Love, Boys, and Jealousy: A Typical Romance

Chapter 9

The sun peeked above the horizon. It lit up the clouds a calming pink and orange. Snow glistened in it's light. Erica's alarm went off. Today was the last day of school before Winter break. She threw on her favorite dark wash skinny jeans, a green v-neck long-sleeved shirt that she always rolled up to her elbows because she couldn't have them rolled down, put on her uggs, grabbed her coat and ran out the door. She saw Josh and ran to catch up to him. He saw her and waited. 

"Hey" she said when she caught up. 

He kissed her and replied "Hi". A flurry of snow had started and Josh held Erica closer for warmth. "Where's Isabella?" 

"Oh, she left for vacation last night. She's flying down to Florida to be with family on Christmas." 

"Aw that's nice. All my family lives here in New York." 

"Most of mine live out of the country. I was away all summer visiting them, but on Christmas I spend it at my grandma's house with some of my cousins on my mom's side." 

"Well that's nice."  

"Yeah it is."

They reached the school as the first bell rang.  

"We should probably get to class." said Erica 

"But I never gave you your gift." said Josh. 

"Give it to me after school. I have yours in my backpack." 

"Okay. See you third period."  

"Bye." Erica kissed Josh goodbye and made her way to her locker before first period.

While walking, she kept thinking 'What did he get me? A necklace? Maybe a bracelet. I just hope he likes what I got him.'

In first and second period, they didn't do much work and half of the kids were absent from class anyway. Third period was english and they were finishing up watching the movie "Elf". It was Erica's favorite Christmas movie. When she got to class, she hugged Josh hello and then took her seat. She talked to Abigail before Mr. Simon played the movie and Josh talked to Darren, both avoiding Michael at all costs. Once the movie played, everyone stopped talking to watch.

Lunch rolled around. Erica ran to her locker before lunch to get her secret santa gift. She was Alex's secret santa. When she got there, everyone was waiting for her.  

"Okay." Abigail started. "Who wants to go first?"  

"I will." said Cassie. She gave Margot her gift which was two rolls of duct tape.  

"Thank you Cassie!" Margot said. Margot loved duct tape and was always making new things with it. Erica personally thought she could use some to tape her mouth shut.  

"Okay Margot, your turn." said Alex. Margot slid over a wrapped box to Abigail. As she opened it, her face lit up. It was a silver heart necklace with matching earrings and bracelet.  

"Thank you so much Margot."  

"Your welcome. Okay, it's your turn." 

"Here you go Erica." Abigail gave Erica a bag. Everyone always said that she was hard to shop for. Erica opened the bag and inside was a blue crystal necklace on a silver chain. Erica leaned over and hugged Abigail. 

"Thanks" she said. "Okay Alex, here you go." Alex loves to write stories and was trying to write one to get it published. Alex opened the gift and his jaw dropped, shocked. Inside the bag was four notebooks, packs of pens, pencils and a couple packages of sticky notes.  

"Oh." Alex seemed disappointed.  

"Wait, there's one more thing. Here." Erica pulled out a card from her back pocket and handed it to Alex.