CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Christmas was rapidly approaching, and things were rapidly changing. I had called Vic, and explained everything, along with apologizing, and things were patched up. As I grabbed my keys to leave for some late Christmas shopping, the phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked, without even checking the caller ID.

"Hey Sum, its Vic."

"Hey, whats up?" I said. Things weren't completely back to normal with us, but they would get there eventually.

"Nothing much. Just wanted to see what you were up to."

"Oh, well I was just on my way out the door. I'm going last minute Christmas shopping," I explained. "Wanna go?"

"Sure. I'll be at your place in 5."

"Since when was shopping this hard?" I exasperatedly asked Vic, who was counting her change. That was all she had left after our excursion today.

"It's never been this hard for me either. Damn, what happened?" she said, eyeing her loose change. "I came to this mall with about $200 bucks, and I'm down to less than a dollar in change."

"Well at least we got some shopping done. I got my mom and dad, my cousin Mike, my cousin Eric, my 3 aunts and uncles, and my Grandma. I even fit you in when you weren't looking," I said coyly.

"What did you get me?" Vic asked perkily. "Come on, I'll act surprised!" she bargained uselessly.

"Nope. Nothing outta me," I said, loving to keep her in the dark.

"At least tell me what store you got it at." She wouldn't give up.

"Ok, fine," I said stopping in the middle of the food court. I reached for my shopping bag, and started to pull out what she thought was her gift.

"Stop! I dont wanna know!" she yelled, and pushed my hand back in the bag.

I smiled smugly and said, "That’s what I thought. So anyways, all I have left to do basically is AJ."

We searched store after store for the perfect gift for AJ, and yet we came out empty handed. Vic suggested everything from cologne, to a bath robe, but nothing seemed to do my emotions justice.

"I can't seem to think of anything," I complained to Vic. "I mean, I want him to be so happy, like he's made me, and nothing I can think of would do that." I motioned for Vic to sit down on the mall bench, and I took a seat next to her.

"Well lets see. How about something really personal? Has he asked for anything in particular, or hinted, or anything?" Vic asked, trying to help.

"Umm..... I can't think!" I let out a sigh, agitatedly and propped my head up on my arm.

"Well lets just browse then for now, and if you see anything, great," Vic suggested thoughtfully.

Then my face lit up. "Wait! I KNOW!" I said, as I scurried to grab my bags and get a move on.

I had decided to set up a surprise Christmas Dinner for Sean and I, and it seemed like the preparations were endless. Buying the food, cleaning the apartment, decorating festively, etc. etc. I was going to surprise him with my gift then too. It was going to be a night I would never forget. It also so happened that our 4 month anniversary fell on December 22nd, so I decided to tie that into our little Christmas dinner. I sat making the grocery list, and thinking of possible outfits, when the doorbell rang.

"I'm coming!" I shouted from the kitchen, as I ran to get it. I opened it up, and to my surprise, there stood AJ.

"Hey baby girl! Whats cookin?" he asked happily while giving me a quick peck on the lips.

"Nothing special. I just put some Chinese take-out left over from lunch in the micro. Want some?" I asked politely, while pointing over to the half empty containers on the kitchen counter.

He smiled. "Its just a phrase baby, like 'whats up?'" he said, laughing. "I didn't need you to tell me what’s cooking, literally." I gave him a look, followed by a sad face. He just smiled, and walked over to me. He wrapped me in his arms, and kissed my forehead. "But that's why I love you!" We both laughed a little, and then headed over to the living room.

"So whats cookin?" I said, imitating him.

"Haha funny girl." He smiled, and continued. "Nothing much. I just wanted to see how my baby was doing." He looked down at the table, and at the plans for the dinner. I quickly snatched them up, and walked over to the kitchen to put them away.

"Whoa, what was that?" he asked surprisedly. "I don't think I've ever seen you move that fast!"

"It was nothing.." I said, letting my voice trail off mysteriously.

"Come on, what was it?" he asked persistently.

"Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over," I said with a smile. "So what are your plans today?" I quickly changed the subject.

He shot me a suspicious look, and then proceeded to answer. "I dont know yet. That’s why I came over here. Wanna do something?" he proposed thoughtfully.

"Sure. Anything you wanna do, I'm up for."

"Cool. Wanna see a movie?" he suggested. "That one with Leonardo DiCaprio is supposed to be really good."

"Sounds good to me. He's a little hottie anyways," I commented.

"Wait, but not hotter than me right?" he said, trying to look hurt. It wasn't working.

"Oh, no never!" I said, emphasizing the word never. I walked over to get my coat, and then we were gone.

Chapter 14
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