A/N: noellempb stands for Noelle Marie Bellerose-Paxton, in case you were wondering.
If there's a light at the end, it's just the sun in your eyes.
Life goes on.
I shoot an ad for the new collection.
I hang out with my friends.
I go to the gym.
I spend a weekend in San Francisco with Lily and Laìs.
I eat fruit, protein supplements, vegetables, and organic foods.
I enjoy my life.
And suddenly it's the twenty-fifth of December and I'm sitting on my couch, watching A Charlie Brown Christmas in my sweats.
There's a small Christmas tree in the corner with a few neatly-wrapped presents underneath, but I haven't opened them yet. I'll open them later, after Elf and A Christmas Story.
Since my mom died and my dad's in prison, I normally spend Christmas alone. All my half-siblings have there own mothers, albeit young and stupid ones, and my friends have families. I'm even named after the holiday, Noelle is French for Christmas, but I've never cared for it.
It used to bother me, but I stopped caring a few years ago. Now I just watch cheesy Christmas movies in my pyjamas and don't put makeup on.
My phone lights up on my thigh, about five texts coming in at once.
From Taylor:
love love love the boots! wished you'd warned me about the cuffs though, my mom and dad are here
From Mar:
AYYYYYYYYYYYYY
From Mar:
KILLER TIXXXXXXXSSSSSS ELLIE
From Mar:
MERRY CHRISTMAS LOVIE
From Charlie:
were the vibrators really necessary
From Charlie:
seriously drew's mums are here
• • •
A few hours later, I finally switch the TV off and stand up, walking over to the small tree covered in silver and red ornaments I set up a few weeks ago.
About a half-dozen gifts sit under it, one from Charlie, one from Drew, one from Xander and some of my friends have gotten me collective gifts.
The first one I pick up has a small, fluttery tag on it, reading: To Ellie, From Elsa and Jasmine. Inside are two gorgeous tops, a soft white knit sweater and a red crop top. They're in my size, and I grin.
To Elsa:
thanks for the shirts Elsie! merry christmas!
To Jaz:
thanks for the tops, jazzikins. love ya.
The next gifts go in the same fashion; Jo and Taylor bought this beautiful silver bracelet, Martha got a pair of nice earrings, and Charlie and Drew have gifted me a set of perfect champagne glasses and a gag gift that consisted of butt plugs and tingly lube. Last week, while I was still working, Jo and Elsa managed to print black personalized jackets, with our names and wings printed on them, they're adorable. There's even a large gift from Victoria's Secret themselves, and I nearly shriek when I open it.
Inside are a pair of immaculate white wings, possibly the most amazing thing I've ever seen. A note sits on top, in large font that I can read. Ed knows that I'm dyslexic, so he gives me all my papers in larger, easier to read font.
Noelle,
It's been fantastic having you join the Angel family this year! All the crew loves you, and so do the other Angels. We realized that you never got a true pair of wings, so Merry Christmas! We'll see you soon!
Love,
Ed.
The last gift is from Sara, possibly my best Angel friend. We've both got real best friends, but in the Angels, we're close. Her gift was delivered in person, well, by her friend Saunders, who lives in the area, a few hours ago, in a large box with holes in it.
She wrote a card, and something about it makes me feel a little better that I got her a beautiful necklace and wrote a card as well, also in careful lettering so I can read it.
Ellie,
Can you believe it's been five months since you joined the ranks? I mean, I haven't been here much longer, but it feels like forever, you know?
In the spirit of Christmas, I thought about what you needed. You didn't need a boyfriend (though Ollie can set you up with someone), and you didn't need more clothes or anything, so I realized what you really needed: company. I know you love hanging with Luigi, so you know.
Hope you like your present!
Love you lots,
Sara xoxo
PS: His name is Milo.
Milo? Did Sara get me a stripper? I wouldn't put it past her, a month ago, we sent stripper-grams to each other about five times. I mean, no one minded, a (single) group of us just enjoyed the entertainment, but still.
I open the box, and my heart melts.
A tiny black pug is in the box, racing around so excitedly I'm surprised I didn't hear him earlier. He stops and looks up at me, and his eyes are so adorable I can hardly look at them.
He barks happily and sticks his tongue out at me, then bumps into a cardboard wall. I grin and pick him up, lifting Milo out of the box and bringing him into my lap.
"Hey, buddy." I whisper, letting him scramble around in my lap. He licks my hand, then starts crawling up my torso.
To Sara:
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOI
From Sara:
you liked your present?
To Sara:
v v much. thank you thank you! he's so cute!
From Sara:
you're welcome. bring him over sometime, he could play with luigi.
To Sara:
fuck yeah.
I close messages and open Instagram, tapping the Share button.
Snapping a pic of Milo on the couch, then pulling him onto my lap, I tag Sara and begin to write a caption with one hand.
@noellembp: merry Christmas from me and milo! thanks again sara!!!
YOU ARE READING
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RomanceIn which Nate and Noelle are hidden behind masks. OR Noelle Bellerose is a serial heartbreaker. She can't help it. It's just natural. She doesn't have relationships. She has flings that always end in heartbreak. Just not hers. Nate Sawyer is a lone...
