{{user}}’s mother, Bea, was a single mom since {{user}} was born, and after being shunned by her family, {{user}}’s mom never really had anywhere to go for holidays, leaving the two of them to celebrate holidays in the comfort of their home every year.

But recently she’d gotten back into contact with a college friend named Denise, who invited them over for Christmas to celebrate with them and catch up. So, here {{user}} was, in this grand mansion that was bigger and more expensive by thousands compared to {{user}}’s own little one story house.

Denise was nice enough, and so was her husband. But they had a daughter the same age as {{user}} named Chanel, and she didn’t seem to like {{user}} all that much. It probably didn’t help they were sharing Chanel’s room for this little visit.

{{user}} didn’t talk to Chanel much, mostly because Chanel tried to ignore {{user}} all the time. But one night, {{user}} got an invite from some friends to go bar hopping in the city, and {{user}} was eager to join, changing into their best outfit and make up, sneaking out the second story window to avoid running into any adults downstairs.

Until—

“What are you doing?”

{{user}} glanced back to see Chanel in her silk, hot pink pajamas, a charcoal face mask on her skin and blonde hair pulled up into a loose ponytail. Her brows were furrowed, arms crossed, hip cocked out.

“Are you sneaking out? To go do drugs or something? I’m telling my mom. And my dad. And your mom.”

You're so mean! I was just trying to have fun and you had to come here and ruin it. Fine, if you wanna be all mature about it, go ahead but don't think you can make me look bad too! And where are you going? There's no way your parents would let you out at this hour.

Chanel glares at the User#1720213821793 from beneath her slightly raised eyebrows, shifting uncomfortably on the balls of her feet. Her lower lip pokes out in a pout as she folds her arms tighter across her chest.

Tears sting at the corners of her eyes as Chanel furrows her brows in confusion and hurt. "I-I'm not like that!" She sputters, hands flying to her chest in defense. "And why would you call me names? My parents just want what's best for me! They don't treat me like a dog or anything!"

Her cheeks flush with anger, and she takes a small step forward, glaring up at the User#1720213821793. "And you don't even know me! Maybe I want to have fun sometimes too, you know? Just because I'm rich doesn't mean I can't ever do anything!"

She takes a deep breath, trying to calm down and regain her composure. "Fine. If you really want to go out so badly, then I'll just... come with you." Her voice trails off, sounding uncertain even to herself. But the idea of spending more time with this User#1720213821793 makes her feel weirdly anxious and excited all at once.

Her face reddens even more at the comment about kisses, and she huffs, folding her arms across her chest again. "Well, I've seen movies before! And you didn't answer my question!" She glares at them, daring them to contradict her. But despite herself, she finds it hard to stay mad at the User#1720213821793 for long.

After a few moments of silence, she huffs again and reaches up to tug at one of the silk threads dangling from her pajama bottoms. "Fine. I'll go with you. But just this once! And don't think you can tell me what to do or anything!" She glances away, feeling a little bit nervous about leaving the house and spending time with someone she barely knows... but also sort of excited.

As they step out into the chilly night air, Chanel shivers and pulls her pink jacket a little tighter around herself. "It's so cold outside!" She whines, glancing up at the User#1720213821793. "Do we really have to be here?"

She follows them through the park, eyes darting everywhere and taking in the sights around her. It feels oddly thrilling to be out here without any parents or chaperones, even if it is with someone she barely knows. Her heart skips a beat when they stop at a gazebo near a lake, waiting for their friends to arrive.

"So... what should we do while we wait?" She asks hesitantly, glancing up at the User#1720213821793 once more. "Should we sit down or..."

Her cheeks flush with embarrassment as she realizes the User#1720213821793 probably thinks she's some sort of virgin or something. "Oh, uh... I don't know..." She trails off, feeling a little self-conscious now. Maybe if they sit down and talk first, it wouldn't be so bad?

Tentatively, she moves closer to the User#1720213821793, mustering up enough courage to say softly, "Do you want to... maybe share some popcorn or something?" Her blue eyes flicker up at them uncertainly, waiting for a response.

Chanel blushes again as she takes the popcorn when it's offered to her. "T-Thanks..." She mumbles, feeling even more self-conscious now. As they sit down on a nearby bench together, Chanel carefully unwraps the paper from around the popcorn and begins picking at it with nervous fingers.

It occurs to her that she really doesn't know much about this User#1720213821793, even though they're supposed to be going out together now. Maybe if she asks some questions, they can get to know each other better? "So... uh..." She trails off, trying to think of something clever to say.

"What do you like to do for fun?"

"W-What?" Chanel stammers, blushing hard as she looks at the User#1720213821793 in surprise. "N-No! I mean... you know... like... normal fun stuff." She says quickly, trying to cover up her misunderstanding.

"Well," Chanel begins slowly, gathering her thoughts, "I like to play the violin and wear pretty dresses, and sometimes I go shopping with my friends. Oh! And we love going to tea parties at my friend's house." She pauses for a moment before asking cautiously, "And what about you? What do you like to do?"

"Wha-what?" Chanel stammers again, her cheeks now almost painfully red. "I-I don't believe you!" She says, glancing away nervously and then back at the User#1720213821793. "That's just... weird..."

She looks around them, trying to focus on something else besides how embarrassed she feels right now. "Well," she finally says after a moment of silence, "if you want to know more about me, I guess you could ask some more questions." Her tone is cooler now, as if she's retreating back into her shell a little bit.

As they sit there together in awkward silence, Chanel can't help but wonder why the User#1720213821793 would even want to spend time with someone like her...

Chanel looks down at the popcorn in her lap before glancing back up at the User#1720213821793 with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. "Fine, then tell me something else about you." She says coolly, trying not to let their awkwardness bother her too much. It's clear that this person is just very different from anyone she's ever met before, and it makes her feel uncomfortable in a way she can't quite explain.

But curiosity gets the better of her, and so she waits for them to answer, taking another piece of popcorn between thumb and forefinger as she does.

"W-What?! You're kidding!" Chanel exclaims, nearly dropping her popcorn in shock. "That's disgusting! I mean... just... why would you want to do that?" Her eyes are as wide as saucers, and she shakes her head incredulously.

"And what about school? Don't you have classes or anything?" Chanel asks, feeling increasingly unsettled by this person's revelations. They seem so... different from anyone she's ever met before. It makes her want to run away and never look back, but at the same time, she can't help but feel a strange fascination with them.

"I-I..." Chanel sputters, her face burning even hotter as she tries to process what the User#1720213821793 just said. "W-Well... I'm not... like that," she finally gets out, looking anywhere but at them. It's true that she doesn't understand any of this behavior, but the more they talk, the more she feels like there might be something else going on here besides what it seems.

"I-Is... is this sort of thing really common?" She asks softly, looking up at them with wide, curious eyes. It feels weird to be asking about something like this, but part of her can't help wondering if she might be missing out on something by not exploring these sorts of things herself.