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So, yeah, please R+R
He is Pleased:
Four girls were wreaking havoc upon a large walk-in closet. Silk scarves, chenille gloves and hats littered the floor. Each girl pulled out a coat, and was looking for the accessories that went with it. Rachel had a charcoal coat that reached her knees. The buttons were made of plastic, but were shaped as shark teeth. Kathy had a deep green wool coat that reached her hips, and it had a hood, so she decided to forgo to hat. Serena had a white suede jacket that also reached her hips. The wrist and hood were lined with soft light brown fur. And Alex wore her royal blue jacket with light blue chenille gloves and hat.
Serena looked at the remains of her closet. "You guys are so cleaning this up. I didn't make you guys hats and gloves and scarves to match your jackets so you could demolish my closet." She picked us a black silk scarf. "Oh, forget it. We'll do it later." The girls were going to New York City that day to shop.
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The chilly December air nipped at the crowd's noses. Everyone was bustling around, trying to get their Christmas shopping done. The four girls split up so they could buy each other gifts without worry of discovery.
Alex was in the store 5th Avenue. She knew that her employee discount there would help her pay for the new top that Kathy wanted. When Brittany, her employer, saw Alex, she fell into step with her.
"So, I have that cream blouse on hold for you. Do you still want it?"
"Yeah. Um, how much will it be with my discount?" She pulled out her wallet when Brittany said 'roughly thirty dollars.'
When she left the store, Alex was in high spirits. She met up with Rachel, who just needed to buy her brother a gift. They just needed to wait for Serena and Kathy, so they kept their cell phones on vibrate. Nobody could hear the rings over the noise in the city.
Serena, on the other hand, was aimlessly walking around Macy's. She had bought almost all of the gifts needed. She wanted to buy something for her sister, Piper, and for Erik. Perhaps it was a little unconventional to buy a gift for her teacher, but she wanted to thank him for tutoring her. She was checking her purse to see how much money she had left when she knocked down a tall man, and fell in return.
"Oh, I'm so sorry sir."
"It's okay." The man stood up and offered his hand to Serena to help her up. "Serena?"
"Mr. Destler… I mean, Erik?" She gazed at the man before her. "I'm s… I me…what are you doing here?"
"I believe that I'm allowed to shop, am I not?" Serena playfully hit him on the shoulder. They began walking together. Erik looked at his watch, which read 12:17. "So, um, you want to grab a bite to eat? It's on me."
Serena nodded mutely. 'Oh my God. Is this considered a date?' Erik took her hand in his and led her out of Macy's. Serena was in such a daze that she completely forgot that Macy's was where she was supposed to meet the other girls. So when Kathy, Rachel and Alex saw her with her arm hooked in Erik's, she didn't notice.
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The Olive Garden was beautiful. After the hostess seated Erik and Serena, Erik offered to take Serena's coat. Underneath was a dark blue corset top with black lacings and black straps. The dark blue was the same shade as the denim of her jeans.
Serena sat there for a while, not knowing what to say. How should she talk? Here she was, sitting in a nice restaurant with her teacher of all people. How could she make conversation? Erik broke the silence with an obvious question.
"Don't you get cold? You're wearing a sleeveless in the middle of December." Serena gave him the same answer that she gave Kathy a few weeks ago. She didn't get cold. "Ah."
Another awkward silence ensued. Serena broke it this time. "So…how are you enjoying your holiday vacation? Doing anything interesting?"
"Not really. I don't have much to do. I live a tragically boring life." He joked as a waiter came over to take their order. "So, Serena, what would you like?"
"Um, I'll just have linguini with clam sauce."
"That's it? Come one, get something better. Don't limit yourself to that. Besides, it's on me, remember?" The waiter smiled. "What's so amusing?" Erik asked.
"Forgive me, sir, but I love seeing such a young happy couple together treating each other so well."
Serena began to blush. "Oh, no, we're not a couple, we're just…friends?" Erik glanced at her. "Oh, fine. I'll have the shrimp scampi. Happy now?"
Erik nodded in approval and ordered the stuffed shells. After the waiter left, he turned to Serena. "Friends?"
"Well, what was I supposed to say? That I'm your student? That would make this a little bit awkward."
'Like it isn't already.' They both thought.
…………………………………………………
The two left the restaurant in high spirits. "That was absolutely delicious. Thank you Erik." She hugged his arm subconsciously for fear of getting lost in the crowd.
"It's alright, you've thanked me four times already." They walked around Rockefeller Center and gazed at the tall Christmas tree. "It's so nice to look at." Erik commented.
"Yeah, but it's much more beautiful at night when the lights are on."
That's when Erik looked at his watch once more. "Shit! I apologize, Serena, but I'm going to have to cut this short. I have a…um…an appointment that I can't miss."
"Wha… Where are you going?"
"I'm sorry, I have to go." He pulled her into a brief kiss without knowing it. It just seemed so natural. Serena's eyes opened in shock, but then closed in comfort. She cautiously put her hands on his shoulders, not sure of what she should do. But when she did that, Erik pulled away when he realized what was happening. "Oh God, Serena, I'm so sorry."
Serena felt a bit tipsy. Who knew that such a quick kiss could be so intoxicating? "No! No, don't be sorry. Yeah, um, don't you have to go now?"
"Yeah, see you later."
"See you." Serena stood alone in front of the tree. But not for long.
Her three best friends ran up to her and started talking. They didn't see Erik's face, so they didn't know it was he who Serena left with.
"Where did you go?"
"Who was he?"
"Did you guys have fun?" The questions just shot at Serena as she stood there in shock. She was still recovering from what happened. Rachel waved her hand in Serena's face. "Hello? Serena?" She turned to the other girls. "I think she died standing up!"
Serena was silent until one single word left her mouth.
"Erik…"
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If Serena had to put up with her friends squealing for one more second, she probably would have killed them all. They all sat in Kathy's living room with their purchases in bags. Rachel and Kathy were giggling about Serena's lunch with Erik. Alex was holding her head, trying to halt the oncoming headache.
Serena wouldn't wait. "SHUT UP! For the last time, it was NOT a date!" She slowed down her breathing to calm herself. "Guys, just stop. Christmas is in four days, I really don't need this right now."
"But you guys kissed! He likes you, you like him, what in the world is the problem?" Rachel started getting excited again. Serena stood up and began to leave. Rachel put her hand on her shoulder. "Alright, alright, I'll stop." Serena sat down again and stared at her friends.
"Now this is the dilemma. I want to get him a Christmas gift. But what do you get a guy that you really like, yet know nothing about?"
…………………………………………………
Erik seemed to be contemplating the same problem. He wanted to get her something nice. Something that said 'I like you, and I want you to like me too.' Erik had never shopped for a girl before. Especially one he knew nothing about.
"Excuse me, sir, can I help you?" A young woman who worked at Macy's came up to Erik.
"Um, yes, thanks. I need to buy a Christmas present for a special girl, but I don't know what she would like."
"Well, I can help you there. I can help you pick out something that any girl would like. Follow me." Erik followed the employee with high hopes.
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Christmas Day:
"Merry Christmas!" Serena flew out of her bed when a voice shouted in her ear. Piper gazed at her little sister with opened eyes. "Come on! We have presents!"
"Jesus, Piper. You are the only twenty four year old I know that acts six on Christmas." Piper just smiled with glee.
"So? You're in the spirit too. Look at what you're wearing!" She had a point. Serena had a dark green silk camisole with white lining and matching green silk pants.
When they reached the parlor, where the Christmas tree and fireplace was, they were greeted by cameras flashing. Their mother started cooing at them.
"Aw! My two babies look adorable!" Piper had on the same pajamas, except they were dark red instead of green. So the two sisters made a cute picture standing in the doorway together with their fluffy Santa hats on.
"Mom, cut it out." Piper cried, when Miranda, their mom, threw glitter on them. The three of them joined Robert, their dad, on the couches. Serena grabbed their stockings and handed them to each one. Robert got Miranda a diamond Solitaire necklace and clasped it around her neck, for Miranda was too speechless to do it herself.
Serena and Piper played a joke on their dad. He had this obsession with wine and popcorn, not together though. So they got him a plastic bottle filled with multicolored popcorn kernels and a wine cork with plastic grapes on the top.
Each girl had her own little obsession as well. Serena loved cows. Not the animal, just the merchandise. So when she unwrapped a huge cow plushy, she began to squeal so loud that Piper threw a pillow at her. Piper loved three things. Coca Cola, Crayola, and M&M's. Serena bought her a cute little M&M tea set. There was a red M&M teapot with red and green M&M teacups. Miranda got Piper the large Coca Cola bear with the plastic coke bottle in its paws.
Hence Piper's childish behavior.
Every year, Serena and Piper would ask Miranda what she wanted. Every year, she would say the same thing, nothing. And she would get pissed when they did get her something, because it was usually something useless. So this year, they just gave her a promise to make her life easier. More helping with laundry, cooking cleaning, that sort of thing.
"Well, this is certainly better than the flannel lounge pants you bought me last year." Miranda stated. "I…"
"Forget it, Mom. You need to relax more. So we'll pick up some of the slack." Serena interrupted.
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It was January 3rd, which was the students' first day back to school after the holiday vacation. This was the day that, during free period, everyone was allowed to exchange gifts. Serena slid into a chair in her homeroom and dropped her backpack on the floor. She had just finished exchanging presents with her friends. She stared at her desk for a moment, and glanced at the teacher, who shrugged.
On the desk was a small box wrapped in gold paper with a white ribbon on it. Serena picked it up, looking for a card. It just said Serena on it. She tugged on the ribbon until the bow came out. By this time, Kathy, Rachel and Alex had crowded around Serena's desk. She carefully unfolded the paper, not wanted to rip it, and revealed a black velvet jewelry case.
It worried her. Who would care so much about her without her knowing? Was there someone who was watching her? "Who the hell sent me jewelry?" When she opened the case, her expression went from scared to touched.
Inside was a heart-shaped pendant with a red crystal inside. The pendant hung from a thin silver chain. She snapped it shut before anyone could touch it. Serena stowed the case in her backpack and ignored it for the rest of the period.
It wasn't until her lunch that she reopened the black box. She lifted the white cardboard that held the necklace and pulled out a small white card. On the white card was a small note that misted Serena's eyes.
Serena,
I know this is a bit subtle. But we have known each other for a month and a half now. Please wear this so I may know if you feel the same for me as I do for you. And meet me at school at night as usual.
ErikSerena immediately clasped the pendant around her neck and fingered the silver. It was so beautiful. Even the librarian, who seemed to be a hermit, commented on it.
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After she finished everything at home after school, Serena walked to the music wing to see Erik. She clutched a small package in an arm, the other playing with the chain around her neck. She was still contemplating what to say. So when Serena reached the doorway of his classroom, she froze at the sight of him. She was tempted to hide the necklace underneath the collar of her navy blue sleeveless turtleneck sweater. But she realized, she put the necklace on in the first place for a reason. So that Erik could see it on her.
But he didn't at first. "Erik?" The pianist turned around on his bench. His face fell when he didn't see the necklace. "I, um…" Serena unconsciously covered the necklace up, covering it from view.
"It's alright. I understand." He got up from the piano. "I tried, you didn't accept, I'm okay with that." He looked like a lost puppy at that point. Serena held her hand up, uncovering the heart pendant.
"See? You said to wear it, so I did and…" Erik cut her off by pressing his lips to hers in a tender kiss. Serena wrapped her wrists around his neck, never dropping her parcel. Erik softly began to massage her lips with his tongue, asking for entrance, which she immediately granted. When Erik pulled back from her lips, he saw that Serena's eyes were filled with adoration. He kissed her again, this time, more passionately than the first time. Serena sucked on his upper lip and deepened the kiss further.
When Erik pulled away again, Serena felt a bit tipsy… again. "So, yeah. Um, this is for you." She handed him the neatly wrapped gift and rubbed her arm. "It's nothing in comparison to yours, but I didn't know what else to get you…" Her voice trailed off when she saw Erik unwrap the package and pull out a picture frame.
In the frame was a picture of the two of them when they were in New York City. A sidewalk photographer had taken a picture of the two of them and Serena had gotten it framed. In the picture, Serena was wrapped in Erik's arms. Both had enormous smiles on their faces when the photographer took the picture. Her white jacket was a stark contrast to that of Erik's ebony coat.
Erik kissed her again. "I love it."
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Serena flopped down on her bed when she got home that night. Erik had cancelled the music lesson for that night, but he surprised her with another gift. He had an expensive bottle of champagne and two flutes sitting on the piano, hoping that Serena would be there.
And since she was, Erik opened the bottle, saying that although Serena was underage, he knew she could handle a glass of champagne.
She started blushing again when she remembered the kiss he gave her before she left to go home. She took off her necklace and held it up to the light in her room. The light caught the red crystal and put a soft red glow on Serena's face. Then she put the necklace on her night table right next to her and fell asleep.
