Consequences of the Heart

Chapter 28

Quinn's POV

I lay in bed completely wide-awake waiting for my alarm to go off, I never get much sleep on Christmas Eve because just like little kids I can't contain my excitement for Christmas morning. I look over at my clock to see that it is now 7: 05 in the morning, "I can't take this anymore." I say before throwing the covers off myself and get out of bed.

I make my way downstairs to see the living room illuminated by the beautiful Christmas tree with presents all around it and the sound of a crackling fire going in the fire place, "Merry Christmas." A voice says making me jump a little and I calm down seeing Etta sitting in her chair with a smile on her face. "Etta you scared the living daylights out of me." I say walking over to her and giving her a kiss on her cheek, "Merry Christmas grandma." I smile at her before taking a seat on the couch next to her. 

"How long have you been down here?" I ask as Etta takes a sip from her coffee mug, "Since around six, and I already caught your brother trying to sneak a jump start." I giggle knowing that Jared always liked to sneak down here very early in the morning to get a jump on the presents. "You don't have to worry about me Etta, I just couldn't take laying in my bed wide awake anymore." Etta gives me a sideways look and takes another sip of her drink.

"How is everything dear? I know that we haven't had much time to talk about your personal life as of late." I sigh wanting to tell Etta all the secrets that I have been keeping bottled up, but I know that today of all days it not the time for drama. "Everything is fine Etta, just a little stressed." Etta nods her head and from the look in her eyes I already know that she sees right through that lie. "I don't know why you think that you can lie to me Quinn." I open my mouth to say something but the sweet sound of my alarm going off cutting me off.

"PRESENT TIME!" I hear the booming voice of my brother yell while he rushes as fast as he can down the stairs and over to the tree. My dad walks into the living room only for Jared and me to look at my waiting for him to give us the signal. "Your uncles will be in here in a few seconds." Dad laughs seeing how anxious the two of us are. "Sorry to hold everyone up." Uncle Caspian says as he and Uncle Evan sit down on the couch. "Go." My dad says with a smile allowing Jared and I to start opening our Christmas gifts.

"Thankyou Etta, it is beautiful." I say unwrapping the dark purple hand knittedblanket that Etta did herself. I hand the blanket to my Uncle Evan beforegrabbing the next couple of presents with my name on them. "Santa really knowsmy sense of style." I laugh unwrapping a few new outfits. "If you noticed, allthose outfits came from 'After Chic'." Uncle Caspian pointed out taking a drinkfrom the coffee mug in his hand.

"Looks like you are not the only one who got clothes from 'After Chic'." Jared says reveling his own new outfits before grabbing a small box with his name on it from Santa. "These are badass Quinn." Jared said showing off his brand-new trippy Joker studded earrings I bought for him. "I was hoping you would like them." I smile at him as he closes the small box and places it with his other unwrapped presents.

"You are for real the best dad that any kid could ask for." Jared says placing his Air Pods next to his earrings before standing up off the floor and gives our dad a huge hug. "You have been doing good son and I am proud of you." My dad says hugging him back in a very touching father and son moment. "Here dad, this is your gift from all of us." I say handing him the neatly wrapped gift. "You guys did have to get me anything." My dad says starting to unwrap his gift.

"Trust me dad, this is something that you need." Jared comments as out dad finishing unwrapping his new iPhone. "You all got me a new phone?" He asks looking around with one eyebrow raised confused. "Now you can finally retire that old dinosaur you call a phone." Jared jokes getting all of us to laugh mostly because it is true. "Well thank you everyone, I promise to put it to use once I figure out how to use it." Jared makes his way back over next to me as present opening keeps going.

"Thank you Etta, my old blanket was falling apart." Jared says cuddling up with his new black and white hand knitted blanket that Etta did herself. "It took me longer to your blanket than Quinn's." Etta comments but in a joking type of manner. The next gift I unwarp is a huge bag type thing. "Santa got me a bag?" I ask looking confused at the bag. "The gift is inside the bag." Jared laughs at my blonde moment while I open the bag and right away the biggest smile comes onto my lips. "You spoiled me this year Jared." I say pulling out 6 different scented candles.

The first candle is lemon and lavender, second candle is vanilla cupcake, third is Christmas cookie, the you have candle chocolate layered cake, the fifth candle is warm luxe cashmere, and the last candle which I think is my favorite is called Café Al Fresco that smells like the inside of a fresh coffee shop. "These are all amazing." I say hugging Jared and giving him a kiss on his cheek very excited over something as simple as a candle which someone people find odd.

Here Etta, merry Christmas from your family to you." Jared says handing Etta her present. Etta slowly opens her present and when she does she looks at all of with the same look our dad had on his face when he got his new phone. "What is an Amazon fire stick?" Etta asks looking more towards Jared and I then my dad. "It plugs into the TV, and this way you can watch all those movies you like and any TV shows till your heart is content." Etta smiles at the two of us giving us each a kiss on our cheek. 

"Thank you darlings, I am sure that I will get good use out of this." Etta places the present down as Jared and I go back opening presents.

After all the presents are opened I got an electric fire place from my dad which I screamed over while Jared got new boxers and a new beanie with built in Bluetooth speakers from Santa. "Alright now for the cleanup, and then everyone can get dressed for Christmas Breakfast." My dad said as the whole family starts helping to clean up the living room.