31 Reasons Why

Three Gifts

Christmas wasn't something that was often celebrated in my house. Most of the time my mother went to some Christmas Party and I stood home watching reruns of Glee. But there was one time. One year when one of my mothers friends, Adrianne I think her name was, questioned why I never went. I was 14. She asked for me to come. While my mother didn't want me to go, she knew it would be rude and suspicious if I didn't go, despite the fact I had gotten a direct invite. And so I went. 

The first gift I got was a trip to the hair salon, my mom said it was because she didn't want her daughter to look like a wild child, with no money and no one who cared for her. Even though the latter was true. I got it blown and cut, with some honey blonde highlights. Highlights that I don't have now because my mom made me dye it back.  No one recognized me, couldn't believe I was the same girl they had seen walking into the bookstore with her head down only two days ago. 

My second gift was a friend. Adrianne had invited her nephew from New York to her house for the holidays. I was the first one he spoke to. He had gotten in the morning of the party and had stayed at her house the whole day unpacking and helping her set up.Then he made his appearence at the party. He hadn't been in this town since he was six and so he didn't have any friends. His name was Hunter and he was wonderful.

 I was stuffing my face with cookies in the corner when someone appeared next to me. 

"Hello there," a deep voice said. I looked up and there he was. Hunter Johanesmens. Weird name. He was standing there. A bit leaned to the side with his hands clasped behind his back. He was looking at his aunt, who was dancing in a way she would surely regret for months.  "She's had way to many drinks, don't ya think?"

Now, I had snuck in a few drinks as well so I had a burst of confidence and could actually speak. "I think she's a couple past that." He turned his head to look at me with a small smirk. I continued, "Better watch your aunt, that man over there is taking a video. Oh and two more things, one, you rhymed which is totally cool because it was effortless and two, you have the weirdest last name." I put another cookie in my mouth and raised an eyebrow at him.

He chuckled. "Oh do I?"

"Yes," I nodded my head quickly.

"Well Mrs. Cookies," I put down the cookie and smiled, my cheeks a bit red. I put my hands on my hips and tapped my food waiting for him to continue. "Since you just insulted my name I think you owe me something. And don't worry it's nothing big. All I'd like is to know your name."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "That's all? Easy. My name is Carter. Carter Rose."

He did a dramatic sigh and flashed another smile. "As much as I would love to insult your name, it is a beautiful name."

I smiled sheepishly, my cheeks turning extremely red. First came the word vomit. "You know what I think is beautiful? Your face." Then came the actual vomit.

"Oh my god!" He screamed, as I had thrown up all over his pants and shoes. Everyone turned to look.

I faced everyone. I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand and shrugged my shoulders with an embarrassed smile. "Sorry?"

And while everyone looked at me disgusted he laughed. He laughed so hard his body shook and tears came to his eyes. When he finally got himself under control he wiped his eyes and said, "You Carter Rose, are my new best friend."

My third gift was an actual gift. At the party there's a gift exchange. You brought the gifts you originally had under your own tree and put them under the big tree at the party. At midnight you gave out your gifts. My mother knew she had to get me something. Or else that would look bad. And she knew it had to be something nice.

Everyone was seated (some people were standing) in Adriannes huge living room. I was sitting next to Hunter on one of the loveseats. Adrianne ran up on front of the tree. She was wearing a red dress strapless dress with white fur across the top and bottom. She also had white fur arm bands and a Santa hat on her long red hair. Basically she was dressed as a cute Santa.

"Okay everyone," she said clapping her hands. " Now we are going to start the gift exchange. Okay first gift goes to..."  She leaned down to grab one of the gifts, "Lena Delruso from her mother and father, Tina and Mike Delruso. Congratations!" She handed the teenager, who had always despised me, her gift. It went on like this for a while. Until she called my name.

"Okay this one is for... " She grabbed the hanging tab. "Carter Rose from her dear mother Julia. Come on up and get your gift,"  she said with a big fake smile. I went up and got it, trying to hide my suprise. I went back and sat down.

"Open it." Hunter nudged me.

I obeyed. It was a small box. When I opened it I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. It was a gold locket and when I opened it there was a picture of my mother when she was my age and then a picture of me.

I looked back at my mother, mouthing a thank you. All she did was give me a small smile. It might not have seemed like a big deal to anyone else but it was to me. Her smile had been genuine.It was the first one and it would be the last one for years and years to come.

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