Torn // Emilio Martinez

Chapter 22

"That was so fun!" I exclaimed as we all got back into the house and were sitting together in the living room, some people on the couch and some on the floor.
"Before the party starts, we have gifts!" Ivan exclaimed as he scurried out of the room with a smile spread across his face.
"Guys you didn't have to get me anything!" I said, feeling slightly bad that people spent money on me. Ivan came running back out with a bunch of bags and wrapped things and piled them on top of me.
"Where do I start?" I giggled, looking in awe a the gifts in front of me that all my friends got me.
"You decide," Ivan shrugged, sitting back down. Everyone looked at me in anticipation to open the first gift.

I began opening the gifts, feeling grateful for everything my friends were kind enough to buy for me. Makeup from Tessa, shoes from Chance, earrings from Ivan, so many nice things that no one had to spend on. I grabbed a pile of gifts that were taped together and saw they were from Marcus and Lucas. I looked at them suspiciously and they nodded their heads, encouraging me to open it. I opened the small box on top which was a bracelet from Marcus.
"It's beautiful Markey, thank you," I smiled. From Lucas there was a necklace to match. Finally, the last present from them was a huge scrapbook, full of pictures, stories and memories from our childhood up until now. I flipped through it smiling, tears springing to my eyes.
"You guys didn't!" I protested as I went through. After skimming through it I closed it and set it aside and decided I would look at it more thoroughly later when not everyone was staring at me. I hopped off the couch and ran over to them and tackled them in hugs.
"Thank you guys, you're the best," I mumbled and they hugged me back tightly.
"Cyrus and Dari have gifts for you too but they wanted to give them to you themselves," Lucas said.

I went back and there was only one gift left, it was from Emilio. It was a pretty big bag so I hauled it onto my lap and tore away the purple tissue paper sticking out of the top of the bag. The first thing I pulled out was a CD that had "Songs that make me think of you" scribbled in sharpie around it. I smiled and put it aside, reaching back in. There was a small box and an envelope. I opened the box first which revealed a small glass turtle, which sparkled in the sun shining through the window. Turtles were my favorite animal so I squealed over it before opening the envelope which contained 2 tickets to see Khalid, one of my favorite artists.
"Emilio you did not!!" I shrieked.
"I did," he chuckled, rubbing my back.
"Thank you so much this is amazing," I smiled as I pecked his lips quickly, knowing that there were going to be coos coming from all our friends as a response. I grabbed all my gifts and walked up to my room to set them down on my bed. There were 2 fuzzy blankets and about 5 fuzzy pillows on my bed that were not there before.

"Guys! Where did all the fuzz come from?" I yelled down to them, running back down to be with them.
"We know how you're always cold in here and you love fluffy things," Anthony said.
"You guys are the best friends a girl could ask for, thank you," I smiled as I hugged each of them individually, feeling extremely grateful to have them in my life. All my best friends were here, and that was what mattered more than any gift I received.

"How long until party time?" I asked them.
"People are coming around 8 so like 3 hours," Chance answered.
"How about McDonald's and a movie before we all get ready? Marcus suggested.
"McDicks yes you know me so well!" I exclaimed as I jumped up. 

***

After finishing the movie we all dispersed in the house to get ready for the party. Alissa came into my room with me so we could get ready together.
"Good thing Jake isn't here," she chuckled lightly as we were going through my closet to choose something to wear.
"Yeah, he'd probably be extra stupid," I said.
"What about this?" Alissa asked as she pulled out a dress.
"For you or for me?" I asked.
"You obviously," she laughed as she held it up again, raising her eyebrows.
"Maybe, put it on the bed," I said, motioning towards my bed with all of its new fluffiness.

Once we both finally decided on outfits to wear, we got started on our makeup which just talking. One thing about Alissa and I was that we never ran out of things to talk about. Ever. 
"Picture time?" I asked once we were both ready.
"Picture time," she agreed. I grabbed my Polaroid and my normal camera and walked out of my room.
"Let's take pictures!!" I called to everyone and everyone got out of their rooms and we all went downstairs to take pictures together. 
"I want so many of Bemilio!" Tessa shrieked as she took over the camera and began taking tons of pictures of us, making me start blushing and laughing.
"Kiss!" she ordered. I laughed and turned to Emilio, who put his warm hands on my waist and kissed me gently while we waited for the click of the camera.

When we were all finished taking all kinds of pictures together, I went back up to my room quickly to make sure I was ready and close my door so guests wouldn't venture into my room or anyone else's for that matter. As I walked out I slammed into Emilio, causing both of us to erupt in giggles.
"Fancy seeing you here," I winked.
"You too," he smirked. "you look incredible."
"Not too bad yourself, Martinez," I joked, pushing him lightly and jokingly. He kissed me again, but this time longer than the one for the picture, and I pulled him closer, my hands on either side of his face. I heard footsteps which made me pull away and I saw Marcus, whose eyebrows were furrowed as he looked at Emilio and I standing in the hallway.
"What's up?" I asked him, trying to ignore the awkward air filling the space.
"Nothing, just wanted to tell you people are gonna show up soon," he said, smiling as he spun around and went downstairs. Once he was out of sight Emilio asked me if everything was okay.

"I think so. But let's not worry about that tonight. Let's just have fun," I grinned as I took his soft hand in mine and we walked down the stairs as the party began.

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