CHAPTER 37: The Beauty Friends Share

ARIA'S POV:

I walked into the hospital, carrying a large bag full of food and gifts. Due to the car accident, we decided that it would be best to celebrate our Christmas in the hospital, that way Emily didn't feel guilty if we had to reschedule.

Hanna and I had gone to see her a couple times in the last two days, but Spencer had practically spent those two days with Emily. It was sweet, but Emily had called us earlier when Spencer was in the bathroom insisting we find a way to get Spencer to go home, even if only for a minute.

What better way than to have her get her stuff at home for the gift exchange?

I walked past the nurses, after I had signed in and made my way to Emily's room. I got a lot of weird looks from some of the people, nurses especially, who obviously didn't approve of all the junk food I was carrying.

"Em?" I asked as I walked into the room. She was walking around, picking up a few things.

"Emily what are you doing?! Get your ass back in bed!" I scolded. She sighed, and climbed back into the bed of white.

"But Aria, I'm fine!" She insisted. "Besides, I'm going home tomorrow."

"Yeah, well I'd like to keep it that way. No need to stress yourself out, and hurt...something again." I rolled my eyes, as I pulled a small table from across the room to the side of Emily's bed.

"Besides, if Spencer was here she'd have a fit." I smirked.

Emily sighed. "God, don't remind me. I love the girl, so much, but she's been here constantly. I'm not tired of her company, I just worry about her. She's slept less than me, and I just want her to go home and get some stress relief. She's been more anxious than me." Emily groaned.

"I know. That's just her being her." I laughed.

"I know…and I love her for it. I just worry. You know?"

"Yeah." I pulled out my presents and set them on the floor by the table before setting out some of the snacks I had brought.

"Gosh Aria, your presents are always so expertly wrapped.." Emily chuckled.

"It's that artist gene in me." I smiled, and turned my head as Hanna walked into the room.

"Hey y'all!" Hanna grinned as she set her bag of stuff down. "Is this going to be fun or what?"

Emily and I just laughed. Hanna smiled and pulled out her presents to set next to mine.

"Dammit Aria, your presents make mine look like someone ran over them." She teased.

"No offense Han, but I don't think it's Aria's fault…" Emily chided. Hanna rolled her eyes.

"It's the thought that counts right?" She laughed as she gestured to her very sloppily wrapped gifts lying next to Aria's well wrapped boxes.

"Besides, I might lose to Spencer this year.." I remarked as Spencer walked in with her gifts in her hands. They were wrapped in a military fashion, and I wondered how anyone was going to open them.

"I doubt that." Spencer hung her head slightly, and I couldn't help but fell my heart sink a little. She had come so far from her darkness, but still held onto fragments of it. I guess it would just take a while for her to completely be herself again, and be comfortable with being complimented.

"No kidding Spence! They're like mini Fort Knox's!" Emily laughed.

Spencer rolled her eyes and pulled a chair up to the hospital bed. I couldn't help but observe the weariness she carried with her as she walked. Her gait was slow, and she had dark circles under her eyes. I could tell what Emily meant by little sleep. If anything, Spencer looked almost as if she had been in the accident, not Emily.

I passed out drinks, and we sat in a shape that was almost a circle.

"Hey, before we start I just want to thank each and every one of you for coming to visit me, and for changing plans. I'm sorry that we had to move things around." Emily smiled sadly.

"It's not your fault Em. Besides, it's kinda cool to change up the location this time." Hanna grinned.

"I agree. Besides, now I don't have to do any cleaning at my house, so that's a plus!" I pointed out. We shared a few laughs before settling down.

"Emily, as the proud survivor of that horrible accident, I vote you open your gifts first." Hanna stated firmly.

I nodded, and Spencer did as well.

"I think that's a great idea." Spencer added.

"Fine.." Emily rolled her eyes, and opened her gifts. I had gotten her a diary so she could record her relationship with Spencer in it. Hanna had went in with me, and got her a matching set of nice pens and pencils.

"Are you guys serious?" Emily mumbled. I had explained why I got her the journal on the first page, and she was blushing slightly.

"Do you not like it?" I asked.

"No, it's beautiful, I love it. I just…you bought this before we were together…" She glanced up at me.

Spencer, who wasn't paying a whole lot of attention jerked her head up and looked at me.

"What?" She asked, her face tinted red.

"Hanna and I…we just know things." I giggled, looking at Hanna, who had a smirk on her face.

"Gosh, you guys are ridiculous." Emily laughed. "I love you, thank you." She added sincerely.

She reached for Spencer's gift but Hanna snatched it away.

"Why don't you two open your couple gifts after everyone else. I want to take pictures, and my phone is charging." Hanna grinned.

Spencer's face went beet red, and Emily groaned.

"Are you serious?" She asked.

"Dead serious." Hanna smirked. "So Aria, it's your turn now."

I nodded, and gently picked up the gifts left out for me. Emily had gotten me a beautiful pair of earrings, and Spencer picked up some of my favorite lotions from one of my favorite stores. Hanna had given me a beautiful set of paints and brushes so I could start painting again over the summer.

"You guys are too sweet.." I muttered, pleased with everything my friends had gotten. They could have given me rocks for all I cared, I was just glad to be spending time with them.

Hanna went next, and Spencer went last. Hanna got some lotions and such, as well as a gift card to Victoria's Secret.

"Caleb's going to be pretty happy about this." She smirked, holding up the card.

"Hanna, bad images.." Spencer groaned, holding her head.

Hanna laughed, and so did Emily. I was with Spencer. Too much information from Hanna that time.

Spencer went last. I was excited for her to open mine, I had gotten her a silver charm bracelet with everyone's names on it.

She opened mine, and smiled brightly.

"It's beautiful Aria…" She muttered, turning over each of the charms.

"So you know we're always with you." I smiled softly. She nodded, and I was content as I watched her slip it onto her wrist.

Next she opened Hanna's, which was a collage of pictures of all of us. Mostly ones of her and Emily though.

"Hanna, I didn't take you for the creative one…" She smiled.

"Eh, Aria helped." She laughed.

"It's beautiful, thank you." Spencer smiled once more, and I was overjoyed to see such happiness from her.

Once everyone was done, Hanna grabbed her phone, and waited for Spencer and Emily to exchange gifts.

"Emily…you should go first." Spencer mumbled, obviously embarrassed to be put on the spot.

"If you insist." Emily smiled.

She tore open the package gently, and opened the small box that the wrapping covered.

Inside was a silver bracelet with blue gems around it. The silver was engraved with roses and beautiful designs. It was truly gorgeous, and I could tell Emily loved it. Her eyes watered slightly, and she looked at Spencer with eyes full of love.

"It's amazing." She smiled. "I love it so much Spence…"

Spencer blushed, but didn't say anything.

"Go ahead Spence." I chided. Spencer nodded, and opened the box Emily had given her.

Resting on a piece of velvet was a necklace laced with silver. Hanging from it was a small silver flower. In the middle was a gorgeous amber stone, that made Spencer's eyes glow.

"Emily…I don't know what to say…" Spencer smiled brighter than I thought possible.

"I love you." Emily muttered softly.

"I love you too." Spencer grinned, and they leaned in for a kiss. It lasted about five seconds before Hanna laughed.

"And you thought Caleb and I were bad." She joked. Emily glared playfully at the blonde, and Spencer laughed.

The rest of the night we played games, and talked. Spencer told us more about what happened with her dad, and Hanna talked about what was happening in her life. I shared my part, as well as Emily.

Everything went smoothly, and everyone was happy.

Despite all that had happened, everyone still was able to come together, and spend Christmas with the ones they loved.

It was beautiful.