Age Is Just A Number

Chapter Twenty Seven

Tay loved Christmas. She loved the gift giving. She loved the the big lunch that her mom always made. She loved it all. So when she woke up Christmas morning, she was surprised at herself when she didn't want to do any of it.

She wanted to lay in bed all day and cry and hate the world, but she didn't.

She got up with everyone else and painted on a smile. She went through the motions. She got a few cool things from her parents and siblings but she couldn't find the energy to be overly excited like usual.

A few relatives came over for lunch but no one Tay actually cared to talk to. She was polite but she stayed as silent as possible.

When it was finally all over she went to her room and laid on her bed. She would usually stay downstairs and hang out with her family. Play a few games, watch a Christmas movie or two, but she made the excuse that she wasn't feeling well and they allowed her to escape.

Tay took Hayley's present in her hands and debated opening it. She shouldn't. She decided. Hayley wanted her to and that meant she should never open it.

There was a knock on her door. "Tay?" It was her sister Lindsey.

"Hey, what's wrong? You've been acting weird all day."

Tay merely shrugged.

"Who's that from?" She asked pointing to the present in Tays hands.

Tay sighed. She couldn't lie to Lindsey. "My girlfriend...well, ex girlfriend..."

Lindsey raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you had a girlfriend." She took a seat next to her. "I didn't even know you liked girls."

Tay just shrugged again and Lindsey sighed. "Well aren't you going to open it?"

Tay shook her head and handed it to Her sister before laying on her bed. "Here, you can open it if you want."

"You don't want to?"

When Tay didn't answer Lindsey began to unwrap the box.

When she opened it the first thing she saw was a t-shirt.

"Who are The Ramones?" She asked, holding the shirt out so Tay could see. Tay smiled at first but then forced herself to stop. Hayley had made her listen to them and Tay got addicted.

It was a good gift, but that wasn't all. There was a smaller box inside. Lindsey pulled it out and opened it. She gasped when she saw what it was. A ring.

"Tay?"

Tay saw the ring and felt tears in her eyes. It was beautiful.

Tay took the box from her sister and starred at it. It was a simple silver band with diamonds lining the whole thing with one bigger one in the middle, but it's what was on the inside that caught Tays attention.

It was engraved with the words "Worth The Wait." Tay bit her lip. Maybe she made a mistake. She slipped the ring on her right hand and then stood up.

"Get out. I have to make a phone call."

Lindsey smiled at her sister and obeyed. She knew who she was calling.

Hayley was making gingerbread houses with her siblings when she got Tays call.

"I'm sorry and I love you and god! I'm so stupid. How could I even think that-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Tay slow down. It's okay. I'm guessing you opened my gift?" As she said this she stood from her spot and made her way onto the porch so no one could hear.

"Yes. Hayley...it's beautiful. Thank you."

Hayley smiled to herself, pleased that she liked it.

"Jenna helped pick it out. That's why we were spending so much time together. I was trying to find the perfect gift."

Tay sighed. She felt like an asshole. "I'm sorry Hayley. I really am."

The redhead chuckled at her lover. "It's okay. We're okay. Call Jenna. She's really worried about you."

Tay nodded. "Okay. Thank you again. I love you so much Hayley."

"I love you too. Now go. Call her and fix things up and then go spend some time with your family.

And that's just what she did.

A/N: Things happen in the next chapter that I'm really excited for. Care to take a guess?