Tomboy Tanya

Surprise

Thanksgiving and Christmas went by without a word from him. I expected him to at least wish me on New Year, only to be disappointed at that too.

I packed my bag and came downstairs. New Year eve was three days back and I got a new pair of sneakers, which was likely my dad's gift and red long dress which was definitely my mom's.

I had also packed the dress as almost all my things were there back in the apartment.

I tied the lace of the sneakers before locking the house door behind me and entering the car.

"What took you so long? You aren't even dressed up, but still you take long time to come.", mom said shaking her head sitting in the front seat.

"It will be worth the wait because beautiful things take time.", I said sticking out my tongue at her.

"Keep your sass to yourself before I throw you out.", she said narrowing her eyes.

"But -"

"Tanya", dad cut me before I could continue.

"Sorry dad.", I said smiling looking at him through the rearview mirror.

Dad rarely gets angry with me nowadays, because I have successfully stopped getting suspended.

One of the reasons is I have stopped minding about others. I have stopped bothering with others' problems as I have my own plate full. Typical human mentality, I know. But I didn't want to add up more trouble for myself. It doesn't mean that I don't fight, just that I do it such that I don't get into trouble. Confusing, I know. But try to understand.

We soon reached my apartment. I got down followed by mom while dad went to park the car.

Once dad came, we climbed up the stairs. I jiggled the lock to see that it was unlocked so I knocked on the door.

"Surprise!!", he shouted the moment he opened the door.

The living room was decorated with a Christmas tree and a gift placed under it. There was also a cake in the coffee table.

"Tanya? You have something to tell us?", dad asked from beside me.

"What? No, no. this is all a misunderstanding. This, this is – for his girlfriend.", I dropped the bomb.

It was total silence with mom and dad looking at him for confirmation while he stared at me with wide eyes. I nudged him and pointed at my parents with my eyes.

"Yes, yes, Mr Walter.", he said while rubbing the back of his neck.

"Mom, dad, I guess you guys can't stay up as he is expecting his girlfriend. It will be disturbing.", I said trying to get them to leave.

"Then won't you be a disturbance too for them?", dad asked pointing to Liam.

"No, no. I – I have work in my room. I won't even come out.", I explained frantically.

"But -"

"Come on, honey. Let's go. Let's not make it awkward when his girlfriend comes here. Bye, Tanya, call us later.", she said dragging dad towards the steps.

"Bye, mom. Bye, dad.", I said waving at them. Mom turned around and winked at me before disappearing down the stairs.

I had a very bad intuition saying that mom caught on my lie.

I shut the door after seeing to it that they had left.

"What is all this?", I shouted at him.

"Well, I was planning to make it up to you for the Christmas and New year, but I didn't know it would end up like this.", he said sheepishly.

"Can't do one thing right.", I said walking past him and into my room.

"Hey, open up. I wanted to apologize to you and make amends. Please come out. I have even made lunch for you.", he said knocking on the door.

"Who said that I won't come out? I will freshen up and be out.", I said walking inside the bathroom.

...

"Cut the cake.", he said giving me the knife.

It was a small ice-cream covered cake. I cut the cake and took a bite while he gawked at me.

"What?", I asked swallowing the bite. The taste was heavenly.

"You were supposed to give me a piece first.", he whined.

"Why is that so?"

"Because – no reason.", he said failing to come up with a valid reason.

"Just get your own piece.", I said taking another bite.

"But I want this only.", he said pushing me onto the couch and hovering over me.

"I wanted to ask you something. You told your parents that these were for my girlfriend. But these are for you. So does that make you my -"

"In your dreams.", I said knowing where he was heading.

"Believe me when I tell that my dreams are nowhere near innocent as that.", he said taking a bite from my cake before climbing off me.

"Idiot.", I muttered shoving the rest of the piece inside my mouth.

"Just in case if you forgot, I took a bite from it just now.", he said making me cough up till my face flushed red.

"Bastard.", I muttered.

"Now shall we get you the gift?", he asked before going to get it without waiting for me to answer.

He came back holding the box that was kept under the tree.

"Here", he said placing the box on my lap.

I wiped my hand with the tissue and took the box in my hands.

"I never bought you a gift though.", I said unwrapping the box.

"It's me trying to make it up to you. I'm giving it to you, not expecting something from you in return.", he said shrugging.

"Good, because I'm not getting you anything either.", I said finally removing the wrapper.

"What is this?", I said pointing to the stilettos inside.

"Stilettos?", he said more like a question.

"I know that. What I don't get is why you have given it to me.", I said placing the box on the coffee table.

"Well, I wanted to give you something you didn't have already, and I know for one you wouldn't have something like this with you.", he said shrugging.

"You do know that it will be staying in the back of my wardrobe right?", I asked closing the box and standing.

"Well, it was worth a shot.", he said yet again shrugging.

"Where are you going?", he asked when I headed towards my room.

"To keep it in, why?", I asked turning to look at him.

"Nothing, keep it and come back. I will get the food.", he said going inside the kitchen.