CHAPTER TWELVE.

The next day was Christmas day, and Randy was determined to get some time alone to talk to his mother, so that she could get some advice on the Jess situation. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on with the two of them, but he knew that their friendship wasn't how it normally was.

"Randy, I wasn't expecting to see you up until later," Jill said, looking surprised as she spotted her son sitting at the counter.

"Yeah, I've got a lot on my mind," Randy nodded. "Merry Christmas, Mom,"

"Merry Christmas, sweetie," Jill kissed him on the cheek, "I'm so glad you came home for the holidays. We've missed you so much around here."

"I've missed you guys a lot too," Randy nodded.

"So, what's on your mind?" Jill looked at him expectantly.

"Well, Mom, I've just been thinking a lot since I got home, because whenever I'm around J—"

"Presents!!" Gracie and Claire came flying down the stairs, with Marty Taylor close behind.

"Don't open any presents yet, girls!" He exclaimed, "Hey, Merry Christmas, guys," Marty said, grinning at Randy and Jill.

"Merry Christmas, Marty," Jill smiled, and then looked at Randy, "Can we talk later, sweetie?"

"Yeah, Mom, for sure." Randy nodded, and as soon as his mother was over by the tree, he sighed. He knew that the holidays were a time for family togetherness, but he was kind of wishing that someone in his family would just focus on him for a little while.

Randy was outside, watching Gracie and Claire play, when Jess came flying over from next door. It was barely 8 AM, but it wasn't surprising that Jess was already awake. She was always woke up at the crack of dawn on Christmas.

She practically tackled Randy, "Merry Christmas!" She said breathlessly.

"Merry Christmas," Randy returned, in a slightly strained sounding voice. Jess was hugging him very tightly.

When she released him, Randy realized she was basically glowing. She was still wearing her pink flannel pajamas under her black winter coat, but that didn't seem to dampen her happiness.

"Had a good morning, have you?" Randy grinned at her, slightly amused.

Jess nodded excitedly, "Yes, I've had a great morning! Fantastic, even."

"What made it so fantastic, Jessie?" Randy asked.

"The fact that my mother bought me two tickets for myself and a certain best friend of myself to the one and only, rock gods who are known as Aerosmith." Jess said, her voice getting shriller as she got nearer to the end.

"You're joking!" Randy exclaimed, "That's amazing, Jess! When is it?"

"June, so you can go," Jess looked at him, expectantly, "Right?"

"Um, I don't know when I get back from Costa Rica," Randy said awkwardly, "But I'm sure that I'll be back in time to go."

"You better be," Jess nodded seriously. "Did you get any of your presents?"

Randy shook his head, "Nah, they're all in Costa Rica, apparently."

"Yeah," Jess nodded sadly, "Unfortunately, the gift that would've made your entire life is in Costa Rica too."

"I'm assuming you're talking about your gift, hm?" Randy raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well, duh." Jess rolled her eyes. "Who else would I be talking about?" She raised her hands, and Randy caught sight of a silver bracelet.

"Good point," Randy said absently, "Nice bracelet."

"Huh? Oh, thanks," Jess pulled her jacket sleeve over it, as though she was hiding it from him.

"Who'd you get it from?" Randy asked.

"Um," Jess suddenly looked hesitant, "Milo gave it to me for Christmas." She looked down at her hands before looking at Randy, biting her lip.

"Oh," Randy felt his stomach clench, feeling slightly angry. "That's a pretty extravagant gift."

"I guess so," Jess looked embarrassed, "I didn't ask him for it, Randy,"

Randy suddenly felt badly for lashing out at his best friend, "I know you didn't, Jess. Sorry. I just…" He shook his head, "It's Christmas, let's not talk about this right now."

Jess nodded, "Okay." Then she suddenly looked slightly surprised, "Oh, I almost forgot!" She fished her hand into her coat pocket, "I wrote this for you, because you don't get your presents until you go back." She handed him an envelope, and Randy grinned. He loved reading letters from Jess.

"Thanks," He said, "I'll have to write you one back, even though…"

"Even though…?" Jess echoed, looking expectant.

"I may or may not have your present downstairs," Randy said casually. "But, if I do, you can't have it yet."

"Randall Taylor, you can't just drop something like that on me!" Jess hit his arm, "Give me."

"I'm supposed to stay out here and watch my cousins while they play," Randy said shaking his head, "They're young, who knows how long they'll be. They could be hours, and I couldn't possibly leave them alone,"

"You're a jerk," Jess said, "I'm not ever going to be your friend after this," She turned away from him and crossed her arms over her chest, her nose in the air.

"Now, now, I don't believe that, Jessie girl," Randy moved closer to her, "You could never, ever not be my friend," He put his hands on her waist, and began tickling her lightly, "We're best friends, right, Jessie?"

Jess was writhing, and vibrating with laughter, "Let me go, Randy, I'm mad at you."

"I'm not letting you go until you say we're best friends," Randy said, shaking his head, still tickling her.

"No way," Jess laughed.

"Jessica," Randy tickled her harder.

Jess whipped around so that she was facing him. Their faces were only inches apart, and he stopped tickling her. "Fine," Jess breathed, "Fine. You're my best friend, Randy."

"For how long?" Randy cocked his head to the side.

"Not for much longer if you tickle me like that again," Jess replied, grinning wickedly.

"Wrong answer, Jess," Randy started tickling her again, and Jess exclaimed, "Fine! You win, Randy! You're my best friend forever!"

"There we go." Randy stopped tickling her.

"Now, was that really necessary?" Jess asked, her brown eyes glimmering in the sunlight.

"Hmm," Randy looked thoughtful, before nodding, "Yes."

"Why?" Jess asked.

"Because it was fun?" Randy offered.

"Jerk," Jess rolled her eyes, "Torturing me is your idea of fun?"

"Nah," Randy shook his head, "I just wanted to make sure you were still my best friend, even though I'm a jerk."

"You've always been a jerk." Jess said simply.

"Uh, ouch." Randy said.

Jess shrugged, "It's a fact."

"So, was there a point to that?" Randy asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah," Jess nodded, "You've always been a jerk, and you've always been my best friend. So you being a jerk now… it doesn't really change anything." She poked him in the chest, "Duh."

Randy suddenly realized his hands were still resting on her waist, so he dropped them, and then rolled his eyes, "You're really mean, you know that?"

"Oh well," Jess shrugged, "You're stuck with me."

"Lucky me," Randy said sarcastically.

Jess rolled her eyes, and began walking towards her house, "Well, jerk, I'm going home. Jack's making chocolate chip pancakes, and I'm not missing them to freeze my ass off out here with you."

"Oh, thanks, Jess,"

"No problem," Jess walked backwards, "Want me to bring you a plate later?" Everybody knew that Jess' oldest brother, Jack, made the best chocolate chip pancakes.

"If it's not too much trouble," Randy nodded, "If you're lucky, I'll give you your present!"

Jess made a face at him, "I'll see you at lunch time, Taylor."

"See you then," Randy nodded. When he turned around to watch Claire and Gracie, who were in the process of making a huge snowman, he found himself feeling confused again. He wondered what exactly was going on with him, and why it always happened when Jess was around.

Jess brought over the plate of pancakes, as promised, just after lunchtime. She, again, was dressed like a girl, wearing a fuzzy white scoop neck sweater, and black skinny jeans. She handed them to Randy, "Jack says he hopes you like them, and if not, don't tell him."

"That was kind of him," Randy remarked, grinning slightly.

"Oh, I know," Jess nodded. She sat beside him, and Randy noted she was still wearing the silver bracelet.

He didn't say anything, though, he just slid a skinny box down the counter.

Jess looked down at the box at then up at him, "What's this?"

"What do you think it is?" Randy shook his head, "It's your Christmas present, dummy."

"Ooh, really?" Jess mocked looking surprised, "What is it?" She looked genuinely interested.

"Open it and you'll find out." Randy responded.

Jess tore the paper open, and slid the box open. When she realized what was inside, she gave a small gasp, "Randy, it's beautiful."

Randy grinned. It was a necklace he had purchased in Costa Rica. It was a cloth string, with a star carved out of wood as the charm, as soon as he had seen it, he had thought of Jess, and bought it for her.

"Do you want me to tie it on for you?" Randy asked.

Jess nodded, and handed him the necklace. Randy walked around behind her, and carefully pushed her hair over her shoulders. He tied the cloth in a knot, and then lightly placed the necklace on her skin. "There,"

Jess turned around, and again, they were very close. She touched the charm softly, and then looked at him, "How does it look?"

Randy felt his heart fluttering unnaturally, and he managed to say, "Beautiful."

Jess raised her eyebrows at him, "Huh?"

"It looks great," Randy recovered, "Do you like it?"

Jess nodded, "I love it, it's perfect."

"I thought you'd like it," Randy nodded, smiling slightly.

"Oh, yeah? And why is that?" Jess cocked her head to the side.

Randy glanced down at his feet before looking back at her, and said, "As soon as I saw it, I thought of you."

"You're the best, Randy, honestly," Jess hugged him tightly, and Randy felt the air in him get swept away.

He hugged her back, and murmured, "You're pretty great too."

So, I updated tonight for two reasons, one: I got 6 reviews last night, thank you all for them (:, and two: there's a pretty high chance I may have to go out of town for a funeral soon, so I'm going to try and update as often as I can. Thanks again for the reviews, please keep it up.