Santa Baby

"Looks like the last one!" Gia said placing the bow around the sliver box.

She gathered one of her shopping bags, dropping the gift inside.

What a day it had been, she spent all morning wrapping gifts and putting the finish touching on the tree. Christmas time was definitely one of Gia's favorite times of the year. She loved spending time looking at all the Christmas lights, around her neighborhood, and watching the lighting of the Christmas tree in the city's plaza. What Gia loved especially was all the time she got to spend with her family and friends.

But this year Christmas was different. She would have never imagined that she would be chosen to become a superhero. While she had always dreamed of being one as a little girl, but not in her wildest dreams did she ever think she would actually become one. That dream is what sparked her interest martial arts which delighted her parents because they felt it would help wrangle in that boisterous energy. Along with martial arts, she took up cheer leading, and at one point piano lessons too, all while maintaining good grades in school. She chuckled; remembering how everyone questioned how she could juggle all those activities while keeping her grades, and having an active social life. Honestly, Gia didn't know, but she always made time for her friends, especially her best friend Emma. They had been friends since they were 7 years old. Emma had been always there for her. Throughout the years they started growing apart, and running in different social circles, but they still maintained their close friendship which meant the world to her. In fact, since they became Power Rangers they started spending much more time together, just like old times.

Gia leaned against the wall, shifting her thoughts; to something that had been on her mind for some time. She secretly wished that she didn't have to always keep up her tough, girl facade but it was the face that her friends and peers have come to know, so she figured it was best to keep it up at least for the time being. But little did the world know that her tough persona secretly masked a girl, that wasn't perfect, and failed just like everyone else, and who didn't always get what she wanted and like everyone experienced rejection and knew how much it could hurt. But Gia realized how superficial people were and how they only saw her so-called beautiful exterior and correlated that with perfection believing she was without faults.

Sometimes Gia wondered if like so many other guys this was this why Jake had a crush on her. She knew how he felt about her, but she never spoken to the guy or even noticed him till they became teammates. She wondered if Jake was more infatuated with her looks, and trying to build a reputation for being able to date her. After all, she was quite aware of her status as one of the most popular girls in school. Her reputation presided her so much so that teachers knew who she was before she even stepped inside their class and already set up high expectations for her. This was cool in all but it also made people realize that she wasn't just another pretty face, she was smart and witty and could take care of herself.

Sometimes she wondered if this is what drew the guys in to her?

There was one point where she was asking out at least three times or more a day and none of those guys really caught her attention. Well maybe expect for one guy, and surprisingly that guy was Jake. Over time, she realized that he was certainly not like the typical guys she dated; he was genuinely a nice sweet guy and that he wasn't trying to feed his ego or reputation and for the most part seemed sincere in his feelings and affections.

One of the things Gia couldn't deny was how they made a great team. She couldn't believe how in sync they were in battle, it was like any doubt she had in her mind went away when she and Jake morphed and fought. So maybe there could be something more between them. But at this point Gia wasn't all that sure of how genuine her feelings were for him. But what was clear to her that Jake certainly enjoyed their times together; she giggled remembered that wide, goofy grin spread across his face that night while watching that meteor shower. Gia had to admit that she enjoyed that moment probably more than she would have ever admitted. She also couldn't deny the comfort she felt in his embrace and that felt good, because it was something that she hadn't experienced with any of the other guys she dated.

Gia walked over to the chimney, looking over at her stock stuffer perched high on the chimney. Inside it held her Christmas list. She took out her list clutching it close to her heart. Besides wishing to show the world her true self she secretly wished to find true love. From the looks of things maybe just maybe at least one of those wishes were actually becoming true. She slid her list deep inside her stocking turning her attention over to the tree noticing all neatly wrapped gifts stacked underneath the tree.

A wide smile spread across her youthful face, she saw her name scrawled on many gifts stacked high underneath the tree. Gia kneeled picking up one of the wrapped gifts shaking it.

"I know this is something good!" she cried happily.

She glanced around at all some of the other gifts wrapped around the tree. She liked giving gifts as much as she enjoyed getting them too and from the looks of it, Santa had been very generous to Gia this year; which didn't come as a surprise she had been a very good girl.

Gia glanced over at the clock.

"I better get a move on it."

Settling in on those thoughts, Gia grabbed her both her hat and bags, heading for the front door.