Christmas is just around the corner, and as always, I'm looking forward to spending it at my sister's place. Since she got married, we've made it a tradition to spend the summer at her place and Christmas. She lives in the city, in one of the most luxurious and beautiful villages you can imagine. I guess marrying a well-established neurologist has its perks. He's a cool guy, though he's older than most people I know. Despite his age, he has this masculine build—probably because he's a doctor and takes good care of himself.

It's funny though, he's a divorcee, and his ex-wife is also a doctor. I don't really know what happened between them, but somehow, it worked out for the best. He found my sister, and they've been happily married for almost half of my life. I'm 17 now, and I've been spending my Christmas and summer with them since I was six. It's a nice tradition, and over the years, I've grown pretty close to my sister's husband and his sons.

Caspian, his older son, is one year older than me, and his younger brother, Miles, is the same age. I first met them on Christmas when I was six. It was the first time I spent Christmas at my sister's house, and I remember it being so awkward that I wished I could disappear into the walls. My sister introduced me to Clent and his two sons, and I immediately noticed Caspian—he was a seven-year-old with brown hair and striking emerald green eyes. He tilted his head as he looked at me, probably wondering what I was like.

But it was Miles who caught my attention next. He had golden hair and bright blue eyes, and he flashed a smile that immediately put me at ease. Without saying much, he grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the kitchen. He wanted to play. We were running, laughing, when disaster struck—we bumped into the cake on the counter. It tumbled to the floor, and before I knew it, the cake was all over us. We both burst into laughter, knowing full well that my sister would scold us. The mess was so loud that everyone in the house heard it.

Caspian was the first to rush over. He was about to report us, but we managed to stop him just in time, causing him to trip and fall into the cake with us. Even though he didn't do anything wrong, he ended up getting scolded too. And in that moment, I think that's where our friendship truly began—over cake, laughter, and a shared moment of mischief.

It was Christmas break, and I found myself in my room, packing my things. Loud music blared from the speakers—my favorite band—while I moved through the motions of folding clothes. Then, I heard a soft knock on the door, followed by a quiet whisper.

"Ten minutes, baby," my mom said, her voice low but firm. "Turn down the music, we need to talk."

I quickly turned off the music, feeling the quiet settle around me.

She stepped inside, looking at me with a serious expression. "I want you to be responsible, Sammy. You're 17 now. Don't rely on your sister. Do your homework, and when I say homework, you know what I mean. Got it?"

I nodded, carefully folding another shirt and tucking it neatly into my suitcase. The weight of her words hung in the air.

"Yes," I replied, a sigh of relief escaping as I glanced up at her.

"Mom, are you sure you're not coming this season?" I asked, my voice softer. "Zoey's been asking for you, and I'm sure the boys miss you too."

She paused, looking away for a moment before replying with a hint of frustration in her tone, "Come on, Sammy. I'm a nurse. What do you expect?"

I bit my lip, my gaze dropping to the floor. Disappointment tugged at my chest, but I held it in.

She seemed to sense it, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around me in a warm hug. "Don't worry," she said gently, caressing my hair. "I'll follow when everything's settled at the hospital."

"Okay," I murmured, my voice thick with a mix of emotions.

She pulled back with a smile, her energy shifting to something more upbeat. "Alright, let's go now. Let me take you there."

Her excitement was almost contagious, and for a moment, I couldn't help but smile. It was clear that she was more excited than I was, and somehow, that made everything feel just a little bit better.

"Are you sure you'll drive me? This is a three-hour drive, Mom," I asked, my voice tinged with worry.

"Yeah, that's why you need to fasten your seatbelt," she replied with a giggle, her usual playful tone easing my concerns.

As we drove down the road, everything felt so familiar. The air was cool, teasing my hair as it blew through the open window. The smell of grass and trees filled the air, a scent that always seemed to remind me of Christmases past. It was like time stood still each year—everything stayed the same, but the feeling inside me never did. It was a mix of happiness and excitement, one I couldn't quite explain.

I couldn't help but wonder, how does Caspian look now? The last time I saw him, I don't know… he always looked good, confident, and almost… effortlessly attractive. I wondered how much his brown hair had changed, if his green eyes were still as intense, or if his cold, mysterious gaze had softened at all.

And then there was Miles. I missed him so much. I couldn't help but wonder if his golden-brown hair still looked the same, or if he'd changed in other ways. His smile—God, his smile—had always been something that made me melt. Every time he asked me for something, the way he smiled made it impossible to say no. He was so sweet, a really sweet boy.

I felt an overwhelming rush of excitement as I thought about seeing them again. They weren't just family; they were my friends. And as we got closer to my sister's place, I couldn't wait to catch up with them.