Girls Being Girls

Before We Leave

Today marked the last day of school before winter break. I had already packed up most of my luggage, only leaving out what I needed for today's group hangout. It was finally time for us to do the gift exchange. I was most excited about the fact that Hanna would be making her Christmas cookies. These cookies were heaven but they were only made for Christmas time and everyone got a box with 10.I had started getting ready early since I liked taking my time getting ready. It was around 6 PM now and I was just finishing up my makeup. I should probably get going before I end up late. V had gone earlier since she wanted to help Aaron set everything. I was thankful that every time I had gone to my car I took a few gifts, now I only had a few to take down and they were small enough that I could fit them in a tote bag. I finished my makeup and slipped into a dress V had complimented before. It was a long black lace dress with a small slit in the back. I had started wearing darker colors since I was mimicking what V wore. The change wasn't bad since I would add cute little pink accessories here and there. I got dressed quickly and made my way to the apartment, it seemed like I was the last one to get there. The apartment was almost loud with all the talking going on. I managed to squeeze my way to the Christmas tree and leave the presents there. I had used the cutest sparkly pink wrapping paper, it would've stuck out a lot more if it wasn't for the Pum Pum Purin wrapped gifts near mine. After admiring the paper for a while, I turned to get a drink. In the kitchen, Mina and Aaron were talking. "Gaby! When the hell did you get here?" Mina came over and hugged me, Aaron gave me a nod and handed me a hard lemonade. "Your girl is playing video games in my room with Minnie and Kim." Aaron laughed with his comment, I gave him a dumbfounded look before shaking my head and opening the can. "You are so annoying. You can't call her that when shes around, at least not until shes actually my girl." I muttered a bit, Mina giggling. "You guys would be so cute together! Oh, actually. Last night I helped my cousin move into the apartment. She's so excited to meet everyone since I always tell her about how awesome everyone is." Mina said, her cheeks slightly pink from what I can only assume is her alcohol intake. "Yeah, it'll be cool to meet her. Is she going to join us at the 'start of semester' dinner?" I asked, leaning against a counter and grabbing some chips from the bowl near me. Mina thought a bit, tilting her head. "Well, I hope so. I'm sure she would be glad to go, I told her she could come today but she thought it would be awkward since we are all giving gifts to each other." Me and Aaron nodded along, after a bit more conversation I decided to check out what kind of games were being played so I moved to the bedroom. There, V, Minnie, Kim, and Tino seemed to be in a very intense game of Mario Party 8. Seeing them shaking their controllers up and down for a solid 10 seconds was a little awkward. When they were done with those shenanigans I walked in. "Well, looks like you guys are having fun... better wrap it up soon tho, I think we're going to open gifts soon." They all seemed a bit startled when they heard my voice. They smiled once they realized it was just me. I moved to sit on the bed next to V, we exchanged a smile before Tino spoke. "V, how do you feel about this being your first gift exchange?" "I'm excited but I dont know what to expect. Honestly, I got comfort from the fact Gaby told me everyone does their own thing without being questioned about cash value." V responded. I couldn't help but smile when she said my name. It just sounded so right with her. The game time continued until Markus told us it was time to go open gifts. All of us sat around the living room. I tried to sit next to V but it was a sit-where-you-can situation, I ended up somewhere across the room. At least I could still see her. "Alright, as tradition says we each pick a number and give our gifts that way," Aaron says as he walks around with a hat filled with little paper numbers. I pulled number 14, I usually hated being the last one to hand out the gist, but it would be nice to give V her gift. Kim stood up, flaunting around her number-one paper. She walked to the tree and moved her presents out. "Alright y'all, I made everyone a piece of art this time, and even put them in frames so I better see these all up your places." Kim handed me my gift, it was a painting of the day I had taken Kim to the hospital when her appendix ruptured. I stayed with her for three days and she stayed at my house for a week after. The panting showed me feeding her green jello (her favorite). I thanked her and showed Mac who was next to me. Our night continued like this, everyone's presents were so thoughtful, it made me glad I had been shopping for so long so my presents would also shine. V gets up to grab her presents. "Obviously I haven't known you all for very long, but I hope my gifts do everyone justice." She smiles and starts to hand off gifts. I smile at her when she walks up to me. "I struggled a bit to pick this out, I hope you like it."I can't help but giggle when she walks away, wow. A gift, just for me. I open the small white box, carefully to pull the bow off. I gasp as I realize what it is, a gold necklace with a small diamond in the middle. The matching piece to the earring I had gotten her. I look up to find her, she's talking to Jessie but I just can't keep my eyes off her. I pull the necklace on, slightly geeking out but I try to keep a normal smile on. Mina is the last person before me, and as much as I try to, I can't focus on anything other than V. She's so pretty, fuck I don't know how long I'll be able to keep my feelings for her hidden. Before I knew it, it was my turn to hand out gifts. "Okay, every gift here is different but was chosen or made with the same amount of love." I handed out all of my gifts, saving V's for last. I handed her the box, blushing a bit and looking away. "I guess we have similar tastes." I walked away after handing it to her, of course, I wanted to stay right in front of her and watch her reaction, but that might have been too overbearing. I sat back down, looking around to see how everyone was reacting to their gifts, my eyes always making their way back to V. She smiled a bit, looking back up at me and nodding. It wasn't as big of a reaction as I was hoping for but I would take it. I stayed for an hour longer before decided it was time for me to get to bed. I knew that the party would keep going for a while, but I was too tired to hold on. I said my goodbyes, telling V I would see her later. Once home, I put on my pjs and sat down in the living room. I wanted to watch a movie and eat. Halfway through the movie, I heard the front door open, figuring it was V, I didnt stand to see. "Hey, you didnt stay as long as I thought you would," I said, still watching. I heard V take her shoes off and walk towards her room, "Honestly, I stayed longer than I planned to, but it was pretty fun. I'm glad to have this group of friends." I didnt respond since I could hear her getting undressed. V came and sat next to me, pulling the blanket I had over her as well. I turned to look at her, she was staring down at her phone but I still admired her thick eyelashes. V looked up at me and smiled. "We should build a fort and sleep here." V laughed, staring at me like I was crazy. "A fort? Really?" "Yes, really. Have you never wanted to sleep in a little hut?" I asked, tilting my head a bit and raising my eyebrows. V eventually agreed and we got on with the work. It was supported by two chairs and some pillows. It sucked a bit, but it was perfect for us. "I have about half a bottle of tequila left if you're feeling that." She was already walking to her room as she spoke, so I accepted my fate and made an order for wings. Thirty minutes later, we were shoulder to shoulder with a laptop and food in front of us. The movie was trash but we were having fun laughing and drinking. Once the movie finished, we moved and laid back. We were facing each other, just like Halloween night, and all I wanted to do was kiss her again. "Yeah, no, my parents never let me have mac and cheese after that." We both laughed at my story, it wasn't that funny but the alcohol was racing through us. "I was such a dumb kid." "Eh, I think being allowed to be a dumb kid is a blessing. I was always too serious growing up." V reached over and moved some hair out of my face. We stared at each other for a second before yawning and looking away. "Winter break is gonna be nice. I've been making so many sketches lately feel like I dont have a single dress left in me." I muttered a bit. School had been so draining lately, but I had no other choice but to keep going. "Are you going back home?" V nodded, her eyes closed and I knew she would be falling asleep soon. I stopped talking and laid back. This semester had gone by so well. My bond with my friends was strong and my grades were way better than they had ever been. But, a month without seeing who I had deemed the love of my life would but horrid. If we didnt text during the break, would that mean we're only friends because of the circumstance? What if V went back to her hometown and rekindled her love with an old girlfriend? Or worse, she met someone new and her weekends would be filled with trying to see them as much as possible. Maybe I should told her about our kiss today, once she remembered maybe she would also remember her feelings at the moment. I need a hobby.