As many cookies that you ate and presents you wrapped, nothing would ever come close to the events of this Christmas.

The school hallways were covered with 'Snowball' flyers that even littered the floors and bulletin boards, and printed out ornaments and Christmas trees covered the walls.

Your bright red and green reindeer sweater made you practically glow throughout the day, especially with the smile you were giving out to people because it was officially December.

23, 14, 9.

The click of your locker door opening, papers threatening to spill out, and a few books being shoved in is what you experienced in the morning and afternoon. You stuck your tongue out of the corner of your mouth to concentrate.

"I need your help." A panicked Max said, making your attention turn away from the hurricane that was happening inside of your locker.

"What is it?" You asked her, quickly recovering and fixing the mistake as she carried on. "Well, I know Lucas wants to take me to do the dance but I don't know if we should kiss there."

You smiled. "Are you really asking me about this 'kissing' and 'dancing' nonsense?" Her face went bright red. "Look, I just need to know."

You let out a sigh. "Maybe I will tell you later on but kissing is the perfect moment. You can't give away your first kiss, whether it be on the cheek, or-"

You suddenly felt a pair of lips peck your cheek as you cleared you throat. "As I was saying," You continued, Mike staring at you with confusion.

"It has to be special. I think you should just go for it." Max nodded, giving you a smile before a 'thank you' and leaving to go towards her locker where she stuffed her skateboard into the small space.

"You!" You said, giggling as you shoved him with your hand but immediately pulling him back to you with a smile. "What was that about?" He asked you.

"Kissing."

He cleared his throat. "What about it?" You side glanced at him while putting some stuff away in your locker, books and papers now organized.

"The first kiss had to be special. Like ours."  You smiled at the memory. It wasn't anything too special, but it felt special to you because you were with your best friend, and also your boyfriend.

"It was before we fought the Demogorgan." Mike lowered his voice, nervous of someone overhearing the conversation of the strange things that had happened in Hawkins recently.

You nodded, shutting the locker door and clutching your books close. "It was special to me. I had my first kiss before we fought off this creature from the Upside Down."

Mike smiled at you. "Why was Max so curious about it?" You sighed. "You'll see."

The bell rang overhead as you pulled Mike into a hug before going to the last class of the day, the thought of your first kiss on your mind.

—
You exited the classroom with Dustin on your left, babbling about nothing very important. "___, you need to know this stuff for the real world!"

"What?" You questioned, opening your locker to put the unnecessary books away. "All about Dungeons & Dragons?"

Dustin nodded, fixing the hat that sat atop the top of curls on his head. "It's important for everyone! Especially since there was a demogorgan that we kicked ass on." He whispered the last part, careful of passers.

You shut the locker, walking to front doors of the school with Dustin, and walking outside to the bike rack. "Anyways, I'll see you later." Dustin said, putting his stuff away in his bag and peddling in the direction of his house.

You turned around, looking for Mike. You spotted him, sitting on a bench with Max who was very engaged in the conversation.

You began walking over to them since they seemed to be having an innocent conversation until things took a turn. Mike leaned in and put his lips to hers, holding it for a couple seconds, and let go.

She stood up nodding and smiling as she walked off with her skateboard. Your stomach twisted in an uncomfortable, heavy knot.

Your boyfriend had kissed another girl.

And you had seen it all.

Your eyes formed tears quickly, spilling a few, as he got up and turned around to face you. He gave a smile but you didn't return it. You continued to stare at him with tears and books clutched tightly to your hurting stomach.

He began to walk over to you. "___?" He asked softly, trying to look at your face but you quickly turned it away from his view.

"___, what's wrong?" He asked.

You sighed. "You kissed another girl is what's wrong, Wheeler!" The anger suddenly arrived after the disbelief of the entire situation.

A few kids began to gather around you two. "I didn't kiss her, ___."

"Oh, don't lie to me, Wheeler. I saw it! I saw it all! With my own eyes!" More kids began to crowd around you.

"I only did it to-"

Your gaze dropped from his. "So, You did kiss her?" A crack of your voice followed your words.

"You didn't let me finish. I only did it to show her how to do it with Lucas." His voice had softened as you looked back up at him.

You stood, speechless at the feet of your boyfriend and for once, you were having mixed emotions about him. He stared gently down at you, smiling softly.

"___, you gotta believe me. You don't have to be so jealous." You opened your mouth to speak as more kids crowded around you.

"Maybe I am jealous! She's a great person and really pretty and-" You cut yourself off. "All I'm saying, is that I love you and I'm jealous, alright?"

Mike stared down at you, not saying anything as you wiped away the tears that had been there since the beginning.

"You love me?"

You nodded, kids 'oooh'ing all around you two as you tried to ignore it all. "Yes, Mike Wheeler. I love all of you."

Some kids began whispering as he reached for your hand. You felt the warmth transfer from his to your hand and you looked back up at him.

"I love you too, ___. Even if you get a little jealous."

You let out a smile that wasn't there before. "You can't blame me, Wheeler. It's just a little Christmas jealousy."

—
I'm so sorry for not updating yesterday- which was on my updating schedule but I'm updating today so here's the update for today!

I might make up for no update yesterday but this could just be it & I'll update something else later- idk! I'll figure it out!

thanks for reading!!!

stay strange(r) (things) my friends!!!

-katherine

—
time: 2:27 pm
words: 1136

1️⃣1️⃣