Taming A Predator

Chapter 56

Doe's POV:

This week, our outing involved adventuring through the many markets and shops, both for us, and for the fact that Khloe's birthday was coming up soon.

This meant gift-hunting, something I was initially looking forward to this morning but now realized that I was incredibly bad at it.

"I still can't believe you got her something and I haven't," I mumbled.

"I had to go all the way to Nico to get an answer, and even then he didn't seem to have much. If you really want, we can share mine, but apparently she's not even getting it on her actual birthday."

I thought about it before shaking my head.

"No. That's lame. What kind of best friend doesn't get her her own present?"

"If you're her best friend, then shouldn't you have an idea of something to get her?" He teased.

I kicked a small rock back into the patch of flowers it came from to release some frustration.

"What the hell are you supposed to get someone whos probably dating a vampiric heir that definitely gets her anything she off handedly mentions?"

"Yeaaaah Nico is that type, isn't he..."

"Exactly!"

Xander is too, but I don't think he's noticed.

I can't get her any art supplies she doesn't already have, I don't know enough about board games to get her the perfect one.

"Why not something sentimental then? Instead of just a practical gift? You could always just... make her something. Like she did with that photo of you."

Make? What could I even make her?

I can't draw, I'm still in the process of writing my own songs. What else am I even halfway good at?

I went though my admittedly short list of moderate skills that could be considered shareable.

Finally perking up and nearly jumped as soon as I thought of something.

"I can bake her something," I excitedly proclaimed, "I'll make her birthday cake- no, cupcakes. She likes cupcakes more. I know she likes hazelnut and chocolate... and I can top it with raspberries because I know she loves them. And dark chocolate... Maybe for the frosting."

I paused for a moment as I thought it all through and juggled with the possible combination with what would work out best.

"I know I'd need Lily to help me... do you think that would make her see it as less genuine?"

Xander squeezed my hand with a soft laugh.

"I think she'll love it. It's the thought that matters and I can see you're already stressing it. I'm sure she'll appreciate it regardless."

"You're right," I sighed, "Cupcakes it is then."

Something else I realized during this outing was that Xander wasn't trying to hide this at all. Hide... us.

He was dressed casually, not even a hat or hood to try to hide his face. Just everyday wear, which even then was enough to get recognized.

Which he was. Quite a lot.

If it wasn't people waving or coming to talk to him for a few seconds, it was excited gasps, stares, points, and whispers.

And he carried on like we were walking alone in the halls of the castle, intertwining our fingers or kissing me on the head whenever we stopped to look through a window.