Christmas...
Every year I rush to get the perfect gift, well, everyone is. I walk into the next shop at the mall to get a gift for my mom. Woriking at that diner really paid off. I actually have cash to burn on these presents. I look through the rack of ugly sweaters hoping there is one that would suit my mother. I leave that rack and go to the next. My phone buzzes in my pocket as I pull out a red and creamy shirt. The caller ID says Zeke.
"Hello?"
"Hey Tris, where are you?"
"At the mall, Why?"
I hear him sigh over the phone. "Could you pick a gift out for Shauna for me? I'll pay you back. I just have no idea what to get her."
"Again?" I walk down between racks and search for something suitable for mom.
"Sorry. I promise it won't happen next time."
"Whatever. See you later okay? Bye."
"Thank you ,Tris. Bye."
He hangs up the phone. I look at the rack of dresses. Skimming my hand over the different materials and colors of dresses, a dark red one stops me. I pull it out. The soft material felt comfortable against my hand. The cocktail dress had lace going down the back of it,but it stopped midway in a V shape. It was a beautiful dress ,and a dress that will hopefully put a smile on Shauna's face... and make Zeke look good.
"That idiot..." I mumble. I check the price tag on this beautiful dress, and,...
"Oh ho... this guy is going to owe me some cash..." I walk up to the counter to pay for the dress. The red head scanned the tag of the dress and put it in a covering.
"Okay, that will be $211.12."
I smile at her as I hand over the money in cash. She hands me the receipt and the bag.
"Have a great Christmas."
"As to you!" I reply. I turn around and bump it a guy with a black hoodie.
"Uh,Sorry. My fault."
He just nods and continues gawking at the ugly Christmas sweaters, or he was pretending to. I exit the store with an uneasy feeling. I have $300 left in cash in my purse for gifts . I scurry out. Once I pass by two shops I look over my shoulder. The guy with the hoodie was twenty feet away. I stop and look forward. I take a deep breath.
"It's nothing. He's just shopping like you..." I turn around ,and he was two feet away. He grabbed my bag and ran.
"What the ... come back here! That's mine!"
I chased after him and managed my way through the crowds and lines of people. "Move ! He's got my bag!"
I watch him bump into a booth,but he continued. Suddenly, I collide into a person.
"Excuse me,but I have to get my bag." I brush myself off and run through the clearing the crowd made for me.
These people are just standing there! I scream in my head.
I see the guy take a turn, but I manage to catch up . It was a dead end. He turns around and freezes.
"Hand it over." I point to the bag,but he tries to run. I tackle the guy .
"Now, give it to me." I rip my purse from his hands, and the guy I ran into earlier came running by me.
"Are you okay?" he asks, blue eyes showing concern.
"Ask his sorry ass..." I mumble. He raises a brow at me.
"Not much Christmas spirit in you , I see." He says smirking. I get off the hooded dude,and the blue eyed guy lifts him by his arm.
"I'm Four." The blue eyed dude said.
"Tris."
"And this is..." He pulls the hood off the thief. "Peter. I've been looking for you pal." He says pinning him against the wall and cuffing him.
"Let go ,Four."
"Thank you for your help, Tris. I hope you have all of your belongings?"
I nod. "Yes, thank you. Have a merry Christmas." I turn and leave the scene of the struggling Peter and the heroic Four.
TIME SKIP
I wrap the dress up and label it- TO: Shauna FROM: Zeke
"Beatrice?" Caleb knocks on my door.
"What?"
He barges in casually like he always does.
"Mom wants you to help her wrap some gifts."
"Okay, I'm coming down."
Caleb leaves and closes my door gently. I put Shauna's gift on my desk and jog down the stairs. I make my way into the living room. I see my mom focusing on her wrapping. I sit down on the couch.
"Why are in such a rush?" I ask her.
"Because Christmas is in two days. I need to get this done."
I nod. I watch her place a red bow on the gift wrapped up in wrapping paper with little pictures of elves and candy canes. She labels it to dad. I smile as past Christmas's replay in my mind. The door bell pulls me from my thoughts,and I get up and open the door. I see him standing there. Grey eyes and all.
"Eric, how are you?" I ask.
"I am well thank you. Here is a present for you. I just thought that maybe I should get you something before... I um, leave tomorrow."
I sigh and look at the small box in his hands.
"Of course." I whisper and gingerly take the gift from his hands.
"I'm sorry ,Beatrice. I should have-"
"No." I abruptly say. "I just should have prepared for this. I was wrong ." We both look down. "Good bye,Eric."
He grabs my hands and looks me in the eyes. "I'm sorry." He kisses my cheek instead of my lips. I felt the tears prickling .
"I'm sorry too."
He pats my hand and turns to leave. I watch his figure go through the snow covered ground ,and I wait till he turns the corner to close the door. I see my mom giving me that kind motherly look .
"I'm going to be in my room."
She nods understandingly as I ascend the stairs. I go to my room and lock the door. Dropping on my bed, I curl into a ball and just cry and hold the present to my chest. I scream into my pillow. I try to calm myself by taking deep breaths. I softly cry myself to sleep thinking about Eric.
I was 14; he was 16. I remember that day when we had to go to his parent's funeral. He was lucky to be at home that day of the accident. Everyone was drowned in black as we paid our respects to his dear parents. The funny thing was that he didn't cry, Eric that is. He just stood there and stared at the coffins with their lifeless bodies. Slowly, everyone departed. Except me. I told my parents to wait in the car for a bit. I went up to him. He still stood there frozen like a pillar, and eyes glued to the tombstones, where his parents now lay. I touch his shoulder gently.
"I'm sorry,but please say something."
He turns and looks at me. HIs eyes starting to fill with tears. "Why couldn't I die with them?" He says choking on the words,because of his on coming sob. I hug him and rub his back.
"Because you are here for a reason." I whisper to him. He pulls away and sits down on the grass.
"I have to go ,Eric,but do you want to talk tomorrow?" He looks at me and just nods.
"Eric," His aunt Jeanine said touching his shoulder."We need to go now." He nods and I smile at him as he looks over his shoulder at me.
For the next few weeks,months, and the next two years, we grew together and close . Till he graduated high school. He took me to the nearby lake and set up a small dinner by candle light and all that jazz. His romantic side expressing itself as we enjoyed each other's company. That night he kissed me. He said -
"I love you." for the first time. I, of course, returned the favor.
On the day I graduated high school, Eric called from college informing me he wanted to quit college to be with me. I was not planning on going to college, because my parents need at least one kid to stay around while Caleb left for college. I was overjoyed . Jeanine, however , wasn't. When he flew back to Chicago, We spent our days together. Each day I loved him more ,but no happy ending comes so easily.
Jeanine somehow convinced Eric to leave and work at her Laboratory in England. When he told me, I was saddened,but that is not all. He also broke up with me . He told me he loved me,but he came up with excuses about why we couldn't be together and all that crap . I knew he was keeping somethiong from me .Something else was holding him back. I just accepted it and left it at that.
Now , I am hurting more than ever,because ever time he sees me and vice versa, he pretends to not know me. He turns around and goes the opposite direction. When I try to start a friendly ocnversation, he makes up an excuse to leave. I don't know waht happened,but something was off. What's better than to have stress eat at you during Christmas but also a broken heart...
I don't know what to think of my situation,but I know that my family can't find out. This burden is mine and not theirs. I am brave and strong enough to do this on my own,even if it hurts for a while. It will mend. Just like every other heart ache.
This is a oneshot unless I get five reviews. Not much. Just five!
Also how many of you know Theawrites? She's in the hospital and her friend Gabby is keeping her readers posted on her condition. Please leave a message of encouragement to the amazing author and her best friend,Gabby. Even if you don't know her, read her stories and leave a message or review for her.
With all due respect,
Oneta Astobi
