The Sky Is Falling On My Head!

16. Santa Makes A Late Arrival.

Ryder left a little after lunch time, claiming he had some work to do.

Ha. Ha.

I don't think he realised that I noticed the look he sent Keith. A knowing kind of, 'You know what to do, dude' look.

But, I shrugged it off. Bromances more often than not, were more complicated than romances.

"Okay, good night, Keith. I'm going to sleep."

Keith's jaw slackened with shock.

"But, you can't!"

Oh, so there was something going on!

"I don't see why not."

"Ugh, fine."

I turned to walk away, but then I faced Keith again.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine- it's fine."

"Keith...?"

"I swear, it's all good!"

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not ly-"

"Keith!"

"Fine!"

Keith jumped off the dining chair and walked over to his overnight back-pack. Then, he pulled something that was long, rectangular and.... Flat?

It seemed to be wrapped in bright pink wrapping paper.

Oh. Maybe he needs me to evaluate a gift for someone.

Thinking of Keith as Santa Claus, a goofy smile spread across my face.

"What? What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing, I just had a weird thought." I told Keith, making no effort whatsoever to hide my smile.

"Sureeeeee. Okay, anyways... See this? I..." The words seemed to die in Keith's throat as he pointed to pink package.

"You...?" I prompted gently.

"I... Uh... Um... I just thought... You know what, just take it. You'll understand once you open it."

"Ookay..."

Keith handed me the package, and then proceeded to bite down on his lip.

Under his scrutinising gaze, I began to tear open the bright pink wrapper, which if I'm being honest, was giving me a migraine.

I had never been a hot, bright pink kinda girl, and had preferred to stick to dark colours. Not that there was anything wrong with hot, bright pink girls. That colour had just never agreed with me.

The pink wrapping paper gave way to a transparent plastic box, which I didn't understand until I turned it over.

Sitting inside the clear plastic, was the black and white phone case I'd seen at the store the other day.

"Is this for me?" I asked Keith, my jaw hanging with shock.

Keith nodded, grinning at me.

I couldn't help myself. I rushed over wrapped Keith in a massive hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Keith laughed.

"You're welcome."

I pulled back and kissed him on the cheek.

"How did you know I wanted this?"

Keith shrugged.

"I saw you looking at in the shop that day. I felt kinda bad that you couldn't have it, so I got it for you."

I hugged Keith again, and buried my face in his shoulder.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked, when my body began to shake with silent sobs.

"Yep." I mumbled. "It's just... No one has ever done something so sweet for me."

Keith laughed, again.

"And, so you're crying about it?"

I nodded, with my face still buried in this shoulder.

"It seems like the correct course of action."

Keith wrapped his arms around me, and picked me up.

"Nah, you're just tired."

I wrapped my arms tighter around Keith.

"Thank you so much." I whispered in his ear.

Keith twisted and kissed me on the cheek.

"Of course. It's worth seeing you so happy that you start bawling."

"Be careful, Keith. I'm in a position to do serious damage."

"Yeah, right. You'd never hit your awesome boyfriend."

That seemed to yank all the air out of the room.

"My boyfriend? Is that what we are...?" I asked Keith.

I was still nestled in his arms, and neither of my feet were touching the ground.

Keith shrugged as much as he could with me in his arms.

"If you want to...?"

"Yes!" I leaned forward and kissed him, properly this time.

"Aww, that was sweet." Keith grinned.

I blushed and smacked him.

"What? I enjoyed that!" Keith said, still grinning.

I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, okay. But, there's one thing I don't get. Pink wrapping paper? Why?"

"It was Ryder's idea. He claimed you hated the colour and that you wouldn't think the gift was for you."

I felt my eyes widen with surprise.

"Wow, Ryder was right then."

"I know, right? But let's never tell him."

"Agreed." I nodded.

Keith smiled.

"So, do you still want to go to sleep, or you want to watch a movie with yours truly."

"Movie!" I yawned against my will.

"Okay, on second thought, maybe not. Let's just crash."

I didn't argue with that. I just let Keith carry me over to bed, and set me down, and before his head had even touched the pillow, I had already snuggled into him and fallen asleep.