Falling

Five: Gifts

I woke up the next morning with burning sunlight in my face. I felt sweaty, and to add to the dirty feeling, I was cocooned in a thick blanket. I made my effort to get out of it, during so realising where I happened to be.

Sam's room was quite small; A fishtank was in front of the bed and beside me was a nightstand. I smell yummy food...
I made my way to the bathroom.
I changed into one of Sam's hoodies and just let my jeans be. A simple ponytail would be enough, I think.

My bare feet pattered on the wooden stairway, I smelled bacon and something sweet. My nose guided me to Sam at the stove. I made sure to not make any noise.
I tip toed slowly past the fridge, behind the dining counter. He shook the pan slightly in the air.
Pancakes.
He set it back down on the stove.

Just then I wrapped my arms around his tall frame, and rested my chin on his shoulder. I could see the pancakes: they had chocolate flakes.
"Mornin', babe." I said quietly in his ear.
"They look good?" He asked me. Sam really isn't the best cook in the world, but he knew what I liked.

"I left drool on your sleeve." Sam turned around, and I pointed to his shoulder. No spit marks.
"I'm kidding,"I laughed, he leaned in for a kiss.
I turned my head away.
Sam looked at me with puppy dog eyes. "I'm hurt," he replied drama tick you, hand on his chest.

"But I got morning breathhhuh.." I complained, and back away.
Sam ran toward me and picked me up, twirling me around. He set me down, letting our faces become close again. His breath was minty.
He looked me in the eyes. "Your breath is fine, come here. I'm not-" he kissed me slowly. "-done with you." Sam said, kissing me again. His mouth wandered to my chin, then jaw. I moaned, his lips on my collar bone.
I looked at the stove, the pancake was still on it.

"You're gonna-burn-our-breakfast," I said in a sing songy voice.
Sam stood upright again smiling. "Oops." He turned around and shut the stove off. On a plate with three other pancakes he added the fourth.

"Oh yeah, Emm, want some bacon? "Sam said, leaning over a plate of bacon.
He turned around with a bacon mustache.
"You know I do," I took the entire plate and ran with it.
"Hey!" I heard Sam running giddily behind me.
"You made me lose my 'stache!" He said childishly.
I ran halfway up the stairs laughing before we both heard the doorbell ring.

I stopped dead in my tracks, peering below to see who it might be. Sam opened the door.

I came back down to the front door.
Nobody was here.
No cars, no neighbors that I would know of, but Sam had already picked up the wrapped box.

"It's for you." He simply said. He gave the the rectangular thing, and watched me curiously.

It was Christmas wrapping. But it isn't Christmas-not in the middle of July.

The box had a note taped to it.

Dear Emma,
I find that this will hopefully be of good use. It holds so much purpose to me, so do not damage or misuse it for me, will you? Open it when the time is right.

Nobody signed it.
No name, nothing.

"Who's it from?" Sam asked.

"Dunno."

Sam went back into the kitchen.
"Open it when the time..is right."??
When would the right time be?

For all I know there could be a bomb in this thing. Or worse: a rat. Oh well. If I open it now, the surprise would be ruined. I walked back upstairs and decided to put it in the plastic bag I found laying around. Sam wouldn't care.

My stomach grumbled.I came back downstairs again with Sam looking all potty and the dining counter.
"Why the long face?" I asked jokingly.
It wouldn't be any of Sam's business about the box.

"You got a present, and I didn't?" He asked.
"Tell you what, I'll get you your present, okay? It's a surprise. "I asked. "Deal?"

"Okay!"Sam smiled so child-like, and put some bacon in his mouth.

***
I drove while Sam sat in the passenger seat with a blindfold. He sat like that the whole time, him and I debating on what he thought his present should be. The surprise was, I was taking him to a music store downtown that my mother and I used to visit every now and then.

"Are we getting McDonald's?" He asked.
"Nope. We're here. " I parked the car, and Sam tried to mess with the blindfold.
I put my hand on his quickly. "No, it's a surprise. Let me guide you." He sighed, and let his hands fall into his lap.

I opened his car door, and guided him into Moore's Musical Emporium, which had lots of records and classic guitars. A few pianos and drums even sat in there. People stared at me the while time I dragged him in, but it was worth his reaction.

We stood inside next to a few of the pianos.I intended his blindfold. His eyes opened, and his jaw kind of dropped. A lot.
I laughed,because when we first met was here. I was buying some Cher Loyd albums, and he teased me over such horrible music taste. He didn't know I was buying it for mom, though.
"Oh, babe.." Sam looked me in the eyes, smiling. He hugged me tight.

"Let's get you something.I know you can play guitar," I encouraged him.
I let Sam wander off through the store. I just stays up by the entrance, viewing the grand, black shiny pianos sitting in front of the windows. I had an urge to play, but, it would be wrong. Mother taught me how.

Mother mother mother...

I looked around to see if anybody was watching. No customers, no clerk, and thankfully the windows were tainted a little. I could still see outside.
I climbed into the window display, and choose the biggest piano. The bigger ones okay easier for me.

I just let my fingers roam over the keys. It felt right. I played for what seemed like two minutes.

"That's beautiful," Sam's rough, musky voice interuppted it all.
I instantly blushed. I shouldn't have touched those keys at all.

"What did you get?" I asked to spin the conversation.

"New one," Sam held up an acoustic guitar.

"Okay, well, let's go pay. " I said.

Everything after just had a notaglistic glow. My mum, John, and the things. I wondered how many people would actually fall in love with piano, it was a cheesy thought anyways. I tried to forget it. I smiled when we left that store, but it didn't really feel genuine.