It had been the pudgy landlord with his shaky hands and poor posture that had delivered a package to my doorstep, not ten minutes after I had walked in the door. I still was waiting on my popcorn to finish in the microwave as the doorbell rang. It's a loud, automated tone that's fairly similar to what you would hear over a high school PA system... annoying, basically. None the less, the sound made me jump in surprise because I wasn't expecting any guests. For a moment the fleeting idea of carolers haunted my thoughts and their pitch-y echoes almost kept me from opening the door. It took a considerable amount of time for me to calm myself down, before pressing my skirt flat and walking to my front foyer.

In taking my time, my impatient guest rang the bell three more times before I finally glanced through the peep hole. It was Mr. Gusto, my not-so friendly landlord who is single and cranky for a reason.

I opened the door, just slightly to see the man standing in his khaki pants and a sweater vest.

He shoved the package towards me rather ungracefully, and I was just barely able to grasp my arms around the cardboard box before it smashed onto Mr. Gusto's feet.

"This came for you, but it was too big for the mail room." Mr. Gusto's raspy voice seemed ten times more strained by the freezing cold air that comes with living in New Jersey. I started to ask who it came from, but the old man had already shut his mouth and turned straight down towards his beat up car parked on the curb.

So, I shut him and the crisp air out using my foot as a third hand to close the door behind me. Meanwhile, I was quite awkwardly hugging the bulky box in between my arms. I finally was able to lay it down on my kitchen table, just in time to retrieve my popcorn from the microwave.

Who is the mystery gift from? Trust me, I'm not stupid. I already knew who. That didn't make me want to confirm my ideas though, so instead I left the box unopened and walked out of my kitchen. I instead found my sweet bed and turned on the news as I ate my popcorn. Not that I actually cared for the new policies Obama was passing, or the weather report reminding me just how cold it really is, but I needed anything to drain my thoughts for a bit.

So much had taken course in one day, and I didn't know what to make of it.

-

"No freaking way!" Kristy's shriek of joy bounced off the walls and made my head hurt. I didn't plug my ears though, rather a cheesy smile spread across my face and I frankly couldn't control it.

"I'm not lying."

At this point Kristy let her mouth drop open and threw her hands to her cheeks as she made sure to show just how surprised she really was. "Gabby, stop! Don't play me a week before Christmas."

"I'm not! I swear."

Now, she transitioned from a state of complete shock to one of deep thinking. I watched as she started biting her nails in anticipation. "Okay, tell me the whole thing."

"I already did. A bunch of stupid carolers came up and just started... like attacking me with their horrible singing, and this guy came out of no where."

"What's his name?"

"Mason. We talked for the rest of lunch and exchanged numbers."

"YOU GOT HIS NUMBER!?" Kristy literally nearly fell off my bed and I barely saved our third bowl of popcorn from tipping over with her.

After saving the popcorn from possible catastrophe, I nodded my head shyly.

Not a second later, Kristy was also narrating her excitement to add to her disbelief. "Gabby Dime, workaholic, Christmas grouch, and hopelessly romantic bachelorette, actually got a boy's number?"

"Hey!" I tried to defend myself. Listen, boys swoon over a working lady. I just don't waste my time in the love department, there's enough women out there who lose track of their lives chasing men.

"I'm just- I'm in shock." Kristy continues.

"Don't be! I could get myself a date if I ever cared, but I'm an independent woman who plans on becoming CEO of my own company before getting with any man."

"Oh, stop it. You like this guy don't you?"

"Uh, excuse me. I think you forgot an important detail. Like the fact that I just met him today, and you already think I have a crush on him."

Kristy interrupted, "What can I say? I've watched my fair share of Netflix romance dramas to know that love...comes...fast." Kristy puckered her lips and made kissing noises.

"Ugh," I picked up a pillow and threw it at her, knocking her back so that she flopped on my bed. "You literally haven't changed since freshmen year of college."

Once the two of us stopped laughing I excused myself to use the bathroom. As I locked the door behind me I couldn't help but just imagine. What if?

What if I really did like Mason?

No! Don't be stupid Gabby! You literally know nothing about him, he could be married for all you know.

But he was so so so nice, and I haven't had an enjoyable conversation like that in so long, much less with a man.

Plus we did have a lot in common, like a whole lot.

However, what if he just sees me as a "work friend," I mean after all that's all we are... and ever will be.

I stopped my crazy thinking right there. This is stupid. Focus on what matters right now, like work and surviving until the holidays are over. Not him...

I finished my business and came out just in time to see Kristy throw my phone to the other side of the bed. She looked up at me and seemed very suspicious. "What took you so long?" She asked, filling the silence. Her voice was unusually high pitched.

I dismissed her question entirely and focused on her instead. "What were you doing on my phone?"

She crinkled her eyebrows the same way she did the first time I caught her snooping in my closet, borrowing clothes. "Your phone?"

"Yeah, my phone." I reached for it but she shoved the bowl of popcorn into my reach instead.

"Popcorn." Kristy beckoned, giving the bowl a slight shake.

"Honestly, you are the worst person at lying. What did you do with my phone?" I pushed the bowl aside and grabbed my phone. I turned it on, but nothing seemed messed up. I immediately checked my Facebook, but it didn't look like she had done anything there either.

"I really didn't touch your phone." Kristy brought the popcorn closer to herself and shoved a big handful of the golden, buttery treat into her mouth, chomping away as she eyed my phone closely.

I rolled my eyes. She's stubborn as always. Just then my phone vibrated in my hand, and I read the banner notification that popped up at the top of the screen.

Mason: Sounds gr8!

Oh no.