The Lake House

Chapter 18: "... you're my forever person."

Chloe's POV

My eyes flutter open as I let out a huge yawn. I look out my window and see white fluff falling to the ground. A smile immediately creeps onto my face. It's snowing! On Christmas! Finally!

I throw my blanket over my body and walk over to the window. It's been forever since it snowed on Christmas Day. I've always dreamt of a white Christmas. If only mom could see this...

I make my way downstairs, instantly greeted by every single person: "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

I jump a little by their surprise. How did they all wake up earlier than me? This is unusual since they all treasure their sleep.

I walk over to Ash and Bon and take a seat next to them. Across from us was Shawn and Aaliyah. They were wearing matching onesies. Not gonna lie, it's adorable. Shawn, I mean.

"I guess we'll just open it one by one," Ashton speaks up. He takes one from under the tree and hands it to Bonnie. "This is for you."

She gives him a confused look before unraveling the neat bow he tied. She dramatically opens it slow and then her face completely changed when she saw what was in the box.

"You got us tickets to Amsterdam?" She asks as Ashton nods. She laughs before covering her mouth. "Why- How- You-"

She was silenced by Ash giving her a kiss. Now that, ladies and gents... And everyone in between... Is the definition of relationship goals.

"You're such a romantic," I say to Ash, teasing him. He rolls his eyes before handing me a present.

"Just because you're not the only girl in the house doesn't mean you're forgotten," he says as I rip open the wrapping paper. It was a rather small box so I was guessing jewelry.

But when I opened it, my heart sunk.

I take the car key out of the box and stared at it like it was fucking gold. I looked at Ash as he was smirking. He waves towards the door as I run outside.

Holy cow!

It's my Jeep!

But it wasn't just my Jeep, it was a thousand times better looking!

Ash chuckles, "I stopped back home before coming here. I brought it into the shop and got it customized."

I shake my head, "this is my absolute dream car Ash. I remember talking about it when we were little kids... Thank you! Thank you! Thank youu!!"

I didn't realize I was hugging the crap out of the guy. I pull away but my smile never left my face. It's my baby! My Jeep!

🌲

After we all calmed down with our Christmas hype, we all went our separate ways. Bonnie secluded herself in her room, making Christmas calls to her family.

Ashton was in the kitchen, attempting to cook us all Christmas dinner. But I called ahead and ordered some food.

Aaliyah and Shawn went back to their lake house doing whatever it is they're doing. And I'm sitting on the dock with my legs dangling and the wind blowing.

I open my journal and let my hand do the rest:

Hey.
I know what you're thinking: where the heck have I been?
Well, I have no idea. My mind is constantly moving and so is the life around me.

"Here you go," Shawn says, handing me a cup of hot chocolate. He sits down next to me on the end of dock with a box in his hand. "Merry Christmas."

I take the box from him and examine it. It wasn't a normal, wrapped up Christmas present. It was a dirty Converse shoebox. I lift up the cover to see what was inside.

"Oh my god," I laugh when I lift up a beaten up teddy bear. "Chloe Mendes."

He giggles, "you remember."

Chloe Mendes is the name of the miniature bear we made at Build-A-Bear when we were little. It was dressed up in nothing but a tutu. I thought I lost it.

"This was the one thing that symbolized our friendship," he rambles as I smile. "If we were to ever get into a fight, we would call a truce with this bear."

"Are you calling a truce?" I question as Shawn's face changes. My heart starts to flutter. What's he planning?

"Chloe, I want you to know that whatever you saw in New York was not what it looked like," he explains as I cuddle the bear closer to me. "That was my ex Lauren and she had some unfinished business with me."

I nod, "so you aren't over her?"

"I am," he responds. "I only think of her as a friend. She was always a friend to me."

"So why'd would you use her?" I argue. Why am I defending the girl? It seemed like the right thing to do.

He sighs, "I didn't mean to. I thought I did like her but you were the only girl on my mind."

That sounded like it came right from a movie but I didn't care. That was possibly the sweetest thing someone has said to me.

"I love you, Chloe Blue," he says, taking a small box out of his pocket. Um, um, um!! Red flag!! What the heck!

He opens up the box, revealing a small diamond ring with an infinity loop on it.

"Don't worry, I'm not proposing... Not for marriage anyways," he chuckles nervously. Aw, he's worried. "But uh, I know you're my forever person. I know that you will always be my best friend and I know that I will always love you. And I promise to you that I will stick by your side until the day I die."

A tear falls from my eye before I lean closer towards him and give him a kiss. A kiss that's been dreading to happen. And it was everything I imagined it to be. Warm... Loving... Perfect.

"You mean the absolute world to me," he says when we pull away. I smile before giving him another kiss. "You're adorable."

"Thank you for this," I say as he slides the ring onto my finger. "You are the most amazing guy I've ever met, and I'm really thankful for you."

A smile forms on his lips, "and..."

I roll my eyes, "I love you. So incredibly much."

He chuckles, "I love you more," he responds, pulling me into his arms and cuddling me.