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Chapter Eight: Pt. I
The eighth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me:
"I WANNA TRANSFORMER FOR CHRISTMAS!"
(Charities
And what'd'ya mean YOUR in-laws?!
Five months of bills!
Oh, making out these cards
Honey, get me a beer, huh?
What, we have no extension cords?!
And finding a Christmas tree)
"You know, I always wanted to tell those Salvation Army people where to shove it," Cynthia-Rose says.
Aubrey seems very proud of her work, now that they're out of prison and sitting in the living room. She made sure not to forget to add in the part where Beca couldn't zip her own damn jacket as they were all trying to tell the story.
Fortunately, for Beca anyway, Stacie hadn't spoke much in the car because she wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to hear their story.
"Okay, can we just pick our Secret Santa names now so we can go to bed?" Beca asks.
"We?" Stacie asks.
"Yeah, we, as in all of us." Beca plucks a piece of paper from the hat when it comes her way and opens it to look at it.
Chloe.
It's better than Aubrey, but not exactly who Beca was hoping to get. She would have preferred someone like Jessica or Ashley, who she could just buy a scarf and glove set for and call it a day. She has managed to go three years without getting Chloe. Now she's going to have to actually think.
xxxxx
"What should I get her?"
"I don't know, Beca," Aubrey answers, "I thought you were going to bed."
"What do you mean you don't know? You're best friends."
"So?" Aubrey asks.
"So you should know what she wants."
Aubrey sighs and sits down on the edge of Chloe's bed. "Something I might get her is probably not the same as something you might get her. Don't you live in the same house together? How do you not know what she likes?"
"I do – I do know what she likes."
"So then what's the problem?"
"I don't know. I just want it to be something that she really likes, you know?"
"She's going to love whatever you get her, Beca."
"But I want it to be something she would like even if it wasn't from me."
"That's the problem," Aubrey says.
"How is that a problem?"
"It's not like you have to go out and buy a gift at this very second. How about you just sleep on it?"
Just sleep on it… Great. Real helpful. "Wait, who did you get?"
"You know the point of Secret Santa is that you're not supposed to tell anyone, right?" Aubrey replies, "That's the whole secret part."
"But you don't know everyone now," Beca says, "So if you needed help or something, we could like swap ideas."
"Why would I ask you for ideas when I have Chloe and it's clear that she's not the name I pulled?"
Good point.
The bathroom door opens and Chloe steps out into the hall wrapped in a towel. "What are you two doing?" she asks as she walks into her room.
"Beca was just leaving," Aubrey replies.
"Yeah, I was just dropping in to say goodnight, but you were in the shower, so…"
"Oh." Chloe drops the towel, and Beca quickly alerts her gaze. "Night, Bec."
"Yeah, yeah, night."
Chloe pulls on a t-shirt and a pair of underwear then crawls into bed next to Aubrey.
"Are you two sharing a bed together?" Beca asks.
"Where do you want me to sleep, Beca?" Aubrey asks.
"I mean preferably a hotel, but…"
"You wanna stay?" Chloe asks, "It could be like a sleepover."
"Oh, I'm sure Stacie would really love that."
"Why is Stacie bothering you so much?" Chloe tilts her head.
"I don't know! I guess I'm just stressed over the holidays! Goodnight."
"She's weird," Aubrey mumbles as she leaves.
xxxxx
Sleep on it. How is she supposed to just sleep on it? Like she's going to close her eyes and suddenly some grand idea is going to magically appear in her head. Okay, Aubrey. Beca crawls into bed and rests her head on her pillow – staring at her tree. If she's lucky, she'll fall asleep before Amy comes in and starts snoring. But if she falls asleep, then she can't think. She'll just be dreaming and – that's it.
She bolts upright.
Sleep.
She'll never say it out loud – but Aubrey Posen is a god damn genius.