The dorm was completely quiet when a loud, insistent banging jolted me from my reading. I looked up, startled, hearing the knocks echoing down the hall. I glanced at my phone-4 p.m. It was odd for anyone to be visiting this late in the day, especially when the university felt so empty with everyone gone for break.

I opened the door just a crack and saw Alex standing there, hands in his coat pockets, looking both amused and serious. "Hey, Evelyn," he said, a smirk crossing his face.

"Alex?" I asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"

"Thought you'd want to be with your family. You're coming with me," he said, his voice warm but firm. "Pack a bag, grab a coat. It's cold, and we need to get going now."

I blinked, trying to absorb what he'd just said. "Wait, really? But how... won't security stop us?"

He just grinned. "Don't worry. I've handled that part. Just hurry, or we're going to lose our head start."

Heart pounding with excitement, I threw some essentials into my bag, bundled up in a thick coat, and followed Alex out of the building. Outside, a sleek black Mercedes waited, engine humming softly in the dim afternoon light. As we drove away, the campus receded behind us, swallowed up by the early evening fog.

During the drive, I glanced over at Alex, still dazed by how quickly everything was happening. "So... you just decided to whisk me away for Christmas?"

"Yep," he said nonchalantly. "Figured you'd want a real Christmas, not cafeteria pizza and fire alarms."

"Well, thank you," I said, meaning it. "I can't believe you went through all this trouble."

He shrugged, though a faint smile touched his lips. "It's nothing. Just making sure you get the holiday you deserve."

Soon, we pulled up outside my family's house, and I jumped out of the car, feeling a rush of excitement I hadn't felt in days. The door flew open, and my mom and dad came running out, wrapping me in warm hugs, laughing in surprise.

"Evelyn! How did you manage to get home?" my mom asked, pulling back to look at me with wide eyes.

"Uh... it was thanks to my friend," I said, gesturing back to the car. "He helped me get here."

Mom looked toward the Mercedes and squinted, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Well, why don't you invite him in to join us for Christmas?"

I hesitated, not sure if Alex would want to come inside. But before I could reply, Mom nudged me insistently. "Go on! Invite him properly."

Reluctantly, I walked back to the car and knocked on the window. Alex rolled it down, raising an eyebrow. "My mom is really insisting you come in," I said, shrugging. "I told her you probably had plans..."

He glanced at the driver, who gave a slight nod, then looked back at me. "Alright. I guess I'm joining your family for Christmas," he said with a small smile, stepping out and grabbing a small overnight bag.

Once inside, I introduced him to everyone: my mom, Mary Kate, my dad, Michael, and my younger brother, Ethan, who grinned up at Alex with a look of awe that he rarely showed.

My dad clapped Alex on the shoulder and gestured toward the dining room, where his prized wine collection was displayed. "Do you like wine, Alex?"

"I do," Alex said, glancing over the bottles. His eyes landed on one, and he pointed. "That one. It would be perfect for Christmas dinner."

My dad's face lit up. "I would've chosen the same! Excellent taste." And just like that, they started chatting like old friends.

Meanwhile, Ethan tugged Alex away and started showing him his card tricks. It didn't take long for the two of them to end up on the floor, laughing as they played a game of cards. I couldn't help but smile as I watched-Alex looked like he was actually having fun, more relaxed than I'd ever seen him.

In the kitchen, Mom and Nana were busy preparing for dinner. As I helped with the chopping and stirring, Mom gave me a sly smile. "He's really handsome, Evelyn. And kind, too."

"Mom, he's just a friend," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Mm-hmm," she said, clearly unconvinced. "Handsome and thoughtful? Sounds like a Christmas miracle to me."

Nana gave me a nudge, too, chuckling. "Just friends, huh? That's what they all say. Just friends who bring you home at 4 p.m. and stick around for dinner..."

"Honestly, I don't even know why he did this," I said, laughing a little. "I think he just couldn't stand another boring Christmas at school."

"Well, whatever the reason, he's here now, and that's what matters," Mom said with a warm smile, placing the last of the dishes on the table.

At dinner, the conversation flowed easily, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed so much. Alex was surprisingly relaxed, and he charmed everyone effortlessly, even my dad, who could be a bit protective.

"So, Alex, what made you bring our Evelyn home for Christmas?" my dad asked, grinning as he poured him another glass of wine.

"Oh, well, she wouldn't stop talking about Christmas with you all," Alex said with a smirk, glancing at me. "Figured I'd save us all from her 'woe-is-me' routine."

I rolled my eyes, but my family laughed, warming to him even more.

After dinner, we all moved to the living room, where Mom passed out homemade cookies, and Dad started a fire. Ethan challenged Alex to another card game, and I found myself watching them, my heart feeling full. It was the perfect night-Christmas, laughter, warmth, and, unexpectedly, Alex fitting in with my family better than I ever would have guessed.

As the night drew on, Alex caught my eye from across the room and gave me a small nod. For once, he wasn't teasing or smirking; he just looked at me, and I felt that, in his own way, he was telling me he was glad to be here too.

After dinner, as we settled into the cozy living room, the glow from the fireplace cast a warm light over the room. My dad stood up with a flourish, clapping his hands to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone! Who's ready for a family game?"

Ethan jumped up, his eyes wide with excitement. "Me! Me! What are we playing?"

"It's a drawing game," Dad said, pulling out a large whiteboard and some black-and-white cards from a box nearby. "The rules are simple: one person draws something from these cards, and the rest of us have to guess what it is. The first one to guess correctly gets to draw next. The person who ends up drawing the most gets a special prize at the end."

I glanced at Alex, who was looking intrigued. "Do you know how to play?" I asked.

"Nope, but I'm always up for a challenge," he said with a grin.

"Great!" Dad exclaimed. "Let's get started! I'll go first." He pulled a card from the deck, his brows furrowing in concentration. "Okay, I can't say what it is, but here goes!"

He began to draw a simple outline on the whiteboard, his tongue peeking out in concentration. The rest of us leaned forward, trying to decipher his sketch.

"What is that? A potato?" Ethan guessed, squinting at the drawing.

"No, no! It's a mountain!" I said, and just as I finished my sentence, Alex shouted, "A mountain!"

"Correct!" Dad said, chuckling as he erased the board. "Alex gets to draw next. Your turn!"

Alex stood up and grabbed a card, a smirk on his face. "Alright, prepare to be amazed," he said dramatically, glancing at the card before turning to the board.

"What is it?" Ethan asked, bouncing in his seat.

Alex started drawing, making quick strokes. "Okay, it's something you might see at the beach."

"Is it a surfboard?" Ethan asked, but Alex shook his head.

"Sunblock?" my mom chimed in.

"Nope!" Alex said, continuing to draw. "But it's a place you go to relax."

Finally, I realized it. "A hammock! It's a hammock!" I shouted, and Alex stopped drawing, looking impressed.

"Correct! Good job, Evelyn!" He turned the board back to me and gave a mock bow. "Your turn!"

As I picked a card, I could feel the warmth and laughter filling the room. I drew quickly, letting my instincts guide me, sketching the shape of a cat.

"Oh, that's too easy!" Ethan groaned. "Is it a cat?"

"Ding ding ding!" I said, laughing as I turned the board around.

"Wow, you guys are good at this!" Alex said, looking impressed. "I'm going to have to step up my game."

"Just wait until I draw next!" Ethan declared, practically bouncing off the couch. He grabbed a card, practically vibrating with excitement.

With determination, he drew a large circle with a stick figure inside. "What is it?" he asked, looking up at us with wide eyes.

"Uh, a sun?" my mom guessed, tilting her head.

"Nope!" Ethan said, giggling.

"A stick figure?" Dad said, and Ethan shook his head vigorously.

Finally, Alex leaned in, eyebrows raised in realization. "A person at the beach?"

"YES! It's a person at the beach!" Ethan exclaimed, jumping up. "That was so hard!"

As the game went on, laughter erupted with every round. We exchanged playful banter, teasing each other as we guessed wrong, and applauding when someone got it right.

After several rounds, the board was filled with all sorts of doodles-a tree, a fish, even a very abstract representation of a pizza. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt so light-hearted and connected to my family and Alex.

Finally, it came down to the last round. My dad's whiteboard was almost full of drawings, and we all looked eagerly at the scoreboard. "Alright! The moment of truth!" he said, laughing. "Who will take home the prize?"

"I think it's going to be me!" Ethan declared, puffing out his chest proudly.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Alex teased, grinning at Ethan.

My dad chuckled, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Okay, let's do one final drawing, and whoever guesses it right wins the game!"

He drew a card, and with a quick glance, he started sketching an elaborate object. Everyone leaned in closer, eyes scanning the board.

"Is it a spaceship?" I guessed, only to be met with shakes of heads.

"A guitar?" Alex suggested, and Dad just laughed.

"Nope, try again!"

Suddenly, Ethan shouted, "Is it a roller coaster?"

"Bingo!" Dad exclaimed, raising his arms in victory. "Ethan wins!"

We all cheered, clapping for Ethan as he beamed with pride. "What's my prize?" he asked, bouncing with excitement.

"Ah, the best prize of all!" Dad said with a grin. "You get to choose the next family movie for tonight!"

Ethan practically squealed with delight, jumping up and down. "Yes! I want to watch Home Alone!"

"Oh, classic choice!" my mom said, laughing. "You'll love that one, Alex."

"Can't wait!" Alex said, smiling at me. "Best Christmas movie." He teased knowing perfectly well I was só done of that movie