Seventeen

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"Guys you know what I haven't done in what seems like forever?" I looked around the table my eyes growing wide with excitement as the idea filtered through my head. "I haven't been ice skating in forever!" I nearly shouted as people leaned back in their chairs. They obviously weren't as excited about the idea as I was. I mentally slapped each person across the face as none of them said a word. "No one wants to go ice skating."

I looked around the room once more, everyone was digging into their food. This was the worst lunch break we had ever had. Silence filters over the room nothing but the sound of people chewing on their meals.

" bah humbug!" Miranda shouted finally coming to my rescue. I shot her a thankful glance as she slid herself back from the table. "What are you doing this December 21st?" She pointed at Jonathan, he looked around the room throwing his hands in the air like he was getting interrogated.

"Whoa, I just work here." He leaned back in his chair as the rest of the workers began to laugh. I couldn't help but smile myself. "My friends and I always go see Christmas lights around this time of year. We made plans to go tonight before they all got too busy with their families."

Miranda moved her finger to the next person in the room. A short petite woman dressed nicely in a maroon dress suit. Her blonde hair was pulled back too tightly and her glasses fell halfway down her nose. "What about...you?" She stared straight at the girl until she was cowering in her own heels.

"My husband and I are taking the kids out to their grandmas house to open her presents early." She whimpered like she was terrified Miranda was going to dive across the table and strangle her.

"What about you?" Miranda moved her finger and I quickly jumped out of my seat pulling her back to reality.

"Okay that's enough..." I grabbed my fork stabbing at some of the lettuce before shoving it in my mouth.

"But these people don't have the christmas spirit." She leaned in to whisper in my ear.

"What are you talking about, they all are doing something for the holidays. That doesn't mean you and I can't still go." I felt like I was soothing a small child because no one wanted to go to her birthday party.

"Okay fine you are right. I guess we are the only cool ones this Christmas." Miranda grabbed some of her pita bread nibbling on the edges.

"Or losers depending on how you look at it." I nudged her smiling before diving back into my own food. Everyone went back to their own mindless chatter as we all were really just trying to get the energy to finish up for the day. We were all ready for our break for the holidays.

Once Miranda and I finished we jumped up from our seats and heading back to our cubicles. She quickly made an announcement over the office.

"Five dollars and free coffee for a week for anyone who comes ice skating with Amber and I tonight. That is all." Miranda then took her seat before leaning around the corner. "That will ring them all in, you just wait."

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I bent over to quickly tie up my figure skates. My feet compressed in the boot. We haven't even reached the ice and they were already aching. I looked around. Miranda's announcement must have worked because Kyle and Eric both showed up minutes after we had arrived. Miranda stood on her skates first, her legging riding up as she bent over trying to tuck them back into the tightly wrapped boot. This was going to be a disaster, I thought as I quickly rethought my brilliant idea.

I glanced over at Kyle who had his hockey skates most of the way laced. I wasn't too please he had showed up, especially after our last lunch expedition. I watched him closely wondering why he did show up. He was the one leaving me the notes wasn't he? I wanted to know how he knew I was going to be at the store yesterday, how he knew I was going to be looking at the little Christmas trees. Is that why he came tonight?

"Lets go guys." Miranda wobbled on her skates before taking the first few steps towards the rink. I quickly stood up and wobbled myself nearly losing my balance. Kyle reached forward grabbing my arms to help balance me. I wanted to kick him but instead I mumbled a thank you before heading towards the rink.

When my skates touched the ice I found myself unsteady. My ankles seemed weak, like I had forgotten how to stand. But like riding a bike it didn't take long for me to figure out how to do it once again. Miranda and I weaved through the little kids delicately turning trying to regain our full balance.

"It's been too long Amber." I nodded my head as the front of my skate caught nearly sending me flying. I stopped for a moment before resuming what I was doing. The music billowed through loudspeakers playing some new song I wasn't really sure about.

After nearly falling what felt like a hundred times I decided to take a little break. I skated to the edge of the rink leaning against the wall. The rest of the crew tagged along all lining up next to me one by one. We stood around for a few moments before a man with a few kids made his way in our directions.

"What is he doing?" Miranda questions as the man stopped in front of us. He reached into his pocket pulling out a tiny slip of paper. My heart leapt. These had become the best part of my day. My body rushed with excitement as I reached for the paper. He held his hand out informing me to wait a moment. Just as soon as he had pulled the note out of his pocket, he was retrieving another item. A little black box. I reached down my hand grazing the necklace hung from my chest.

I quickly opened the box before reading the note. Inside was a small pair a diamond earrings. My heart froze, what did I do to deserve this. I beamed thanking the man for delivery the tiny gifts.

I quickly unfolded the note before reading it to myself.

Day 9

These earrings are for you

To show you that you do shine

You deserve something like this

And so many more

You are sweet and sensitive

And purely the most beautiful girl

-Your Secret Santa

"What the hell was that all about?" Kyle piped off, and I wasn't sure if he was trying to throw me off the trail or he really didn't know. At that moment I didn't care, cause I was the happiest girl in the entire world. 

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