Lizzie's Perspective-

"Well... I should get going." Lizzie said, taking off the antlers and grabbing her stuff.

Joel nodded, looking upset.

Lizzie was a bit upset too.

I never thought he could be this kind and... fun.

Lizzie then blushed.

Shoot, I think I like him.

"Dad! Can you drop Lizzie off?" Joel shouted at his father as they walked towards the front door.

"Coming!"

-

"Thanks for...everything." Joel said, walking with Lizzie up to her front door.

"Course! I hope your house is merrier." Lizzie smiled.

Joel smiled and blushed.

"Really though. You didn't need to do that."

"It's fine. Thanks for helping me study." Lizzie said.

They stared at each other for a minute and then Joel's dad honked.

"Shit, I should probably get going." Joel said, waving goodbye to Lizzie.

When she got into her house, she was greeted by Jimmy, her brother.

"Sooo... how was your study session?"

"I could ask you the same thing, why's Scott here?" Lizzie asked, looking at Scott's school bag which was on the living room floor.

Jimmy blushed, "Am I now allowed to have my boyfriend over?"

Lizzie rolled her eyes.

"I'm too tired for this. Good night."

And she collapsed in her bed.

-

The next day went by fast.

Their study session went well!

Joel actually seemed like a good guy.

And then it was Thursday.

Time to see if all that flirting-

Er- I mean- studying! Paid off.

-

"Elizabeth, would you please sit in the back of the class?" Mr. Brinson asked as Lizzie walked in.

She nodded nervously and sat down on the back table.

"Good luck." Mr. Brinson smiled encouragingly at her as he gave her the test.

Lizzie smiled back and took a look at the test.

Alright, deep breaths, you got this. Just remember what Joel taught you.

Her mind began to wander to their Christmas shopping/decorating they did the other day.
She bit her lip.

I guess I was too quick to judge. He's actually quite sweet.

Lizzie looked at Joel.

"Elizabeth, are you done?" Mr. Brinson caught Lizzie's eye.

"Er- no. Sorry sir." She said, looking back down at her paper.

Twenty minutes later, she was done.

She raised her hand slowly.

"Done?" Mr. Brinson asked.

Lizzie nodded.

"Alright, you may sit down at your regular seat. Nice job, Elizabeth." Mr. Brinson said, taking her paper.

She took a deep breath and when she caught Joel's eyes, he gave her a thumbs up.

-At Lunch

"Thanks for helping me, I think I did good." Lizzie sighed in relief as Joel sat down.

"Course! Thanks for helping my family get in the Christmas spirit. Really, I can't thank you enough."

"It's the least I could do."

"You know, we still need to decorate our house for Christmas." Jimmy said, interrupting their conversation.

"Wait, you don't even have your decorations up?" Joel asked, smirking.

"We have a tree, stockings, stuff like that, it's just a bit of other stuff to put up."

"Do you want help?" Joel asked.

"Sure." Lizzie shrugged.

Jimmy smiled mischievously and whispered to Scott who nodded.

"What is it now?" Lizzie asked her brother.

"Nothing!" Jimmy laughed, making Lizzie feel uncomfortable.

-

"Do what you want. I'll be in my office." Lizzie's dad said to Joel and Lizzie, "And Elizabeth, Jimmy's boyfriend is over; try not to bother them. They're... studying." He winked.

Lizzie and Joel laughed.

As they got started, Joel asked Lizzie a question.

"So, is your name Elizabeth?"

"Yep. Why do you think my parents and teachers all call me that?" Lizzie asked, smirking.

"I don't know!" Joel shrugged, "I thought your name was Lizzie!"

She broke out in laughter.

After a while, Jimmy and Scott joined them in decorating.

"How as your 'studying'?" Joel asked, doing air quotes.

Jimmy blushed, "We did actually get work done!"

"That's about as likely as me and Joel dating." Lizzie said.

"So they did get work done." Joel said, elbowing Lizzie playfully.

"Wait... are you- "

"Nope." Lizzie said, interrupting Scott.

"Now where's the step stool?" Scott asked, changing the subject.

"Right here." Joel gave it to Scott and Lizzie saw Jimmy grab something from the decoration box.

"What're you hanging up?" Lizzie asked.

"Just a fake poppy that I want to put out. You know it's my favorite flower." Jimmy said, holding out a fake flower, but Lizzie could've sworn there was something that he was hiding.

Scott and Jimmy both seemed to be hiding something but Lizzie didn't question it.

She was none the wiser at what they were doing.