The home of the lost

Finding perfection

It wasn't till 8 days later that I finally figured out what I could make with a bright smile and my hair up in a ponytail I made my way to the design teachers office knocking loudly as I waited. He answered soon after a confused look on his face when he saw me "Hope? What can I help you with?" he asked stepping aside. I smiled and sat across from him at the desk "I was wondering if you could help me with my secret Santa gift. I know he's part of the archery club and I want to make him a personalised target board" I explained pulling out a piece of paper with a sketch on.
It was a simple sketch but Mr Grant understood what I was picturing nodding in agreement "that sounds good I'll get the materials ready and we can start tomorrow morning" he smiled to me brightly "I hope whoever he is, really likes it" I laughed in return a smile lighting up my face "I hope so, I don't really know him though" I shrugged.

I spent the next 4 days locked up in the woodworking room. I started by glueing together 4 layers of 10mm plywood, next was to cut out the shape of a body sanding all the edges and prepping the wood to be painted. Once it was ready I started to paint a zombie onto the cut out adding targets on the chest, head, arms and legs so he had different areas to aim at. When that was done I was able to put the stand on attaching it to the backboard, instead of wrapping it to put it under the tree I took it to the indoor archery range and set it up for him planning on giving it to Frankie this afternoon if I could find him.
Walking around the school grounds I couldn't find Frankie anywhere, sighing I gave up and made my way back inside reaching our housing block when I hear someone calling my name.
Turning to the side I say Jayden slightly out of breath "haven't you heard me shouting you?" he asked annoyed.
"No sorry I was looking for my secret Santa receiver. What's up?" I asked since bumping into him the night of the dance and the multiple times since then I was no longer intimidated by his presence.
"I needed to give you this..." he pulls a green wrapped box from behind his back which I hadn't noticed "you can't open it today" he quickly finishes before giving me a soft smile "Happy Christmas Hope"
I blushed taking it from him "Happy Christmas and thank you I'll open it in the morning. Would you happen to know where Frankie is?" I asked before explaining myself "I picked him for secret Santa and I'm hoping to give him his gift today"
He chuckled nodding "Yeah I know where he is, how about I go get him and bring him down to meet you?" he offered scratching the back of his neck.
I nodded "that would be great thanks, can you tell him to get his bow and meet me at the indoor archery range?" I could see the slight confusion on his face but he agreed and headed off towards the common rooms.

I headed to the indoor range making sure it set up properly before covering it up with a sheet and waiting, it was a good 15 minutes before Frankie turned up with Jayden just behind him leaning against the back wall watching with interest.
"Hey Frankie" I smiled shyly "I got you for secret Santa, but didn't really know what to make... till I found out you're in the archery club"
He hummed "okay, that makes sense seeing as you got me to meet you here and bring my bow" he pulled a bag off his shoulder and took out his custom bow.
I looked at the sheet nervously "I hope you like it" I pulled the sheet away and stepped back so he could see it fully. I watched him carefully as he walked over before a grin broke out on his face "you... You made this?" he laughed looking at me in shock and awe "That's amazing, I can't wait to try it out" He quickly grabbed a few arrows from the basket and taking aim the first shot hit the stomach, the second in the shoulder and the third hitting the 2nd ring of the target on the chest.
After a few more shots he clears up the arrows and puts his bow away, I show him how to take it apart and put it up properly handing it over to him "Merry Christmas" I smiled brightly. He pulled me into a quick hug muttering a thank you into my hair "You're really cool if you need a friend let me know" he smiles letting me go and saying a quick goodbye to me and Jayden.

I looked over to Jayden becoming shy once again "I'm glad he liked it, I was worried I didn't know him well enough" I looked down shrugging.
He came over and put his hand on my shoulder "he is a big video game player you couldn't have picked anything better" he assured me stopping quickly and stepping away from me. He sighed "want to go to the library? We still have time before curfew and I think you better open your present tonight instead" He said softly before smirking "Breaking a rule or two might make you loosen up" he teased.
He walked a few paces in front of me going straight to my normal corner on the library sitting on the bench in the window overlooking the school's gardens making sure he left enough room for me. I sit across from him "how did you know?" I frown tilting my head as I got comfortable.
He chuckled "I could see you from the football fields for the last couple of weeks. Now stop changing the subject and open your gift" it made me smile that he had subconsciously looked out for me. I placed the box in my lap ripping away the green wrapping paper somewhat quickly in excitement. What I found inside nearly made me cry, I looked up to him biting my lip "This is the sweetest thing I've ever had" I whispered "thank you it means the world to me" I took out a crudely bound book with the word 'journal' stamped on the front, while on the first page was my name in old English calligraphy and the date of Christmas.
He grinned "I thought you might enjoy journaling; sorry it wasn't better made..." I quickly cut him off "no Jayden it's amazing I can't wait to start filling it in, I should get a year's worth of writing in here" I said softly passing my thumb over the pages.
We sat and spoke for a while about the last week of activities and once it started to get dark outside he walked me back to my room, he stopped as he turned to leave looking at me over his shoulder "don't tell anyone, it was from me, I don't want others to know." He said coldly before turning away completely and walking away.

I spent the rest of that Christmas in my room reading or writing stories, I had felt more hurt from Jayden's few words than I had from my roommate's actions the last 2 years, it was an odd feeling for me. I put the journal in my bottom drawer and forgot about it for almost a year only finding it again when I moved rooms the following November, but that's another memory.