Waiting on You

Chapter 26

One year ago.

The snow had been falling extra hard for the past couple days. We were definitely going to have a white Christmas.

Snow was one of my favorite things about Christmas. Everything frozen and iridescent, the cold air making my cheeks and nose rosy.

"I'm so tired of winter," Jacob grumbles, kicking at the white powder as we walked. "It's too long."

I wanted so badly to argue with him, but I knew that I probably shouldn't. I didn't want to mess what we had up, especially since I seemed to have competition.

Chelsea and Jacob had been hanging out a lot, and even though it bugged me, I didn't say anything when he wasn't available because he was with her.

So that was why I was quiet, and I let the sound of holiday music and happy children fill my ears.

"The snow is everywhere, I just want a break from it," he continues. The more he talks, the more my chest tightens up.

"Well at least your going to visit your family in Hawaii for Christmas," I chime in.

He nods. "Yeah, I'm excited. There's something about the sun and presents that makes the Christmas experience so much better."

A smile spreads across my face. "Two of your favorite things."

"Exactly," Jacob chuckles and wraps his arm around me. "I'm sad to leave you though."

I blush. "Well I'm glad you're not happy," he interrupts me with a laugh. "But you're gonna have fun."

The dark night sky seems to swallow us whole as we walk towards the diner. As we approach I think about how much has changed just in these past couple months. Little did I know that much more would change.

We settled into a booth and I couldn't help but glance over at the booth that I always shared with my best friends. It was a habit.

"So what are you doing for Christmas?" He asks me, stretching his arm across the table towards me. I blink at him in shock. He never asked me many questions. What if I answered wrong?

I take his hand silently and think over my answer. If I told him that I was just sitting in my basement watching Christmas movies for three days straight, he would most likely think that my whole life was sad. But if I lied that might end badly.

I sigh. "Just hanging out here. I'll probably meet up with Juliette and Tucker on Christmas Eve, we do every year."

Anger flickers in Jacob's eyes, and I know it is about Tucker. Ever since our conversation we had on our hike, he had been sensitive to the fact that I was hanging out with him. "That's cool. What do you guys do?"

Jacob had changed so much since our first date, he seemed like a different person. I couldn't help but notice how he seemed jealous and frustrated most of the time, and less thoughtful. I wasn't sure if it had gotten to the point where it actually mattered, though. After all, nobody is perfect.

"We go see Miracle on 34th Street. They play it at the cafe every year," I tell him, watching snowflakes melt away on the windows.

Jacob squeezes my hand. "Well I hope you have a great Christmas."

I smile. "You too."

"Sorry I couldn't get you a present, I didn't really have time..." He starts and I shake my head, giving him a reassuring smile.

"It's totally fine."

Together we stare out the window of the old diner, trying our best to count the snowflakes falling from the sky and trying to read each other's thoughts.

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"Merry Christmas!"

My two best friends stood outside my front door, brightly wrapped presents in their gloved hands.

"Did you guys plan to say that at the same time or was that just a coincidence?" I ask, amused.

Tucker laughs, pulling at the hat on his head. "I guess we both just had the same idea."

"This is for you," Jules shoves a box into my arms and air kisses me on both of my cheeks. "You're gonna love it."

I chuckle. "I'm sure I will."

Tucker steps forward and hands me a smaller box, with a little red bow on top. "It's not much, but it's something at least."

"Oh!" I set the boxes down and start running upstairs to my room. "I almost forgot you're guy's presents."

I bound up the stairs and leap towards my dresser, where I left my best friends gifts. For Juliette I got a purse that we had seen at the local clothing store that she had begged her mom to buy her and when we left, I did. I couldn't believe that I had waited almost a year to give it to her. And for Tucker, I made a mixed tape of all of our favorite songs.

"Ready to go?" My dad asks, coming into my room.

"Yeah. We're heading over to the cafe right now," I tell him, wrapping a scarf around my neck with the hand that didn't have the presents.

Dad shakes his head. "I'll drive you guys, it's a blizzard out there and I don't want you to freeze to death."

I shrug. "Okay then, just don't embarrass me."

He grins. "I can't make any promises."

Laughing, I pass him and head downstairs. "Let's go."

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Dad had been right, it was a blizzard outside.

The cafe was almost empty except for the three of us and a couple that looks like they had come directly from a teen vogue photo shoot. They must have not had family or friends to be with on Christmas Eve.

The wind beat on the walls like a drum, making me jump on each beat. "What if the whole cafe gets blown away?" I lean closer to Tucker.

"That would be pretty cool," he looks at me, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

I shove him playfully, then let my eyes trail back to the screen. Suddenly, I feel Tucker tap my shoulder.

"Rory."

"Mhm."

"I want you to open your present right now," he says, motioning to my pocket, where I had been storing his gift.

"Right now?" I ask. "If this a trick."

He shakes his head. "If we die right now, I want you to have seen the gift. I laugh and Juliette shushes me. This had always been her favorite movie.

I pull the box out of my pocket and peel away the glittery wrapping and yank off the bow, revealing a little pink box. The paper flutters to the ground like falling snow.

When I open the box, light glints off of something silver and hits my eyes. Wonder dances across my mind as I peer through the darkness at my gift.

A snowflake necklace sits in the box on a cream cushion. Suddenly I think of Jacob and wonder what he would have gotten me.

"Do you like it?" Tucker asks excitedly.

I nod in awe, staring at the piece of jewelry. "I love it."

"Merry Christmas, Rory Jensen," he whispers in my ear.

I smile in return and think: thank god I didn't go to Hawaii.