A/N: This story has been broken up into three parts to keep chapters a nice digestible size. The story takes place after the events of the third and final book, in the perspective of MC who I've named Alex. This was delayed in post, so thank you and enjoy your slice of Christmas in January! ~ Des


Scene 1: Break Out.

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'Sorry, I can't make it tonight, tell the group to have Trevor do the lights. I taught him everything he needs to know, so the play should be fine.'

After looking back at the text from Skye for the third time in the past five minutes, I pocket my phone before knocking on Rory's door. Shivering slightly on their doorstep from the wind that seems to cut through my coat as the snow comes down.

After a few moments, a perplexed Rory opens the door before leaning on the frame. "What brings you here, Alex?" they ask with a lighthearted tone, joking, "Did you smell my cookies from across the yard? No one resists my cookies."

"No," I reply, "we need to talk."

They move to the side nodding for me to come inside to which I oblige. I walk towards their couch while explaining.

"Skye's parents have basically locked down the house for the holidays." I sit down on the plush couch, with Rory joining beside me, before continuing, "They have an annual Christmas Eve party that she's expected to help with and appear in 'good graces.' She mentioned it before but didn't think they would actually force her to stay home. Because of this, she won't be able to come to the play."

"What?" They stop to consider this for a moment. "But Skye is our best techie!"

I nod in agreement. "She says Trevor could handle it," I point out.

"But it still wouldn't be the same."

"Yeah, I know."

Just as I finish speaking, there's a knock on the door.

"Who is that?" Rory asks.

"Ajay. I told him to come over here," I explain.

Rory springs up from their seat, "What? Is my house just our new hangout or something?" they ask jokingly.

I hear Rory greet Ajay, offering to take his coat to which he denies. Having been sent to the living room with me, in comes Ajay, swaddled in a big poofy coat. Cautiously, he takes a seat in the chair across from me, next to the fireplace.

"You said it was serious," he glances between Rory and I while rubbing his hands together, "and you guys don't seem to be overly ecstatic about anything."

"That's... Kinda the thing," I say. I quickly catch him up on the situation. Skye, her parents, the Christmas party and everything in between.

"How are we going to be able to carry out the play without Skye?" Ajay asks. He stands up, pacing a few steps running his hand through his hair. "Sure Trevor could handle the production works, but it wouldn't be the same without the extra Skye touch."

"That's why I have a plan," I smile mischievously. "We are gonna bust her out!"

"Ah, yes. Lets just waltz into the house of one of the wealthiest households in our entire county and kidnap their daughter," he says sarcastically, "Sounds like a fantastic idea."

"Excuse you!" I chide, "Like I said, I have a plan."

"Alright. Let's do it. This better be a good plan though otherwise I'll raid the place myself," he retorts.

Rory scoffs, "What happened to 'the place is too guarded,' Mr. Director man?"

"I never said I wouldn't, just that I don't think it would work." He looks at Rory, then me, then back at Rory. "Wow you guys really thought I was going to leave my right-hand woman behind didn't you?"

"So?" Rory starts, only to have Ajay cut in.

"What's the plan?"

With a smile, I answer, "Well firstly we have to wait till it gets dark."

"Are you sure it's okay if I stay out here?" Ajay asks. "Wouldn't it be better if I came with?"

I reply, "Like I said, they know Rory's car, but not yours. We can't let them catch on too early. Besides if we get caught, you're too important to the play." This is my excuse, but frankly part of the plan requires standing outside and catching something. Neither of which Ajay would be good at right now.

"But-"

"Rory and I both have understudies," I point out. "It's not the best situation, losing two important cast members and a set crew, but it's better than nothing."

"... Fine," he mutters.

With that, Rory and I head down the block towards the Crandall's house, our shoes crunching on the newly laid snow. Thankfully, for now the weather seems to have subsided. Rory goes around the side of the house to wait by Skye's window for the signal. Once they're out of sight, I knock on the door.

A burly man wearing an all black suit opens the door. He looks me up and down, taking my rather casual outfit into account. "Can I help you..." hesitantly, he continues, "Ma'am?"

I know my hair is short and I don't exactly dress feminine, but it's not that hard.

"I'm here to speak to Miss Crandall," I tell him. "Skye. Skye Crandall, to be specific."

He crosses his arms, "Unless you're on the list, or have some important business here, I can't let you in young lady."

I lean in to whisper to the man, "Well, you see... Mr. Crandall hasn't exactly been... The most faithful." I point to my red hair, "I've always had a suspicion, never knowing my father was hard." I put my acting skills on full display, letting a tear drop down my cheek. "I know he would never willingly take a DNA test, so I was kind of hoping Skye would? Since I met her in freshman year of high school, I've just had this... This feeling."

The man arches his eyebrow at me. Mentally I cross my fingers, thinking, 'Please don't know much about the Crandall family. Please let me through. Please just be hired help from who knows where.'

"Fine. But if you cause any problems, I'm kicking your ass out." He sidesteps just enough to let me pass.

"Thank you," I mutter as I squeeze through the doorway.

When I enter, I'm immediately hit by the overwhelming scent of all the perfumes and colognes that are being mixed together right now. Paying no mind to the scarcely present Christmas decor, I start searching the house for Skye. I begin squeezing through crowds, getting weird looks from the guests as I go.

? hear a few of them whisper, "Who invited the commoner?" A few others ask each other, "Do you think she's part of the wait staff and just got here late?" followed by "If so, she should be fired. Arriving an hour late."

Figures the Crandalls guests are just as snobby as they are.

Ignoring them, I soon spot a glimpse of Skye's long red hair through the sea of people. I see her seated on one of the luxurious couches, all dolled up, while some man looms over her trying to strike up conversation. I push past a few more groups, her eyes lighting up when she sees me. She shoves the man off, cautiously looking around before speed walking towards me. She stumbles over her white heels a few times as her pink dress flows behind her.

"Alex, what are you doing here?!" she asks in an urgent but hushed tone.

"Wow," I feign being hurt, "Some way to greet your girlfriend."

This makes a few of the surrounding guests perk up, whispering "Is the Crandalls daughter gay? How disgusting."

I'm about to chide back when one of the ladies does the job for me.

"Can you blame her? Women are prettier than men," she says. This makes the man aghast, and I see a snicker on her lips. "They smell nicer too."

Maybe they aren't all horrible, I think to myself.

Skye looks at me with widened eyes before letting out a sigh, "Whatever," she mutters. "But still, what are you doing here?"

"I'll explain later," I glance at the people around us, before pulling her in and whispering in her ear. "Act like you've eaten something bad or something and you're feeling sick."

After this, I more loudly say, "But I think I lost something last time I was over. I'm going to check your room if you don't mind?"

"Yeah..." she says confused, "Go ahead."

I hope she understood my message. Heading down the hall towards her room, I'm stopped in my tracks upon hearing Mrs. Crandall in the next room. Her screechy voice sets her apart as her heels click as she walks towards the main party room. Chatting with, or more so admonishing, the catering staff. I scan for a spot to hide, before noticing a broom closet. I quickly dart into the room, making sure I silently close the door behind me.

I hear the footsteps from the woman's heels get louder, "I can't believe you ran out of gold-flake infused truffle oil for the mushroom bruschetta appetizers!" Mrs. Crandall snaps.

"Ma'am," the lady responds, "We were told there would only be a hundred or so people, not triple that."

"I emailed you with the updated guest list!" she snarls. Stopping right in front of the door. I hold my breath, hoping she doesn't decide to whack the poor staff lady with a broom.

"Four hours before the event, Miss Crandall," She points out. "Me and my team are doing the best we can."

With a huff, she replies "Well your best needs to be better! You're lucky if I pay you people at all." After that, I hear her heels get further and further away, the catering staff returns back to the kitchen shortly after.

Slowly, I peer my head out of the closet. "Thought I was done hiding in the closet," I whisper to myself, cracking a smile at my own joke.

Deciding it's safe, I return on my mission to get to Skye's room. I head down the rest of the hall, then up the long windy staircase that seems like it should take you much higher than just a second floor.

Entering her room, I'm immediately hit by all the pink girly frilly stuff her parents saturated her room with. After a moment to process how unsettling and totally un-Skye-like the room is, I flicker the lights on and off twice. I then proceed to start grabbing her clothes from her dresser, trying to somewhat make a matching outfit that Skye would wear. Once I've gathered what I think is a suitable collection of clothes; a long sleeve skull shirt with some basic black jeans, I open Skye's window.

"Rory, are you down there?" I ask, trying not to be too loud.

After a moment of silence, my strained ears pick up a "Yes."

"Tossing them down now," I say. "Catch!"

I chuck the balled up clothes out the window, making sure to give it enough force it gets past the roof of the side porch.

A moment later, I hear Rory say "Got em. I'll run these to Ajay's car then be right back."

Thank goodness Rory has more athletic talent than the rest of us. Remembering something, I shout down.

"Wait!" I quickly spot a tube of Skye's famous black lipstick and toss it down as well. "Okay, all good!"

As if on cue, I hear the door behind me click open, revealing my overly pink girlfriend. "Hey beautiful," I smile, shutting the window.

She rushes up to me, "Alex, what were you thinking?"

With a shake of her head, wraps me in a warm embrace, letting me smell whatever extremely floral perfume she's been doused in.

"I missed you. But you shouldn't be here," she pushes me back and holds me at arms length.

Excited, I exclaim, "I came to bust you out!"

"How are you going to do that?" she asks. "My parents have me completely locked down." I hear her mutter under her breath, "So much for cutting them out."

"Well for starters Ajay is waiting outside and everything else is ready, we just have to get you out of the house."

"But... I can't," she states, cold and unforgiving.

"Why not?" I ask. I sit on her bed and pat next to me, motioning for her to sit with me.

She folds her hands in her lap, "Because they said they would get me fired from your parents diner. That they would come after you guys and make it living hell for everyone."

I gently turn her face towards mine, "Hey," I say in a soothing voice, "They have no power over that. My parents know better. You are a great worker and your parents can't control them like that."

"You don't understand, they have a lot of money and with money comes power and-" she starts to ramble before I cut her off.

"No," I firmly say. "It's okay Skye, we can handle it, so let's get you out of here," I nod towards the door, "okay?"

A small smile starts to form on her lips. "How are you going to do that? My mother will come searching for me any minute!"

Trying not to chuckle, "I may have talked Rory into making a fool of themselves."

"I'm not going to get to see that if I want to get out of here, huh?" she asks.

"Nope!" I smile, "But it's worth it."

I give her a quick kiss, enjoying the taste of her cherry lip gloss. "Now, let's get you rescued, my princess."

I fake bow to her, causing her to roll her eyes. I take her hand, leading her out of the room after flickering her light five times.

Halfway down the stairs, she starts to ask, "What was tha-" but is cut off from the screams of the guests in the main room.

"Don't ask," I say.

Once we're downstairs, I take us left instead of right, towards the back kitchen entrance. I peek around the corner to my dismay, spotting three staff members trying to arrange platters for the overly impatient guests. I motion for Skye to wait, and stay out of sight.

Taking a deep breath, I throw myself against the door frame as if I had just run here. "There's a commotion in the front. Something," I pant for effect, "Something about gold truffle oil?" I continue.

The staff looks at me puzzled, probably wondering where such a 'commoner' came from, but soon enough a loud thud comes from the party area.

"She's mad. The angry red lady," I explain. "You guys need to go figure it out before you all get fired by Madam Nazi."

The staff look between themselves, obviously uneasy. After another thud and some undistinguishable yelling, one of the staff members starts heading to check the commotion, the rest following behind.

Once they round the corner, I wave Skye back over. "Should I be worried you can lie so well?" she asks.

"It's not lying," I state, "It's called improv acting." I give her a warm smile before pushing her into the kitchen ahead of me, both of us sneaking out the door.

Once we're out, I let out a little whoop that Skye shushes me for. But even in the dim light from the back lights and the moon, I can still see a bit of sparkle in her eyes. "Dork," she calls me.

I feel my coat pocket, making sure the gift is still there. 'Should I give it to her now? Or would that be too hasty?' I ask myself. 'I want it to be perfect'

She takes in a deep breath of the cool evening air, before turning back to me with a grin, "So what now?"

This snapps me out of my thoughts. I grin back at her, "Now, we run to Ajays car and hope they don't see us!" I take her hand and pull her as fast I can without causing her to stumble over her dress.

Once we get to Ajays car, I open the door for her with a bow and a wave. "My princess," I offer. She rolls her eyes and gives me a playful little push before pulling up her dress and crawling in. I slide in next to her soon after, and by the time I've gotten settled, Rory comes rushing up to the passenger side door.

They open the door, covered in snow and giggling the whole time, telling Ajay "Okay we're good. Go! Go!"

"Are you being chased?" he asks slightly panicked.

"What?" Rory looks up at him from dusting the snow off their shirt. "Oh! No, no one is chasing me. I just thought it would be fun, like all those action movies."

Ajay sighs in dismay at the sheer amount of white powder Rory is shaking off into his car, causing Rory to break out in a goofy grin. Ajay groans, but Rory sits there completely unfazed.

"It worked though," Rory pointed out, smiling even wider than before.

"You guys are all ridiculous," Ajay says before pulling out to start the drive to the school.

I nuzzle into Skye's shoulder, putting my arm around her which seems to relax her a bit.

Rory looks back at us in the mirror, "Skye, I thought you were working on separating yourself from your parents," they turn to us in the back, "If you don't want to answer, I understand, but why did you let them keep you there?"

"Because..." Skye starts, "The legal system is screwed. For the time being, I'm stuck there. If I didn't, my mom said she would get me fired from my job and drag Alex's family down with me. I let her manipulate me, again. I'm so tired of feeling helpless against them."

"Oh," is all Rory can reply. A moment of silence passes, the only noise is the whirring of the car down the road. They finally speak, saying "We'll help fight them tooth and nail for you, got it?"

"Thank you, guys," Skye gives a half-smile, "really."

I give Skye a peck on the cheek before taking her hand in mine, running circles on the back of her hand with my thumb. She leans into me, and we enjoy the rest of the peaceful ride together as Ajay and Rory chatter in the front.

All too soon, the car comes to a stop. I groggily stretch before we get out. Pulling off a break out mission like that is apparently very tiring, so I resign to leave the James Bond action to the movies.

"You guys need to go get in costume and get ready." Ajay gives Skye the bundle of clothes from the trunk, "Do you want to change out here or in the bathroom?"

"You guys grabbed some spare clothes?" She takes the bundled up wad and turns it over in her hands.

"Of course!" I say, "Wouldn't be a proper rescue if you didn't get a wardrobe change to hide your identity!" She rolls her eyes at my enthusiasm.

"Thank God though, I was not looking forward to spending the rest of the night in this," she gestures at her dress. "I'll change in the bathroom and meet up with you guys backstage."

Everyone all nods and we start towards the building, our breath turning to fog in the cold. Once inside, and down the main hall a ways, we start heading our separate ways. I pull Skye aside before we get to the hall's crossroad. Once Ajay and Rory turn the corner, I pull her in for a soft kiss. She pulls me closer, her lips moving against mine, deepening the kiss, and making my heart flutter. She starts nibbling my lower lip before breaking away, looking into my eyes with her own stormy blue ones. My breath catches, and I can feel my face flush a little.

"See you in a bit, Alex," she smiles, her face also a bit red.

I smile back, "Bye, Skye-with-an-E," I say, but she's already turned to go to the bathrooms to change.

I head the opposite way with a little more spring in my step, ready to get this show, A Gift To Remember, on the road.

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To be continued...