Twelve.

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It was now Christmas break, and I was nervous to ask Candy to hang out with me because I was giving her the sneakers. I asked Candy to hang out with me a few days after Christmas. I couldn't wait to give her the sneakers and see the look on her face. She was going to be so happy. She got into my car all bundled up in her winter coat and other accessories. She rubbed her hands together, complaining about the cold. I turned the heat in the car up all the way for her.

"So where are we going?" She asks, looking at me.

"Back to my place for a second," I told her, and I pulled forward onto the main road out of the trailer park.

She got excited, clapping her hands together and even placed them on her mouth for a second. "I've never been to your house before."

"Well, there's a first time for everything," I said, smiling at her then bringing my eyes back to the road. "I have a gift for you there."

"A gift?" She asks, sounding confused. "Like a Christmas gift? Steve, you didn't have to do that for me."

"It's nothing, really," I assure her, "I just wanted to get you something."

"Well I have nothing for you," she says, sounding disappointed now. "I feel like an ass. How about we get some food later, and I'll pay."

"Like a date?" I ask, trying not to sound too hopeful.

She nearly rolled her eyes at me. "No, Steve, not like a date, but just two friends getting food together."

Yeah...that might change when she opens my present...we shall see.

I live on the other side of town from her, so it took a good minute to get to my house. When we got there, I wasn't surprised to see my parents were gone. They're never around long during the day. Dad is always at work and mom is always drinking the day away with some of her other stay at home wife friends.

I had her present waiting by our Christmas tree. When she took off her winter coat, I saw she was wearing a leather jacket. "Nice jacket, Munson, is it new?"

She nods, "Yeah, it is. It was a Christmas gift from Eddie. It's not really my style, but I actually kind of like it."

"It's nice," I tell her.

I then led her to the Christmas tree where her gift was waiting. She chuckled at how I put it underneath the tree for her and everything. She undid the wrapping, and when she saw the Nike box her jaw dropped open.

"Are these?" She asked and she opened the box, revealing the new shoes inside.

"Size 7, right?" I ask, even though I know I am right.

She nods, happily. "Steve, Oh my God. You did not have to do that for me."

"I wanted to show you that I listen when you talk," I tell her, feeling proud of myself. This is pretty much the reaction that I expected from her. "You said you couldn't find a store in town that had your size, so I made some phone calls and Henderson and I drove about 30 minutes outside of town to get them for you."

"Henderson," She said, and she shook her head. "Of course. I'm not surprised he went with you. Wow, thank you."

"You deserve it," I told her, smiling at her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and shoulders, hugging me. I hugged her back, giving her a good squeeze. "You're going to be Cheer Captain next year, I know it."

She chuckled and let go of me sitting back to look at me again, "Steve you're too kind."

I shook my head, and I looked off to the side, not able to look at her for a moment. "You'd be the first person to say that about me."

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