Slow Motion

•Christmas Present•

I pace around my place trying to calm myself down. It currently snowing really hard in Montana so Taylor's Christmas with his family was cancelled and we were going to be spending it together.
  This sounds like a great thing but I was anxious about it.
Why you might ask, well because I didn't have a gift for him and this was such a last minute decision that I didn't have time to get him something. "Fuck" I mumble pacing trying to think of something when a loud crash echos from the hallway outside. I jump, snapped out of my thoughts and slowly wander over to the door. I creep onto my tiptoes and peer out of the peephole into the hallway. At first I see nothing but then I see my friend on the floor with a big box in his hands. I let out a slight laugh and open my door.
"What the heck did you do" I ask offering him a hand up. "Tried to carry this big box into my apartment and forgot to open the door all the way" he explains his face turning pink. I pull him onto his feet and then  begin to question him. "First, are you okay and second what's in the box?"

"I'm okay and the thing in the box is a surprise" he says wiggling his eyebrows. I pout and then let out a giggle. He giggles too and then asks me. "So are you ready for our Christmas together"
"Very much ready" I smile but my face drops when I recall that I have no gift for him.
"Are you sure you don't look too excited" he says giving me a sad look. I bring my eyes up to his while grabbing his hand. "I am I just have had a lot going on with work and stuff so this week has been really crappy" I explain.
  It was true that my week had been bad but that's not why I was upset.
"I'm really sorry about that is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
He ask shooting me an empathetic look. I give him a slight smile as I walk over and wrap my arms around him. I can feel him laugh as his chest shakes but he does return the hug. We stay then for a moment before I slowly begin to let go and he does to dropping his arms to his sides. "Thanks for that" I say looking at him.
"Your welcome, I will give you a hug anytime" he grins before picking up his box.
  "I have got to get this inside and do a few things but I'll be over in an hour if that's okay with you" he tells me. "Mmh that's perfect" I assure as I lean against the wall. He smiles and shoots me a quick wink before disappearing into his apartment. I let out a small laugh and then go inside my place.

After that interaction I now know what I can give him, A memory box.
  I run to my room and grab an old cardboard box that I had stored a bunch of polaroids in. I fish through them picking out ones of us. There was one from the day we had made brownies, a few from his birthday and thanksgiving but overall I didn't have a lot. I needed more to add than just pictures. I begin to walk around my place thinking of things.
  So far I had thought of a bracelet, candy, a certain cd and the note that I had kept of when he first called me sunshine.

I spend the next hour decorating and putting the gifts into box. Just as I'm putting the last thing in a knock hits my door. I quickly finish up and put the gift in the guest room dresser to hide it. I then run out and answer the door.
  "Hi" my cheery friend greets.
"Hey" I reply as I take in his outfit. He has on a Santa hat, a black tee and red striped pants. "I like your outfit it very Christmasy" I tell him as I open up my door all the way to let him in. "Thanks I like your too" he smiles walking in.
I had on a red sweater and a white skirt on with knee high stockings.
"You've decorated even more since the last time" he comments looking around. "Yeah just a little" I giggle going to the kitchen.
  I had baked cookies yesterday evening after work and though this would be the perfect time to offer them. I pull them out of the fridge and set them on the counter. "Would you like one?" I ask meeting his gaze. "I would" he exclaims picking one up and taking a bite. I giggle and do the same. They tasted fine but it was nothing even close to the delicious cookies my dad used to make.
  He was an absolute piece of shit after the whole dead mom thing but before then he was actually an okay dad. He used to take me to playgrounds and even play with me sometimes. He also was a really good cook and used to always make the best Christmas cookies. Then my mom died and he turned into a monster.

"Are you good?" Taylor ask trying to meet my eyes. "Yeah I'm great actually" I reply bring my face up to flash him a smile. He gives me one back as he finishes his cookie. He then walks to my door.
"Now I think it's time you open your gift" he exclaims going into the hallway and coming back with the big box from earlier. "What? You didn't need to get me anything" I start trying to hide my tinted pink cheeks. "Of course I did, now open it" he says gesturing to the box that he had set on the floor. I smile bashful and kneel down to the box. I slowly slide the ribbon off the top and open the top. Inside is another box except this one is shiny and blue. I laugh a little and slide the top off inside is beautiful snow globe. It's got a yellow base with a big house and snowmen that stand outside of it. "This is incredible" I mumble shaking it. "I'm glad you like it but there's one more gift in there for you" he smiles looking at me. "What?" I exclaim happily. I dig through the tissue paper that was placed at the bottom of the box. There planted at the bottom is a note.

Dear Sunshine,
I hope you enjoy you gift as much as I enjoy being with you. I know holidays are difficult for you so I really hope being with someone for them has helped. You sure have helped me through a lot in the past 4 months. Thank you for everything <3
-Tay

My eyes begin to prickle with tears and I can't help let one slip. "So is that a happy or sad tear?" He asks face filled with concern. "Happy" I smile wiping it away. "Thank you" I mumble as I get off the floor and run over wrapping my arms around him. "Your welcome" he whispers into my hair. I grin and hug him tighter.
  He would never know how much this truly meant to me.

I slowly let go of the hug after a minute and then tell him. "My present to you is not nearly as good as this"  he shakes his head. "Anything from you is automatically the best gift" he smiles wiping the disappointed frown of my face. I quickly run to the guest room and get it. When I return he is bouncing with excitement like a young kid. I hand it over and watch closely as he unboxes it. The first thing in the box is the note he had given me along with candy. "This is so sweet of you" he says genuinely. "There's more underneath all that" I state trying not to let my facial expressions give away my excitement. He moves out the sweet treats and finds 5 bracelets I made for him along with photos of us. "I'm actually gonna cry this is one of the most heartfelt things I have ever been given" he exclaims. He picks up each photograph looking over them closely. Then he sees it. The best part of the gift. The second cd I had bought. It was rare to find an original copy and they were going for lots of money.

"Your kidding right?" He asks knowing how special that was to me. "Nope not a bit" I tell him grinning. "Your actually giving me your Jacks Mannequin cd?" He question still in doubt. "Mmh I'm giving you it because it reminds me of you" I say blushing hard. His face turns pink too and he stumbles over his words. "Y-y- you are lik- literally incredible" he muses putting everything back into the decorated gift box. "No I'm not" I deny shaking my head. "Yes you are and you can say no all you want but it's true" he tells me standing up off of the floor. I glance down and then get up as well.
The room goes quiet for a few moments before he speaks. "Would you believe me if I told you I have one more thing for you?" I giggle but tell him. "Yes, I trust you wouldn't lie to me"
"I would never lie to you and the gift is more of a question so.." he trails off pulling out something from his pocket. In a his hand is something small but now I'm confused. "What's going on?" I question giving him a puzzled face.
He takes in a deep breath before opening his hand to reveal a ring pop in a clear plastic case.  "Would you like to be my girlfriend?" He asks giving me a small smile.

"Yes"...

An: so it took me a little longer to write this chapter. I was trying to work on my other book and I had a lot of stuff going on but here it is hope it wasn't too bad :)