Collision

I quietly shut the door behind me and walk forward, my feet shuffling across the hardwood floor. Harry's eyes lighten when he sees me, but he doesn't move from his spot on the edge of the bed.

"Hi," I say softly and stop just a few feet in front of him. His long arms reach out and grasps my wrist, pulling me forward and onto his lap.

"I'm sorry that this trip turned into shit," Harry whispers, resting his chin on my head that's tucked into his chest.

"It didn't." I pull away to look at him. "Really, it didn't. Gemma and I had fun." I smile at the memory of bonding with Gemma as we walked around downtown Denver. Even without Harry, we had a good time.

"Gemma can just be so damn infuriating sometimes," he releases his arms from around me to run his hands through his hair. I laugh at his simple gesture, he's done this a lot since we've known each other.

"Let's not talk about this anymore," I silence him with a quick kiss on his lips. He smiles and agrees, bringing his face forward so our lips meet again. His are soft at first, but slowly gains intensity throughout the kiss. I push him back to where I'm laying on top of him, my legs on either side of him. The thought of Gemma walking in runs through my mind, but I push it out as quickly as it came.

Harry's POV

Thirty minutes later we're saying goodbye to Gemma as she walks us down to the car. Even though this trip turned out to be shit, well for me, I'm glad that I got to see her.

"Don't be afraid to call or text me when you need to," Gemma smiles at Jess, pushing the elevator button. The thought of my sister and my girlfriend speaking to one another scares the shit out of me. Who knows what they could be talking about?

We make it down to the lobby and linger by the double doors. I can tell Gemma has something to say, but she doesn't let on.

"It was good see to you. Have a Merry Christmas," Jess gives Gemma a tight hug before retreating to the car parked on the street. I know she wants us to have a private moment, but I wish she was by my side.

"I'm sorry about bringing dad up. I didn't think it would upset you that much," Gemma apologizes but doesn't look at me. I sigh and look down at my strong, but fragile sister. Guilt washes over me, and before I know it I'm wrapping my arms around her.

"Tell mum I said hello. I'll be sure to call her on Christmas," she whispers into my shoulder. We stay in each other's arms for a few more minutes, until I see Jess tearing up as she watches us from the car.

"I'll see you later," I tell Gemma after I let go of her. She nods, kisses my cheek, and whispers that she loves me before returning back to the building.

Christmas Eve

Jess's POV

I rest my arms on the windowsill and stare out at the snow beginning to fall, creating a thin white blanket on the ground. It may be cliché, but I always love having a white Christmas. It gets me in the holiday mood, plus it's absolutely beautiful.

Just as I trace shapes into the frost, a snowball hits the cold glass. Furrowing my eyebrows, I open the window regardless of the cold weather and gaze down to see the British boy smiling at me.

"You scared me," I admit, my heart fluttering at the sight of him.

"My mom wants you to come over for dinner tonight." He tells me.

"Okay, let me just change," I happily agree and close my window just as another snowball that would have surely hit me hits the window.

I change into something warm and fold the clothes I was previously wearing and set them on the bed. I don't have any makeup on, but I just decide to go like this. I don't look too terribly bad, and Harry's seen me without makeup before.

I grab my white beanie and fleece jacket from the coat rack before opening the door. Harry's car idles on the curb. It looks so strange out here since it's the only black thing in a white wonderland.

"Hi," I smile at him when I sit down in the car. He looks stunning, as always, dressed in his all black. This time, however, he had a black cap pulled over his hair.

"You don't have to come over if you don't want too. My mum can deal," he offers and grabs my hand.

"No, I want to come over. It's been a while since I've seen her," I tell him. I know Harry would rather have me to himself, but I want to see Anne.

"Alright," he shrugs, giving me one last chance, but I shake my head and tell him to drive.

Anne is waiting in the kitchen for us, running back in forth while she makes three different batches of cookies. Harry squeezes my hand and tells me that he has to go upstairs when we enter the house. I nod, and follow the sound of baking toward the kitchen.

"Oh, Jess!" Anne sets down a mixing bowl and rushes over to hug me. Her black hair is pulled into a tight bun and she smells like cinnamon.

"I hope it's not too much to ask, but I need some help baking. The church wants me to bring cookies for the Christmas Eve service tonight," Anne takes my hand and leads me over to the counter.

"I would love to help! I love baking," I nod, and she smiles widely. Anne turns around and grabs a Christmas print apron, handing it to me. I pull the strap over my head and grab the two strings, trying to tie them behind my back.

"Let me help you with that," Harry's deep voice says behind me, and seconds later I feel his long fingers tying the strings behind my back. Once they're tied securely into a knot, he spins me around to plant a lingering kiss on my lips.

"Oh, you two, stop kissing! I need help," Anne pushes between us and Harry lets out a frustrated groan. I laugh and turn back around to pick up a wooden spoon to stir the mixture of brownies. While I'm mixing the eggs, powder, oil, and water together, Harry slips out of the kitchen to let us do our thing without getting in the way.

Over the next three hours, Anne and I make two hundred cookies, three pound cakes, and a batch of cupcakes. The kitchen looks horrendous, there are dirty bowls and spoons scattered over the counters. I take a wash cloth and begin wiping down the counter where there are faded stains from our previous baking. While I'm rinsing out the fabric, Anne leaves to get the mop.

Harry enters the kitchen just as I'm finished and immediately darts over to the platters full of decorated cookies.

"Hey!" I swat at his arm when he grabs a handful of them and shoves them in his mouth.

"You're such a boy!" I groan at his smug look and block the cookies with my body before he can take anymore. Harry chuckles and snakes his arms around my waist, burying his chin in my neck. I unwrap his arms from around me and pick up the platter to set on the other counter. When I turn back around, his face is etched into a frown.

Anne returns with the mop and shoves it into Harry's hand when she sees him sulking by the door. Harry takes the mop between his thumb and forefinger, holding it away from him like he doesn't know what to do with it.

"Jess, would you mind helping me take these down to the church?" Anne asks me as she gathers the several platters of cookies, cakes, and cupcakes. I scoop up some of the platters to ease some of the weight and follow her to the car, kicking the door shut behind me.

We swing by the church and drop off the desserts on the various tables that are set up in the fellowship hall. Once we're finished we return home to a grumpy Harry who has, surprisingly, mopped the kitchen floor. He jumps off of the couch when we return, and walks over to greet us.

"Didn't bring any back, I see," Harry stares disapprovingly at the two of us.

"Actually," I say and bring my hands from behind my back to reveal a tub of cookies, "We did. But I guess you don't want them, so..." I'm cut off by him yanking the tub from my arms, soon followed by his lips pressing against mine. The harsh cold weather that I was previously walked in is leeched out of my body by the warmness flowing from Harry's lips.

"Take me home?" I ask him when he backs up. He nods and holds up a finger, telling me to hold on, while he takes the cookies back into the kitchen.

I turn to Anne. "My mother wanted me to tell you that you are welcome to come by for lunch. We'll exchange presents then," I tell her.

"We would love to!" Anne throws her arms around me and elopes me into a tight hug. "Thank you for helping," she whispers into my hair.

I tell her that it was my pleasure just as Harry returns. I say goodbye to her before following Harry out to the car. We ride in silence back to my house, either of us too engrossed watching the Christmas lights pass by to speak.

I reluctantly tell Harry goodbye, but tell myself that I will see him tomorrow. I only give him a quick kiss, given that it's too cold outside and my parents are probably waiting for me, before disappearing inside the warm house.

Notes

I had time this morning so I decided to update for you guys! The next few chapters are going to go between boring and outrageously drama filled so please stay tuned :)