you or felt bad for getting off on the wrong foot. Looking back, it seems like the former.

You remember the first time you looked at her. There was something about her, something you couldn't put your finger on. There was this feeling you couldn't describe when you looked at her. You felt a tingling sensation every time your eyes met. It was an intriguing start to a relationship. You could simply chalk the emotions to a crush, but you felt as if your connection was deeper than that.

The same feeling appeared here. This interaction scratches the nostalgic itch you'd been craving. After all those years, you finally determined what that look meant. It was the look of when two people are infatuated with each other without knowing a lick about the other person. The difference here was that you knew Callie all too well. You could probably predict the next syllables coming out of her mouth. But you still felt that same nagging feeling. The sense that there was so much more to learn.

You stare up at the cold night sky, lost in thought.

"I want to tell you the reason I've avoided you this past month. After that night at the movies, I realized how upset I would've been if I never saw you again. I always cause misfortune for those I care about. People have coined me as a jinx because of my unlucky nature," Callie states.

Now that you think about it, Callie did have an unnatural habit of causing problems: Losing money on a scratch-off, continually tripping over nothing, even hitting into glass doors daily.

Ironic that she's a pop idol with one of the most dedicated fan bases around.

"I feel responsible for what happened that night. I want you to be safe, and I don't want to hurt you. So I need to distance myself from you, ensuring both our happiness," Callie adds.

Does she plan on avoiding people her whole life? That isn't any way to live. She needs to keep the people she loves close and not push them away. Although one thing is made apparent by her tone and lack of enthusiasm, she wasn't happy with her decision.

"I'm afraid this is it. We had a good run. Look at what I'm saying; I guess I'm admitting we were in a relationship after all. Silly me, I should know better," Callie sighs.

• You smile and release a little giggle.

"What's so funny?" Callie implores.

You ignore her question and continue grinning. Within minutes, you find yourself laughing like a crying dog, almost toppling onto the floor.

"Why are you so happy. Are you satisfied that you don't have to see me anymore?" Callie says, folding her arms.

• You reveal to Callie that you and she are the same. You're a fellow jinx.

"Saying that isn't going to change my mind," Callie shrugs.

You have to prove it to her, show her that you two are destined to be with each other. — You throw yourself on the ground and roll around on the concrete. You get up and spin in a circle till your dizzy. You jump up and down, scream at the top of your lungs, and pull off a series of outdated dance moves. Callie is utterly terrified by your performance, believing you to be possessed by the devil. You then latch onto the giant Christmas tree's garland and swing around the structure like a monkey on vines.

"Okay, you can stop now. I get it. You're trying to show me how crazy you are. This is your way of saying that you can handle me, right?" Callie deduces.

Everyone came with their quirks and secrets. Callie was no different; she was self-conscious about her bad reputation. And it all stemmed from some lousy superstition too. Either way, you weren't going to let this silly issue deter you from a relationship with her.

• You extend your hand to Callie, telling her to join you.

She initially hesitates on your offer, but eventually gives in to your demands, "All right, fine." She knew as well as you that you weren't going to take no for an answer. She was also beginning to realize how ridiculous she's been acting as of late.

Callie places her dainty hand on top of yours.

You charge into the city as a chaotic duo, racing under ladders and shattering bathroom mirrors, generally causing havoc to the citizens of Inkopolis. There was no rhyme or reason for your actions. You acted purely on instinct. And your gut was telling you to keep this feeling alive as long as possible. The sense that there was so much more for you to do together.

Part Five

December 25th, 2019 -

You awake to the obnoxious sound of carolers disturbing the district. "Ugh, can't they go away already," Callie says, burying her head in her pillow.

You slowly climb out of bed and approach the foggy window. You gaze outside and inspect the city streets. A large blanket of snow covers the neighborhood, with soft pellets of snow still raining down from above.

It was Christmas Day, the day you had been waiting for all year. A special day when strangers showed compassion and empathy to each other. A day when people remained in high spirits for at least twenty-four hours. That sounded like a good thing, but the pack of carolers outside proved otherwise. Couldn't they take a hint already? No one was thrilled about their company. It was thanks to their outburst that you missed some quality cuddling time with Callie. However, you can't muster up the strength to throw your slipper out the window. It was Christmas Day after all, and you didn't want to kill the chipper mood. Maybe you could let it slide for just this once.

Callie doesn't seem to reach the same conclusion and chucks her pillow off the fire escape. The mob of singers quickly disperses from the area, surrendering control of the street corner. It looks like this was Callie's way of enjoying the holidays. Hopefully, no one loses a finger because of how she wants to enjoy the day.

"There! That will show them," Callie grunts. She then storms off into the kitchen, still wearing her pink footie pajamas. Callie tries to clear her mind by preparing her patented mickey mouse shaped pancakes. They're golden brown masterpieces, coupled with sugary syrup and delicious blueberries. Callie's cuisine and could rival that of a culinary artist. It was a fantastic start to the morning and set the scene for the events to come.

After cleaning up the food, you make your way into the living room. "It looks like Santa Claws came after all," Callie remarks. Two presents lie under the tree: one addressed to Callie, and one assigned to you.

"We're going to open presents with Marie and the gang at five. So we still have a couple of hours left. Why don't we exchange Christmas gifts to pass the time?" Callie suggests.

• You hand your present to Callie.

Callie rips through the paper and unveils a small black box. "No way, no you didn't... YOU DID," Callie screams as she opens the container. It's a jewel-encrusted necklace bearing a heart-shaped locket. You drape the chain around Callie's neck and step back to get a better view. Callie marvels at the pendant's beauty and proceeds to wrap her arms around you, "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Your the best boyfriend ever. Uh, I mean... Yeah, you're the best boyfriend ever," Callie confidently bolsters.

"Okay, now it's your turn to open my gift," Callie urges.

You analyze the package, commenting on its rectangular shape. You shake it up and down a bit. "Don't do that, you don't know what's inside," Callie cries.

You tear off the festive wrapping paper. Inside, you find a limited edition Space Squid full DVD set. "I know that was a bad memory. But since we didn't get to see it, I wanted to make it up to you. And this time, we can watch it in the comfort of our living room," Callie affirms.

Callie pops one of the discs into the DVD player. She scurries over to the couch and curls up with you. You can see her clutching the locket tightly between her hand warmers. You're relieved that she liked it, it wasn't exactly easy to find. It looks like you both got what you wanted for Christmas. She got something sentimental that she could brag about to her friends. And you got something that could help pass the time on a rainy day.

Mr. Claws sure works in mysterious ways.

The movie begins, and you experience an adventure like no other — an emotional journey filled with high-octane action, riveting dialogue, and innovative special effects. After finishing the film, Callie voices her opinion.

"It was good; I'm glad the robotic chickens won."

• You explain to Callie that they were the bad guys.

"Oh... well, I'm sure they'll win in the sequel," Callie replies, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, they're building a new movie theater down the road. If you want to, we could go see the latest premiere," Callie proposes.

Nah, let's wait for the blu-rays.

"I thought so," Callie smirks.