Everyone slowly left, that were related to the Hollis'. Our friends stayed longer though. And the Christmas music ended, there was slow music on. I thank who ever put it one so Kiran and Gage don't start grinding in the middle of the room.

The last of the relatives and adults left. It was only us, they all waited to say goodbye to Josh and me. Josh finally came back and gave me a kiss before he faced everyone.

"Well, I'm going to go." Trey said. Astrid nodded. I assumed they where leaving together then.

About a ½-hour later Noelle and Dash where the only ones left.

"So I'll call you tomorrow so we can talk about our presents and then" I cut her off with a gasped.

"Shit!" I swore,

"What?"

"I haven't bought Josh a gift yet!" This was horrible, how could I forget about buying my boyfriend a gift?

"Are you serious?" Noelle asked.

"What time is it?" I asked her.

"Around 7, maybe we could stop somewhere and get him something later tonight." Noelle told me.

"We? As in, you would come with me?" I asked her.

"No, me and the wicked witch of the west! Yes I would come with you Reed." Noelle said sarcastically.

Ah, there is the Noelle I know.

"Ok, we'll go right after I get different clothes on. I'm not going shopping in New York with a dress on." Noelle smirked.

"Ok, then hurry up and get home." I told her. How could I forget this? I would shop online but then it wouldn't come in time. And I had to get him the most amazing gift, just to make up for me leaving tonight. A really good present. I knew Noelle would help me though.

"Well, I think it's time for us to go." Noelle smiled. "Bye Hollis, I'll see you in about a ½ hour Reed." Noelle smiled again and waved as she dragged Dash away.

"Bye!" Dash shouted from outside the room. Josh and I laughed. I walked close to him and put my hands on his chest.

"In a ½ hour?" Josh asked confused.

"Yeah, she needs to do emergency shopping." I lied. I couldn't let him know I forgot his Christmas present.

"But I was looking forward to spending the night with you," Josh said.

"I know I'll only be gone for about 2 hours." I told him. "I promise."

"Ok, I guess I'll survive." Josh smiled.

"I'll make it up to you." I bit the side of my bottom lip smiling.

"How do you plan on doing that?" Josh asked getting closer to me.

"I'll dance with you."

"Sounds like a deal,"

"Not a deal, a pleasure." I smiled.

"Whatever," Josh chuckled and wrapped his arms around my waist as I put mine around his neck. We just swayed back and forth.

"This is weird." I told him sheepishly.

"How? Is it the fact that we're the only ones in a huge room?" Josh flashed a sexy smile.

I looked down at my feet smiling. Why did he have to be so cute?

"Yeah, I guess." I shrugged.

He laughed, "Maybe that's a good thing." Then he leaned in and kissed me. He was right, at that moment it was a good thing. We would have never been able to kiss like that if there were other people in the room.

I pulled away and rested my head on the spot between his neck and shoulder. "I'm so happy we're back together." I told him and looked up.

He nodded his head with a small smile. "Me too Reed."

I put my head back on that spot I was on previously. We stepped side to side again. Josh would dip me occasionally and I would laugh when I got back up, feeling my hair fly in the air a little. Josh would smile and kiss me.

"I have to go." I whispered in his shoulder.

"No." Josh whined.

"I have to." I have to get your present! I thought to myself.

There was silence,

"Josh?"

"Why do you have to go out with Noelle on Christmas Eve?" He asked clearly mad.

I couldn't tell him I had to buy him a present. I couldn't. "She needs to buy Dash a gift." I lied.

Josh rolled his eyes. "So you're only doing this for Dash?"

"No,"

"Noelle?"

"… Josh. I'm sorry." I sighed. Why was he making this so difficult?

"No Reed, I am." Then he left the room. I sighed. Way to ruin a night.

I watched as Josh walked up the steps and out the big doors. I was behind him before he could shut the door in my face. I didn't talk to him. I knew he didn't want to talk to me. I could tell the vibe between us. The love that we had just a few minutes ago wasn't there.

He drove me back to the house and I didn't even bother to wait for him to open my door. He sighed when he saw me step out of the car, and soon did the same. I stormed into the house. I didn't know why I was so mad. I shouldn't be mad at him. He had so much more to be mad at me for. But I had nothing to be mad about.

I walked up the steps and shut the door when I got to my room. I quickly changed into a Marc Jacobs cashmere sweater, some jeans, and designer riding boots. The sleek leather looked great against my jeans. I pulled on my Burberry trench and called Noelle.

"Hey." She greeted me.

"Hey," I sighed. Still worked up from the fight.

"What's up your ass?" Noelle asked.

"Where are you?" I asked. Not in the mood for her sarcasm.

"We're in the front of Josh's townhouse, get out here." She told me.

"Ok, I'll be out in a sec." Then I hung up before she could say or ask anymore.

I grabbed my purse with money. Ready to buy him one hell of a gift. I walked downstairs and into the foyer and heard Josh watching TV in the living room. I sighed and decided to say bye. I walked up to him and sat down next to him.

"Are you still mad at me?" I asked.

"Are you leaving right now?" He asked.

"Answer my question." I told him quietly.

"Answer mine." Josh told me. Not even looking at me.

"Did you have something planned for tonight?" I asked him. Sitting up straighter.

"No, I know we're waiting for tomorrow night. But I just don't want to loose you for a whole night." He told me. He glanced at me once and then back at the TV. I kept my eyes on him.

"I'm sorry; I won't be gone all night. I'll be back in a few hours." I told him.

"Reed, it's like 10. By the time you get home, it's going to be one. If you're going into the city." He told me hurt.

I felt bad. No, horrible. I was a horrible girlfriend. The worst.

"I'm so, so sorry." I told him. I gave him a kiss on the cheek. Thinking he wouldn't respond if I placed my lips on his. Then I got up and waved before I walked over to the door.

"Bye!" I shouted and waited for him to respond.

"Bye," He shouted back. I pursed my lips and grabbed my bag from the little table by the door. Then I was outside and looking at Dash's escalade.

"Hey Reed," Noelle greeted me as I climbed into the backseat.

"Ok, let's make this quick. I have to be home early." I told them.

"Ok," Then Dash took off. I watched, as the house got smaller behind us. Half of me screaming "Stop the car!" Then other half, happy I was away from my pissed off boyfriend.

"So I was thinking we could go to that new art store. It's brand new. Josh would love it. And we'll definitely find something there. Let me guess, he's pissed?" Noelle guessed.

She did know everything.

"Beyond, he thinks we're getting Dash a gift." I told her looking out the window.

Dash smiled and looked back at me, "So I guess it doesn't help that I'm driving?" He chuckled.

"Shit." I hissed. I didn't think of that.

"It's ok. He'll get over it." Noelle laughed. Dash zoomed through a yellow light.

"Thank you." I mumbled. They both started to laugh at me. Dash took Noelle's hand and you could see the shiny rock placed around her left ring finger. I smiled. They where in love.

We finally where there around 10:50 ish. I was the first to get out of the car. Dash walked around and opened Noelle's door. We where parked in front of the art store.

"I'll see you ladies later," Dash told us as he jogged over to the passenger side of the car.

We nodded and walked into the store as he drove away.

"What do you want to give him?" She asked.

"I don't really know," I said looking at a paint set. Maybe I could buy him some paint. That was lame though. It's just like saying, I'm sorry for leaving you alone last night. Here's some paint. And merry Christmas. Lame and pointless.

I sighed. "This is hopeless." I looked over and saw Noelle standing behind me.

"Just think about it. It's Hollis we're shopping for here. He can't be that hard to shop for." She shrugged.

"But, I want to get him a really good gift. Because it's last minute and all." I told her.

"Hey, what about this?" Noelle asked.

I looked over at a huge box she was holding. 'Scarce paints, no more MIXING, BLENDING, or SEARCHING! It's all in the box!' was typed on the box. I sighed.

"If we come to nothing, we're getting that." I agreed.

"Fine by me," Noelle shrugged. She was playing with a wind toy thing that spun when the wind hit it. Then I looked over at a painting that was mounted on the wall. There was a bunch of splats of paint on it. Blue, green, yellow, red. Simple colors. Then it hit me. That night with Josh, when we where practically painting on each other. My clothes, my hair, my shoes, the walls of his new Billings closet sized room. Covered with random splats of paint. I knew what I was going to get him. I looked around they had to have one. A big canvas. They had one. I found it. It stretched against a huge wall. It was marked $124. Perfect.

"What does little Reed have in mind?" Noelle asked looking over at the canvas. "Whoa, that could fit ½ of a wall." She told me.

"Really? You think?" I asked her. Biting my lip.

"Yeah. Of course." She smiled. "What? Are you going to buy it?"

"I don't know I need to ask someone." I grabbed my phone and pressed Tess's contact. She put it in my phone while we where doing Tori's hair.

It rang a few times before she picked up, "Reed?" She asked.

"Hey! Tess, I need to ask you a question." I told her. And looked at the huge canvas.

"What is it?"

"Does your brother have a studio? Like in your house?" I asked her. What if she said no?

"Like everyone we live in." She snorted. "Josh right?"

"Of course, can you help me with something?" I asked.

"Yes!" Tess said in an ohmigod yes tone.

"Good, you see I have a little present." I began to explain.

A half hour later, Noelle and me where walking out of the art store with a huge easel. We stuffed it in Dash's trunk. He folded down one of the second row captain seats, and the completely third row bench. Then I helped him push it into the back of the car. It just fit. The canvas was wide enough to fit ½ of a wall, but not tall enough to fit the whole wall up and down. So if fit in his car.

"Let's go," I told him. Then we where off in a flash. I was thinking the whole time home if Tess was really going to do this. The plan was to have Tori bring Josh over to their parent's house. Then convince him to go out with her and the family for a little celebration. But Tess would stay home because she felt 'sick'. Then she would come out and help us bring the canvas into Josh's studio. She would keep Tori posted on the progress. And Tori would keep the family at the restaurant until we got everything set up. Then Dash and Noelle would leave. Letting me and Tess push everything aside, and put a bunch of plastic over it. So it wouldn't be painted on. Then the present would be ready to go. I just had to keep Josh out of the studio for the rest of the night.

About a ½ hour later, I was home. It was 11:30 and everyone was still out eating. Dash helped me bring the canvas upstairs with Tess. Then we hung it up on a wall in the studio. Josh's studio was so him. Paintings of his and other famous artists hung on the walls. The walls where painted a rich red, and there was a black couch in the room. There where a few easels and canvas's laying on them. Paint was all lined up on a shelf against the wall. He had everyone color imaginable. I was happy I didn't buy that paint thing.

Tess stood back and looked at it. "I still don't get it," She told me.

"I'll tell you more of the store later." I laughed. Then she smiled.

"Well I'm gunna go. Night Reed," Dash told me. Noelle walked up too.

"Bye Reed," She hugged me and smiled. "I'll call you later tomorrow."

"Ok, bye you guys. Thanks so much," I told them.

"You're welcome." They said at the same time. We all started to laugh and they left. Leaving Tess and me in the room with a bunch of plastic wrap. I told her the story about Josh's and mine painting experience. And by the end of the story, we where down covering the furniture. I smiled and sighed when I looked at the work we finished.

"Thank you so much Tess!" I thanked her and gave her a hug. Then I walked her to the borderline of the two houses and we ran back to our houses after that. She was so sweet. And Josh was right, she did really like me. I sighed as I walked back to the house. I turned on the TV and got comfortable on the couch I wanted to wait for Josh to get home.

But, I slowly drifted to sleep.

"Reed? Reed, wake up." I heard someone tell me. I slowly opened my eyes.

"Josh?" I asked. My voice was cracky as if I had been sleeping for a while. I rubbed my eyes and sighed.

"Yeah, I just got back from dinner with my parents." He told me and took a seat on the couch next to me. The only thing that came to mind was if he saw his studio.

"Like just now?" I asked.

"Yeah, just walked in the door." He told me.

Relief rushed through me. I was safe.

"What time did you get home?" He asked me.

"Like, 11:30." I told him sitting up a little.

"Really? Where you waiting for me?" he asked.

I just nodded. He smiled. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry I waited for you?" I asked confused.

He chuckled, "No. About my acting like an ass. I was just mad, I thought you where going to be gone to whole night while I was home alone. But I guess it turned out to be the other way around." He told me and took my hand. I flipped myself so my feet weren't the ones closest to him. I held myself up with my right hand. I looked at his face and responded to his apology by giving him a kiss on the lips. Ah, and he didn't jump away.

I pulled back and smiled, "It's ok. I'm sorry I went out in the first place." I told him.

"It's ok," He told me and wrapped me up in his strong arms. He put my head on his chest. And smiled. "So what did Noelle get Dash?" He asked me, rubbing my arm. I had Josh back.

"Uh…" I didn't know what to say. "She got him a new snowboard or something, the whole night was a blur." I lied. I couldn't take lying to Josh anymore. I couldn't. And him just looking down at me, happy to have his girlfriend back. It killed me inside. I couldn't do that anymore. So tomorrow, I am going to tell him everything. It'll make up for all of the lies. It may look and sound horrible at first. But he had to know.

"Oh, that's ok." He smiled.

A few minutes later, my head was getting lazy and I started to fall asleep again.

"Let's get you upstairs," Josh kissed my forehead and took my upstairs. I barley carried my body upstairs. With Josh's support, I practically floated.

We got upstairs, and I changed and washed my face. Then I climbed into bed with Josh.

"Good night." I whispered looking into his eyes.

"I love you." He told me looking into mine.

"I love you too Josh." I told him in a whisper. My eyes still searching his. "I love you so much."

He responded by wrapping his arms around my waist and giving me a passionate kiss. It was a very good response. Then he held me there in his arms, the rest of the night.

OK, looooooonggggg update. I am soo tired though. it's like 2:10 in the morning. And I just got back from babysitting. I really wanted to write some. Tomorrow's the christmas chapter!!! :]

review!

Peace out,

Lauren