Home and Holidays

chapter 27

Eventually, it was time to open presents, everyone sitting together in the living room to do just that.

Tyler was currently opening the gift that David had gotten for him, grinning like a child as he tore the wrapping paper off. "Whoa, a knew gaming system? No way!" he happily exclaimed. "Thanks, little bro!" he thanked David, who was seated right next to him on the couch.

"You're welcome, dude. I knew you've been talking about how much you wanted one lately, so I decided to get it for you," David replied.

"Thank you," Tyler said again with a genuine smile.

Next, Lisa's two sisters opened the presents that Lisa had gifted them, which ended up being a makeup gift set for one of them, and a new, designer purse for the other. Lisa's sisters had always been extremely girly girls, and they still were, so things like designer bags or anything fashion related always made it to the top of their Christmas lists.

Then it was Ella's turn to open a present, and she decided to open Noah's gift to her first. She and Noah were seated on the floor in front of the couch, just feeling more relaxed that way.

He handed her the festively wrapped present, watching as Ella opened it to find a cute, little jewelry box.

"I hope you like it," Noah shyly said as Ella opened the small jewelry box.

Her eyes widened as she gasped quietly in surprise when she saw the beautiful, gold necklace inside. "Noah... it's beautiful," she said, staring at the necklace in awe as she took it out of the box, admiring it. "It's a little book charm with our initials on it," she realized, smiling softly at her boyfriend.

"I figured that'd be cool, since we both love to read. The plus sign between our initials was my idea too. Do you like it?" he hopefully asked her.

"I love it. It's perfect, just like you are," she replied, her eyes sparkling as Noah blushed from her words, everyone in the room pretty much melting from the sweet interaction they were seeing. "You wanna help me put it on?" Ella cutely asked as Noah nodded in response.

He could feel everyone's gaze on him as he took the necklace into his hands and carefully helped Ella to put it on. Noah couldn't help but stare at her afterwards, the delicate jewelry complimenting her perfectly.

"There you go. Absolutely beautiful," Noah softly said after he was done, just staring at her now.

"Yeah, it is a really beautiful necklace," Ella agreed, glancing down at the charm on it.

"I wasn't talking about the necklace. I was talking about the girl who's wearing it," Noah told her, looking directly in her eyes as he said it, making her blush hard.

Ella instantly pulled him into a close hug, her cheeks only turning redder as he embraced her.

"Well, now you have to open my gift for you. It's not nearly as good as what you got me, but I hope you'll like it anyway," Ella said. She handed him the small, wrapped gift box that she had sitting next to her on the floor, watching as he opened the gift.

"Ella, this is amazing... where did you get it?" Noah said once he brought the gift out of the box, staring at it in awe. It was a bracelet made of high quality materials in the colors of black and brown.

"I actually made it myself," Ella shyly admitted, Noah instantly looking at her in surprise.

"You made this? For me?" he said in disbelief.

"Yeah. I couldn't really decide what to get for you, but then I was thinking about how creative you are, and I thought you would appreciate something handmade. Do you like it?" Ella hesitantly asked him.