The Christmas Confession

Chapter 2.

Anna’s POV.

Chapter 2: The Kiss That Changes Everything

For a long moment, no one says anything. The three Monroe triplets are standing there, and I’m standing with them. The weight of what just happened hangs in the air like the holiday lights above us, and I can’t quite process it.

I’m not sure what to think. Not sure what any of this means.

But for the first time in a long time, something feels different. Something feels real.

And I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

The music thumps in the background, a reminder that the Christmas dance is still in full swing, and yet, I stand frozen. My heart is racing, and my thoughts are swirling, but my feet seem rooted to the spot. What just happened?

Isaac’s kiss… Axel’s kiss… Elias’s kiss. The three of them, in less than a minute. I touch my cheek, still warm from where their lips met my skin, as if the kisses left something there—something I can’t quite name. Something that makes me feel both excited and terrified at the same time.

I don’t know what to do. The room is spinning, and I can’t seem to pull my head together. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for any of it.

I take a step back, away from the Monroe triplets, hoping they won’t notice the confusion on my face. But Isaac, ever the charismatic leader, notices everything.

“Anna, hey, are you okay?” he asks, his voice soft now, more serious. He steps toward me, concern flickering in his eyes. “You look like you’re about to faint.”

I shake my head quickly. “I’m fine,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just… surprised.”

Axel, standing next to Isaac, leans against the gymnasium wall, his arms crossed. His expression is unreadable, but I can tell by the way he’s looking at me that he’s amused, maybe even a little intrigued.

“Surprised, huh?” Axel repeats, his lips curling into that familiar smirk. “I thought you’d be used to surprises by now. You didn’t think all of us would let you get away without a kiss, did you?”

I swallow, feeling a lump form in my throat. He’s teasing, but there’s a bite to his words that makes me feel like I’m being cornered. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to get caught up in their game.

“I didn’t ask for it,” I say, my voice sharper than I mean it to be. I feel my chest tighten, but I force myself to stay calm. “You didn’t need to—”

“Didn’t need to?” Isaac interrupts, his tone soft but insistent. He steps closer, his eyes locking with mine. “Anna, you’re not the only one who’s confused right now. But we didn’t do anything wrong. We just followed the rules.”

I furrow my brow. “What rules?”

“The mistletoe,” Elias’s voice chimes in. I turn to face him, surprised that he’s speaking up. Elias, the quiet one. The thoughtful one. The one who always seems to keep his distance from the chaos. But here he is, talking to me as if he’s been waiting for this moment all along. “It’s tradition. You stand under it, you get a kiss. That’s how it works.”

I glance up at the mistletoe, the symbol of all the tension in the room. Of course, it’s a silly tradition. But somehow, it feels bigger now, more meaningful than it ever did before.

“Look,” Isaac says, his voice gentle now, “We didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. But this is just a moment. It’s a dance. It’s fun. You don’t have to read too much into it.”

But I do. I do read too much into it. Because it’s impossible not to. Every kiss they gave me felt different, like each one meant something—something I don’t understand.

And now I can’t stop thinking about it.

“Fine,” I mutter, brushing past them, desperate for some space. “But it doesn’t change anything.”

Isaac doesn’t follow me this time. I don’t know why, but part of me is thankful for that. I need to clear my head.

I head for the doors of the gym, pushing them open, feeling the cool night air hit my face. The cold feels like a slap in the face, grounding me, reminding me of who I am and where I am. I take a deep breath, trying to focus.

The party. The dance. The Monroe triplets. It’s all too much. And it’s only just begun.

I lean against the brick wall outside, away from the noise, away from the glittering lights. The music is muffled now, and the night is still, except for the occasional breeze rustling the nearby trees. I close my eyes for a moment, taking it all in, trying to push the confusion away.

“Anna?”

I open my eyes and freeze. Of course, of course it’s one of them.

Isaac stands in front of me, his hands shoved into his pockets, looking as calm as ever. He doesn’t look angry or annoyed—he looks concerned. But it’s that same look he had when he kissed me. That look that makes me wonder what’s going on behind those perfect blue eyes of his.

“You okay?” he asks again, taking a step toward me. His voice is steady, like he’s trying to keep things from spiraling out of control.

“I’m fine,” I reply, a little more forcefully than I mean to. “I just needed a break.”

Isaac tilts his head, studying me with that knowing look. “You sure? Because it looks like you’re about to explode. Or maybe… you’re just trying to avoid something.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Avoid what?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re afraid to admit that you felt something. You don’t have to hide it, Anna. It’s just a kiss.”

“Just a kiss?” I scoff, turning away to look at the parking lot. “Isaac, you don’t get it. I don’t need your sympathy. And I definitely don’t need your kiss.”

His expression darkens, though he doesn’t argue. Instead, he steps closer, his voice soft but insistent. “It wasn’t about sympathy. It was about the moment. You didn’t need to pretend, you know. We’re not here to make you feel uncomfortable.”

I don’t turn back to face him. I can’t. If I do, I might just say something I regret.

“So, what?” I say, forcing myself to sound nonchalant. “You and your brothers just decide to kiss me, and that’s supposed to be some kind of magic moment? Like you’re all doing me a favor?”

Isaac pauses. “Anna, that’s not—”

“You can stop talking now, Isaac,” I snap, spinning around to face him. “I’m not some charity case. I don’t need your pity. I don’t need anyone’s pity. I’ve got enough of my own problems without you three making things more complicated.”

He seems taken aback by my words, but his expression doesn’t change. “I’m not trying to make things complicated. I’m trying to make things better.”

I blink at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

Before he can answer, the sound of footsteps echoes from behind me, and I turn just as Axel steps into view, his dark hair falling into his eyes. He looks at me with that same mischievous glint, as if nothing can faze him.

“Well, well,” Axel says, his voice playful. “Looks like you two are having a moment.”

Isaac scowls, his patience thinning. “Axel, not now.”

I can feel the tension between them, but before I can say anything, Elias appears, his quiet presence almost like a shadow. He doesn’t say anything at first, just looks at us all with that unreadable expression. I can tell he’s been listening, but he doesn’t want to get involved. Not yet.

“What’s going on?” Elias asks, his tone calm but sharp. “I thought we were just here to have some fun. Why are we making things so complicated?”

I want to scream, but I don’t. Instead, I take a step back, my arms folded tightly across my chest. “Maybe you should ask your brothers,” I mutter, glaring at Isaac and Axel. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be kissed under some mistletoe, and I definitely didn’t ask for any of you to act like it’s normal.”

Elias steps closer, his voice soothing. “Anna, it’s not about what you asked for. It’s about what’s happening right now. We’re all in this together.”

“I’m not in anything with any of you,” I say, my voice cracking despite myself. “I don’t even know what this is.”

Axel raises an eyebrow. “What? You think we’re just playing some game with you?”

I throw my hands up in frustration. “Isn’t that what you’re doing? Kissing me because it’s funny? Because you can?”

Isaac steps forward, his eyes softening. “It’s not about that. It’s about… this moment. It’s about us getting to know each other, Anna. All of us.”

I stare at them, my heart thumping in my chest. I don’t know what to say, don’t know what to do.

“I don’t know how to deal with this,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Axel, to my surprise, steps closer. “You don’t have to deal with it alone, you know. We’re not going anywhere.”