Chapter Eight-teen.
Jessica and Scott were together everyday. When she was at work, he would stop by to bring her lunch and when he was working, she would go and hang out, act like she was going to buy something. Nothing could keep them apart. They had been dating for six months. It was now December. And Scott knew the perfect thing to get her.
"Hey!" Jessica said as she jumped into Scott's arms.
"You know, I think my manager knows you're not a customer." Scott said. Jessica laughed.
"Well that's ok because I was just stopping by for a quick second to let you know that I'm not here to see you. I'm here Christmas shopping." Jessica said and started looking at some sweaters. "I'm so happy you're my boyfriend and it's Christmas at the same time." Jessica said.
"And why is that?" He asked.
"Because ever since I was like 15, I've wanted to buy my boyfriend this one thing for Christmas. Now I can." She said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"You'll see, I gotta go shop though. Love you!" She said and left to get all the things she needed. She had already bought everything for friends and family. All she had left was Scott. She was totally lost on what to get him. She walked around the mall, walking in and out of the stores she had already been in.
Scott had gotten off work early to get to what he wanted to for Jessica. He made sure she wasn't around when he walked into the jewelry store and picked out a perfect ring. It looked liked it was made just for her. Once he had paid for it, he went home. And checked the messages on his machine.
"Hey Scott, its mom, I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I mailed you your presents. Don't open them until Christmas. I love you."
"Scott it's Sophie. Peter and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. When you get a chance, give us a call. David says hi."
"Scott… um…. Hi… It's me… Shelby. I don't really know what to say. I miss you. I have a surprise for you. Call me when you get this. Bye!"
Scott rewound the message and listened to it over and over again. It was her. Her voice. He could see her, leaving him the message. Her husband probably wasn't around when she called. Why couldn't he be home when she called? Why couldn't he have talked to her?
Just then the phone rang.
"Hello?" Scott said.
"Hey, its Shelby!" She said.
"Oh, hey, Merry Christmas!" He said.
"Merry Christmas!" She said.
"What do you want? Why are you calling me now?" He asked.
"I missed you. You're my best friend." She said. "I can't talk long. This is long distance. I just want you to know I have a surprise for you." She said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"You'll find out when the time is right. I gotta go though. Bye." Then she hung up. Scott slowly hung up the phone. He couldn't blink, or move. It was her. It was the phone call he had been waiting for so long. Then there was a knock on the door. Scott looked up and heard Shelby's voice in his head, repeating what she had said.
"I have a surprise for you, you'll know when the time is right!" It was her. She was there, waiting for him. He got up and ran to the door, pulling it open as fast as he could.
"Jessica!" He said, shocked it was Shelby.
"Hey Honey, I stopped by your work to see you one last time and they said you already left." She said and walked in.
"Uh, yeah, I took off early to do some shopping." Scott closed the door and turned to look at her. Her face was glowing, he hair was damp sticking, to her face from the snow and the tip of her nose was red. She had never looked so beautiful. And he remembered why he had forgotten about Shelby all those months ago. He walked up to her and grabbed her into his arms.
"Scott, are you ok?" Jessica asked.
"I'm wonderful now that you're here." He said and smiled. "Can you believe is only three days until Christmas?" He said and walked to the kitchen. "Want something to drink?" He asked and grabbed a sprite before she could answer.
"Uh, a sprite!" She said as he walked to her and placed it in her hands. "Scott, what do you want for Christmas?" She asked. Scott stood there for a moment, thinking of what he wanted. Then he looked up at her.
"That's easy!" He said. "All I want is to be with the people I love, to be with you!" He said. Jessica smiled before getting serious.
"Scott this is serious, what is something I can buy you?" She asked.
"I don't really want anything." He said.
"Scott!" Jessica said stomping her foot. "Please help me with this!"
"Jessica, I know whenever you find what your want to get me, you'll know it. It'll glow and scream your name." He said and walked to his couch.
"But Christmas is only three days away." She said.
"So you better go look!" He said. Jessica walked and kissed him on the cheek before walked out the door to go hunting for Scott's present.
Jessica had walked into the mall once again, searching for something for Scott. She wasn't looking for five minutes when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" She said.
"Hey, it's Scott. I decided on something!" He said to her.
"And what is that?" She asked.
"We will spend Christmas Eve with our family to humor them and we'll spend Christmas Day together. Ok?" He said.
"Perfect, but you gotta let me go, I have to finish shopping for you. Bye honey!" She said and hung up. Then she saw it, the perfect present for him. It just looked like him. It was screaming, the way Scott said it would.
Jessica walked to the window and looked at it before going into the store and paying for it.
"You are perfect for Scott!" Jessica said and walked out of the mall.
Scott sat at home. It was Christmas Eve and he had just gotten home from his dad's. His mom surprised him and flew down to see him. Now, he was lying on the bed, looking at the ring he had gotten for Jessica when the phone rang. He got up and walked to the phone before the machine got it.
"Hello?" He answered.
"Hey, it's me!"
"Shelby?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, I wanted to tell you Merry Christmas." She said. She sounded happy.
"Thanks, uh you too! What are you doing?" He asked.
"I just spent Christmas with Jess and my mom. It was great but I gotta go now. I'll talk to you soon. Bye!" She said and hung up. Scott sat there and looked down at the floor. Why was she calling? She had hurt him, and left him without looking back. Now she wanted to be friends? He looked down at Jessica ring that was on his pinkie. He walked to his room and put it back in its box before wrapping it. It was only a few more hours before he would see her again.
Jessica sat on her bed. She had bought a red ribbon for Scott's present and couldn't wait to give it to him. She looked at the presents from her family. She had a wonderful time today but couldn't wait to see Scott. She looked at her clock. It was eleven PM. She put Scott's present on a pillow on the floor and got under covers. The sooner she went to sleep, the sooner she would see him.
Scott woke up to the sound of food cooking in his kitchen. He got up and walked to the kitchen and saw Jessica cooking for him.
"Hey!" He said groggily and sat at the table.
"Hey Honey, Merry Christmas!" She said and brought him a plate of beacon, eggs, toast and grits.
"You didn't have to do this!" He said and added some salt and pepper to the food.
"I know, but I wanted to. You always cook for me, why cant I cook for you?" She said and sat down with her plate. "Tell me what all you did yesterday!" Jessica said and took a bite from her grits.
"Um, My dad I watched TV and my mom came down from New Mexico to see me." He said.
"Your mom? That was really nice of her!" Jessica said.
"How was your day?" He asked.
"It was the same as every Christmas. I go to my parents and get dressed there but then everyone shows up while I'm getting dressed so I spend the day in my pajamas with nice hair and makeup. We sit in chairs for an hour before opening presents. My sisters and I clean up the mess then we eat and that's it." Jessica said. "How's the food?" She asked
"Better than mine!" He said and smiled. Then he heard a small whimper. "What's that?" He asked and looked around. Jessica smiled and got up.
"Stay there!" She said and walked to the couch. She bent down and picked up and small black and white puppy. "Merry Christmas!" She said and carried the puppy to Scott.
"A dog? You got me a dog?" He asked and smiled as he took the puppy from her arms and held it up to his face.
"I remember about two months ago, we saw this little fellow in the window and you said you wanted it. And the other day when I was shopping I walked by and looked up at me and I knew this was it." She said and smiled.
"What's his name?" Scott asked.
"Oh that's for you to decided but I already called the vet and next week I'm taking him in for his shots." Jessica said. Scott put the dog on the table and stood up to her.
"Thank you!" He said and bent down to kiss her lips.
"What are you going to name him?" Jessica asked.
"Sam!" He said and looked at the dog as he ate the rest of Scott and Jessica's food. Jessica smiled and took the empty plates to the kitchen. She took off her jewelry and started running the water.
"You go get dressed and I'll do the dishes ok?" She said. Scott walked up to her and kissed her cheek.
"Ok!" he said, but before he walked away, he grabbed one of the rings she had taken off and looked at the size. He walked to his room and unwrapped the ring he had gotten for her. He looked at the ring before sighing in disbelief. He had bought her a size too small. Immediately he jumped into the shower and got dressed. He grabbed the ring box and walked out of his room. Jessica had finished the kitchen and was playing with Sam.
"I have to go do something. I'll be back soon!" Scott said and walked out the apartment before Jessica could question him. He spent the whole day, driving from Jewelry shop to Jewelry shop, hoping to find an open one with the same ring.
After a few hours of being alone, Jessica got bored and walked to his stereo.
"Want to dance Sam?" Jessica asked and pushed play on the cassette player. She walked to Sam and picked him up, waiting for the music. But she didn't get music. She heard Shelby's voice. It was Shelby, calling and leaving a message on his machine.
Jessica sat on the couch after hearing the tape for two hours. She was thinking of where Scott could have gone when he came rushing into the apartment. She looked up at him and then looked down at the other gift she had gotten him. He smiled and walked up to her.
"It's dark outside. Where have you been?" Jessica asked.
"I had to go do something!" He said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean take that long."
"Well Merry Christmas!" Jessica said and handed him his gift before getting up and grabbing her purse and coat.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"It's late, I have to get home." She said.
"Whoa wait, what's wrong?" He said and walked to her. Jessica stood there for a moment before looking up at him.
"I know Shelby called you!" Jessica said.
"What? How do you know?" He asked.
"I was going to dance with Sam. I pushed play on the radio and I hear Shelby's voice." Jessica said. "Merry Christmas, I hope you're happy with her voice." Jessica said and turned to leave when Scott grabbed her arm.
"Wait, I still have to give you your present." He said. Jessica stood there and sighed. Scott reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, unwrapped box and handed it to her. "Merry Christmas!" He said and smiled.
Jessica slowly opened the box. Her mouth slowly fell open and she looked at the small ring. She looked up at him, a little nervous.
"I know what you're thinking. It's not an engagement ring. It's a promise ring. I promise that I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, not Shelby's voice." He said.
"Scott, this is so beautiful!" She said and kissed his lips.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you she called you, but I know how you get." He said and grinned.
"You're forgiven… now go open your other present." Jessica said and watched him walk to the couch and open the big wrapped box. He pulled out a gray sweater.
"A sweater?" He said and looked at her. "This is the one thing you've always wanted to buy your boyfriend?" He asked.
"Yep!" Jessica said proudly. "Do you like it?" She asked.
"I love it!" He said. Jessica went and sat next to him and kissed him. He looked at her and took her hand into his and walked with her to his room. Jessica sat on his bed and he sat next to her and kissed her. She lied down and kissed back when they were interrupted but a knock at the door.
"I'll be back!" Scott said as he got up. "I'm gonna kill who ever's at the door." He said and Jessica giggled.
Scott walked to the door and opened it.
"May I help yo….u?" Scott said and his eyes got wide.
"Surprise!"
"Shelby! What are you doing here?" Scott asked in a shocked tone.
Jessica and Scott were together everyday. When she was at work, he would stop by to bring her lunch and when he was working, she would go and hang out, act like she was going to buy something. Nothing could keep them apart. They had been dating for six months. It was now December. And Scott knew the perfect thing to get her.
"Hey!" Jessica said as she jumped into Scott's arms.
"You know, I think my manager knows you're not a customer." Scott said. Jessica laughed.
"Well that's ok because I was just stopping by for a quick second to let you know that I'm not here to see you. I'm here Christmas shopping." Jessica said and started looking at some sweaters. "I'm so happy you're my boyfriend and it's Christmas at the same time." Jessica said.
"And why is that?" He asked.
"Because ever since I was like 15, I've wanted to buy my boyfriend this one thing for Christmas. Now I can." She said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"You'll see, I gotta go shop though. Love you!" She said and left to get all the things she needed. She had already bought everything for friends and family. All she had left was Scott. She was totally lost on what to get him. She walked around the mall, walking in and out of the stores she had already been in.
Scott had gotten off work early to get to what he wanted to for Jessica. He made sure she wasn't around when he walked into the jewelry store and picked out a perfect ring. It looked liked it was made just for her. Once he had paid for it, he went home. And checked the messages on his machine.
"Hey Scott, its mom, I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I mailed you your presents. Don't open them until Christmas. I love you."
"Scott it's Sophie. Peter and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. When you get a chance, give us a call. David says hi."
"Scott… um…. Hi… It's me… Shelby. I don't really know what to say. I miss you. I have a surprise for you. Call me when you get this. Bye!"
Scott rewound the message and listened to it over and over again. It was her. Her voice. He could see her, leaving him the message. Her husband probably wasn't around when she called. Why couldn't he be home when she called? Why couldn't he have talked to her?
Just then the phone rang.
"Hello?" Scott said.
"Hey, its Shelby!" She said.
"Oh, hey, Merry Christmas!" He said.
"Merry Christmas!" She said.
"What do you want? Why are you calling me now?" He asked.
"I missed you. You're my best friend." She said. "I can't talk long. This is long distance. I just want you to know I have a surprise for you." She said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"You'll find out when the time is right. I gotta go though. Bye." Then she hung up. Scott slowly hung up the phone. He couldn't blink, or move. It was her. It was the phone call he had been waiting for so long. Then there was a knock on the door. Scott looked up and heard Shelby's voice in his head, repeating what she had said.
"I have a surprise for you, you'll know when the time is right!" It was her. She was there, waiting for him. He got up and ran to the door, pulling it open as fast as he could.
"Jessica!" He said, shocked it was Shelby.
"Hey Honey, I stopped by your work to see you one last time and they said you already left." She said and walked in.
"Uh, yeah, I took off early to do some shopping." Scott closed the door and turned to look at her. Her face was glowing, he hair was damp sticking, to her face from the snow and the tip of her nose was red. She had never looked so beautiful. And he remembered why he had forgotten about Shelby all those months ago. He walked up to her and grabbed her into his arms.
"Scott, are you ok?" Jessica asked.
"I'm wonderful now that you're here." He said and smiled. "Can you believe is only three days until Christmas?" He said and walked to the kitchen. "Want something to drink?" He asked and grabbed a sprite before she could answer.
"Uh, a sprite!" She said as he walked to her and placed it in her hands. "Scott, what do you want for Christmas?" She asked. Scott stood there for a moment, thinking of what he wanted. Then he looked up at her.
"That's easy!" He said. "All I want is to be with the people I love, to be with you!" He said. Jessica smiled before getting serious.
"Scott this is serious, what is something I can buy you?" She asked.
"I don't really want anything." He said.
"Scott!" Jessica said stomping her foot. "Please help me with this!"
"Jessica, I know whenever you find what your want to get me, you'll know it. It'll glow and scream your name." He said and walked to his couch.
"But Christmas is only three days away." She said.
"So you better go look!" He said. Jessica walked and kissed him on the cheek before walked out the door to go hunting for Scott's present.
Jessica had walked into the mall once again, searching for something for Scott. She wasn't looking for five minutes when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" She said.
"Hey, it's Scott. I decided on something!" He said to her.
"And what is that?" She asked.
"We will spend Christmas Eve with our family to humor them and we'll spend Christmas Day together. Ok?" He said.
"Perfect, but you gotta let me go, I have to finish shopping for you. Bye honey!" She said and hung up. Then she saw it, the perfect present for him. It just looked like him. It was screaming, the way Scott said it would.
Jessica walked to the window and looked at it before going into the store and paying for it.
"You are perfect for Scott!" Jessica said and walked out of the mall.
Scott sat at home. It was Christmas Eve and he had just gotten home from his dad's. His mom surprised him and flew down to see him. Now, he was lying on the bed, looking at the ring he had gotten for Jessica when the phone rang. He got up and walked to the phone before the machine got it.
"Hello?" He answered.
"Hey, it's me!"
"Shelby?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, I wanted to tell you Merry Christmas." She said. She sounded happy.
"Thanks, uh you too! What are you doing?" He asked.
"I just spent Christmas with Jess and my mom. It was great but I gotta go now. I'll talk to you soon. Bye!" She said and hung up. Scott sat there and looked down at the floor. Why was she calling? She had hurt him, and left him without looking back. Now she wanted to be friends? He looked down at Jessica ring that was on his pinkie. He walked to his room and put it back in its box before wrapping it. It was only a few more hours before he would see her again.
Jessica sat on her bed. She had bought a red ribbon for Scott's present and couldn't wait to give it to him. She looked at the presents from her family. She had a wonderful time today but couldn't wait to see Scott. She looked at her clock. It was eleven PM. She put Scott's present on a pillow on the floor and got under covers. The sooner she went to sleep, the sooner she would see him.
Scott woke up to the sound of food cooking in his kitchen. He got up and walked to the kitchen and saw Jessica cooking for him.
"Hey!" He said groggily and sat at the table.
"Hey Honey, Merry Christmas!" She said and brought him a plate of beacon, eggs, toast and grits.
"You didn't have to do this!" He said and added some salt and pepper to the food.
"I know, but I wanted to. You always cook for me, why cant I cook for you?" She said and sat down with her plate. "Tell me what all you did yesterday!" Jessica said and took a bite from her grits.
"Um, My dad I watched TV and my mom came down from New Mexico to see me." He said.
"Your mom? That was really nice of her!" Jessica said.
"How was your day?" He asked.
"It was the same as every Christmas. I go to my parents and get dressed there but then everyone shows up while I'm getting dressed so I spend the day in my pajamas with nice hair and makeup. We sit in chairs for an hour before opening presents. My sisters and I clean up the mess then we eat and that's it." Jessica said. "How's the food?" She asked
"Better than mine!" He said and smiled. Then he heard a small whimper. "What's that?" He asked and looked around. Jessica smiled and got up.
"Stay there!" She said and walked to the couch. She bent down and picked up and small black and white puppy. "Merry Christmas!" She said and carried the puppy to Scott.
"A dog? You got me a dog?" He asked and smiled as he took the puppy from her arms and held it up to his face.
"I remember about two months ago, we saw this little fellow in the window and you said you wanted it. And the other day when I was shopping I walked by and looked up at me and I knew this was it." She said and smiled.
"What's his name?" Scott asked.
"Oh that's for you to decided but I already called the vet and next week I'm taking him in for his shots." Jessica said. Scott put the dog on the table and stood up to her.
"Thank you!" He said and bent down to kiss her lips.
"What are you going to name him?" Jessica asked.
"Sam!" He said and looked at the dog as he ate the rest of Scott and Jessica's food. Jessica smiled and took the empty plates to the kitchen. She took off her jewelry and started running the water.
"You go get dressed and I'll do the dishes ok?" She said. Scott walked up to her and kissed her cheek.
"Ok!" he said, but before he walked away, he grabbed one of the rings she had taken off and looked at the size. He walked to his room and unwrapped the ring he had gotten for her. He looked at the ring before sighing in disbelief. He had bought her a size too small. Immediately he jumped into the shower and got dressed. He grabbed the ring box and walked out of his room. Jessica had finished the kitchen and was playing with Sam.
"I have to go do something. I'll be back soon!" Scott said and walked out the apartment before Jessica could question him. He spent the whole day, driving from Jewelry shop to Jewelry shop, hoping to find an open one with the same ring.
After a few hours of being alone, Jessica got bored and walked to his stereo.
"Want to dance Sam?" Jessica asked and pushed play on the cassette player. She walked to Sam and picked him up, waiting for the music. But she didn't get music. She heard Shelby's voice. It was Shelby, calling and leaving a message on his machine.
Jessica sat on the couch after hearing the tape for two hours. She was thinking of where Scott could have gone when he came rushing into the apartment. She looked up at him and then looked down at the other gift she had gotten him. He smiled and walked up to her.
"It's dark outside. Where have you been?" Jessica asked.
"I had to go do something!" He said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean take that long."
"Well Merry Christmas!" Jessica said and handed him his gift before getting up and grabbing her purse and coat.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"It's late, I have to get home." She said.
"Whoa wait, what's wrong?" He said and walked to her. Jessica stood there for a moment before looking up at him.
"I know Shelby called you!" Jessica said.
"What? How do you know?" He asked.
"I was going to dance with Sam. I pushed play on the radio and I hear Shelby's voice." Jessica said. "Merry Christmas, I hope you're happy with her voice." Jessica said and turned to leave when Scott grabbed her arm.
"Wait, I still have to give you your present." He said. Jessica stood there and sighed. Scott reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, unwrapped box and handed it to her. "Merry Christmas!" He said and smiled.
Jessica slowly opened the box. Her mouth slowly fell open and she looked at the small ring. She looked up at him, a little nervous.
"I know what you're thinking. It's not an engagement ring. It's a promise ring. I promise that I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, not Shelby's voice." He said.
"Scott, this is so beautiful!" She said and kissed his lips.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you she called you, but I know how you get." He said and grinned.
"You're forgiven… now go open your other present." Jessica said and watched him walk to the couch and open the big wrapped box. He pulled out a gray sweater.
"A sweater?" He said and looked at her. "This is the one thing you've always wanted to buy your boyfriend?" He asked.
"Yep!" Jessica said proudly. "Do you like it?" She asked.
"I love it!" He said. Jessica went and sat next to him and kissed him. He looked at her and took her hand into his and walked with her to his room. Jessica sat on his bed and he sat next to her and kissed her. She lied down and kissed back when they were interrupted but a knock at the door.
"I'll be back!" Scott said as he got up. "I'm gonna kill who ever's at the door." He said and Jessica giggled.
Scott walked to the door and opened it.
"May I help yo….u?" Scott said and his eyes got wide.
"Surprise!"
"Shelby! What are you doing here?" Scott asked in a shocked tone.