The Magic Makers

Chapter 24

"Mewy Chwistmas!" Anna called as she threw open the door to Phillip and Ariana's bedroom at around five in the morning. It was a few days after they had come and Phillip had made himself quite at home. He loved Ariana's family. They didn't make him feel awkward. Except maybe Mr Rivers. He was a bit of a pain. "Go away, Anna!" Ariana called in her sleep, snuggling into Phillip's warm chest. He smelt amazing even in the morning. How do they even manage to do that.. Ariana thought sleepily, smiling as she felt Phillip's arm wrapping around her waist protectively. She was sure she smelt like drool or something. If drool smelt, that is. "Get up pwea-" Anna stopped mid sentence as she saw their position. She blushed scarlet, gasped loudly and rushed down the stairs, banging the door behind her and waking everyone up. Phillip shot out of bed and landed hard on the linoleum floor, gasping as the cold seeped into his warm body. "What the fuck just happened?!" He groaned, picking himself off the floor. "Anna!!" Ariana answered angrily, snuggling under the covers once again. "Oh.." Phillip smiled. He had come to love Ariana's little sister like his own. He was about to get back into bed when Ariana's mom came into the room. "I'm so sorry dears! Anna's a little jumpy today." Ariana grumbled some inaudible reply but Phillip wrapped his arm around Mrs Rivers's tired shoulders. "It's completely all right, Mrs Rivers. I don't get to experience this sort of a thing everyday, you know." He said a little sadly. Mrs Rivers looked at him curiously but the mask was back on. "Besides, it was time to wake up anyway." He said cheerily. Ariana sat up in bed slowly, looking like she had been dragged backwards through a prickly hedge. He hair was in her eyes and her thin cotton shirt was twisted around her. Phillip looked at her affectionately as Mrs Rivers left after calling them down for breakfast. "This is the face I want to wake up to every morning.." He said, cupping Ariana's face into his hands. "You don't have to be so sarcastic." She muttered, rubbing her eyes. "I'm not being sarcastic! Really, believe me." He said softly, and Ariana looked up at him. Phillip felt like stabbing himself. How could he say that to her?! How dare he say that to her. Believe me..?? Right. He snorted internally. He wanted to tell her that what he said was not good advice, and that she shouldn't believe him, but he couldn't breathe as Ariana leaned in and kissed him on the mouth. He returned those kisses, and in that moment he knew he could never forgive himself for this. For playing with her like that. But for now, he would really like to enjoy the moment while it lasted. "Good morning, Parker." Ariana's voice snapped him out of his trance and he smiled, leaning in on her. He placed soft kisses on her neck, bringing them up to her jaw and smiling as he felt her sighing a little. She wrapped her fingers in his hair as he kissed her on the mouth again. The areas where he had just kissed her were burning. He kissed her without stopping, as if she were a fleeting, transient thing that would never be found again. He stopped finally and rested her forehead against her's. "Morning, Rivers." He whispered, making Ariana's breath hitch. She smiled and closed her eyes as Phillip kissed her forehead lightly. He would've kissed many more places but for the awkward knock at the door, which the idiots had left open.

Ariana and Phillip froze in their places. Bad idea. Mr Rivers was getting a clear idea of what had been going on. Phillip was on his knees and Ariana was leaning against the cushions and the head of the bed. Ariana's face was in Phillip's hands and his lips were inches away from her neck. Mr Rivers coughed awkwardly. "Am I... um.. interrupting something?" He asked. Ariana suddenly snapped back to attention and shoved Phillip off so roughly that he fell down again, the cold floor making him supress a groan. "Dad! Um.. we didn't.. um.. know tha-" "that you should close the door while making out." Mr Rivers said simply, ignoring Phillip's open mouthed stare (which was easy, since he was lying on the floor.) Ariana blushed profusely. "Y..yes.. exactly my point.." "Now if you'll would please hurry up, breakfast and presents are waiting." He said, shutting the door behind him. "Presents.. I forgot all about them!" Ariana exclaimed, leaping out of bed and leaving Phillip in a pool of embarrassment over what had happened just then. "Yeah.. presents.." he said weakly and got up to wash up.

                         ~♢~

"What the fuck?!" Phillip whispered softly, trying to hide his present from everyone. But it was too late. Ariana, Mr Rivers, Mrs Rivers and Anna had seen it. Phillip coughed awkwardly, remembering to deal with Zack later. Zack had given Phillip condoms, pink handcuffs and a note that said 'Enjoy' in bold red lipstick as a Christmas present. His idea of a practical joke. Phillip looked down at the floor, wishing these things could magically turn into chocolates or something. He could feel Ariana and Mr Rivers glaring at him, while Mrs Rivers laughed awkwardly. "Um.. Zack has a weird.. ahem.. sense of humor." Phillip said, trying to explain his presents. He was just about to put these away when Anna rushed towards him and snatched the packet of condoms from him. "Anna!" He yelled but it was too late. Anna held the packet in her hands, admiring every inch of it. "Pretty.." She said dreamily, her eyes wide. Before Phillip could reach her, Ariana snatched the packet out of Anna's hands, glaring at her all the while. "What?!" She asked indignantly. "It's not for you." Ariana said simply, pocketing the offending thing. "So is it for.. ahem.. you'll?" Mr Rivers asked softly. There was an awkward silence. And then Mr Rivers spoke again in a sweet, calm voice. "Phillip, my dear boy, if you dare to use that thing at all, I swear your relationship with my daughter will be history." Phillip gulped. "Not at all, Mr Rivers. I'll make sure it.. ahem.. isn't used." Mr Rivers continued glaring at Phillip. "Sir." Phillip added after a while. Mr Rivers smiled slightly and turned to Ariana. "Let's go eat our breakfast, shall we?" He invited, and they all trooped into the dining hall. Ariana had received pretty normal presents: an expensive Chanel perfume from Katherine and hot rainbow converses from Elsa.
Perfectly normal.

                         ~♢~

Back at Lexington, Zack was unwrapping his presents in Katherine's room. Elsa was there, too. Katherine had unwrapped her present from Ariana. A beautiful black liquid silk dress. Elsa had received a lovely charm bracelet, one she had been wishing for since a long time. She thanked Ariana silently. She had received beautiful Prada heels from Katherine. She had also received something form Tyler. Two tickets to the movie. Her favourite one, that too. Katherine wouldn't stop teasing her. Katherine had received a promise from Zack. A promise that he would make her night so memorable that she might think it's a dream. Katherine looked forward to it. She had given Zack an expensive Calvin Klein cologne. She splurged freely during Christmas.
Zack finally opened his present from Phillip and as soon as he did, he facepalmed himself. He had received a lace bra and a packet of tampons from Phillip. Seriously, Phillip? He asked himself mentally. Katherine and Elsa burst out laughing. "Am I being lesbian by dating you, Zack?" Katherine asked teasingly. She got tackled to the floor by Zack. "Oh, you'll come to know tonight, Kath." Zack whispered softly, his face inches away from hers. Elsa looked down almost instinctively as they kissed for about two minutes straight. "C'mon, let's go down for breakfast." Katherine suggested when they had finished making out. Zack and she walked to the door, but Katherine stopped when she realised Elsa wasn't following them. "C'mon Elsa!" Katherine called and turned around to see Elsa gaping at the present wrappers. "What's wrong Elsa? C'mon!" Katherine called and walked toward Elsa. "Look at that, Kath." Elsa whispered softly. "Look at what?" Katherine asked impatiently, squinting among the wrappers. Elsa reached in and pulled out a perfectly wrapped present. 'To Flame.' It read in beautiful cursive. "So? It's another present for you, Elsa! Why are you behaving so weird?!" Katherine asked, annoyed. Elsa turned it over without a word. 'From Waters.' It said, again in beautiful cursive. Katherine gasped loudly, making Zack come toward them. Elsa stared at the name, not even unwrapping the present. "You'll open it later?" Katherine asked her softly. Zack stared at the present, silent. Elsa nodded as she put the present away, tears filling her eyes.