started as a lie

7

time skip to christmas holiday.

me and leah have been sleeping in each others beds almost every day. i find it hard not sleeping with her after the week we spent in the same bed at my childhood home.

i eventually told my parents that me and leah didn't work out but we're still on good terms.

i went back to manchester for christmas and leah went to milton keynes to spend it with her family.

my family keeps asking how i'm doing.

"i'm completely fine. it was clearly for the better. we're still good friends" i told mum for the millionth time.

we were sat on the sofa watching the home alone movies.

it's christmas eve and we're all wearing matching pyjamas and drinking hot chocolate.

at about 10, i went upstairs to get ready for bed.

i brushed my teeth and cleaned my face and then got into bed. i decided to facetime leah.

"hi leah" i smiled at her.

"hiya darling" she smiled back. she was sat with her mum on the sofa.

darling. i felt butterflies in my stomach.

"hi amanda" i waved.
"hello sweetie" she smiled.

"how are you" leah asked.
"i'm good, how are you all?" i asked.

"we're all good" leah answered.

"i got you something for christmas. it's in the back zip of your suitcase. don't open it until tomorrow" i said.

"i got you something too. it's in the little zip on your backpack" leah said.

"you girls are sweet" amanda said. me and leah chuckled slightly at the comment.

we spoke for a bit longer about what we have been doing on our break.

"are you going to the arsenal new year party" leah asked.

"yeah, i'm leaving here on the 30th so i'll be back and i will go" i said. "are you going?"

"yeah probably" she said.

we said goodbye and goodnight and then hung up.

i went to sleep.

the next morning i was woken to jumping on my bed.

"auntie fia wake up. it's christmas" james shouted.

"james it's 6 in the morning go back to sleep" i groaned.

"come down we're opening presents" he continued shouting.

i got out of bed and went downstairs. i sat on the sofa, rubbing my eyes and yawning.

"morning everyone" i said.

"morning" everyone yawned back. it seems like james has dragged everyone out of bed too early in the morning.

we all sat and watched james rip his gifts open and thank everyone that gave them. i got him a football and a little goal.

"thank you auntie fia" he said and hugged me.

"it's okay jay" i said.

we all opened our presents now. i got some new shoes, some clothes and a perfume. i thanked everyone and then we went for breakfast.

we all ate together and then went upstairs to get dressed.

my mum bought us all santa hats to wear.

i sat in my room doing my makeup when leah rang me.

"merry christmas darling" she said.

omg darling again

"merry christmas le" i said.

"have you opened my gift yet?" i asked. she shook her head

"i wanted to do it together" she smiled shyly.

"that's so sweet" i said.

i got the gift from leah out of my bag.

we both unwrapped the gifts together. leah got me a cute necklace with a little heart on it.

i bought leah some arsenal earrings and a bracelet.

"awh leah that's so cute" i said.

"i love this" leah said.

i put on the necklace and leah put on the earrings and bracelet and we chatted for a while.

lisa came in and sat on my bed.

"hi leah" she said.
"hi lisa" leah said.

i finished doing my makeup and then asked what leah was doing today.

"we're having everyone over at ours for dinner" leah said. "what are you guys doing"

"that's nice. we're going to my nanas house for dinner" i said.

we spoke for a few more minutes before ending the call and going back to our families.

"sophia i have a question and i want you to answe it truthfully" lisa said. i nodded nervously.

"when leah came here, were you two actually together?" she asked. shit.

"erm you can't tell anyone especially mum." i said and she nodded.

"we weren't together. i asked her to pretend so mum stopped pestering me about finding someone." i revealed.

"oh my god." she said in a huge shock.

"and do you like her?" she asked.

"well yeah, kinda. yes. but i don't know what to do. i don't know if she likes me back and i don't want to ask or say something in case she doesn't and then we lose our friendship." i said.

"you won't lose your friendship. leah likes you. i can tell. the way she looks at you. the way she cares for you. i noticed it a lot when she was here. she always took care of you. she absolutely loves you" lisa said.

"you think?" i said.

"i know" she said confidently.

we went down to the rest of my family.

later we went to my nanas house. i sat with all my cousins and we chatted and gave each other gifts.

we ate dinner and then went home after playing some games and watching christmas movies.

i got myself ready for bed and went to sleep.