Nat pov..
It is Christmas Eve in Denver, Colorado. It was Nate and I's first Christmas out on the streets. It's been hard, having to steal just to stay alive but it beats being abused or the fear of being separated. I've saved up some money the generous people give us as they go on about their normal day. It may only be change but money is money and we're grateful for what we do get. My gloves are tattered and my coat is wearing thin but I just don't have enough money this year. I've seen how Nate's been eyeing this leather bound journal in the window of a family owned bookstore nearby. They have gave us the most change since we've been here and I thought it would be nice to spend it there. I exhaled into my hands and warmed them and my face up.
The giant TV in the furniture store says it's been the coldest this state has been in years. I walk into the bookstore.
"Why, hello there Natalie!" Tim, the owner, says as he places a book onto the shelf.
"Hello. It sure is cold out there." I say as I smile.
He laughs.
"You want some hot chocolate?" he asks.
"Please." I say.
He goes to the back room and comes back with a hot, steaming mug.
"Thank you so much!" I say as I feel the cup warm my hands.
I take a slow sip and feel the warmness rush through my body.
"So, what brings you into my humble shop?" he says.
"How much is that journal in the window front?" I ask, pointing.
"Fifteen dollars." he says.
I frown. So much for that idea. He must have noticed.
"How much you got?" he asks.
I pull the bag of change out of my messenger bag.
"Ten flat." I say sadly.
"Is it for yourself?" he asks.
" 's for Nathan. He looked at it every time we past your shop. That's why I saved up all this money." I say.
"Tell you what, I'll drop the price to five. Just for you." he says.
I smile brightly.
"Really?!"
He smiles.
"Everyone should be happy on Christmas." he says.
"Thank you so much! My brother and I owe you for all that you have done for us!" I say.
He holds a hand up.
"Don't worry about it. It's fine." He goes over to the window.
He takes the journal and I follow him over to the counter.
I hand him the change and he gives me a five dollar bill.
"Want me to wrap it? Free of charge." he says.
I nod as he wraps it up in blue and white snowflake paper. I take the present, give my thanks and head back to the bridge Nate and I chose to make our home.
We have a fire, some cardboard to sleep on, and some can food we stole from the store. Plus, we found a crooked, plastic Christmas tree by the dumpster.
Nate pov..
I started heading down the empty street to the bookstore that Tim owns. He's a nice man. Helps us get by when times get tough. I look in the window and I noticed the journal was gone.
"Oh, crap." I mumble as I open the door and head inside.
The warm air felt nice on this cold night.
"Hello, Nate. How are you doing?" Tim asks.
I nod. "Good, thanks. You sold that journal?" I ask, glancing over.
He nods.
"Yeah. I noticed how you would look at it every time you and your sister pasted my shop. Sorry." he says.
"Yeah. It seemed like a good present for Natalie." I say as I look down and put my hand on my bag.
Nat's got one that matches mine. We pinched them off at a craft show not so long ago.
"I think I've got another one of those journals in the back." he says.
I look up at him.
"How much is it?" I ask
. "Normally around fifteen, but since it's for your sister I'll lower it down to five." he says.
I smile.
"Thanks."I say gratefully.
He starts smirking. What's his idea?
"Want me to wrap it?" he asks.
I nod. He wrapped it in blue and white snowflake paper. I gave my thanks and headed back to the bridge.
Nat Pov
I walked under the bridge just to see Nate coming in on the other side. I hid the present behind my back to see Nate do the same. I wondered what it was but I was to focused on turning around and putting my present in my jacket as Nate went to heat up the cans of beans in an old pot we found. After we eat half a can of beans, we moved the cardboard by the fire. Not to close for it to be a fire danger, but not so far that we wouldn't get warm. I laid down and felt the present lying against my chest. I watched the fire dance and I looked over to see Nate fast asleep. I creep up and place my present under the tree. I head back over and try snuggling down into my filthy jacket to get warm.
Nate pov..
I awoke to hearing the fire crackle. I noticed that the fire was slowly dying. I got up and placed some firewood into the flames and watched as the flames returned to life. I warmed my hands and glanced under the tree and I noticed a present. I felt in my jacket pocket. My present was still in there. I took it out and placed it under the tree next to the other one. I glance over at Natalie. She was fast asleep, hair falling over one eye. I smile as I go back to lay down. I close my eyes and drift back to sleep.
Nat pov
The light of the rising sun made my eyes flutter open. I sat up and glanced over at the tree to see if my present was still there. It was but I noticed a matching one was beside it. I rubbed my eyes with my gloved hands to make sure my sight wasn't messed up. It better not couldn't afford glasses. I removed my hands only to still see a matching one.
"Morning." Nate says as I stand.
"Morning. Sleep well?" I ask as I go sit by the fire.
He nods as he hands me my half-can of beans. I take a bite.
"When we gonna open presents?" I asked.
He shrugs.
"Whenever." he says as he sits beside me.
After we eat, we exchanged gifts. We tore open the paper and we looked up at each other in awe. We got each other the same thing, the journal from Tim's shop.
"How much was yours?" I ask.
"Five. Yours?" Nate replied.
I smirked.
"Five." I say.
"The same paper, same journal, same price! Nate, he knew!" I say.
Nate laughed.
"That sneaky devil!"
We sat the paper aside. It would make good fire starter tonight.
We place the journals in out bags as we stand. Nate hugs me.
"Merry Christmas, Natalie." he says.
I hug him back.
"Merry Christmas, Nathan." I say as we head back out onto the street.
We finally got some actual money, now we just got to see if anything's open.