by Emily Lowry
“Look how much we stand out.”
“Pretty good, but…” She pointed to her uncle’s tree.
He’d only unpacked two boxes of lights and ornaments, but already, it was looking to be quite impressive. There were multiple strands of lights that flickered at different times, and he was setting up tracks of some sort that wound through the tree.
“Do you really think we can compete with him?”
I spun her away from the tree, grabbed her by her shoulders, and looked deeply in her eyes. “We can do this.”
16
Nina
Despite Tyler’s confidence, I doubted that we could beat my uncle. Not only was he the reigning champion, but he was also the person who founded Beachbreak’s Christmas tree decorating contest. Beating him was like trying to beat Santa. It just would not happen.
I rifled through a box of ornaments and passed one to Tyler. It was a framed photo of me holding Oscar when he was just a kitten – and I was just a baby. As I passed the ornament to him, I suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious.
He smiled when he placed it on the tree. “A cute baby and a cute kitten – there’s no way we’re going to lose.”
“It was my first Christmas with Oscar,” I said. “Or as my mom would call it, ‘The Year of the Cat.’ For the entire year I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of having a kitten. I begged her to take me to the pet store every day. And I wrote two dozen letters to Santa, all covered in kitten stickers, asking for a cat. Oscar was all I ever wanted.”
“And you got him.”
We continued to stagger my family ornaments around our Christmas tree. Even though he didn’t have to, Tyler asked about the story behind each ornament. I told him about the candy cane I’d decorated in first grade and how I’d tried to eat it because I thought it was a real candy cane. I told him about the miniature snow globes Dad and I had found on a trip to Banff, Canada. I even told him about our family star, which had been passed down through three generations. It lit up now – thanks to my uncle’s handiwork.
We finished putting the last of the decorations on the tree.
“You don’t have any decorations you want to add?” I asked. “It’s your tree too, you know.”
“Your decorations look a lot better than mine.”
I poked him. “You’ve gotta have something.”
“My family isn’t the sentimental type. But I have one thing.” Ty dug in his pocket and pulled out a small, wooden ornament. It was a hand-painted guitar, about the size of my palm. “It’s the only thing I have that has some kind of memory attached to it. It was Dad’s.”
I gently hung the guitar on a branch. “You miss him?”
“Sometimes,” Ty said. “But then, I’m not even sure if I miss him, or just the memory of him. It’s been so long since the divorce. So it’s like, do I actually miss the dude, or just who I thought he was? That probably sounds weird.”
“It doesn’t sound weird,” I said. I squeezed his hand. My family was crazy in a thousand different ways – particularly when Christmas came around. But we were also incredibly lucky – literally every couple in my family – my mom and dad, my uncle and aunt, my grandparents – had stayed together. Not a single divorce in the group. My mom said our family was full of unicorns. I knew that most families weren’t so lucky.
We took a step back from the tree.
“You know, I think we did a pretty great job,” Ty said.
“It’s beautiful,” I agreed. “But, there’s one ornament left.”
“Oh?”
I pulled the last ornament out of the wagon. Our star. I handed it to Tyler. “Unfortunately, I’m definitely too short to reach the top.”
“Should’ve eaten more vegetables when you were a kid,” he said, grinning. “That’s what mom always said to Zoe.”
“Doesn’t look like it worked.”
Tyler laughed. “No, it only worked for one of us. But you can still put the star on top.”
“You have some stilts lying around?”
Tyler winked, put his hands on my hips, and lifted me into the air. The movement was seamless, effortless. To him, I may as well have been a stuffed animal.
I smiled delightedly. “Higher!”
He snorted and lifted me higher.
I felt a thrill in my heart, and I put the star on top of the Christmas tree.
I never wanted him to put me down.
17
Nina
Tyler and I strolled through the forest of Christmas trees. Each one was beautiful in its own way. Some people went with a more classic Christmas tree design; others, like Callie’s neighbor Jace, went with something completely unique. He’d decorated his Christmas tree with his brothers, and literally every branch had a different surfboard ornament on it.
And then there was my uncle’s tree.
It was – easily – the most impressive Christmas tree I’d ever seen. A set of train tracks looped through the branches, and on those tracks, was an electric train with colorful lights. It wound through the branches, and if you listened closely, you could hear it play Christmas carols.
Uncle Robert stood next to his Christmas tree, proud as a peacock. Just like every year, it was obvious he was going to win. He saw me and smiled. “What do you think of this year’s tree, Neen?”
“It’s over the top, but in the best way,” I said, my eyes following the train as it climbed to the top of the tree.
“You have to be over the top if you want to win,” Uncle Robert said. He looked at Tyler and stuck out his hand. “I’m Robert – Nina’s uncle.”
“I’m Tyler – Nina’s boyfriend.”
The word sounded so good I nearly choked. I had to turn away and clear my throat. My boyfriend. I knew – I KNEW – that it was only a fake relationship, and Tyler was just playing his part. But the way he said it so casually, with no effort at all, made me think it was true. Just for a moment.
“I didn’t know Nina had a boyfriend,” my uncle said.
“We’re trying to keep it quiet,” Ty replied.
That was a brilliant move by Tyler. Nothing made a secret spread faster than telling someone it was a secret. In a gossipy family like mine, having a secret was like holding a piece of forbidden fruit that you couldn’t help but share.
“Good man,” my uncle said. “I’ll keep my lips sealed. Where’s your tree? You know you can tell a lot about a relationship based on the Christmas tree.”
Well, there was no way that was true. Or at least, I hoped it wasn’t true. What would my uncle say when he saw our tree? Did he have some magical Christmas power that would enable him to deduce that we weren’t in a real relationship?
No. Impossible. I was being ridiculous.
We led him to our tree.
“Classic style,” my uncle said approvingly. “And look at these decorations. I remember this one. Your third birthday. The year of the cat.”
“That’s the one,” I said. “So, what do you think?”
While I doubted my uncle’s theory about being able to tell much about our relationship based on the Christmas tree, I still secretly, silently, cared what he thought.
Before he could answer, the judge returned to the podium. He held up the microphone, and after congratulating everyone on another great year, he prepared to award the prizes.
Why was I so nervous? It was just a Christmas tree decorating competition, and the whole point of it was to get my uncle to notice me and Tyler together. Which he had. So what happened now didn’t really matter. Yet, deep down, I wanted to win.
I was turning Christmas into a competition.
I guess I really was my mother’s child.
“The runner-up is…” the judge paused for dramatic effect. “Nina and Tyler for their tree, ‘Christmas Memories.’”
My heart just about exploded out of my chest. I squealed and leaped into the air. Hand in hand, Tyler and I ran to the podium, where the judge gave us each a silver Christmas tree ornament. Another memo
ry.
“This is amazing,” I said. “I never win. I never place.”
Tyler turned the silver Christmas tree over in his hand. There was a soft smile on his lips. “Thanks for inviting me to this.”
I leaned my head against his shoulder. “Thanks for being my boyfriend.”
“Anytime.”
The judge announced the winner. Of course, my Uncle Robert collected the golden Christmas tree. He took his ornament, then stood next to me and smiled. “A clean sweep for the family.”
“Definitely. Did you like our Christmas tree?” I asked. I still wanted to know what he thought about us as a couple.
“It’s a great tree,” Uncle Robert said. He winked. “Not quite as good as mine, but you and your boyfriend have a few decades before your relationship is strong enough to make a tree like ours.”
I laughed, still not entirely sure how a Christmas tree could say anything about a relationship.
Tyler put his arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry – we’ll catch up.”
His words surrounded me, a warm hug on a winter day. For the briefest moment, I pictured life with Tyler, twenty years from now. We’d be in our mid-thirties. We’d have a house, right next door to Zoe and Mason. Oscar would be the world’s oldest cat. And maybe a kid.
Whoa, Nina. Slow down. Don’t think crazy thoughts.
I shook myself from my daydream.
This was just a fake relationship. There would be no “twenty years from now” between me and Tyler.
18
Nina
At dance practice, sorry xo
Skipping out to go surfing with Jace ;)
Attending a lunchtime Student Mentors meeting.
I stared dejectedly at the text messages from Zoe, Callie, and Kenzie. Another lunch in the cafeteria alone? No, thank you.
I grabbed a buffalo chicken wrap, a bag of chips, and a vanilla milkshake, paid for my food, and headed for the exit. If I had to eat alone, I’d eat down by the beach.
On my way out, I spotted Tyler at the table in the far corner where the football players always sat, chatting with Mason, Oliver and a couple of other seniors on the team. He was leaning back, an adorable smirk on his face. A few of the cheerleaders hovered in the boys’ periphery, giggling. Amber sat next to Tyler and was talking to a junior I didn’t recognize.
When I saw him like that, in his element, I could hardly believe that anyone bought that we were together. I knew that Tyler didn’t see me as below him — he wasn’t like that. But other people were. And football stars didn’t date band geeks. At least, not at Beachbreak.
I sighed and kept walking.
“Something on your mind?” The voice that came from behind me was sickly sweet, like a cloud of floral perfume.
Ugh. What did Parker want?
“You look like you could use a friend,” Parker said. “Like you need to make a confession.”
“Whatever you say.” I didn’t stop walking.
Parker was undeterred. She fell into step beside me. She wore sunglasses so huge they practically covered her face, and her long hair was tied in a high ponytail. She took a sip of her green smoothie and eyed my food. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were meeting someone else for lunch.”
Don’t respond, Nina. Don’t say anything.
“You’re not used to dating guys like Tyler, so I thought I’d pop by and give you some advice. If that’s even what you’re doing.”
Even what we’re doing?
Parker placed her perfectly manicured hand on my arm. “It is what you’re trying to do, isn’t it? Date him?”
“I am dating him,” I snapped. “And you’re not. Why don’t you just let it go?”
Parker looked hurt. “Because I’m concerned about your welfare.”
“How sweet of you.”
“Naturally.”
I sat down at a picnic bench near the beach, hoping that Parker would be too ashamed to be seen sitting with me. Unfortunately, she slid into the seat across from me.
She continued. “All I’m saying is that if you want to date a boy like Tyler, it’s going to take more than a stolen glance and a peck on the cheek. This isn’t Victorian England.”
I swallowed a bite of my wrap. “I’m not sure I should take advice from someone who couldn’t make her relationship last.”
Parker forced a smile. She wrapped her fingers around my wrist, gripping it just hard enough to hurt. “You should be careful what you say, Nina. And who you say it to. You don’t expect me to buy this whole relationship, do you? The rest of the school, maybe. But they’re idiots. I’m smarter than that. And I know who you are. Like who you really are.”
I pulled my wrist away. I wanted to throw my wrap in her face, but that would make a scene, and if I made a scene, then word would get back to Tyler. To keep our fake relationship going, he needed to know that I could handle Parker. So instead, I took another bite of my wrap, then spoke to Parker with my mouth full. “And who am I? Who am I really?”
“You’re still that same little girl you were back in our sandcastle days,” Parker said. “You haven’t changed a bit. We both remember what happened. You couldn’t stomach it then and you can’t now. These other idiots might think you’re dating, but I know you’re just doing this for revenge. Tyler would never date someone who couldn’t—”
“Shut up,” I snapped. I needed to cut her off – that was the last memory I wanted to revisit.
Parker got to her feet, flashing a cat-like smile. “Thought so.”
She left, swaying her hips in an exaggerated fashion.
I took deep breaths and stared at the ocean to calm myself down. There was nobody in the world better at pushing buttons than Parker. And despite all we’d done, she still didn’t believe in my relationship with Tyler.
It was time to raise the stakes.
I texted Tyler. Meet me in Mr. Hinshaw’s classroom in ten minutes.
19
Tyler
My sneakers squeaked on the linoleum as I walked to the science wing. Lunch was just about to end, but Nina had demanded that I meet her in Mr. Hinshaw’s classroom ASAP. I wondered what she could possibly say that she couldn’t say over text.
Mr. Hinshaw’s classroom was dark.
“Nina?”
“Here.” Nina sat in the corner, cross-legged on top of one of the desks. She was chewing on her nails, though when I came in, she quickly pulled her hand from her mouth.
I sat beside her. “What’s up?”
She paused for a second, staring at her hands. “Just had a lovely conversation with Parker.”
I shuddered. “How’d that go?”
“She’s not buying it,” Nina said.
“Our relationship?”
“The whole thing. Apparently, we’re just not a believable pair. If Parker doesn’t buy it, this plan doesn’t work. She’s not going to bother sabotaging a relationship that she doesn’t think is real.”
“Okay,” I said. “So how do we make a relationship real?”
Nina cleared her throat. “We make out.”
I coughed. I was definitely not ready for our fake relationship to cross that line.
“Not for real,” Nina said. “We pretend to make out. Here. Now. And then make sure that someone – say, Mr. Hinshaw – catches us.”
I relaxed. Nina had recently revealed that she’d never been kissed, and the last thing I wanted to do was take her first kiss away from her. First kisses were supposed to be special. Magical. And Nina deserved nothing less.
“I get it,” I said. “If we get caught making out, even Parker won’t deny that we’re dating.”
“Precisely.”
I looked around at the dark, empty classroom. In just a few minutes, Mr. Hinshaw would return from lunch. At which point he’d find us. “So that’s why you brought me here?” I asked. “A fake make-out session?”
“You’re a fast learner.”
“I’m definitely not,” I said, laughing.
“
Well, I’m… inexperienced,” Nina replied, her gaze flitting away. “So how do we do this whole making out thing?”
20
Nina
My heart was beating furiously, and I felt the same feeling that I had at the beach with Parker all those years ago: nausea. What was I thinking? A fake make-out session? How did that even work? The plan had seemed foolproof when I thought it up, but anger had briefly blinded me.
Tyler leaned towards me.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
He gently slid his fingers into my hair, messing with my curls. “We need to make it look realistic. You can judge the quality of a make-out session by how messy everyone’s hair is after.”
“In that case…” I shoved my hands in Tyler’s hair and messed it up as much as I could.
He snickered, and any doubts I had disappeared. Briefly – very briefly – I thought about what it would be like if we, you know, did make out. What would it feel like to have Tyler’s lips on mine? His hands playing with the curls in my hair? Or one hand on the small of my back, while I looked up at—
“Take off your jacket,” Tyler said.
I swallowed and took off his letterman jacket, setting it on the chair beside me.
He looked at my shirt and laughed. “Clever.”
“One of my favorites,” I said. My shirt featured a fork tuning the strings on a guitar. Underneath, the label read “Tuning Fork.”
“I could use one of those for my guitar,” Tyler said.
“Are you playing again?”
Before he could answer, there was a noise outside the door—
Footsteps.
A shadow stopped at the other side of the door, and the doorknob turned.
I panicked.
But while I was busy panicking, Tyler took action. He lifted me off the desk and pressed me against the wall. “Put your arms around me.”
