Year 14: Teddy Bear

As Christmas approached the next year, for the first time Ryan felt at a complete loss for what to get Kelsi. Every other year he had bought her a hat, with the exception of the necklace a few years earlier, and the music books. But over the last year, he hadn't been able to shake the feelings he felt for Kelsi when they went carol singing. It didn't help that now they had reached highschool, the usual groups of friends had been broken down in order for cliques to take over. Troy and Chad were now on the basketball team, Taylor and Martha had turned into science geeks, and Sharpay and Ryan had taken their rightful spot in the drama club, along with Kelsi, who most people only knew as "The Piano Girl". This meant that now he was spending everyday with Kelsi, sitting eating lunch with her, and speaking to her before, during and after school, and he hadn't failed to notice that she had hit puberty fully, and was now even more beautiful. Sighing as he got home from school, he went into the kitchen where his mom was.
"Mom, I don't know what to get Kelsi for christmas." He sighed, sitting on a worktop.
"Why? Just get her what you get her every year, duckie, she always loves your taste in hats." She said, smiling.
"Yeah but...I don't know. I wanna do something more original...more...thoughtful...more..."
"More to show her you like her as more than a friend?"
"No! I don't! She's just my friend mom, seriously." Ryan blushed, but quickly turned away.
"....I just...Want to get her more than I normally do." He said, feeling embaressed telling his mom the truth. "Mom, can I borrow some money? I'm gonna go to the mall and see if I can find anything."
"Sure, I'll drive you if you take Sharpay with you." Ryan made a face. "Ryan, stop it, she's your sister."
"She's a pain in the--"
"Go get Sharpay, or no mall trip." Warned Mrs Evans. Ryan groaned, and stomped upstairs to find his sister.

Once they got to the mall, Ryan quickly left Sharpay looking around a clothes shop. Knowing her, she would be there in hours yet. Backing away from the shop, making sure Sharpay didn't see him leaving, he bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry--" Said a squeaky voice, and Ryan turned round to see it was Kelsi.
"Hey, no problem. What are um...you doing here?" Asked Ryan, and Kelsi shrugged, hugging her bag to her chest.
"I'm...just looking around the stores. Gotta get my mom a christmas present and got some more sheet music." She motioned to the carrier bag that was on her arm. "I'm writing a musical. I'm not sure what it's gonna be about, but I figured when it was done I'd submit it to the drama department to see if they'd use it..."
"That's...cool." Said Ryan, awkwardly. "Um I should go Sharpay's waiting for me...Over there." He motioned in the opposite direction to the boutique Sharpay was in, and Kelsi smiled.
"Isn't that Sharpay in there?" She asked, amused, and Ryan blushed.
"Gotta go." Was all he said, rushing off in the opposite direction. Kelsi let out a heavy sigh.
'That was awkward' she thought, looking in a bag she had hidden behind her back. Inside was a box with a pair of dancing shoes she had bought him for Christmas. She hadn't known what to buy him, figuring he had enough hats now, and she wanted to spend a lot to show him discretely what she felt for him. The musical she was writing had the perfect lead role for him, especially as it was a more important part than the lead female's, which Sharpay was most likely to get. Sighing, she headed outside to the bus stop.

Ryan wondered the stores, finding nothing he could get for Kelsi. She had all the music books she needed, she was playing like a pro now, and there wasn't much she was interested outside of music. Sitting down on a bench, Ryan sighed. There was no way he was ever going to find the perfect present for her. Looking up, he saw the store he was facing. It was a little card shop, but it was the display that caught his eye. In the window there was a large teddy bear, wearing a red dress, one of Kelsi's favourite colours, and it was wearing a hat similar to one of Kelsi's. Instantly he rushed into the shop, and up to the counter.
"How much is the bear in the window?" He asked, pulling out his wallet.
"Um....thirty bucks." Said she cashier, looking down at her price list. "But another customer reserved it, so it's technically not avai--"
"I'll pay fifty." Said Ryan quickly, throwing the money down on the desk. The cashier shrugged, and nodded.
"It's all yours. I hope she's worth it." She joked.

On Christmas Day, Kelsi sat in her and her mom's apartment, opening her presents. She was a little hurt though, as unlike usual, Ryan didn't give her her gift on the last day of school like he normally did. Just as she was taking a trash break to throw away all the used wrapping paper, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" Kelsi called, opening the door. There she found a large teddy bear, blocking the doorway. "What..."
"Merry Christmas." Said a voice, and Kelsi jumped, but sighed relieved when she saw Ryan standing behind the bear.
"Don't scare me like that!" She laughed. "Is she....for me?"
"Yeah. I couldn't really wrap her up, she was a bit too big too." At that, Kelsi started laughing.
"....You beat my payment for thirty dollars, huh?" She said, and Ryan looked confused for a second.
"Wait you...you were the one to reserve it?"
"Yeah...I was gonna give her to you as well as the shoes. She reminded me of well...me." She blushed.
"Well then you should have her...But I am sorry." He laughed. "And thanks for my shoes, I'm wearing them now. Sharpay already has a dress picked out that'll go with the at our next audition." He rolled his eyes, and Kelsi smiled.
"Well thanks, she's...sweet."
"You havent seen the best bit. Look at her paw. I wish I could say I wrote it, but I found it on the internet." Ryan instructed. Confused, Kelsi lifted up the bear's paw, and found a card stuck to it. Curious, she picked it up and read it;

I'll be thinking of you
And in my heart you'll be near
I'm sending you this Christmas bear
So you know that I'm sincere

She's been given strict orders
To give you Christmas cheer
Abundant joy and peace
And a "Happy New Year!"

Kelsi looked up and smiled at Ryan
"Thank you." She whispered, pulling the bear inside the door, and stepping outside to hug him. She hugged him tightly, as Ryan very gently stroked her hair. "Merry Christmas, Ryan." She smiled at him, and Ryan smiled back.
"Merry Christmas, Kelsi." He said, before she closed the door. The smile they shared spoke a thousand words. They both knew what the other was thinking, and they knew they thought the same.