AN-So I decided to follow my plan and skip right over to Christmas. Why you ask? Well, this chapter and this time of year is very crucial in my plan to put Katie and Charlie together.

So, sit back, enjoy, and when you're done? Go ahead, leave a review!

The rest of November and December passed quickly for Katie. Her parents had finally settled on joint custody, but her and Adam would be living with their father. Phillip and Vicky still hadn't forgiven Katie for her little episode on Thanksgiving, but she really didn't care. Her main concern was Charlie Conway.

Yes, Charlie Conway, best friend to her older brother, the object of her affections, and the boy who's heart she was slowly capturing. While the first half of her Thanksgiving sucked, the other half, she spent over at the Conway residence. It was perfect. Charlie had an amazing family, one that Katie desperately hoped for.

Also, the two young teens shared their first kiss. An incredible one at that. But, Katie was scared.

Charlie Conway was the boy she had wanted her whole life. Now, the opportunity presented itself, and she was too scared to take the leap. Maddie called her on it, telling her what a chicken she was.

Katie knew she was right. She just couldn't understand why Charlie would fall for her.

In her eyes, she wasn't that special. In Charlie's eyes, she was.

Christmas was coming up soon, and their father would be whisking his new girlfriend, a.k.a. the secretary, away on a magical ski trip,giving Adam and Katie the house to themselves for a little while. Then they would have to spend Christmas Eve and Day with their mother.

''I should throw a party.'' Adam said, one morning, while him and Katie were enjoying breakfast.

''Wow, Adam. Maybe you aren't as lame as I thought.'' Katie quipped.

Adam glared and threw his napkin at her. Katie held up her hands in mock surrender.

''I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. This just isn't you Adam. What's up?''

''I'm sick of mom and dad fighting too. Why not rebel a little?" he asked.

''Adam, you have no idea how proud I am of you right now. Can I help?'' she asked.

Adam smirked. ''What makes you think your invited?''

''Fine, you wanna play that game? What makes you think dad won't find out about your little party?'' she asked.

Adam rolled his eyes. ''Fine, you big baby, you can come.''

Katie grinned. ''All that matters is that I can have Maddie here.''

''Fine, invite your friend, I'll invite the Ducks.'' Adam said.

''Let the fun begin.'' commented Katie.

''Adam is throwing a party?'' Maddie asked, clearly shocked.

The two girls were shopping in the mall. Well, actually Maddie dragged Katie to help her find a new outfit when she heard Dean would be coming to the party.

''I know, it surprised me too. Maybe I'm a better influence then I thought.'' Katie said.

Maddie laughed. ''Kat, there is no way you would ever throw a party.''

"I meant the whole rebelling stuff. Or do I have to remind you about Thanksgiving?''

A gleam appeared in Maddie's eye. ''Speaking of Thanksgiving..."

"No.'' Katie warned.

''I've noticed you've been avoiding Charlie.'' Maddie said.

''I have not.'' Katie said.

''Really? So you just never go to you locker now because?''

''The bitchy cheerleaders and the idiot jocks.'' answered Katie.

''And, whenever you see him walking down the hallway, you turn and run in the opposite direction because?''

''I'm finding shortcuts.'' Katie offered weakly.

"And now you spend lunch hour inside, instead of out. Kat, you like him. Don't run from it, embrace it.'' Maddie insisted.

''Easy for you to say. You've always been comfortable around guys. You're the type they date, I'm the type they're friends with.'' Katie complained.

''Katie, listen to me. You. Are. Charlie's.Type. The sooner you realize that he likes you, the happier you'll be. Don't turn this into a soap opera. Just tell him how you feel.'' Maddie said.

''Thanks for the advice Dr. Phil.'' remarked Katie.

Maddie sighed. Despite the joke, she knew her friend was seriously thinking about what she had said.

''Speaking of Charlie, isn't that him, over there?'' Maddie asked, pointing him out.

Katie turned and saw him, standing there, looking as adorable as ever. She felt her heart race, her blood pressure rise, and once again, the overwhelming desire to kiss him.

''Why would he be shopping, isn't that a girls thing to do?'' Maddie asked.

Suddenly a familiar brunette popped up next to him. Katie smiled.

''He's here with Connie. She's probably looking for something for Guy.'' Katie said.

''Connie, Charlie, over here!'' Maddie called, waving to get their attention.

''Are you crazy.'' Katie hissed, yanking her hand back down.

''Oops.'' Maddie said, as the two players stopped them and walked over.

''Hey Kat, Mads. What are you guys doing here?'' Connie asked.

''Operation Find-New-Outfit-For-Party.'' Maddie said.

''I love how you name your shopping trips.'' Katie said, smiling.

Maddie shrugged. ''It's my thing. What are you guys doing here?''

''Connie's looking for something for Guy, and I got dragged along to be the ''guy's opinion.'''' Charlie said.

''First off Charlie, I did not drag you, you offered to come. Secondly, you haven't been offering one opinion since we got here.'' Connie snapped.

''Sorry Cons, but if you know him so well, why did you need my help?'' Charlie asked.

Katie and Maddie nodded in agreement. ''He's got a point, Connie.''

Connie just rolled her eyes and grabbed Charlie's arm. "Come, Charles. We must away. See you guys later.'' Connie called, dragging Charlie away.

''That was kinda weird.'' Maddie said.

Katie shrugged. ''They've always been close.''

''Does it bother you?''

''Hell no, she's like a sister to him. And the feeling's mutual.'' Katie told her.

''Connie, I swear, I'm going to claw my eyes out.'' Charlie warned.

Connie dragged him over to the nearest jewelry store.

''Oh hush up. If it makes you feel better, I already bought Guy's present.'' she said, looking at all the different earrings.

''Then...why did you bring me?'' he asked, clearly confused.

''I wanted to talk to you. About Katie.'' Connie said.

Charlie froze, obviously nervous.

''What about her?''

''Oh please, Charlie. Anyone who looks at you when your around her can tell. You're different. You're happy, she's happy. And now, she's avoiding you. So what happened?'' Connie inquired.

''She's not avoiding me.'' Charlie protested.

Connie raised an eyebrow. ''Really, so the other day, Katie didn't see you coming down the hallway, or hear you call your name?''

''It's loud in the hallways.''

''Charlie.'' she said, impatiently.

''Fine, we kissed over Thanksgiving break. She said she just needed a friend, and now she's avoiding me.'' Charlie told her.

''Maybe, you should talk to her. Find out what's wrong, why she's avoiding you.'' Connie suggested.

''I wish it could be that simple.'' Charlie sighed.

''Why wouldn't it be?''

''Adam.'' Charlie said simply.

Cuts to Maddie and Katie, obviously done with their shopping and hanging out in Maddie's room.

''I'm confused, what does Adam have to do with this?'' asked Maddie.

''Everything! He's my older brother, he's Charlie's best friend. If we ever got together, how would he react?''

''Kat, Adam loves you. He just wants you to be happy. I don't think-''

''You obviously don't know him, Mads. He would freak.'' Katie said.

Cut back to Connie and Charlie in the mall.

''You don't know that.'' Connie insisted.

''Oh yes I do. I've known this guy my whole life. He's very protective of Katie, there's no way he'd jump up and cheer I ever started dating her.'' Charlie said.

''A lot of things are changing. Their parents are being brats, they are going through a rough time. He just wants to see her smile. What if you can make her smile?'' Connie asked.

''It wouldn't matter.'' Charlie insisted.

Cut back to the girls in Maddie's room

''Why wouldn't it matter?'' Maddie asked.

''Adam doesn't want to see his little sister all grown up. Look Mads, I know my brother and there's no way he'd take this information lightly.''

''But what if Charlie asks you to be with him. What would you say?'' Maddie asked.

Katie bit her lip and pondered the question.

''I don't know.'' she replied.

Cut back to Connie and Charlie.

''How can you not know? I thought you liked her?'' Connie demanded,

He sighed. ''Cons, I don't know ok? Can we just drop it, please?''

''Fine, All I'm saying is that it would be very stupid of you to ignore your feelings, just for your best friend.'' Connie said.

Cut back to Maddie and Katie's room.

''Gee, thanks Mads. Calling me stupid is good holiday cheer.'' Katie said.

It cuts back once again, showing both Charlie and Katie pondering the words of their friends,

Finally, the day of the party arrived. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and the Banks children would have go spend it with their darling mother. You could practically see their excitement.

Adam and Katie waited patiently for their friends to arrive.

''I think this is going to be the best day out of our whole holiday.'' Katie said.

Adam nodded in agreement.

''So you think mom is gonna introduce her new boyfriend?'' Adam asked.

''Well, dad's already got his significant other. I can't really see her staying single for long, if she ever was.'' Katie said.

''Do you remember, a couple years ago? Mom and Dad bought that huge Christmas tree for us?''

Katie grinned, "And it was so big, it couldn't even fit in the house?''

"So mom and dad set it up outside and made us decorate it? You cried because no one could put the star on top.''

''So dad climbed on the roof, and somehow, using his fishing pole, was able to get it on?''

Adam nodded, laughing. ''And then they said Santa delivered our presents outside and we had to bring them all in the house.''

Katie laughed along with him. ''And mom slipped on the ice on the porch.''

Suddenly, her laughter died down. ''Then dad picked her up and they kissed. We ewwed loudly.''

Adam smirked, ''Do you think, if we knew then, would we have given them every opportunity to be alone?''

Katie shook her head. ''It wouldn't have mattered. Somehow, they were destined to hate each other.''

Adam nodded sadly.

A few hours later, all the Ducks and Maddie arrived. The Holiday cheer was ringing in the air. Katie and Adam didn't need to pretend to be happy. Their friends were making them happy.

Katie was sitting on her couch, watching her friends laugh and enjoy themselves. Suddenly, she felt someone take the seat next to her.

''Hey.'' greeted Charlie.

''Hey. Merry Christmas.'' Katie said.

''You too. Enjoying the party?'' he asked.

''Of course. What's not to enjoy, we got food, friends-''

''Me.'' Charlie added.

''Oh, of course. How could I forget?'' Katie said.

''I don't know. I mean, there's no way I'm forgettable.'' Charlie said, grinning.

''No, just kinda annoying.'' she said.

''And you're beautiful.'' he said, softly.

Katie blushed, and Charlie leaned closer.

''Kat. Do you have any idea how many times I think about Thanksgiving.'' he whispered.

Katie bit her lip and stood up quickly. ''I'm trying to forget that day, thank you very much.'' she said.

Charlie watched her go, debating whether or not to go after her.

AN-Once again, I'm breaking this chapter into 2 parts!! Yay!

Stay tuned for part 2.