I felt something move, waking me up. I kept my eyes closed trying to work out where I was. I felt arms around me and then smelled a familiar scent. It was Brian and it came flooding back to me. I was laying on the lounge with Brian in front of the fireplace. It had died down, but it was still warm. Brian's arms tightened slightly. It felt good to have his arms around me like this. Something I had wished for, for a long time.
I opened my eyes and found myself looking into Brian's intense blue eyes. "How long have you been awake?" I asked him.
"Oh a little while. Long enough to watch you sleeping so peacefully."
"Are you comfortable? Want me to move?" I didn't want to move.
"Don't move a muscle. I am very comfortable,' he said and we heard someone come into the room. I lowered my head into Brian's chest and grinned when I saw Brian's mom.
"Hi Mom." Brian said to her, not batting an eyelid that his mom had caught us sleeping on the lounge together.
"Hi you two. What on earth are you doing here? Aren't your beds more comfortable?" she asked, looking very interested.
"Umm. We sort of fell asleep Mom." It wasn't as if we hadn't done it many times before. But this time Brian's arms were firmly around me, and he wasn't loosening them any because his mom was there. "We had hot chocolate because we couldn't sleep," he said motioning towards the cups on the table in front of us, "and we both fell asleep talking."
"Why couldn't you sleep?" she asked raising her eyebrow inquiringly.
"We both had something on our mind and just couldn't sleep. I knocked on Sue's door to ask her if she wanted something to drink. So we came down here, talked and fell asleep." I smiled to myself realising he left the kiss out.
"Anything I can help you with? Is there something you want to tell me?"
I looked at Brian and he smiled at me. "No problem Mom. I just finally realised this girl here in my arms, who has burrowed her way into my heart," he said echoing what he had told me last night, "feels the same way about me as I do about her."
The grin on her face said it all. "Well, it's about time you two finally realised." She said and I burst out laughing.
"Were we the only ones who didn't see it?" I asked between chuckles.
Jackie sat beside us and I sat up slightly, only to have Brian urge me back down. I snuggled in to him again and Jackie put her hand on my arm. "Yes. You two were the only ones who didn't see it. I think you did, but you wouldn't admit it. And that was because your friendship was so special, you didn't want to spoil anything."
I blinked and looked at Jackie. It was as if she read my mind.
"Mom, you are so right. We both realised that yesterday. Took us a while but now we do." Brian kissed the top of my head, not afraid to do so in front of his mother.
"Well, let me say congratulation to you both, but also be careful. Don't let it spoil the special friendship you have. And as much as you will now want to spend your time together," she stopped, "well, more than before," she added, "don't forget your other friends. They are equally as important."
"Thanks Mom."
She smiled again. "You know I am happy for you. I have wished for this for a long time, and now it is happening. Just take it slowly. Remember you are still only 17 with a whole life ahead of you." We nodded at her and Brian squeezed my shoulder. "Now, I am going to start breakfast. How about you two go and get ready for the day. This is a lovely Christmas present for me" she smiled.
We nodded and Jackie got up and left the room. "Your mom is so wise Brian."
"Yeah, she is isn't she? Wow. She has been waiting for us too. And she is happy. But then why wouldn't she be happy when I am with a girl as wonderful as you. What more could we ask for?"
"That my mom is equally as happy."
"You think she will be?"
"Hmm, yeah, I think so. She has always loved you Brian." I smiled and patted his cheek. "Come on, time to go get ready and see if Santa has been." I said jumping up. I stretched my arms above my head to get the kinks out and heard Brian groan and bury his head in his hands.
"Don't do that."
"Don't do what?" I asked him, no idea what he was going on about.
"Don't stretch your body like that in front of me."
I looked at him. "Why not?" He rolled his eyes at me and I suddenly understood. "Brian Thomas Littrell, behave yourself."
He shook his head. "Can't help it sweetheart. You are too beautiful." He said and I couldn't help but smile. He was serious when he said this and it felt good.
"Well, you aint so bad yourself. Now come on, lets go get changed. I want to see if Santa has been." I ran out of the room leaving him to get up. In only a moment he was right behind me racing me up the stairs and down the hall making enough noise to wake everyone in the house who still thought they could sleep in on Christmas morning.
We were giggling and laughing when we reached my room. Brian passed his room to follow me, kissed me quickly then turned back to his. "Don't take long," he said and disappeared.
I walked into the spare room that was mine for the couple of nights I was staying here and smiled. I hadn't sleep very long in the bed. Well, I hadn't sleep at all. I walked to the bed and straightened the sheets and pulled the blankets up. I thought about last night and what Brian and I talked about. Brian's comment of living each day as it comes made sense. Now is what mattered, strengthening the future.
I took out some warm clothes and my toiletries, heading towards the bathroom. Miraculously there was no one in there and I locked the door and showered quickly. I came out of the bathroom with my hair wrapped in a towel to find Brian standing outside waiting. "See, even sexy looking like that," he said pulling me into his arms.
He kissed me on the nose quickly and walked passed to go in the bathroom, leaving me speechless. I shook my head and chuckled. This was really going to take me a while to get used to, but it would be pretty easy.
Once I was ready I walked downstairs and headed towards the room I heard noises coming from. Brian's dad was hugging his mom and I smiled to myself, wishing some day Brian and I would be exactly like them. I knew it was still early days, but in my heart I also knew Brian was my soul mate, the one for me to spend forever with, no matter what happened in the future.
"Sue," Brian's dad called out, not moving away from holding Jackie.
"Uncle Harold, Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too. I hear you and Brian have decided to grant us all a wonderful Christmas gift this year?" Harold asked, a smile in his eyes.
I blushed softly and smiled back at him. "I guess you could say that."
"Ahhh, it's great news," he said beaming.
"You aren't going to say it's about time we saw it are you?"
He threw his head back and laughed. "No, I promise I won't. I am sure you have heard it many times before me."
"Oh yeah."
"Well, what matters is that you have seen it now. The two of you belong together. Jackie and I have wished for this for a long time."
"You have?"
"Yeah. We love you like a daughter, we can't think of anyone better for Brian."
"Is that so?" I heard Brian say. He walked up and wrapped his arms around me from behind, not at all afraid to do so in front of him mom and dad. I leaned back into his arms linking my hands with his.
"Yes, that's so. Congratulations both of you. Just take it easy and enjoy each day."
"Thanks Dad." Brian answered him and I felt a warm glow. "Now what's for breakfast? I am starving." I chuckled at the change of subject by Brian. Gift giving would come after church, so there was no hurry in getting to the Christmas tree to see what Santa had brought us all.
So the morning was spent with Brian and I staying close, but no more so than we would have before yesterday's revelation. It wasn't till we all sat down in the big living room around the beautifully decorated Christmas Tree, that Brian pulled me to him and seemed to want me close. I fiddled with the bracelet he gave me yesterday and looked up at him and smiled. "You look so beautiful," he said in my ear and I shivered making him pull me closer. "Cold?" I shook my head but he didn't loosen his hold. I noticed Jackie smiling at us and I smiled back. She really was happy about the two of us.
The gift giving was in full swing when suddenly Brian jumped up to pick a package up from under the tree. He walked over and handed it to me. "Merry Christmas Sue."
"But Brian, you have already given me a present."
"That was a special present. This is your actual Christmas present." I looked at him and to the present, then back at him. "Go on, open it." He urged.
I took the gift from him and slowly unwrapped it. Inside was a University of Kentucky Sweatshirt, one I had been wanting for a long time. He had known that too. I looked at him and he looked expectantly at me. "Thank you Brian. I just love it. You knew I would too."
"Yeah, I had a fair idea. That was the one you wanted wasn't it?"
"Yes! This is the one. It will be well worn while I am there next year." I stopped and found myself thinking of being there without Brian.
"Sue. Each day remember?"
I smiled again. "Yeah, I remember. Okay, now your present." I reached under the tree and picked up the package I had so lovingly wrapped. From the moment it was wrapped I found myself gazing at it, wondering how he would like it. Now I would find out. "Merry Christmas Brian," I said and passed it to him.
He unwrapped it carefully and pulled the gift from the wrapping. "Oh Sue. A photo of us! I love this." He looked up into my eyes. "This is the best gift Sue. I love it." He looked as if he had his own thoughts about the future, almost tearing up. "I will keep it with me always."
I gave him a half smile and shrugged. "It's not much. I was hoping you would like it." It was a photo Jac had taken with my camera once when our families had vacationed in Disney World earlier in the year. I had written a special message inside the frame, but I would tell him about that when the time was right.
"Are you kidding? I love it. I'll always be able to see you now, wherever I am." He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "But it will always be better to hold you."
Brian got up and took the photo to his room then came back down to everyone. "Sue, I just rang Jac, she's coming over. We are going to meet her outside."
"And do what?" I asked.
He shrugged and pulled me off the lounge.
"I'm coming too." Harold called out, getting up to join us, leaving their parents to wait for more relatives to arrive.
I was laughing outside when both Brian and Harold joined me. We had put boots and jackets on in record time and ran outside. "You two are hopeless. Leaving your mom and dad like that."
"All the relatives will be here soon Sue," Harold explained.
"I know that," I said.
"Sweetie, you haven't been there when they all come there. It's awful" Brian struck a pose, "oh Brian deary," he mimicked a female relatives voice and stance. "Now imagine the pinching of the cheeks with this. Even at our age!" he explained. "Oh look how you have grown, Oh Jackie, you must be so proud of these boys. Come here and give aunty Hilda a hug."
Harold joined in. "And Harold look at you," he copied Brian's stance. He made exaggerated kissing noises and we all broke out in giggles. "I had to get out of there, especially if you two were going. I was not staying in there on my own to cope. Even at my age."
We all ran out into the snow waiting for Jac to arrive. She arrived not 5 minutes later complaining of needing to get out to escape the relatives. Her comment made the three of us to break out in laughter. Once we explained the comedy of her statement, she laughed along with us. "Come on, lets get out of here." She said and turned to run out the gate, only to run smack bang into Kevin's chest. She was making a habit of this.
"Sorry," Jac started to mumble, then she looked up. She squinted her gaze up to him and I could see a sudden change in her attitude. She passed by him without another word indicating for us to follow. I looked at Brian and Harold and shrugged.
"You joining us Kevin?" Harold asked, a grin on his face.
"Sure. Where are we going?"
"Just down to the reserve. Get away for a while. You have to know what we mean."
"Oh yeah, even at my age. You bet I will join you." He said echoing Harold's comment.
When we got down there, we were surprised to see a number of our friends there already there. They must have all had the same idea. Escape from the long lost relatives. I looked at the scene in front of me, admiring the snow covered ground. It always overwhelmed me to see the beauty of the snow on the ground, thick enough to cover everything in a blanket of white.
"Lets make a snowman Brian." I whispered in his ear He shivered and turned to look at me, a smouldering look in his eyes. I felt an instant heat pool in my lower abdomen and my heart began to pound. The look in his eyes was hot enough to melt the snow just like he was melting me. All because of a look. I was in serious trouble if just a look was doing this to me. He leaned closer and I knew he was going to kiss me.
Just then Brian got hit in the side of face with a wayward snowball, breaking the mood. Rather than laugh like I might have before, concern overcame me and I checked to see if he was okay.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw another snowball flying towards us. Instinct made me duck, but it also meant this snowball landed squarely in Brian's face. "Oh Brian, are you okay?" I asked but I was struggling to contain my laughter. He took one look at my face and broke out laughing.
Both of us heard the laughter coming from the distance and we looked in the direction. I was more surprised than annoyed when I saw Kevin and Jac doubled over in laughter. I looked at Brian, he looked at me. "This means war," he said to me.
We both ran over to the cover of a small mound of snow and began making snowballs. "Look at those two will you! Anyone would think they actually got on."
"Yeah," Brian said squinting accusingly in their direction. He laughed. "Kevin looks like he is planning some sort of military attack. Look, he is drawing plans in the snow. Jac is hanging on his every word."
"Probably some football move he knows of. Jac will know exactly what he is talking about."
"Oh yeah, her and her football. Shame she doesn't support a good team."
"Don't you let her hear you say that about her beloved Dolphins," I said to her as a snowball flew overhead. I looked at the direction it came from and saw Harold laughing in the distance. "Gawd, this is all out war!"
What happened next was a fun filled afternoon of snowball fighting and lots of laughter. We all got bombarded at some stage and before long, we were all pretty wet and in need of a change of clothes.
"Come to my place Brian. I need to get some more clothes thanks to this little adventure." Snowballs were still whizzing around, but sneaking off would not be a problem. No one would know we were gone.
"Yeah, lets sneak off. No one will miss us," he said softly. His eyes darkened. "And I can hold you in my arms with no one making any smart comments."
I simply smiled at him and after sneaking away from the reserve, we walked away arm in arm, getting as close as our bundles of clothing allowed.