I guess it's Fate

Chapter 17

Jack POV

I wake up with a tight embrace around me. I look down to see Liz with her head on my chest, her eyes closed as she snores lightly. I smile at the thought that Liz and I slept together and it was the best sleep I have ever had. My eyes widen as I realise Liz slept here all night so I shake Liz gently to wake her. "No", she groans and hits my chest. "Liz, it's morning", I tell her and she immediately gets up. "Shit shit shit shit", she says over again in panic. "SHIT! I slept here and my mother is going to be so pissed". Liz has her hands on her head as she paces around the room. "Just tell her the truth, she'll be fine with it", I say quietly to calm her down. "Nope. Have you met my mother. She is a woman who jumps to conclusions before she has her facts right which means I'll die before I can say anything", Liz says, running out of breath.

There is a knock at my door and my mum peeks her head through the opening. "Hello darlings, breakfast is ready", she says to Liz and I. We look at her with a shocked expression because she didn't say anything of why Liz slept over. "Oh, Liz, I informed your mum last night that you were staying over since you fell asleep and looked so peaceful so I didn't want to wake you", my mum says to Liz which makes her sigh in relief. "Thank you for doing that", Liz says. My mum nods and closes my door. "I should go home and clean up", Liz says to me as she collects all her belongings. "I'll see you later?", I ask. She nods with a smile and kisses my cheek.

I look out my window to see Liz walking across the road to her house. I'm not spying, just making sure she gets home fine even if she lives across the road. Once I see her walk into her house, I look away and open my computer to the page I was on yesterday. Christmas is soon and I want to get Liz the best gift for our first Christmas together. I have found a beautiful necklace from 'Tiffany & co.' that I think she'll love. It is a silver heart which I will embroider 'J & E forever' on the back and will be accompanied by the letter E. Before I purchase the necklace, I need to get a second opinion.

I walk downstairs to my mum, who is sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper for today. "Mum", I say which makes her look up from reading. "Yes darling?", she asks and I turn my computer to face her. "Liz's Christmas gift. I'm getting a second opinion before I buy it for her", I tell my mum as she examines the necklace on the screen. "I'm also going to add the letter E to the necklace and on the back of the heart I'm going to embroider 'J & E forever'. What do you think?", I ask nervously. "That sounds perfect, sweetheart", she says to me. I sigh and rub my head. "Elizabeth will love this gift. You are such a romantic", my mum says as she pats my cheeks. I take my computer quickly and bolt up the stairs to my room before my mum says anything about me growing up to fast. We all know that conversation will go on for at least an hour and I really don't have the time for that.

I shower and dress in jeans and a shirt. I grab my wallet and phone and walk downstairs. "Mum, I'm going out to get Liz's gift", I say aloud so my mum can hear from wherever she is. "Don't forget a jacket", she says, appearing from the kitchen. I take my jacket off the hook and put it on. I open the front door and my eyes widen in shock. Liz is walking up the stairs to my porch and waved to me. "Baby, hi", I say to her and close the door behind me. "Hi", she says. "I didn't think we were hanging out today considering what happened this morning", I say, scratching the back of my head. I need to deny hanging out with Liz today or else I won't be able to buy her gift. The problem is that I cannot say no the her adorable face. "I was bored so I decided to come hang out with you", she says with a smile. "Are you going somewhere?".

"Yes. I had plans today to buy something as I have no better time than today to get it", I tell Liz.

"Can I join you?".

"Um...".

"What's wrong? Do you not want to hang out with me today?".

"No, baby, I always want to hang out with you. It's just that I'm going to buy something for you for your Christmas gift", I say and Liz nods. "I understand. Text me when your done so we can hang out", she says and kisses me. "I love you", I whisper and pull her in for a passionate kiss. We stand on my porch kissing for about two minutes then break away. "I love you too", she says and gives me a tight hug. Liz waves as she leaves and I get into my car.

I'm at the mall and it is full with people. I pry through crowds and finally reach 'Tiffany & co.'. I walk through the old looking silver doors and am greeted by an employee dressed in black. I smile to them and walk to the cashier. "Hello sir, how may I help you?", a young woman asks me with a bright smile. "Hi, I am wondering if you have this necklace in stock?", I ask her and show her my phone with the picture of the necklace I am looking for. She nods and leads the way to the necklace which is nicely displayed in a glass case along with other necklaces. The lady gently gets the necklace off the stand and shows me. "It's perfect", I say. "Do you also have a charm in the letter E?", I ask the employee and she nods.

Once I have collected what I need, the lady, who I learnt was named Katherine, puts the letter E charm onto the chain with the heart charm. She holds it up and I nod with a smile. "Anything else I can help you with?", Katherine asks me. "Do you embroider custom texts onto the jewellery?", I ask and she nods. "Surprisingly, yes. It is a fact that our store attracts more customers if they also get to embroider texts on their jewellery. It makes good business", she tells me. "I'm sure it does", I say.

"What would you like to embroider onto it?", Katherine asks.

"On the back of the heart could you put 'J & E forever', please".

"Of course".

"Thank you".

"Is this for your girlfriend?".

"Yes. I really hope she loves this gift".

"I'm sure she'll love it. It is very thoughtful", Katherine says. Once the embroidery is complete, Katherine wraps the necklace in 'Tiffany & co.' packaging. "Is that all for today, sir?", she asks and I nod. After pushing a few buttons on the register, the price of the necklace comes up on the screen. "That is $215.00", she says. I hold up my credit card and she nods, setting up the machine for me to tap my card. Once I have payed and collected the gift, I wave goodbye to Katherine and smile at the employee at the door as I walk out of the store.

On the way home, I buy a card from a corner store near my house. When I get home, I place the small bag which contains Liz's gift inside on my desk and open the card for me to write. I write a few rough copies on a piece of paper then finally decide on the best text to write.

'Dear Liz,
When I met you I felt butterflies in my stomach. You are the light of my life and I love you with all my heart. Merry Christmas my beautiful princess. I hope to spend the rest of my life with you and share memories on magical days like this one. I love you so much.
-Jack'

I fold the card and put it in the envelope it came with. I write Liz's name on the envelope and tape it up. I slid the card into the small bag without ripping anything and smile at the finished product. Liz will love this gift, I just know it.