On Christmas morning, I was awoken by the distinct smell of hot cocoa. I rose in bed and saw Kat, smiling. She held a tray with two hot mugs on it and a plate of cookies. On her head was a Santa hat.
"Merry Christmas, Mouse." She said. I beamed at her and took a mug, sipping it slowly. "Do you want your present now or later?"
"Now!" I replied playfully. We walked over to the window, where Kat had set up the miniature Christmas tree her parents had sent her. Underneath it were two perfectly wrapped gifts. The red one was my gift to her, the green-and-blue patterned one was hers to me. We both picked them up.
"Who first?"
"You go."
She ripped into the wrapping paper, spreading it over the floor. Then, setting down the small box on the floor, she opened it and pulled out the gift I'd gotten her. Her eyes lit up.
It was hard to find, according to the gardener, but he managed to get it. In a cheap frame was a black-and-white photograph of a cat and mouse, nose to nose. I'd seen it months before in a mass-market store and remembered it when I was trying to think of gifts.
"Mouse, it's so cute! OK, you've gotta open yours."
Nervous, I slowly unwrapped the box. It was small and fit in the palm of my hand. A velvet box was inside and I snapped it open. Glittering in the Christmas sun was a silver necklace, with a crooked heart hanging from it. One side of the heart was traced with beautiful stones that I assumed were diamonds; I hadn't had much experience with precious gems.
"Wow, it's so gorgeous." I ran my fingertips along the edges of the heart, my own swelling with joy.
"Put it on! I wanna see you in it, beautiful."
I slipped it out of the box and she clasped it on for me. Somehow we'd ended up standing. I embraced her tightly, verging on tears. I don't think anyone had ever been so sweet to me, besides my mother. And this was something totally new and different I just wasn't used to.
I was feeling lighter than the dust floating by the open window. I was awakening, parts of me I'd forgotten were buzzing to life. Happy energy drifted over me as her hands entwined with mine. She tilted her head and leaned closer to me. Shaking, I stepped forward. Without warning her lips rushed to mine, warm and moist and soft.
For a few seconds, everything was forgotten, everything was us. Our lips moving slowly, tentatively. Her hand through my hair, her breath on my cheek. I was falling so fast it was like I wasn't moving at all.