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CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
"What on earth are you doing?!" My mother snaps as she notices me laying on my bed. "Better yet, what on Earth aren't you doing? Get up!"
"Why?" I groan and roll over to the side, facing away from her. Sadly, she notices my shut blinds and opens them, sunlight beaming through my window.
"We have presents that need wrapping for Christmas," she informs me and I stretch my arms.
"It's too early for this," I whine but my mother sighs.
She yanks off my sheets off of my cold body, "it's ten in the bloody morning."
"Precisely my point," I smile sarcastically at her but she just sighs, again. "Brad's coming over today, by the way."
"Brilliant!" My mother says. "You two can wrap presents together whilst me and your father by some more gifts for everyone."
"Oh." I say and sit up on my bed, rubbing my eyes. "He'll be here at half past."
"Then get up," my mom urges and I stand up. "Thank you; now, get a shower. You smell."
"Gee, thanks."
After I've showered, dressed and lounging downstairs on my phone, the door goes and I stand up and walk over, opening it to reveal Brad standing there with a huge grin.
"Hey," he says and I pull him in for a hug, causing him to take a couple steps back as he wraps his arms around me, too.
"Sorry," I cough awkwardly, pulling away. "I guess I missed you."
"I missed you too," he says as he follows me inside, taking off his shoes. My mom and dad walks downstairs and smiles at us both.
"We're going shopping," dad informs us. "Use protection."
"Oh my God, dad," I groan and he laughs and walks out, mom following him. I shut the door quickly, my cheeks going red. "I'm sorry about him."
"It's fine, princess," Brad laughs and I smile. "So, what're we doing today?"
"I don't mind," I admit. "What do you wanna do?"
"I have a few ideas," he winks and I roll my eyes. "Didn't you say your mom wants us to wrap some presents?"
"Yes!" I nod and grab his hand, dragging him into the front room, where some presents lay on the floor with some wrapping presents and scissors. "I've never wrapped presents before, so God help us."
"Well," he smirks. "Good job I'm an expert."
I raise my eyebrows, "expert in what? You're basically talentless. . ."
"Excuse you," he laughs. "I'm amazing at wrapping presents."
He winks and I roll my eyes, watching him sit down on the floor and tap the space next to him, indicating he wants me to sit next to him.
"Right," he pics up the scissors. "These are off limit for you, because you'll end up cutting something."
"Probably end up cutting my clothes," I laugh at myself and he rolls his eyes, scooting closer to me.
"So, shall I teach you how to wrap presents?" He smirks.
⧫ ⧫ ⧫
"Do you want a drink?" I ask and he nods, not saying anything. He was so concentrated on wrapping the presents that his tongue was poking through his mouth. "What would you like?"
"Your mother told me you make a mean cup of tea," Brad smiles as he turns the wrapping paper over.
"Well, she didn't tell you wrong," I laugh as I walk out of the lounge and into the kitchen to boil the kettle. As I run my hand through my hair, I feel a pair of hands on my waist and I turn around quickly, thankfully only seeing Brad.
"Hey," he says with a shy smile. "You were taking too long." He rests his forehead on mine and smiles down at me.
"I can't control how quick the kettle boils, Bradley," I roll my eyes and turning around so he doesn't see my cheeks blush because of him being this close to me. I should be used to it by now, but it always makes my heart flutter.
His hands are off of my waist and he stands besides me as I poor the boiling water into the cups. I carefully slide his cup to him and he takes it in his hands, blowing it to cool it down.
"Mollie, we need to talk."
"That sounds reassuring," I laugh nervously.
"No, no," he chuckles. "Not that talk. I mean, we need to talk about us, and what we actually are."
"We're humans."
"Mollie," he sighs and puts his cup of tea on the counter next to mine. "Don't be like that. Don't you think we need to talk about us, too?"
"We need to, but I don't know if I want to," I respond.
"Why don't you want to?" He questions and puts a hand on my cheek, causing my cheeks to flush pink.
"I'm scared of being in love," I admit and look away. I don't want to embarrass myself with silly little things like this in front of Brad.
He sighs and puts his finger on my chin, turning my face back to him, "babe, why are you scared? I'd do nothing to hurt you, ever."
"How many people say that and then months later they get heartbroken?" I say. "I like you Brad: more than like you! But I don't want our friendship to be ruined by us being a couple."
He pauses. "I wanna say you're right but I can't. I love you, Mol. If you're not ready for a relationship, I understand. But I wanna be able to hold your hand and kiss you and hug you and be able to call mine."
My heart flutters, my cheeks go red, because one has ever said those words to me, at least not in that order anyway. I was overwhelmed to say the least.
"Brad, I-" I stutter, completely lost for words. Instead I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him close and tightly, and it doesn't take him even a second to wrap his arms around my waist.
