The Selection: Third Generation

Ch. 28: The Proposal

"Get up, Arabella! We have to go get our Santa gifts!" I groan at the excited yelling in my face and turn over, pulling my pillow over my head.

"No," I mumble, refusing to open my eyes. Exhaustion weighs heavy on me after all of the dancing, laughing, and drinking we did last night.

"I said we have presents from Santa. That means wake up. That is an order!" Carlisle exclaims, ripping the pillow off my head. I can just see his goofy smile, even with my eyes shut.

"Ugh! Let me sleep for like five more minutes."

"No! SANTA!" Carlisle, the devil he is, tickles me and I screech, shooting up into a sitting position and yelling for him to stop.

He does.

After I fall off the bed and onto the floor. I crankily grab my back as pain shoots up it.

"CARLISLE!" I scream. I slowly get up and walk into my closet, giving up.

"You should find a pair of Christmas jammas in there! I am going get mine and will be right back!" I roll my eyes and go straight for the pajamas hanging in the back of my closet. They are red and green plaid pants and a red shirt with a Santa beard and hat on it. On top of the hanger is an actual Santa hat. I shake my head and start to get dressed. 

As soon as I pull the hat onto my head, Carlisle is bursting through the door. He grabs my hand and we run from my room. He stops me by the stairs as Annalise and Isabella come down the hall in their own forms of Christmas pajamas to meet us, hollering for us to wait up for them. We all end up running after Carlisle, barefoot and struggling to keep up. He leads up down the halls and to a parlor near their rooms on the other side of the palace. It is set up like a living room in a normal house would be, which is odd. I have yet to see a normal room in this whole place.

There is a giant Christmas tree in the corner of the room with so many presents under it that I swear my eyeballs are about to pop out of their sockets. He grabs my hand and leads us over to a spot on the floor by the tree. His parents are in Christmas pajamas that match his and his siblings. They are also all sitting on the floor. A maid in a red uniform and Santa hat passes out presents until we all have a huge pile in front of us. The room descends into total chaos as we open presents, show each other, and yell and talk over each other in excitement. 

We spend the entire day in this room, laughing and enjoying our gifts. We also get snacks and coffee brought to us. As far as gifts, I got about ten from Carlisle alone. He got me some jewelry, books, and music booklets. His sister got me my favorite book series I had been taking from the library in my own hardcover set! His mom and dad went too far and got me a brand new flute and clarinet. I even play them for everyone for a little while, enjoying the smooth sounds of the new instruments. Auggie even got me a bracelet from his travels and we sit to the side and chat, finally talking things out. 

I wrote Annalise a card yesterday, so I made sure she got it. I drew some little Christmas doodles on it and wrote a paragraph on the inside saying how much it means to me for her to be such a great friend. She cried and hugged me. Isabella plays nice all day and I hope it stays that way. I know it won't though, as she is being sent home tonight.

Carlisle actually pulls her out of the room that night before we all make our way to dinner. They are out there for about twenty minutes and every now and then we can hear Isabella's voice raise. I cringe. Carlisle is so sweet and he does not deserve her manipulating him and yelling at him. She won't go down without a fight, that I am sure of.

Eventually, they come back in. She sits in the corner quietly, but he goes to the coffee table and climbs up on it, clearing his throat.

"Everyone, can I have your attention really quick?" The room goes quiet as the seven of us stare at him immediately and my heart is racing. Annalise smiles at me and grabs my hand. I squeeze hers and smile back. Butterflies fly around my stomach and flutter in my chest and up my throat.