You Again

Christmas

Let the long chapters begin... (This may be posted before or after Dec.25. I'm trying to make this as long as I can for you guys. ♥

STELLA

I stared out my window, waiting for Alec to appear in his. Outside had begun to get dark. For the most part of the afternoon, Aunt Donna and my mom had been cooking in the kitchen. I tried to help, but I cut my finger in the process. In the fear I might lose a limb, I got sent away.

I looked at the gift that sat on my desk. I had wrapped it myself, along with the other presents under my tree.

"Let me do it," I insisted. "I love wrapping presents."

I crossed the room and stared at it. It was a small box, just a bit bigger than the palm of my hand. It was wrapped in a silver paper with the words let it snow printed all over. I put a bright red bow- his favorite color- on it. To: Alexander From: Stella was written on the tag in my annoyingly swirly handwriting.

I sighed, then bit my lip. Did he even get me a gift?

I feared that maybe he wouldn't like it, or think of it too small and cheap. I slid my new bracelet under the sleeve of my sweater, hiding it from view. I turned back to my window to see Alec.

He's smiling at me with his gorgeous smile, a dimple forming at his cheek. His hair is still tousled, but he tucks it under a beanie. A wisp of his dark locks escape and curl on his forehead. Giving him a Superman-esque look. My heart fluttered just a bit; I chewed on my lip to keep my smile subdued.

He waved, and I waved. The Smiths have been here for just over a week, and all the Christmas trees in town were already gone, sadly. My parents insisted that they could share ours. So as the days passed by, the Smiths had shown up dropping off an average of a present per day. My eyes dropped to my ring, and then the present in my hand. I thought of the presents under the tree.

Three of them had my name on it. One from my parents, and two from the Smiths.

I didn't put mine out yet.

Alec didn't have any with his name in the From: part of the tag.

I looked back up to the window and Alec wasn't there.

I heard the doorbell ring.

More voices sounded in the hall, and I knew Uncle Danny and Alec were here.

I rushed downstairs, and slipped the little box under the tree. "Last minute gifts?" A voice behind me asks.

I turn around, my heart suddenly racing as if I've been caught doing something illegal. "Just organizing things," I answer cooly.

Alec laughs, a deep sound that rolls. He walks over to the tree, lowering the boxes he held in his hands. "I'm sure you were," he smirks. I just roll my eyes at him, trying to fight the smile about to surface.

"You look extra nice today, " he informs me, and suddenly my cheeks turn a dark red. I look down at the simple maroon sweater and black skirt I'm wearing. "Cute socks,"

I stare at my feet, which look like penguins thanks to the socks I'm wearing. "Oh, you're just jealous," I tease.

He laughs again, a laugh that would make me want to tell every joke in the world just to hear.

"Well, I got your mom an ornate gift, one that would make you jealous," he taunts. I roll my eyes and start to walk to the dining room.

"You," I say, pointing a finger at him, "are going to be surprised."