Christmas morning dawned with an infectious energy as Harper's little cousins burst into her room, their tiny bodies bouncing with excitement. "Harper! Wake up! It's Christmas!"
They squealed, nearly tumbling over each other in their rush to rouse her from sleep. The sound of their voices was like a jolt of electricity, pulling her from the cozy warmth of her blankets. With a groan, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and checked her phone.
A wave of warmth flooded her as she saw a flurry of messages from friends, but it was the text from Connor that caught her breath—a simple "Merry Christmas!" with a heart emoji that made her cheeks heat up. She quickly replied, sending a heart back before the video call notification from her friends lit up the screen.
"Happy Christmas, everyone!" Harper beamed as the call connected, her heart racing at the familiar faces smiling back at her. The conversation bubbled with laughter and warm wishes, all of them eager to share their holiday plans.
"Noah better have good drinks for tomorrow night's party," ellefriend joked, prompting a chorus of laughter.
"We need to do gifts there too! I'm not letting you guys escape without giving me something!" Harper chimed in, feeling a flutter of anticipation at the thought of celebrating with them, especially with Connor in the mix.
"What's the deal with you and Connor?" another ella knowingly teased, raising an eyebrow. Harper felt her cheeks flush but managed a casual smile. "nothing, how you trip with your mistery someone" she deflected, though the glimmer in her eye hinted at more than she let on.
The call continued with playful banter about secret crushes and holiday stories until they finally ended the call, leaving Harper with a warm feeling of.
Rolling out of bed, she threw on a cozy Christmas jumper she had bought at the last minute and quickly applied a bit of mascara. As she made her way downstairs, the festive scents of cinnamon and pine filled the air, making her heart race with excitement.
Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door swung open, revealing Connor's family arriving. His little sister sprinted forward, throwing her arms around Harper. "I missed you!" she exclaimed, her joy contagious. Harper knelt to return the embrace, her heart swelling with warmth.
Connor stood nearby coincidentally wering the same jumper, thats what happens when you buy your jumper late. it turns out everyone you know has already bought it and then you are matching with them.
He is holding a cake he had baked himself, a proud smile lighting up his face as he watched the interaction.
Their eyes locked, the connection palpable and intense, until Harper's mom called him into the kitchen, breaking the spell.
"You two are cute together!" her cousin taunted when they sat down, and Harper brushed it off, her cheeks warming at the comment. The Christmas spirit wrapped around them like a cozy blanket as the chaos of gift-giving began.
Harper received money, clothes, and jewelry, but her heart was set on the gift she had prepared for Connor's little sister—a beautiful Elsa doll, which made the girl squeal in delight.
Connor's mom surprised Harper with a thoughtful present, which left her feeling genuinely touched.
Once the kids dashed off to play with their new toys, Harper discreetly tossed Connor a small gift—the personalized keychain engraved with "I won, and I always will." He caught it, a skeptical eyebrow raised, but his expression softened into genuine appreciation as he said, "Thanks, Sweetheart. I love it." he says while staring into her eyes. The connection between them deepened as he pocketed it, a warm smile gracing his lips.
YOU ARE READING
Forever Chasing
Teen Fiction"Chasing Forever" is a contemporary romance that follows the intense, complicated relationship between Harper Westwood and Connor Cooper. Set against the backdrop of their senior year at an elite high school, the story explores their journey from ac...
