�Just hear those sleigh bells jingling�Ring ting tingling too�Come on its lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you��
Joey shut off the radio. He hated Christmas. It hadn�t always been that way, but ever since she left him, things had been different. Hayleigh was his fianc�e. They were so happy until one day, things changed.
�Deck the halls with boughs of holly�fa la la la la La la la la�� Hayleigh sang while decorating the tree.
�You�re goofy, ya know that?� Joey asked, pinching her cheek.
�I�m not goofy, just jolly! It�s my favorite time of year!�
�Yeah, I know. We need more tinsel over there.� He said pointing to a bare spot on the tree.
�Tinsel right away!� she exclaimed, covering the spot with the silver object.
He smiled; things were perfect. He had a wonderful fianc�e and a wonderful life. Little did he know that his whole life would change with a simple phone call.
�Joe? Can you get the phone?� Hayleigh asked, covered in decorations.
He laughed, �Sure thing.�
�Hello?� he asked
�Joe? It�s Johnny.�
�Hey man, what�s goin on?�
�Um, I just got a call from the studio and we need you to come in and re-record some things.�
�Now? It�s Christmas Eve. Can�t it wait until after the holidays?�
�No can do buddy.�
He sighed. �Okay, I�ll be there as soon as I can. Man, this sucks.�
�I know it does. See you soon.�
And they hung up. Now, he thought�how was he going to break the news to Hayleigh?
�Baby��
�Yeah sweetie?�
�That was Johnny��
�Okay�what�s up?�
�I have to go to the studio.�
�Huh?�
�I have to go to the studio tonight.�
�What? Why?�
�Supposedly there�s something wrong with one of the songs and we need to go fix things.�
�It�s Christmas Eve! It can�t wait until the holidays are over?� she asked, beginning to get angry.
�That�s what I asked, but Johnny said no can do.�
�No fucking way! Just fake sick or something! We have a lot to do before everyone comes over tomorrow!�
�I know baby, but I need to do this. The faster I go, the faster I�ll be home.� He said, his eyes pleading with her.
�No Joey, it�s not okay anymore. I�ve played second fiddle to your job one too many times.�
�Hayleigh, I don�t understand you! You never seemed to mind before.�
�Just because I didn�t say anything doesn�t mean I don�t care. God Joey, I�m sick of always pretending to be happy.�
�What? I don�t get it.�
�I�m not happy anymore! How many days a week do we see each other?� she challenged.
�At least one. I can�t help the fact that I have a very demanding job.�
�We�re supposed to get married in three months. How much have you contributed to the wedding plans?� she asked
�Not much, I know. But I thought you�d rather do it.�
�Get a clue Joe, not really. I grin and fake it, but I faked it for too long. This time I�m done. It�s either me or your job.�
�You can�t make me choose between the two.�
�Why not?�
�Because you�re important to me, but so is my job.�
She shook her head. �I see.�
�Hay, you really can�t expect me to choose.�
�You already have Joe, you already have.�
�Hay, don�t do this�� he pleaded.
�I�m sorry Joey, but I can�t do it anymore.�
�So, you�re just throwing it all away? The wedding, the house, everything?�
�I am. I�ve realized that I can�t do this for the rest of my life. I need someone I know will be there for me whenever I need him to be.�
�But I need you! I love you!�
�If you love me, let me go��
And with that, she was gone. His world was shattered. She came back when he wasn�t there to get her things and he never saw her again.
That was two years ago. He wondered what she was doing then. He wanted her back in his arms, singing her silly Christmas carols and decorating the tree while the fire burned as bright as the love they once held in their hearts.
He turned the radio back on, hoping they weren�t playing yet another stupid Christmas song. But he heard a familiar tune. It was an *Nsync song. The one that he had to go out and fixed. The one that took his sweet Hayleigh away.
He heard a knock on the door and went to answer it. When he opened the door, he couldn�t believe his eyes.
�Hayleigh? Is that really you?�
�Surprise?�
�A very nice one. How have you been? Come on in!� he couldn�t believe it.
�I�ve been okay I guess. How about you?� she asked, sitting on the couch.
�Pretty good. Busy.�
�Yeah. I hear that.� She laughed
�Hayleigh�I�� he started
�Joey, I�� she started.
They laughed. �You first.� He said
�No, you.�
�How about we both go?�
�Good idea.� She smiled
�I�m sorry.� They both said.
�You are?� she asked.
�Yes. You are?� he questioned.
�I am. It took me awhile, but I realized how selfish I was being.�
�No you weren�t. I didn�t realize how hurt you were.�
�I think we should just agree that we were both wrong.� She compromised.
�You always know what�s best.� He smiled.
�Sometimes. If I did, I wouldn�t have left you.� She said.
�Well, why don�t we start fresh?� he suggested.
�You still want to be with me?�
�Hayleigh, there is no one else I�ve ever wanted to be with as much as you.�
�Aww, Joe, I�ve missed you so much!� she cried, hugging him tightly.
�I�ve missed you too Hay.� He said hugging her back.
It really was a merry Christmas.