CHRISTMASTIDE
1. Twelve Days of Christmas
Bella frowned, stabbing her fork into her slice of chocolate cheesecake. She glanced up as someone dropped their food on the cashier's counter, before returning her attention to her dessert. She had started out the afternoon in a good mood, considering she had just finished her first final before winter break and was feeling good about it. To make the day even better, Edward had promised her a weekend of Game of Thrones, ice cream, and a marathon of sex to celebrate their last fall semester, so she was on cloud nine.
That was until Edward brought up the whole Christmas thing.
She didn't want him to get the wrong idea, it wasn't that she didn't want to celebrate Christmas with him. Not at all. She just didn't like gifts. Years of disappointment and pain caused by Renee had led her to this state, and she couldn't imagine it ever getting any better.
"So, are we exchanging Christmas presents or what?" she mumbled, stabbing her cheesecake with a flick of her wrist.
A slight laugh escaped Edward as he observed his girlfriend, who looked like she was being led to her execution. Still, she looked adorable with her hair in a braid and the festive silver and red tinsel, courtesy of Alice, decorating her hair. "Don't sound so excited."
"I am."
"Uh-huh, I'm sure," he cleared his throat loudly, slouching in his seat. He absently played with his french fries, keeping his eyes on his girlfriend. "We don't have to do it if you don't want to. You can hang with your dad."
Bella let out a sigh, glancing at the ceiling. "Edward, I don't even know why we're discussing this now. We still have almost two weeks to go, and we still have to study for the rest of our finals."
Edward pouted faintly, throwing the french fry aside. "Bella, quit pussyfooting around. If you don't want to do it, then just say it. We don't have to do it. You're not a sentimental person, so it's fine." A long pause. "Grinch."
She pointed her fork at him threateningly. "Don't you dare try to guilt me into this. I love Christmas."
Edward snickered, "Sure."
She sat up straighter in righteous indignation. "I do! It's my favorite holiday."
He nodded in false understanding. "You love it so much that you've avoided all discussion on it until now," he leaned forward. "Why is that?"
"Don't start with the psychoanalysis mumbo jumbo, I don't want to talk about it," she mumbled, focusing her attention on her food.
"I'm not starting anything! It's fine," he sighed, his shoulders slouching. Christmas was special to him and he'd be damned if Bella didn't enjoy Christmas in all its glory. If she wanted to be difficult, then so be it. He would play dirty and pull out all of his tricks. She eyed him warily, and he sighed again, a look of pure sadness and despair forming on his face. "I'll just cancel my plans-"
"What plans?"
He shrugged nonchalantly, although the dejected look on his face remained. "Oh, don't worry your pretty little head about it. I'll stop my plans, fail my exams in lieu of my grief, you can forget about spending Christmas with the man who loves you, and I'll spend the holidays alone."
Bella threw down her fork, shooting him a glare. "Fine. We'll exchange presents."
Almost immediately, the heartbroken look was gone from Edward's face, and a big grin formed as he straightened up in his seat. "Well...all right!"
"All right?" she repeated, her nose crinkling up. "I think I liked you better when you were an ass."
"Shut up and listen," he cleared his throat, leaning over and grasping Bella's hand in his. "I want us to do the Twelve Days of Christmas."
Bella was neither impressed or moved, giving him a hard look. "The song is about the official twelve days called Twelvetide, which starts on Christmas and ends on the fifth of January," she said flatly.
Edward's eyes darkened slightly, and he squeezed her hand in warning, giving her fingers a sharp tug. She was being too much of a smart aleck at the moment for his liking, and he suddenly had the urge to curse her professors. He wasn't sure how an argument against a pre-law student would work to his benefit, so he decided to swallow his gripe. For now.
"Look, I know the damn event takes place on Christmas, but I want to be different." He reached over, plucking a piece of tinsel out of her hair and placing it in the breast pocket of his button-down. "I want to give you twelve presents, starting tomorrow. You won't have to give me a thing. This is all for you. Consider it a proclamation of love and a chance to broaden your horizons, all in one festive event."
She finally allowed herself to smile, reviewing Edward's proposal in her head. "Twelve presents, huh?"
"It'll be like Hanukkah," he said with the slightest of smiles. "You're getting presents, all for being you. And because I love you."
They were both silent for a moment, and Bella flushed under the intensity of Edward's stare. Happy. This was happy, she was convinced. Edward made her happier than she'd ever been. His eyes danced with merriment- she could tell he had been planning this for ages. She had to admit that the sentiment was sweet.
"Well, what about you?" she asked. "What are you getting out of this?"
He shrugged abruptly. "You. You doing things to me with your gifts, if you wish. You being happy because of something I did. The stuff my dreams are made of, which completely balance out your outrageous ones."
She gave him the most innocent smile and eyes she could muster, twisting her fingers within his, the pads of her fingers running along his palm. "Buy me an Arabian horse?" she asked sweetly.
He chewed on his bottom lip, ducking his head before the smile took over his face. "The only thing I want you riding is me."
Bella rolled her eyes, yanking her hand out of his grasp. "And the romance has gone and died a painful death," she huffed, smirking as he chuckled. "You really want to do this?"
"More than anything," Edward glanced down at his watch, cringing. "Oh, crap, I'm gonna be late for my psych final."
She lifted herself out of her chair, trying to glance at his watch. "It's seven, already?"
"Six fifty-five," he shook his head, blinking rapidly. "I'm going to fail my first final."
"No, you're not." Bella said as they both stood. She reached over the table, grabbing the collar of Edward's shirt. "Good luck," she breathed, kissing him softly.
He nodded, inhaling sharply before tilting his head and stealing another kiss. "I'm going to throw up...help me fake my death, Bella."
She smirked, kissing him again. "You're going to be fine. You aced the last two tests in this class. Call me when you get home."
His eyes lit up. "Booty call?"
"Hardly," Bella responded, giving him a look. "I want to know how you did."
"My girlfriend, so caring and thoughtful," Edward gave her a brief kiss on the lips as he reached into his backpack. "I'm gonna have to hustle now..." he pulled out a box wrapped in red and white gift wrap and handed it to her. "Open it when I'm gone," he said with a wink before taking off towards the exit.
Bella blinked, staring at Edward's retreating form before looking down at her first gift, wrapped all pretty and perfect. He wasn't joking around.
She shook the box, raising it to her ear. Her lips pursed as she turned the box over in her hands. Finally, she let out a sigh, dropping back in her seat and pulled the red bow off the top.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
