Year 9: Stocking
Ryan didn't like his fourth grade teacher's enthusiasm for Christmas. Not only had he insisted they decorate the classroom, and played Christmas music while they were working, Ryan grimaced at his newest idea.
"Similar to a Secret Santa, I have put all your names into this box, and one by one, I want each of you to come up and pick a name. You will be required to put together a stocking for the person who you pick, full of little christmas goodies. No need to spend too much, or anything in fact! The stocking will be given to the person you pick on the last day of school!"
One by one, each student got up, and picked a name out of the box. Some students looked happy at their choice, while others grimaced and grumbled about their choice to their friends. Ryan watched as Sharpay glared at the piece of paper, and stormed back to her seat, looking frustrated. Standing up after her, Ryan walked over to the box, hoping he would get one of the guys, or Kelsi. With the guys he could just fill it with basketball items, and it would be easier enough for him to put something together for Kelsi. Withdrawing his hand, he looked at the piece of paper, and sighed.
Sharpay
At recess, Ryan walked with Troy and Chad over to a step.
"Sharpay! Out of all the people I could get, I got Sharpay!" Shouted Ryan, annoyed.
"I don't think we're supposed to tell people who we got." Said Troy.
"Well we're not gonna tell them, are we? I got Taylor, I really have no idea what to get her. A computer is too large, and too expensive to fit in a stocking." Said Chad, sighing, screwing up the piece of paper, and lining up a shot to the trash can.
"Well unlike you guys, I got Jason, so I'll have a nice easy time while you guys struggle to think of something. Good luck." Laughed Troy, smugly. "Now less talk, more playing!"
"So who did you get?" Asked Taylor, as she, Martha and Taylor met in the corner of the playground by a tree. This had been their meeting point for the last few months, and they would spend all of recess sitting and talking there.
"I got Chad." Shrugged Martha.
"Well all that boy needs is a brain, and sadly, I don't think they're that easy to find." Said Taylor. "I got Troy, so I've got a similar problem. Honestly, I don't know what our teacher was thinking. So who did you get, Kels?" She asked, turning to face Kelsi. Kelsi smiled.
"I got Ryan. I already know what I'm going to get him, so I'll help you two out with your gifts, if you want?"
"Kelsi, you must be the luckiest person in the world. You couldn't have gotten an easier person." Smiled Martha. "So brainstorm time, girls. What do I get the boy with no brain?"
When Ryan got home, he instantly went on the computer in his room. His parents had bought him and Sharpay a computer each for their last birthday, and Ryan was hoping to find something pink and girly he could get Sharpay. Before he had even clicked on a search, Sharpay stormed into his room.
"Thanks for knocking." He said sarcastically, turning away from the screen. "What's up, sis?"
"Ugh, I have your stupid friend for this stupid stocking thing." She said, flicking him the piece of paper that said 'Kelsi'
"So you walked into my room why?"
"You need to tell me what to get her! I have no idea! I mean if I'd got Troy I'd give him a load of love notes but I didn't so you need to tell me what to get Kelsi."
"Do it yourself. Sharpay, she practically spent every christmas other than the last two years at our house! Surely you can work out something to get her...."
"....Or you could do it?" Shrugged Sharpay.
"But Sharpay, I--"
"Thanks a lot Ryan, love you!" She blew him an air kiss and headed to her room. Ryan knew once she was there from her stereo blasting the radio.
Kelsi sat staring at the sheet of music she had in front of her. She had been learning piano for the last two years now, and she had no idea if the music she had just wrote made sense. When she saw that she had Ryan's name, she instantly knew she had to get him something special. The pair had drifted apart in the last year, so she needed to do something to show him that their friendship was as strong as ever. Placing the sheet music on her piano, she carefully played the notes she had written, adding lyrics to the short five-line song she had written;
"I've never had someone that knows me like you do
The way you do
I've never had someone as good for me as you
No-one like you
So lonely before I've finally found what I've been looking for."
Sitting back, Kelsi looked at what she had written, and smiled. Folding up the sheet music, Kelsi slid it into the stocking that her mom had stitched an "R" on the front of, along with a keyring of a pair of tap shoes, and a small framed photo of them that had been taken at his aunt and uncles a few years before.
Ryan sat in school on the last day before winter vacation, the stocking for Sharpay in front of him. Not wanting to make an effort, he had quickly bought her a pair of pink sunglasses, some lip gloss, and had talked Troy into signing a piece of paper for him. He glanced back at Sharpay's desk to make sure she had remembered to bring Kelsi's. He knew exactly what was in it, as he had picked everything out himself. After a while, their teacher announced it was time for them all to exchange their stockings. Carelessly, Ryan passed his back to Sharpay, and sat and waited to see who would give him his. Seconds later, he felt a tapping on his shoulder. He turned to see Kelsi standing there.
"Here you go." She smiled, handing him the stocking. Opening it eagerly, Ryan smiled at the photograph and the keyring, and carefully unfolded the piece of paper. He looked over the sheet music, and smiled.
"Did you write it yourself?" He asked, and Kelsi nodded shyly. She was about to say something when Sharpay walked over to them, and shoved the stocking at Kelsi.
"Here. Enjoy!" She said, before heading in Troy's general direction. Kelsi rolled her eyes and put her hand in the stocking. Opening the note, she laughed outloud as she read it.
Kelsi--
You know what my sisters like, so I guess this stockings from me.
--From Ryan (I mean Sharpay)
Carefully, Kelsi removed the contents of the stocking, which included a silver keyring of a piano, little notes, and a few christmas decorations. She smiled.
"Thank you, Ryan." She said.
"That's not all." He motioned to the stocking. Emptying it out onto her hand, Kelsi found a small pouch. Opening it, she gasped. In the bag was a gold necklace, with 'Kelsi' written in curvy letters. Blushing, she fixed it around her neck. "You like it?" Ryan asked, eagerly. Kelsi smiled.
"No, I don't. I love it."