Intimate

Part 18

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Sam bursted into my room. She wore her Christmas pajama's with a bunch of little Christmas trees on them.

"Okay, okay give me a minute!" I rolled face down onto my pillow.

"Now!" Sam demanded, pushing me back onto my back, "Lacey made eggs benedict. I know that's your favorite." I whipped the covers off of my body and raced into the kitchen. The tall woman stood over the counter preparing our breakfasts. I pulled out my phone and texted Jace and my friends wishing them a Merry Christmas before digging in. I glanced over to the open living room with the tree lit up. There was nothing under it, I wasn't expecting anything, but I guess I was hoping for a miracle. A miracle that involves my mom coming back.

We spent all morning watching Christmas movies and eating chocolate. I wore Jace's sweat shirt and the beanie Sam gave me this morning. It was originally for a boy, but I absolutely loved it. Sam and I wore matching side braids; she also wore the PINK sweater I got her. Lacey gave us our presents last night, which were gorgeous pearl bracelets. We returned the favor with a beautiful watch both Sam and I had to chip in to pay for it.

JACES'S POV

I lay silently in my bed staring at the blank ceiling. I had no clue where my mother was, and I decided it was better not to know. My phone vibrated on my bedside table and I nearly jump at it with excitement, I needed something to distract me. Christmas was the worst the day of the year. A text from Riley was exactly what I needed.

Hey hey! Try to smile today, okay? :* Merry Christmas babe(:

I ran my fingers through my hair before I struggled out of bed. Mom's room was empty, so I ventured down stairs, where it was still empty. A flat box with ribbon on it lay on my counter with a cute note attached.

I know we agreed on no presents, but hey, what can I say? I'm a rebel (; ~ Riley

I shook my head before opening the box. A large sweater was folded in the box; it was black with a white tiger design on it. Just because I kinda stole your sweater the tag said, making me laugh. I slipped into the sweater and collapsed onto the couch, alone.

Merry Christmas to me.

I spent my morning sleeping, the couch immediately made my back sore and I could hardly move when I woke up. The door slowly opened and scrambled to sit up. A girl stepped in with her wavy brown hair in a messy braid, and a head band held it back from her face. I couldn't help but laugh at her ugly Christmas sweater; it was a red fabric with a large Christmas tree with real jingle bells decorating it. She actually looked pretty cute. "I was debating between wearing your sweater or this, and I felt this was a little more festive." She explained, noticing me staring.

"It's cute." I laughed, jumping off of the couch and wrapped the girl in my arms. "Shouldn't you be with your family?"

"It's not much of a family... Anyways, I knew you'd spend the whole day sleeping, so I came here to crash your party." Riley handed me a box before taking off her light jacket and hung it on the hook. "I like your sweater by the way."

"What's this?" I questioned, the box was wrapped so I shook it. "And thank you, some random person left it on my counter"

"WHAT THE HELL DON'T SHAKE IT!!" She disciplined, taking the box quickly out of my grasp. "If it's crumbled I blame you for ruining Christmas."

"What is it?" I asked once again.

"You couldn't possibly think I came here without something Christmassy to do."

"What is the Christmassy thing you brought?" I followed her into the dining room where she laid down the box.

"Open it." I looked up at her and carefully pulled off the wrapping paper. She eyed me carefully making sure I didn't break anything. A gingerbread house kit was discovered. "It even has candy to decorate it with!" She exclaimed excitedly.

"You're such a kid when it comes to Christmas." I teased, watching her open the box happily.

"How could you not love Christmas!? Even through the saddest times it never fails to bring a smile to someone's face. You just need to let yourself enjoy the beautiful holiday." I couldn't take my eyes off her; she was such a strong girl. She never failed to put a smile on my face even when she couldn't put one on herself.

"So," I sighed, straying away from the touchy Christmas subject, "are we going to replicate the box?"

"That's not creative at all."

"Riley we can't even make a snow man." I doubted our gingerbread house making skills, getting a death glare in return.

"It was a snow dog." She straightened her posture, "And I believe it was fantastic, just like this gingerbread house will be."

"If you say so..." I declared defeat, starting to set up the pieces.

The house looked pretty decent. It only took us ten minutes to make sure it stood up straight without falling and was secure before we could decorate, which took us about half an hour. Squiggles of icing were covered with little candy balls, and candy canes. I got my hand slapped multiple times for trying to sneak some of the candy into my mouth.

"Hey, hey, I want a picture of us with this master piece!" Riley set up her phone's timer for ten seconds and multiple photos. She pulled me next to the house and did a surprise look, pointing at the house and I mocked her face. The ten seconds ran out and a photo was taken, then another. I quickly pushed her face into the ginger bread house, making the building crumble down. She raised her head, the camera still taking photos. Her face was covered in icing and her expression was priceless. The shocked girl took a handful of crumbled icing and ginger bread and rubbed it along my face. I grabbed the girl and pulled her in for a kiss.

"I hate you." She joked, washing her face in my bathroom. I took the wet wash cloth from her and wiped her face clean.

"Hey, it made some pretty cute pictures." I smiled, encouraging a grin onto the messy girls face.

"I want those hung up in your apartment." Riley laughed, after I finished wiping off her face, "You found one right?"

"Yeah, I'm probably going to move in either tomorrow or the next." I shrugged, rinsing out the face cloth.

"That's awesome!"

"Help me pack?"

"Of course!"

"I almost forgot!" I exclaimed, reaching into my closet one last time.

"What else could you possibly have?" Riley asked with her eyes widened. It took us most of the afternoon to pack everything in my room and it was clear the girl was tuckered out.

"It's not for me silly." I lifted a set of multiple frames and handed it to Riley, "I'm also a rebel." I winked, referencing back to her note with my sweater. Her mouth dropped open, with delight hopefully.

"It's wonderful Jace!" She examined the frames. They were full of picture of us together. The school dance was my absolute favorite because she looked absolutely gorgeous, even more beautiful than she does every day which I didn't think was even possible. There was also the picture Kat snapped of us at bowling, both of us were in the middle of laughing, I held a bowling ball and she held a can of pop; grape, her favorite. Then there was a photo of us lying on the couch with Ashton on top of us both. The black lab was very proud of the moment; you could see it in her face. Riley on the other hand, was not impressed, and had an annoyed look on her face but still looked cute as ever, I had a huge smile on my face because Ash was trying to lick my face. I didn't even know Sam took the picture until I asked her if she had any of us for the frame. "It's wonderful." Riley repeated.

"Glad you like it." I smiled.

"I do." She grinned largely, and then jogged over to my guitar case. "I've never heard you play."

"Oh, I don't." A shot of sadness shot through my body, "It was my fathers." I said softly.

"You've never tried to play it?"

"I haven't really been interested." I shrugged.

"Oh." Riley walked back to me and pulled me off of my bed. "Let's watch the Grinch." She insisted, guiding me to the living room. We settled onto the couch and turned on the classic Christmas movie. "Merry Christmas Jace." She sighed, snuggling up to me.

"Merry Christmas Riles."