Found it! [ girlxgirl ]

||FORTY-SIX||

Every day, since I arrived in Italy, I talked with Avery over skype. One day I even spoke with her little sister and it was simply adorable. Especially the part where she told me she wished I was there. I was surprised by it and it left me completely speechless. Avery just stood there, behind Cat, hiding her laugh and nodding her head.

I also sort of talked with Sophia. She arrived yesterday to the place where they're staying and I was talking with Avery when she knocked on the door and we both said a polite 'hello, how are you?'. That was all.

So...Today is Christmas' Eve. Finally! And my heart is filled with love and gratitude.

I'm still feeling homesick, although I am at 'home', because when I look around and see the more than 30 family members together, celebrating, I can't stop thinking about how far away I've been from them and how far I'll be again in a couple days.

I'm also homesick because Avery is my home too, and she isn't here with me.

It's almost midnight and the little ones are all gathered around the Christmas tree, waiting for Santa Claus. To tell you the truth, I'm just as excited and anxious as they are...if not more.

I still haven't received Avery's present and the only thing I know about it, is that my best friend is somewhat involved. I only discovered it because I know when she's hiding something, and when I mentioned Avery's second gift, she shrugged and changed the subject immediately making me suspicious.

At first, I thought Avery had hidden the gift somewhere in my clothes or in my luggage so I searched for it everywhere. Then, I started wondering if she had bought something to be delivered by mail. But when I got suspicious about Alessa, everything clicked in my brain. They must have talked and Avery gave my gift to Alessa. Because my best friend also likes to torture me, she never, not once, gave in. I still have no idea what it is. Hell! I'm not even sure if it's Alessa who has it and since she's not here, she must have passed it to someone else so, I'm clueless right now.

One minute to find out the truth.

When the clock signals midnight, my aunt, dressed as Santa Claus, climbs down the stairs with a bag filled with the kids' presents. The remaining gifts are still under the tree, and each family member takes turns to distribute their own, but only after the kids got theirs.

As soon as the commotion dies down a little, and the family once again got dispersed through the house, I look around the living room searching for a clue about my gift.

-"Looking for something, Emma?" My mother says, wiggling two envelopes in her hand.

-"Of course it's you." I smile like the kids did when they saw Santa.

-"Here!" She delivers the envelopes. "My duty here is almost done. One last message from Alessa, that's really from Avery: she's expecting your call after you open it."

-"Thanks, mom." I hug her.

Since I'm not at my house and I don't have the privacy of my own room, I grab a jacket and go outside. It's a cold night, but in the backyard, there's a little space with chairs and a table that's surrounded by three walls, protecting it from the icy winds.

I take a seat and before opening the envelopes, I check if I can still get the wi-fi signal here.

I open my conversation with Avery on WhatsApp and get ready to call her.

I slowly open the envelope with the number 1 written on it, almost surgical, afraid to rip it apart if I let my emotions take control of my hands.

I take out a small letter, folded halfway:

"Dear Emma,

Merry Christmas!

I love you!

Considering you're only reading this on the 25th of December, I'm probably losing my mind right now, counting down the days until your return...which will only be in 17 days.

I don't want to write too much and keep your eyes away from the real present. I just wanted to tell you that I love you and that I miss you! So...check the second part of this gift and call me.

xOxO

Avery"

I have a huge smile on my face and although I'm curious about the second part of the gift, I still read the letter twice.

As soon as I open the other envelope I see that it has two 'fake' plane tickets. One has my name on it, the other one has Avery's. The destination is Italy and I noticed that they don't have a date. Instead, it reads 'next year, any day, whenever you decide to go home'. The last thing I read is the return date field: 'as if we have a clue, right?'.

I open my mouth in surprise and cover it with my cold and trembling hand. I chuckle and my lips form another huge smile, bigger than the previous.

I immediately grab my phone and call Avery. It rings only once before she answers.

-"Hey, babe!" She says, enthusiastically.

-"Ave..." I let a single tear fall from my eye.

-"What do you think?" She asks, nervously.

-"Are you kidding? I love it. Are you sure? You don't know if you'll be free. What if..." I ask her, also nervous, but get interrupted.

-"I am, Emma! True, I don't know what will happen in terms of my career and you don't know about yours. That's why they don't have a date. We'll have a lot to discuss when the time comes, and some hard decisions to make. Or not...hopefully...But of this I'm sure: I want to be with you. I know you'll want to go home, either to stay with your family for a while or...permanently." Her voice cracks a little and more tears fall from my eyes. "So, I'll follow you. Whatever happens, I want to go with you next time. I want to meet your family and I want to train my Italian with your grandmother."

-"Baby! I'm...I don't know what to say other than I love you so much and that you are amazing." I sniff. "I'm crying...in case you haven't notice."

-"I did, Ems. I heard your adorable first sniff." She chuckles.

-"I want to hug you so badly right now!" I whine. "I want to be with you, Ave. Not just today..."

-"We'll figure it out, babe. I promise." She paused. "Look...My intention with this gift was not to worry you about it, but rather to give you some certainty in all the uncertainties that we're facing."

-"And you did!" I assure her. "I'm not worried. Well, I am. But I might be a little less worried."

-"Good!" She takes a deep breath.

-"Ave..."

-"Hmmm?"

-"For the record...I'll follow you too."

-"You will?"

-"I will." I nod, although she can't see me. "I'm ready to stay and I'm ready leave. As long as I'm with you."

-"Me too, Ems!" She sighs. "God, I love you so much."

-"I love you, too."

A comfortable silence sets in for a couple seconds.

-"Did you open my gift?" I ask, after cleaning the salty tears from my face.

-"No! Only at midnight...here." She chuckles.

-"Oh, right! Well, that sucks. Can't you open it now?"

-"Why?"

-"You'll understand after you open it." I smile into the phone.

-"Hold on! I'll get it." I squeal. "But only because it will be late for you, by the time I'm supposed to open all the gifts."

-"Okay. Go. I'll wait."

She ends the call and I lean back on the chair warming up my hands with my breath.