Omake (or is it?): Christmas Time
A small grimace passes Taylor's lips when she notices the price tag of the scarf in her hands. This is supposed to be on sale? It certainly doesn't feel like it, in spite of what the flashy ads everywhere insist on.
The girl fishes out a somewhat tattered wallet, and quickly counts the meager funds she has left after her previous purchases. It... probably won't be enough to buy both the scarf and the dinner she had originally planned to get. Maybe she could afford both if she scaled down with the quality... but no. Ayano deserves something nice. If that means Taylor will have to work for their dinner, then that's just something she will have to do.
Mind made up, the lanky girl moves to the queue, and takes her place in the long line of customers. She never knew just how many people waited with their Christmas shopping till the very last moment - she always bought her gifts at least a week before that. First time for everything, she supposes, not that it was a deliberate choice on her part. There aren't too many shops out on the road, nor are there many people. It's strange, she thinks as she looks around, being in such a crowd after so many days spent only with her girlfriend.
Her wandering eyes snap back to a kid she'd just skimmed over. Is he staring at her? He is – wide-eyed and open-mouthed, his hand clutching his father's - fuck. Did he see her in a broadcast somewhere? Or maybe she's jumping to conclusions and he's staring at her because that's simply what children do? Taylor doesn't know, she doesn't have kids!
The girl's heart jumps up to her throat when the young boy tugs at his father's hand. It's a tense second before she realizes he's not responding, occupied by the cashier. Thank God for negligence – not that many people actually recognize her, but if the kid draws attention to her... she should go. Just leave the scarf and go. But what if the boy does, in fact, know who she is, and tells his parent? That would be even worse, people shouting in fear lets her know she needs to run, at least. Funny how that works.
She briefly contemplates trying to appear intimidating, before she abandons the idea, because who is she kidding? Instead, she brings her index finger to her lips, assuming what she hopes to be a conspiratorial expression, and prays to whatever deity would listen that it's enough.
One, at least, must be listening. The boy's face assumes a look of wonderment, before he brings a finger to his own lips – and promptly blows a raspberry as if it were his intent to attract all the attention he possibly could.
It's all Taylor can do to stare dumbly at the little kid, her body frozen up, as the little devil's father looks away from the cashier, his eyes lingering on Taylor for a short (too long!) moment, before he reprimands the kid for making such noise.
It takes all the mental fortitude Taylor can muster not to clutch at her hammering heart.
Jesus Christ.
She buries her nose in her jacket, allowing herself a few panicked gasps for air.
"Miss?" She nearly jumps out of her skin at the cashier's voice. Has he noticed? Has he- oh. She's holding up the line.
Hands still trembling, she presents the scarf and the money to the man behind the counter, and makes every attempt to return the smile she's given without it seeming too strained. It's important to smile – Taylor's come to realize. Smiling makes it harder for people to connect the dots – she doesn't smile in her photos.
The teen doesn't immediately run out of the store after stuffing her purchase inside her present bag, it's a near thing, though. Running is just as sure to bring the security around as getting caught stealing is. Kind of like back in the primary – but with guards instead of teachers. She briefly amuses herself by imagining the uniformed men wearing skirts instead of trousers. It'd be easier to run from them, at least – that would be nice.
She checks her wallet once again after stepping out into the gallery, wondering what could she possibly get for the remaining few dollars she could pretend was better than the usual. Half a take-out? Maybe a burger. Hmm. When was the last time they had pizza? In Indiana? She knows Ayano won't complain if she brings back the usual, she never does - it only serves to make Taylor want to bring something festive all the more.
The girl appraises the crowd flowing all around her. So many people, all focused on everything but their surroundings and each other. She wonders, how many of them will return home with their wallets missing? She wonders if some will return at all. A sigh escapes her.
She'd hoped not to have to do this today, of all days.
(-)
The sky is slowly turning red by the time Taylor returns to the remote, overgrown parking lot - empty save one battered vehicle. Nothing unusual enough to spare a second glance, were it not for a lone girl pacing to and fro by the machine. Crap. How long was she out?
It's only a second once Ayano notices her before a familiar pair of arms envelops her in a tight embrace. It's comforting, safe, and all the things she's come to love about it. The teen almost feels like protesting at the all-too-abrupt end to it. She would have, were it not for the unmistakable undercurrent of worry in her love's voice.
"You're late." The girl leans back without letting go, her red nose close enough for Taylor to touch it with her own.
"I'm sorry."
"I was worried something happened." Taylor knows the feeling only too well.
"I'm sorry. I got held up looking for a present."
Ayano takes a step back, only now seeming to notice what the other teen is carrying. A look of confusion briefly crosses her features, quickly replaced by a spark of joy.
"You wanna eat now?" she continues. "It's still lukewarm... I think. It's a bit of a walk."
"Sure. I've got something for you, too. Come on." With that, Ayano grabs her hand and pulls her towards the their car.
Taylor lets her girlfriend crawl into the back first, handing her the pizza box, and sets the present bag down by the scrap lying behind the front seats as she enters the vehicle. They gutted the back seats out of the contraption at the first opportunity after acquiring it, and fitted the with a mattress, instead, to make something of a sleeping and eating space for themselves. It's not quite enough to really get comfortable, but it's still much better than spending their nights in the seats – much easier to cuddle too.
She shuts the door behind them, and slips her shoes off before crawling onto the mattress by Ayano's side, mimicking her love's cross-legged posture. She lets the shorter girl pull their sleeping bag over their laps.
"So whacha got?" she curiously pipes up.
Instead of answering, the other teen simply places a paper bag in front of Taylor. Is this from a bakery? Certainly smells like it. She peeks inside the bag, and grins upon seeing the doughnuts inside. She thought Ayano wouldn't want any, given her usual shopping.
"Awesome. Here I was, thinking we wouldn't have any sweets today."
The girl shrugs. "My mother always says it isn't proper holidays until there's something sweet on the table."
"Your mom knows what she's talking about."
"Sometimes, I guess. Say, you want to open your presents now, or after eating?"
"After. I'm kinda hungry." With that, she opens the box. Pft, lukewarm might've been a generous overestimation, now that she's looking at it. Not that it stops her from eating with an appetite she hadn't felt in a way-too-long of a time, of course. Ayano joins her after a moment, although she eats at a much slower pace, her eyes on Taylor when they're eating, as always. It took some getting used to, but she no longer feels bothered by it.
She finishes her second piece just as Ayano does her first, noting with amusement how the girl keeps fidgeting. Somebody's impatient.
"I'll eat the rest later. You?"
"I'm done." Ayano's hand immediately withdraws away from the box, and reaches toward the two small packages lying by her side, both wrapped in cheap paper. Damn. She never could could wrap anything even nearly this neatly. It's part of the reason why she started using bags, instead.
"Merry Christmas, Taylor." The girl leans forward, and places a kiss on her cheek as she hands her the presents, drawing out a beaming smile from the taller girl.
Ayano leans back, giving her an expectant look as she picks up the first of her gifts. Somebody's really impatient. She wonders what-
-Taylor's cheeks flame up the moment she unwraps her gift. A quick glance at her girlfriend's face reveals an expression too innocent to be in any way unintentional.
"You like it?"
"I-" Yes. "Yeah, I do," she squeaks out, finding her mind to be uncooperative in forming the next words. "Thanks." She puts the gift outside of her field of vision, if not out of her mind, and reaches for the second package.
Fingers somewhat unsteady, Taylor struggles with the wrapping for a moment. Her face lights up when she finally manages to reveal a glasses case underneath.
"It's great." And it is. Out of the many small conveniences she left behind, not having a case has been bothering her a lot more than it probably should. Then again, just where the hell would she find a new pair of glasses if either of them accidentally broke hers in the groggy morning hours?
She grabs the bag with her own presents, and leans towards Ayano, her girlfriend having apparently left to somewhere inside her own mind. She smirks, and plants a chaste kiss squarely on her lips, startling the other girl out of her thoughts.
"Merry Christmas," she whispers before leaning back, and enjoying the dreamy smile now blossoming on Ayano's lips. It always brings a flutter to her heart to watch her like that, to know that the girl's smile, all of her smiles, are for her and her alone.
"You know-" The Asian teen begins after drawing the first gift out of the bag, her smile having morphed into a smirk. "I won't get upset if you just tell me these things outright." Huh? Oh. Oh!
"No! No, it's not that! Um..." Fuck. She didn't even consider she'd take it like that. "It's just- I mean- I saw you using mine the other day and- thought I'd get you one?"
"Oh." The girl's smirk gives way to a look more befitting a deer caught in headlights. "I- uh... I mean, yes. I lost mine and- and I just kept forgetting to buy a new one, and... yeah. Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
"Are you- don't you think you should get it, though? Since I used yours?" Taylor is only mostly successful in fighting the blush threatening to overtake her face at the thought of seeing Ayano using her toothbrush again. It's only through a concentrated effort of will that she somehow forces the next words out of her mouth.
"I don't mind."
It''s not like she'll ever again be able to wash her teeth without a flush crawling up her neck, no matter what brush she uses.
"If you're sure." Taylor bites on her lip, fighting against the desire to go back on her word. Dammit, she's no business sounding so dejected over a freaking toothbrush. It's for both their benefit, Ayano's teeth and Taylor's mind! She holds true in her decision long enough for her love to take the next present in her hand. "Huh."
Huh? What huh? Is her present a huh? Shit. She knew she should have actually asked what sort of pliers would fit Ayano the best, surprise be damned.
"Um, I thought you looked like you're struggling with yours sometimes, so I thought these would help. I'm- sorry if they're-"
"No, no! They're perfect!" Ayano rushes to reassure her, eyes wide. "Better than that, for sure." She adds, pointing to the box she's keeping her tools in. "I was just thinking, we only need a plasma torch now, and we'll have everything we started out with." A gentle smile returns to her lips. "Thank you."
"Phew. I wasn't sure if these would be good. I mean, you're the one who knows how to use them."
"And you still got the right ones. Don't sell yourself short." Taylor's expression turns sheepish as she gives a shrug for an answer. It's nice of Ayano to say that. Still, Taylor's not the one keeping their car going long after it has ceased having any right to. "I mean it. Don't, alright?"
"Alright." She can try, anyway.
Ayano watches her for a moment longer before nodding, and pulling out the last item from her bag, gifting the other teen with a brilliant smile the moment she lays her eyes on it. The girl wastes no time in clumsily putting it around – half of her face, really.
"How do I look?"
"Dashing." Taylor pats Ayano's hands away before untangling the scarf to properly wrap it around her love's neck. "Better like this, though. It'll keep the cold out."
"What about you?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't you need one, too?"
"I'm good." She zips her collar up, to illustrate her point.
"Right," the younger girl concedes. "We could still share it at night, though."
"Ahahah- well, I guess we could try." Taylor humors the other girl. She can't imagine it making sleep any more comfortable for either of them, but eh, what the hell.
"Good. Come here," Ayano says, having already shuffled closer to the center of their 'room', and now moving the ripped paper along with the unfinished food behind the front seats.
"Huh?"
"Come here, I want to try."
"Oh, okay." She could've figured. After all, when has Ayano ever passed up on an opportunity to cuddle?
Taylor, unzips her jacket, and moves closer to the other teen, choosing to let her girlfriend be the one to handle the scarf this time around. It takes a while, but eventually, they manage to get Ayano's present securely wrapped around both their necks. She lets out a yelp when the shorter girl suddenly yanks them both down, before pulling their sleeping bag over them.
"What do you think?" It feels like there's a noose, rather than a scarf, around her neck.
"Weird. It's warm, but..."
"Not really comfortable."
"Yeah."
Neither of them bothers to remove the scarf, choosing instead to lay in silence, legs tangled, enjoying each other's warmth.
"Taylor." The shorter girl eventually speaks up.
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
She buries her smile in the nape of Ayano's neck.
"I love you too."
I was not originally going to post this here, but then I though: "Oh, what the hell."
I mean, it's longer than all bar 1 regular chapters, and I wouldn't want those of you who only read the story here to be left out of this.
Merry Christmas to you all!