After the apartment is clean to my standards, not Hardin's, I go to the store to get tampons and a few things in case Ken, Karen, and Landon come over. Hardin tried to accompany me but I knew he would be teasing me about the tampons the entire time so I made him stay home. He made sure to embarrass me up until I walked out the door.

The small grocery store down the street from our apartment, Conner's, is usually empty but today it is packed with customers. The elderly woman at the counter seems annoyed as I place my items on the belt. After she scans my things I swipe my debit card.

"This lane is cash only." She huffs.

I look up to the small sign above her head that clearly reads 'cash only'. Great.

"Do you think you could just let me pay with my card just this once?" I plea. I just stood in line for twenty minutes, I really do not want to wait in line again.

"I can't, sorry." The gray haired woman replies.

"Oh come on Gloria, it's only once." A young man with tanned skin and black hair says from the next register. He shoots her a charming smile and she sighs.

"Only this once." She gives in and I thank her before swiping my card again.

I turn to thank the raven haired boy but he isn't at his register anymore.

When I step outside the cold air hits me and I shiver. I can not wait for spring, I hope winter isn't long this year.

"She takes her job a little too serious sometimes." A voice says, I turn to find the guy from inside. His name tag says Jonah and he is now wearing a thick black jacket.

"I can tell." I laugh. "Thank you for that, I would have been in line all day."

"No problem. Glad I could help." He smiles and lifts a helmet onto his head.

"Thanks again." I tell him and watch as he climbs onto a motorcycle.

I don't know how smart it is to be riding a motorcycle in this weather but at least it is not snowing. His bike starts with a loud roar and I climb into my car.

When I return he is sitting on the couch with his work binder on his lap and a pen between his lips. I love to see him this way, something about him working is so appealing. Everything about Hardin is appealing, but this is towards the top of the list.

"Is that all  or are there more bags?" He asks, removing his binder from his lap and placing it on the side table.

"This is all of it." I walk to the kitchen to put the groceries away.

"Have you called your father yet?" I ask from the kitchen.

"No.. I was waiting for you." He says back.

He appears in the kitchen moments later and sits down at the table.

"I'll call now." He sighs.

I nod and sit across from him while he presses his phone to his ear.

"Uh..hey." Hardin says into the receiver.

He sets the phone to speaker and places it on the table between us.

"Hardin?" Ken's voice is surprised.

"Yea..uhm, look I was wondering if you wanted to come over or something."

"Come over?" Ken asks.

Hardin looks up at me and I can tell that his patience is already wearing thin. My hand moves across the table to lay on his and I nod in encouragement.

"Yea.. you Karen and Landon. We can exchange gifts since we didn't yesterday. Mum's gone." He says.

"You're sure that is okay?" Ken asks his son.

"I just asked didn't I?" Hardin says and I squeeze his hand.

"I mean.... yea that's fine." He corrects himself and I smile at him.

"Okay, well let me talk to Karen but I know she will be thrilled. What time will be good for you?"

Hardin looks at me. I mouth "two" and he tells his father.

"Okay, well we will see you at two."

"Tessa will text Landon the address." Hardin says and hangs up the phone.

"That wasn't so bad right?" I ask Hardin.

"Sure." He rolls his eyes.

"What should I wear?"

"That." He gestures to my jeans and WSU t-shirt.

"Definitely not. This is our Christmas."

"No, it's the day after Christmas so you should wear jeans." He smiles and his fingers tug at his lip ring.

"I'm not wearing jeans." I laugh and head to the room to decide what to wear.

I am holding my white dress to my chest in front of the mirror when Hardin walks into the bedroom.

"I don't know if wearing white is the best idea." He smiles.

"For god's sake, stop it!" I whine.

"You're cute when you are embarrassed." He teases and I grab my maroon dress from the closet.

This dress holds a lot of memories for me, I wore it to my first frat party with Steph. I miss Steph despite all the anger I feel.. felt towards her. I feel betrayed by her but at the same time she was right when she said it wasn't fair for me to forgive Hardin but not her, he was the one who did the most damage.

"What's going on in that mind of yours?" Hardin questions.

"Nothing.. I was just thinking of Steph."

"What about her?"

"I don't know.. I miss her, sort of."

"Oh."

"Do you miss your friends?" I ask. He hasn't mentioned any of them since the letter.

"No, I would rather spend my time with you than them."  He shrugs.

I am enjoying this honest Hardin.

"You could still spend time with them too." I tell him.

"I guess. I don't know, I don't really care either way. Do you even want to be around them.. you know after everything?" His eyes focus on the floor.

"I don't know.. but I would be willing to try at least and see how it goes. Not Molly though." I scowl.

"But the two of you are such great friends." He smiles.

"Ugh, enough about her. What do you think they will do on new year's eve?" I ask, I don't know how it will be to be around everyone but I miss having friends, or what I thought were friends.

"There will probably be a party. Logan is obsessed with New Years, are you sure you want to go out?"

"Yea.. if it blows up in my face then we will stay in next year." I smile.

Hardin's eyes widen when I mention next year but I choose to ignore it. I need today to be peaceful considering we are attempting Christmas again and the original was a massive disaster.

"I need to make something for everyone to eat. I should have said three, it's already noon and I am not even ready." I rub my hands over my makeup free face.

"Go ahead and get ready, I will make something.. just make sure you only eat what I put on your plate." He smirks.

"Joking about poisoning your father, lovely." I tease and he shrugs before leaving the bedroom.

I wash my face and apply light makeup before pulling my hair out of it's ponytail and curling the ends.

By the time I finish getting ready and get myself dressed I can smell garlic coming from the kitchen. It smells delicious. I grab the box of tampons from the dresser and cringe at the odd nickname Hardin gave them. 

 When I join him in the kitchen he has the trays of fruit and vegetables that I bought at Conner's set out on the table along with plates and silverware. I am impressed by the way he has set the table and fight the urge to rearrange a few things. I am so glad that Hardin was willing to invite his father over to our apartment and even more relieved that he seems to be in a really good mood today. Our company will be here in thirty minutes. I clean up the small mess Hardin has made while cooking and now the apartment is spotless again.

"Thank you for doing all of this." I wrap my arms around his waist as he stands in front of the oven.

"It's nothing." He shrugs.

"Are you okay?" I ask and unwrap my arms from his waist, turning him to face me.

"Yea.. I'm fine."

"Are you sure you aren't a little nervous?" I ask, I can tell he is.

"No.. well just a little. It's just weird as fuck to have him coming here, you know?"

"I know, I am really proud of you for inviting him." I press my cheek against his chest and his hands move to my waist.

"You are?"

"Of course I am ba.. Hardin."

"What were you going to say?"

"Nothing." I hide my face. I don't know where this sudden urge to call him pet names comes from but it's embarrassing.

"Tell me." He coos and lifts my chin to force me to come out of hiding.

"I don't know why I almost called you babe again." I bring my bottom lip between my teeth and his smile grows.

"Go ahead, call me it." He says.

"You'll make fun of me." I smile weakly.

"No I won't. I call you baby all the time."

"Yea.. but it's different when you do it."

"How so?"

"I don't know.. it's like sexier or something.. more romantic. I don't know." I flush.

"You're awfully shy today." He smiles and plants a kiss on my forehead.

"I like it though so go ahead and call me it." He tells me.

"Okay." I hug him tighter.

"Okay what?" I know he is smirking at me.

"Okay.. babe." The word tastes strange rolling off of my tongue.

"Again."

I let out a surprised squeak as he lifts me onto the cold counter top and he stands between my legs.

"Okay babe." I repeat.

His cheeks are a deeper shade of pink than usual.

"I really love that. It's.. what did you say? Sexy and romantic?" He smiles.

A sudden bravery makes me speak again.

"Is it babe?" I smile and bite my lip again.

"Yes.. incredibly sexy." He presses his lips against my neck and I shiver as his hands trail up my thighs.

"Don't think these will keep me out." His fingers draw circles on my black tights.

"They may not but the.. you know will." I say referring to my period.

A knock at the door makes me jump and Hardin smiles.

"Oh baby.. that won't either." He winks and walks towards the door.

(Please don't forget to vote and comment like crazy,  I love to hear everyone's theories :) ily all! )