Gordie woke up. The sun was rising. He felt a familiar but uncomfortable feeling.
He looked down. His bottoms were on the floor. Chris was still with boxers on and hard like a tent pole. Gordie knew if something did happen, one, He'd feel it, oh he would alright. But two, Chris would be flaccid as can be.
Gordie walked to his room. With pants in hand. It was 6:15. He looked at the date on the calendar. 12/23. One more day til Christmas!
Gordie tried to think of what to do to make it special (maybe he should take it. Lord knows it would be a mood booster, if he waited any longer, he would forget how to flirt, what if he barked?). And knew what. But first, he needed sleep
And with that, at around 9am, he got ready and left.
—-
Chris rolled over. His head hurt. Both of them.
"Little fucker left me with blue balls."
Where did he go?
Chris left his boxers on and went to check. Gordie did the one he promised not to do. Chris was about to get mad til he saw a note.
Don't get mad. I promised I would stay but look at the date. I think it's important don't you?
-Love, Gordie.
Chris looked at the calendar. His eyes widened. He needed to figure it out. But first, he needed to take care of something. He saw Gordie's pajama bottoms. He had an idea on how to take care of his issue at moment.
—-
Gordie walked around the shops in Orono, and didn't know what Chris would like. He remembered his sizes (L for shirt, 34 for pants, and 11 for shoes). He remembered what he had always wanted.
Gordie and Chris looked at each other one December morning their Junior year, talking about Christmas presents and what they always wanted that if they could buy it, they would. Chris mentioned, "a pair of black motorcycle boots. Those would be awesome!" Gordie smiled and thought they would be perfect. "Hey Honey," Chris said softly, "What would you want?" Gordie laughed and said "you really wanna know?" Chris nodded, closing his coat. "A stationery set, with a monogrammed fountain pen."
Chris laughed and smiled. "That would be easy to do, wouldn't it?"
—-
Gordie stepped in Louvain's Shoe Shops and rang the bell. He was going to make Chris's wish come true. He never bought the boots simply because they were too much. Gordie figured he could make extra shifts at the store if need be, but for now, this was more important.
—-
Chris walked around town, and he saw a stationery shop. He remembered that all Gordie wanted was some monogrammed stationery. And a bag with his name on it. Chris had more than enough saved away that he could make it happen before things got too tight.
He walked into the shop and saw a guy in it, working on some stuff. "Welcome to Haartman's, how may I…" and froze. It was Billy Tessio. Vern's older brother. Working at a stationery shop. Chris was awkward. Last he heard, he was thrown out of the Tessio house because of some indiscretion he made, but what?
Chris ignored the awkwardness.
"Can I get some pens and a bag, monogrammed with the name, 'Gordon' on it?"
Billy knew who he was, Eyeball's kid brother. Was this for the stuck up guy's brother? The one who died in the car crash? Billy knew that Chris palled around with his little brother Vern, who was now married back home.
"It will be 45 min until it's done."
"I will sit here and wait then."
Billy looked him over. Eyeball's brother went from a shrimp to a lobster. Like Vern did. He wondered if the Lachance kid also changed. Last he saw, he was still youthful, but that was a few years ago.
—
Gordie got home earlier than Chris did.
Good. He could put the gifts away, and worry about Chris later.
Chris walked in a few minutes behind him. "Gord, you home?"
"Yeah!" he yelled from his room, covering the box with his red coat.
Chris ran with his box, into his room, and covered it with a pile of laundry, including Gordie's pajama bottoms (which he used earlier…)
Now a few days to wait.
—
Christmas day, the two were still distant. Chris was in the room, wearing a blue sweater and his jeans. He smelled something delightful. He was trying to ignore the smell.
Gordie was busy in the kitchen, making something, he knew it. Chris saw a small turkey, potatoes and cranberry in the fridge, with stuff for a pie. He was wearing an old tshirt and his shorts, cooking up what seemed to be an elaborate feast.
Chris thought that Gordie wouldn't be nice to him on such a giving holiday, but even Gordie wasnt that mean to anyone, not even his ex.
After a few hours, Gordie knocked on Chris's door. "I hope you are hungry. I made Chrismas dinner."
Chris walked in the room, holding a bright blue box with a gilded ribbon on it. The label on it said, "to my love, from your babe, Chris."
Gordie gently took the box from him and opened it. In it was a brown bag, with a monogram, "GL" and on the bag, was a series of fountain pens, all etched with a name.
"Gordon LaChance" (Gordie blushed heavily)
"Thank you, love." Gordie said as Chris bent down for a kiss. He kissed him on the cheek. His beard was soft and silky. Gordie blushed. "Dont get too used to that," he said as he walked backward.
Remembering the gift he got Chris, he went to his closet.
"Here you go." Gordie gave him a rather big box. It was a bit heavy.
Chris opened the rather plain box, which didn't have a bow. Gordie thought a bow would look stupid for what was in it.
A pair of shiny leather motorcycle boots, black with silver buckles.
Chris put the boots down. "Thank you." he smiled.
This was awkward for both of them. Gordie walked up to him and gave him a hug. It felt the same, the smells of lavender mixed with cigarette and mint, so why did both of them feel so weird.
Dinner was good, with Chris helping Gordie clean up. After watching bits and pieces of "It's A Wonderful Life," the two went to bed in their separate rooms. While Chris looked at the pictures of them together with smiles on their faces. Gordie held his pillow and cried a little. Why is it so hard to forgive Chris?