I've been at my grandma's for a week now and it's Christmas Eve. Since I decided I won't be here for Christmas we decided to open gifts now. I also decided I would surprise Austin on Christmas morning as one of my gifts to him.
I walk downstairs and help my grandma carry some presents to the living room as my grandpa sits down. "You excited to see Austin?" she asks as we sit down as well.
I smile. "Yeah I'm really excited to see him."
She smiles before handing me my gifts and handing my grandpa his gifts. I start opening them and eyeing them carefully. They're all mainly cute little things because my grandma feels like the little things are the bigger things that matter.
I had gotten my grandma and grandpa each something they really wanted: My grandpa some new car tools and my grandma: some new kitchen appliances.
They each loved their gifts and thanked me more than enough times. They got each other some cute little "old people" things and it's adorable. 42 years of love. Seriously obsessed.
"Thank you guys so much for the gifts it really means a lot." I thank them.
They share a quick glance before they both have smiles. "There's one more gift." my grandpa says.
I'm confused as we get up and make our way to the garage. My grandpa grabs a key off the key holder and hands them to me as my grandma opens the door and I see the new black Jeep Wrangler in the garage.
"Oh my god." I say as I walk to the car.
"You like it?" my grandpa asks.
"You got me a car?! Of course I like it." I say as I get in.
"Your car insurance is paid off for a year too." my grandma adds and I run over and hug them.
"Thank you guys so much." I say.
"It's our pleasure. It's the least you could do after all you've been through these past few months." my grandma says.
I close the door to the car as we walk back inside and my grandma starts dinner.,I walk upstairs and as I'm putting the last things in my bag, my phone rings. I answer it without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?" I ask while organizing.
"Hello Ally it's Mimi." I hear her cheerful voice.
"Hey Mimi!" I gush.
"Are we still on for tonight?" she asks.
"Yeah I'm eating dinner here and then I figured I'd leave shortly after, maybe around 9 or 10 because I want to make sure then when I get there, he's asleep." I tell her as I grab any last things out of the bathroom.
"Okay and I'll make sure to text you or so later on and try and tell you when he's asleep," she confirms.
"Thank you so much that's perfect." I smile.
I wrap things up on the phone with her as my grandma notifies me that dinner is ready. I walk downstairs and sit across from my grandpa. I grab my fork and begin eating as my grandparents make small talk. "So how are you planning this whole thing with Austin?" my grandpa asks.
"I'm not totally sure on what I'll do once I get there but I do know that I'll leave around 9:30 or 10:00 and get there late at night so he won't see me until tomorrow morning." I say before taking a drink of my tea.
"That's so sweet!" my grandma gushes.
"Yeah I figured I'd surprise him. After all, he's been with me through everything so it's the least I could do." I nod.
We continue with small conversations before dinner is finished. I walk upstairs and look at the time: 6:05pm. I set an alarm for 10:00pm on my phone before I lay down on the bed and drift off to sleep.
I wake up before my alarm and it says 9:30pm so I get up and quickly take a shower. After rinsing, I get out and throw on some sweatpants and one of Austin's hoodies that I may or may not have stolen. I leave my hair down and natural. By the time I'm done making sure I'm not leaving anything it's 10:00 so I grab my things and walk downstairs to say goodbye to my grandparents.
"Thank you guys so much for letting me stay here." I say as I hug my grandma.
"You're welcome anytime dear. I hope all goes well back at home." she gives me a pained look but I assure her I'm fine.
I walk over to hug my grandpa. "I love you guys and I will definitely be sure to call more." I assure them as I grab my bags and say my last goodbye.
I get in the car and start my navigation and open my drink as for I am well prepared for the long drive ahead. I surprisingly hadn't talked to Austin at all today but It's probably just because he's with family. I turn up the radio and jam out to the tunes as I make my journey all the way back to Miami.
By the time I make it back to Miami, It's around 1:00am. I quietly park my car in Austin's parent's driveway and grab my bag and the key his mom gave me and unlock the door. I creep upstairs and quietly, and slowly, open the door to Austin's bedroom to see he's sound asleep. I smile as I tiptoe in and shut the door before taking my shoes off and climbing into the bed next to him. I except him to stir awake but he just moves over and wraps his arm around me.
I smile before drifting off to sleep.
I wake up to the light shining in through his red curtains and I immediately see Austin's face. I start messing with his face by touching his cheeks, chin, lips, nose, and forehead. He stirs and makes a weird face before muttering. "Mom stop."
I giggle. "Guess again."
"Hey Ally." he mumbles before going back to sleep. It takes about five seconds before he realizes and his eyes widen. "Ally?"
"Hey." I smile as he sits up and hugs the life out of me.
"You're here oh my god you're actually here. What? How?" he asks before kissing my head.
"I drove." I say simply.
"When?" he asks.
"Last night. Got here this morning." I say nonchalantly.
"I can't believe you're here," he says standing up and running a hand through his hair.
"Well believe it." I say before he hugs me again this
time lifting me off the ground. I wrap my legs around his waist as he looks at me.
I grab his face in my hands and kiss him passionately. "Merry Christmas." I say as I pull away.
"I completely forgot it was Christmas." he says as he lets me down.
"Well come on, your presents await!" I say as I quickly run out of the door and down the stairs.
As I get down there, I see Aria and Mimi eating.
"Ally!" Aria screeches as she hops down from the chair and runs to hug me.
I catch her just in time and kiss her head. "How's my favorite girl?" I ask as I poke her stomach.
She just giggles before I put her down and she continues to eat. "When did you get in?" Mimi asks.
"Around 1:30," I say sitting down as Austin walks into the room.
"My my I'm surprised you're not tired!" she says shocked.
I just laugh as Austin plays with Aria as she finished eating. "Okay," Mimi claps. "Present time!"
As we all walk into the living room, the doorbell rings. Once it's opened, in comes basically everyone from Austin's family. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. After we all say hello and catch up, we sit down and since there were no other seats, I'm forced to sit on Austin's lap. Not that I'm complaining.
We let the kids open gifts first so I just lean back against Austin as he plays with our hands. "I'm so glad you're here." he whispers into my ear.
I just nod as I feel myself drifting off to sleep and before I know it, I'm out like a light.
I don't wake up soon after that. But I do feel a change in our position. I'm just not sure what changed.
Once I wake up I'm in Austin's bed. But without Austin. I slowly sit up and stretch my limbs as I look around the room. I look over at his alarm clock and see it reads: 4:00pm. I stand up and run my hand through my hair as I walk downstairs and see Mimi talking with Austin's grandmother. "Rise and shine!" she boasts as she sees me.
"Morning." I mutter as I look around the kitchen in hopes of finding Austin.
"Austin's out back with his cousins." she says nodding towards the back door.
I thank her as I open the sliding door and walk outside. "Good afternoon beautiful." he says and smiles.
I blush as I walk next to him and sit down. He wraps an arm around me and kisses my head as I lean my head on his shoulder. "Have a nice nap?" he asks.
"Sure." I mutter and he just chuckles.
He starts talking to his cousins again about certain things considering they're only 10 and 14. I zone out of the conversation as I play with Austin's hands, a habit that I realize he and I both have.
By the time I'm fully back to paying attention, his cousins are gone and he's just sitting there looking at me. I blush before burying my face in his neck. I groan, "how am I still tired?"
"Long drive. I guess driving could be like jet lag." he says.
"Wow I would've never thought of that." I say sarcastically.
"Easy." he playfully threatens
As 6 o'clock rolls around, Mimi calls us in for Christmas dinner. We make our way inside as we see the chaos in the kitchen as Austin's family finds places to sit and bring the food. Austin and I go and make our plates once everyone is finished before making our way into the living room with his sister. "I don't wanna eat." Aria complains with a pout.
"You have to. Mimi's cooking is always good," I say putting a fork full of corn in my mouth.
"Sure." she says before stabbing her food.
"So you're actually staying right, you're not like going back to your grandma's are you?" he asks nervously.
I chuckle before lightly kissing his cheek. "Nope. I have the rest of the week to spend with you." I say as he finishes his food and looks at Aria.
"Hey, Shortie, you going to eat?" he asks looking down at her.
"No." she says while pushing her plate away.
He just rolls his eyes before grabbing her plate and walking back down the stairs, her following suit. Then, my phone rings. I forget to look at the caller ID before answering. "Hello?"
"Ally." my fathers voice speaks through the receiver.
I stop eating and stand up. "What?"
"I was just calling to invite you to the we-" he starts but I interrupt him.
"Are you seriously about to ask me to your wedding? Well if not, I still have an answer. No. I will never ever
"I should really get my number changed." I mumble to myself as Austin walks back in.
"What?" he asks with a smile on his face from chuckling.
"My dad called," I say with a sigh. "He invited, or tried to, invite me to the wedding."
"And?" he asks as he walks in front of me.
"I hung up on him—and I know that you think I should talk to him soon but I choose the later soon than the earlier soon." I say before walking to flop down on his bed.
He just huffs before grabbing his acoustic guitar and sitting down on the edge of the bed. He strums lightly and somehow, with the "car lag" I fall asleep to the soft tune.
*Austin's POV*
As I see that Ally's asleep I quickly snag her phone from the bed and walk downstairs and into the backyard. I unlock it and scroll through the recent calls until I see her dad's number and I hit it and it begins to call. "Hello, Ally?" he asks.
"Hey Mr. Dawson its me, Austin. Listen I know Ally's been harsh on you about this whole wedding thing but I'd really like it if you still sent her an invitation to the wedding." I say as I look behind me to make sure no ones coming.
"Austin I don't know. Do you really think she'd want to come?" he asks uncertain.
"No, I'm not positive or sure. But I do think you should at least try to get her to come considering she is your only daughter." I say as I run my hands through my hair.
"I can try to send her one in the mail but that won't guarantee anything." he says unsure.
"I don't care. As long as it's sent." I say.
"Okay I'll send one in the mail for both of you. Thank you for trying Austin." he says.
"No problem. Bye." I say before hanging up.
I hang up the phone and am about to turn around to walk inside when I hear something I so did not want to hear.
"What are you doing on my phone?"