Different

34

      Steve leaned in closer to me. I looked into his eyes. He let out a nervous breath. I just looked from his eyes to his lips. He shifted his gaze from my mouth to my eyes back to my eyes. Suddenly he pushed his head forward and our lips connected. He gently brought one of his hands up to cup my cheek. Billy's face quickly flashed in my mind. I quickly pulled away.
    "I'm sorry." I said. He lightly touched my face to make me face him. He slowly pushed his lips against mine again. I didn't react. He pulled away. We both blushed. We looked at the clock and saw it was 11:30. Steve stood and I walked him to the door.
  "Merry Christmas Dani." Steve said kissing my cheek and smiling. I smiled back and watched him walk away.
   I slowly closed the front door and locked it. I turned and leaned my back against it. I took a deep sigh with my eyes closed. As I pushed off the door I rubbed my face. I didn't know what I'd do. I went over to the shoebox on the floor and looked in. I looked at the picture of my mother again. I wondered what she'd tell me to do. I felt so guilty. Billy and I weren't technically together. But I knew kissing Steve was wrong. I quietly cleaned up the living room and got a shower. Once I was done I got into my pajamas and laid in my bed. I watched out the window at the lightly falling snow. I slowly started drifting off into sleep.
—-
Dani.....
        Dani......
             Daniella...
    I looked up to see my mom standing a few feet in front of me.
    "M..mm-mom?!" I shook. I ran to her and hug her tightly. She stroked my hair. I felt a hot tear roll down my cheek. I looked up to her and she kissed my forehead. I smiled.
  "Daniella, I know your scared and worried. But I assure you, in your heart you know what  you want and need." She soothingly said. I smiled at her and nuzzled into her hand as she cupped my face.
       "You'll know what to do, in here." She said reaching out and poking me in the chest. She poked in the center on my collar too. She then kissed my nose.
   "I love you Dani, your so strong and beautiful. I love you." She said. I smiled and felt warm all over.
   ——
   I suddenly opened my eyes and was laying in my room. I smiled at my ceiling. I got up and looked out my window to see a thick white blanket of snow on the ground. I smiled to myself remembering how excited my mother would be if she saw this. I walked to the mirror and looked at myself. I looked at the center of my collar bone and saw a big brown freckle. I lightly touched it. I smiled to myself. My mom knew I could figure this out.  I brushed my teeth then went to the kitchen rubbing my eyes. I looked to the living room to find a small Christmas tree and two boxes under it. I slowly approached them. I grabbed the smaller box and read the tag.
To Dani, From Me
I blinked at it then grabbed the larger box and read that tag.
To Dani, From Santa ;)
I smiled to myself. I then thought for a second. Was this from Steve? It couldn't be. Could it? I looked around room and saw a small white card on the dinning room table. I walked over and read it.
Dani💕,
Merry Christmas, I hope you slept well. Open the presents and meet me outside at 10 am.
      Love, Billy
I felt butterflies in my stomach. My cheeks got hot. I went over to the gifts and opened the big one first. It was a jean jacket with a wool lining. Underneath it was a white card that read
Don't worry I wore the jacket for a week and sprayed it with my cologne. Oh and smoked cigarettes in it.
   I giggled to myself and sniffed it. The jacket smelled just like him. It made me happy. I then moved to the smaller box. I carefully tore back the red wrapping paper. It revealed a small black box. My heart fluttered. I opened it and inside was a small dainty ruby encrusted rose on a golden chain. I gasped. It was so beautiful. It would go well with my mothers cross. I happily stood up and saw the clock read 8:30. I ran to my room to get ready.