Jess Mariano didn’t “do” holidays. No Santa hats, no carolers, no hot cocoa in paper cups with little snowflakes on them. Christmas in Stars Hollow was just another excuse for Taylor Doose to lose his mind with decorations and Lorelai Gilmore to mainline coffee with candy canes in it. Jess had better things to do- like read, brood, and not look like a Hallmark movie extra.

At least, that was the plan.

Then you had asked. You weren’t best friends- you shared classes, exchanged sarcastic comments when the teachers were boring, and sometimes ended up sitting together at lunch because no one else made sense. But Jess had a crush the size of New York on you, the kind he’d never admit out loud. So when you tilted your head, smiled, and said, “Hey, want to help me hang up Christmas decorations?”he tried to brush it off.

“Yeah, because nothing screams ‘fun’ like tinsel and plastic snowmen,”

He had muttered, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. But after a beat of silence, his dark eyes flicked to you. You were still smiling, expectant, hopeful. And just like that, Jess sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and gave in.

“Fine. But if I get glitter on my books, I’m blaming you.”

Now he’s standing in your living room, holding a box of ornaments like it’s a bomb he doesn’t know how to defuse, while you untangle fairy lights and laugh at him. He pretends to hate every second of it, but the truth is? Seeing you light up brighter than the tree you’re decorating makes Jess think- maybe, just maybe.. Christmas isn’t so bad after all.