�Hey, guys!� Alyson said, before she was enveloped in a huge hug by Tara, �Oh I missed you!�
�I missed you too! Come on in, out of the cold. How have you been? How were your finals?� Tara asked, leading Alyson in and shutting the door.
Alyson peeled off her coat, �I�ve been good. Well okay, that�s a lie, I�ve been totally stressed. I missed my period this month, that�s how bad it�s been. But I think the finals went okay, and I�m with you guys now, so I�m happy.� she said, hugging Kennedi and Siobhan, and then heading over to the couch and sitting down.
�You missed your period? Wait, Ally, you haven�t....� Tara trailed off.
�No, honey, I�m still a virgin. You guys would be the first to know if I wasn�t. No, it was just stress, I went to the nurse on campus and that�s what she said.� Alyson explained, as Tara and Siobhan sat next to her, and Kennedi sat in a overstuffed chair.
�Good.� Tara said, and lay her head on Alyson�s shoulder.
�So, tell me, how did your finals go, guys? What�s happening?� Alyson asked.
�Well, our finals went pretty smoothly, there were no tears or panic attacks, and we were just sitting here discussing how tired we are.� Kennedi smiled.
�Not much else is happening, though. Since Thanksgiving, it�s mostly been study, sleep, pee, study, sleep, pee.� Siobhan smiled in spite of herself.
�Yeah. When�s Maddi coming?� Alyson asked.
�About four-fifteen, her plane got in around three-thirty, and she was going to dump her stuff at home and say hi to her parents and Adam and then come here.� Kennedi explained.
�Sounds great. I�ve missed her. I haven�t even gotten to talk to her on the phone since last week, and online it�s even been longer.� Alyson said, wistfully.
�Siobhan talked to her last night, when she called with her plans, but I haven�t heard from her in more than two weeks.� Tara informed her.
�Yeah, she�s been pretty busy and stressed. That girl took a part-time job, too, did she tell you?� Alyson asked.
�Yeah. I think she�s nuts.� Tara said, making the crazy sign near her ear.
�Well, you know her.� Alyson smiled, �The tree looks really pretty already, we gonna do the rest?� she asked.
�Yep. Just waiting for Maddi. Tara and I baked some cookies this morning, too, for a yummy treat.� Kennedi said.
�We had a sleepover last night, but I had to go at ten for a doctor�s appointment, so they went and baked them without me.� Siobhan explained.
�Ooh, cookies! What kind?� Alyson asked.
�Chocolate chip. Tari and I ate about half the dough so there�s only about a dozen cookies, though.� Kennedi smiled.
�Did you save some dough for me?� Alyson asked.
�Maybe....maybe not.� Tara winked at her best friend and grinned.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Siobhan shot to her feet, and reached the door before anyone else, flinging it open to reveal Madison on the other side. Siobhan flung herself at her friend, hugging her fiercely, �I love you, Maddi!� she declared.
Madison laughed, �I love you too, Syvanni. And you guys.� she said, gesturing to her friends, who embraced her, too.
�Okay, guys I hate to break up the party, but it�s cold!� Tara complained a few moments later.
�Yeah it is. Come on inside, guys.� Kennedi said, as they staggered into the threshold, Siobhan still attached to Madison.
�Come on, Syvanni, off me so I can take my coat off.� Madison said, kissing the top of her friend�s curly head.
�No!� Siobhan said, sounding very much like a two-year-old.
�Honey, just for five seconds, so I can take my coat off.� Madison said. Siobhan sighed, and untangled herself from her friend. Madison took off her coat, and they walked into the living room, Alyson and Tara plopping onto the couch, but the three other girls remained standing.
�So, Madison, how were your finals, honey?� Siobhan asked.
�Good. Tough, but good.� Madison said, smiling, �But I�m so glad to be back home.�
�I�m glad you�re back, too. How was the flight?� Kennedi asked.
�It was fine. I�m just exhausted.� Madison leaned over on Siobhan, who pushed her back up.
�I can�t hold you up, you�re bigger than me!� Siobhan exclaimed.
�Okay, okay.� Madison said, giggling.
�Shall we decorate?� Kennedi asked.
�Absolutely!� Alyson cried, and she and Tara jumped up.
�I get the sled!� Siobhan cried, lunging for it.
�And I get the Santa, Kenni said so!� Tara cried, lunging for the ornament.
Kennedi giggled, �Be glad you two weren�t here awhile ago. We had an argument over who got what ornament, and then a very random comment about converting from Siobhan.� she explained.
Alyson laughed, �Sounds like I missed some fun. Ooh can I put this one up?� she asked, holding up a silver bell.
�Of course.� Kennedi said, �As long as I get to put up my first Christmas ball.� she said, grabbing it.
The five best friends soon surrounded the tree, decorating it and chatting happily. They were glad to be together again, even if it was only for awhile.
THE END, HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE STORY
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