late merry christmas and a happy new year everyone! sorry for the late post, i went on holiday and spent time with my family :)

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it wasn't like [name] didn't enjoy christmas, it was the most jolly time of the year, after all. but every year on christmas eve, noah would disappear for the night, only to return early christmas morning. [name] didn't have a clue to what he was doing but this time, she was going to find out. no more secrets.

she watched the snow glide elegantly onto the ground, covering the floor in a thick, white blanket. she loved the snow and rain; she loved winter in general, despite often getting sick due to the cold.

a small smile covered her face before a loud knock was heard, "hey [name]!" noah called from behind the wooden door.

the door opened, revealing the boy and all his glory, "what's up, noah?" [name] frowned, jumping up off of her bed, shivering slightly as the cold air nipped at her skin.

"i was wondering if you'd like to hang out with my friends and i at the bowling alley? sophia and millie will be there too." he asked, looking around her room for whatever reason. noah wore grey sweatpants and a big hoodie that [name] recalled stealing from him a while ago. he must have grabbed it back.

excitedly, [name] replies, "yes!" a big smile on her face as she rushed to get ready. noah returns the smile before leaving.

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it had taken a while for noah and [name] to get to the bowling alley, the reason being that noah kept telling [name] to put on more clothes and scarves.

walking into the bowling alley, she spotted everyone already sitting in a lane, chatting away and laughing, "millie, soph!" [name] called, waving her hands as she ran to her best friends, her cheeks and nose were painted a soft pink and her scarf wrapped neatly around her neck.

"[name]! so glad you could come! i did not want to be stuck with these losers for the day." sophia laughs, eyeing the two boys that sat across from the girls that [name] had yet to meet.

"hi [name]! we've heard heaps about you from noah, i'm caleb and this is gaten!" the dark skinned boy exclaimed happily, a big grin on his face as he gestures to himself then to gaten.

"nice to meet you!" [name] smiles, taking a seat next to millie and taking off her scarf.

"alright, alright." noah cuts off the conversation with a cough, "let's start playing, shall we?" he motions towards the bowling balls, "who's going first?" he smirks, knowing fully well [name] was absolutely terrible at bowling.

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they had been playing for a while now, and it was now clear to everyone who was losing hard and who was easily winning. the group laughed and chatted, and [name] even managed to befriend caleb and gaten who were very easy to talk to and make jokes with.

[name] didn't pay mind to the text messages she was getting from james, she only silenced her phone and decided to enjoy the day with her friends instead off worrying over the anonymous messages; to which she had been worrying over since christmas break had began.

"something wrong, [name]?" millie asked a concerned look washed away her smile, she only earned a small smile and shake of [name]'s head.

the laughs and chats were cut short as a group of teens sat their self onto the lane next to them, "we should leave." noah deadpanned, grabbing his bag. his attitude changed in a matter of seconds.

"what? why?" [name] frowns, watching worriedly as everyone packed up their stuff. she gazed over to the group of teens who just arrived. it was finn and his clique. why would they need to leave? "no! let's stay, don't mind them guys.." she whined, grabbing millie and sophia's hands and pushing them down.

letting out an exasperated sigh, noah utters, "i guess we could try to ignore them." he sat down with a small slouch, watching as everyone else sat down as well. noah whispered something to caleb and gaten before the fun returned.

they began to yell, shout and laugh again. but [name] couldn't focus as her phone began to vibrate; blowing up with messages, "i'll be right back.. um.. just need to go to the bathroom and take my meds.." she excused herself politely, passing finn and his friends whom eyed her.

she rushed into the bathroom, grabbing out her phone that was boiling hot, she could've sworn it was about to blow up right then and there.

messages stacked on messages, all from james. she had no clue who this person was, so why did they message her so much? sending threats and blackmailing texts that were almost impossible to ignore. she let out a small yelp as the anonymous person began to call her.

curious, she picked up the phone, "hello?" she said in a quiet, shaken voice, only hearing static on the other end of the line and something that sounded like heavy breathing.

the voice said nothing before hanging up and spamming her with messages once again.

[name] speedily shoved her phone into her pocket, her heart beating quickly as she heard the bathroom door swing open. it was the girl that hung out with finn.. she recalled her name being iris, or so she had heard from millie and sophie. it was only right to assume she was apart of the gang too.

iris scoffed, "i really don't see what's so special about you." she retorts, standing in front of the mirror and puckering her lips, layering lipgloss onto it.

"um.. what?" [name] mumbled questioningly, gripping the hem of her shirt tightly.

"looks like james hasn't been doing the job right, you're obviously not that scared." iris chortled, placing her lipgloss back into her bag before turning towards [name], "so listen closely because i'll only say this once. you stay away from finn and we'll have no problems. if not.. we'll you don't want to find that out." she laughed sadistically.

[name] wavered for a moment, she wasn't really sure what she felt for finn.. of course, he was a cool person but was he anything more? the fact he led a gang barely bothered her anymore, "i.. i don't like him like that." she mumbled quietly.

"good. let's keep it that way." iris growled, spinning on her heel and stomping out of the bathroom.

she had realised that iris was the one that had told james to text her and send threats.. why was she so obsessed with finn?

the rest of the day was enjoyable, but [name] couldn't help but think about finn, iris and james. her thoughts were over crowded and loud.

but she realised tonight was the night she would finally be able see what noah has been doing while sneaking out.

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sorry this is really unedited and rushed but i'm planning on going through all of the chapters and do some major editing, so i hope you don't mind. i'll probably be giving them chapter titles as well :)