Being Watched

Chapter 21

“Steph,” I hear my mom’s soft voice as her hand caresses my hair.

“Mm?” I mumble sleepily as I shift in my bed.

“Could you get up and help me a bit in the kitchen? It’s already noon,” She says, her voice still low.

I rub my eyes and then open them. I blink a few times then yawn.

“Okay,” I say as I sit up in my bed. “I’ll be in the kitchen in a few minutes.”

“Thank you,” she says, smiling at me. She kisses the top of my head then leaves my room, closing the door behind her.

I press the home button of my phone and grin when I read the date under the time.

Monday, December 24.

Christmas Eve.

I stretch and then press the light switch above my bedside table.

I squint slightly when the light floods my room.

I yawn again then get out of bed and head to my bathroom. I change into sweatpants and an old black hoodie. I tie my hair up in a ponytail and put on my Christmas slippers.

The house is warm, the complete opposite of the freezing weather outside. Everything outside is covered with snow and the wind is making the trees shake violently.

I didn’t mind the weather much, though, because Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the snow and cold.

“Good morning,” I tell my dad as I see him sitting on the couch, drinking coffee.

“Good morning,” he replies, giving me a smile.

I sit next to him on the couch and he lowers the volume of the TV.

“So,” I start in a sing-song voice. “What gift did you buy your lovely daughter this Christmas?”

“I didn’t know I had to get you a gift on Christmas. I thought it was only birthdays,” he says, giving me a shocked look but I know better than to believe him.

I play along, though.

“No!” I say, mimicking his shocked face. “You did not just say that!”

“I’m afraid I did,” he replies. “Now go to the kitchen and help your mother.”

I laugh at that and he joins me.

“Fine, fine, I’ll wait for tonight,” I finally say.

“Good girl,” he replies and I grimace. That made me feel like I were a dog. A pat on the head would’ve made things even better!

I don’t comment on it, though. I just walk to the kitchen where my mom is preparing the food. We prepare half the meals and John’s family prepares the other half. That’s how it has always been and every year would be at one of our places. This year it was John’s place.

One of the things that have never changed in those Christmas dinners was his mom’s chocolate cake and my mom’s cookies. They were a must.

“What do you need help with?” I ask my mom as I walk into the kitchen.

“Can you do the soup please?” She asks as she chops some vegetables.

“Sure!” I reply. The soup is one of the easiest things to do so I don’t mind.

We both work in the kitchen together, occasionally opening up a conversation. I can’t help my smile. The day we moved away, I didn’t think I would ever be back here for Christmas.

I’m glad we were able to come here for Christmas because this is home and Christmas should be celebrated at home.

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Marissa’s— John’s mom— chocolate cake. It wouldn’t be the same without John’s family around.

The time passes quickly and soon it’s six o'clock and we’re done with all the food preparations. We go to our rooms to put on our clothes before we leave to John’s house in two hours.

The first thing I do is take a long shower. When I feel the hot water turning cold, I step out of the shower.

I return to my room and open my closet, taking out the dress I bought when I was at the mall with Carla and Martha.

I had already bought their gifts along with Jack’s gift so from the mall I bought a new dress, gifts for mom and dad, gifts for John’s parents, and a gift for John.

Yesterday, I had spent the day with my friends so we exchanged gifts. Except for me and John, though. We will exchange gifts tonight like we do every year.

I got two matching silver bracelets from Carla and Martha and I got a beanie hat with matching gloves and scarves from Jack. But of course Jack wasn’t capable of getting a normal gift so the scarf had to have the word ‘SKITTLES’ on it in several colors and on the gloves there had to have colorful skittles printed on it.

Where he got those gifts, I had no idea. I love his gifts, though. They were never something normal and that’s what made them even better.

I had gotten Martha her favorite perfume and Carla a shirt and a matching jacket.

I gave Jack a pack of Skittles at first making him think that it was his gift.

“You could’ve gotten me more than one,” he had muttered.

I eventually laughed and gave him the shoes I had bought him.

We had a nice time together and things seemed just like they were before I left. It made me happy to know that we will always remain friends.

“Can I see the dress on you?” I hear my mom’s voice, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“I’m not ready yet,” I say back as I smile at the cotton dark green dress I had bought yesterday. I put it on after putting on my tights. I then put on my black mini boots and worked on my hair.

I dry my hair and let it fall in brown waves. I keep my makeup light and I only wear a simple silver necklace with the silver bracelets I got from Carla and Martha yesterday.

I grab my black coat and black purse before going to the TV room where my mom and dad are seated, waiting for me.

“I love the dress!” My mom says when she sees me, her eyes lighting up.

“You look beautiful,” dad says and I smile.

“Thanks,” I tell them.

We then take the food and gifts before going to John’s house.

I ring the doorbell and balance the gifts in my arms. John opens the door a few seconds later. I grin at him.

“Merry Christmas,” I say cheerfully as I walk into the familiar house. I put the gifts on the couch in the TV room then go back to where they’re all greeting each other.

I see John talking to my dad so I hug him from the back. His hands grab mine which are on his stomach and he turns around.

He grins at me and gives me a hug. Under my head I can feel his fast heartbeat but I don’t comment on it. I don’t want things to be awkward between us.

“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” he whispers in my ear.

“Stephany! I missed you!” I hear Marissa’s voice. I pull away from John and give her a hug. We all chat for a bit and John’s parents ask about my new school and how my grades are. John doesn’t say anything he just listens to our conversation with a slight smile on his face.

“We should set the table and make sure that all the food is ready,” Marissa says. My mom stands as well and as they’re heading to the kitchen, my dad says, “Steph go help the women in the kitchen.”

Marissa stops walking and raises an eyebrow at my dad.

“You two!” She says to my dad and John’s dad. “In the kitchen. Right now.”

John’s dad shoots my dad a glare.

“Sorry,” my dad says guiltily. “I forgot how she can be.”

I chuckle quietly as our dads help our moms in the kitchen. Marissa hates it when guys say that girls should be the ones to cook and clean so she always forces her husband to cook and clean with her.

“I missed your family,” I say to John.

He smiles at me and replies, “I missed yours as well.”

I stand up from the couch and walk closer to the chimney because I feel cold. I stand closer to the fire and enjoy the warmth.

John joins me soon and we stand in silence for a bit.

Looking around the room, I remember all the time I have been here ever since I was born. This place will always be a second home to me.

“Steph…” John says hesitantly.

“Hmm?” I say, meeting his warm eyes.

“Are… Are you in love?” He asks and I freeze.

“Why are you asking?” I finally manage to say.

“I want to know,” he says and I hesitate. He confessed his love to me and I already told him that I didn’t love him back so why would he want to hurt even more by asking me this?

“John…” I trail off. “I-I…”

“You are,” he finally says. He sounds sad but he also looks as if he were expecting it.

“I’m sorry,” I say, not denying it because I know I am in love with Jeremy.

“Don’t apologize,” he says, giving me a small smile. “It’s not your choice. That’s why it’s called falling in love.”   

“That’s true,” I mutter. Oh how I wish I were in love with John instead. It would’ve been so simple! We know each other really well and I know that he’s the sweetest person alive. But no, I just have to fall in love with Jeremy who has more mood swings that a girl on her period.

“You better not forget about me, though,” he says in a teasing tone. “I am your best friend after all.”

I smile at him, overlooking the lingering sadness in his eyes.

“Don’t worry about that. Best friends always come first,” I say truthfully. I wouldn’t lose John for anything in the world.

He has always been right next to me. Even with the distance, he still remained the person I trusted the most.

He smiles as well and nods.

“Dinner is ready!” We hear our moms call.

I grin. “Food!” I yell as I start walking to the dining room.

I hear John laughing as he walks behind me.

We reach the familiar dining room and I sit in my usual chair, the one next to John’s.

I notice that our parents also sit in their usual chairs. It’s like nothing really changed.

And when I see the food, I forget everything else. It all looks so delicious! I love Christmas food!

“Don’t eat too much,” Marissa says to me when she sees my full plate. “I have your favorite chocolate cake for desert.”

“Oh don’t worry. I can eat more than you can imagine,” I reply and they all laugh.

“That,” John says. “We know.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you implying something?” I ask, trying to keep my voice serious.

“No,” he says, giving me an innocent look.

“Hmm,” I say, giving him one final look before returning to my plate. He chuckles and shakes his head at me.

Throughout lunch time, we talk about everything we have missed during those few months. Most of the time, John and I are having separate conversations, just like we always do.

After dinner, we decided to exchange presents then we would have desserts.

We went back to the cozy TV room and I took the bags of gifts I had bought.

“I’ll go first!” I say quickly.

I pick the white bag first and give it to John’s dad.

“Oh my,” he says when he opens the bag and Marissa’s surprised expression is identical to his. “Where did you find this?”

“At the airport!” I replied, grinning widely. “I couldn’t believe it! I thought we would never find like it again.”

He nods in agreement and smells the perfume again. He smiles.

“Thank you so much, dear,” he says to me, giving me a hug.

On my way here, I visited the perfume section at the airport and I found this perfume that John’s dad used to have. I remember him changing perfumes very frequently in the past few years because he couldn’t find his favorite one and I found it at the airport. It was a bit expensive but I didn’t mind. He was like a father to me.

I then give Marissa her gift.

She opens it and smiles at the red decorative bowl. She’s a decoration lover so I knew she would like it.

“This will look perfect in the other room!” She squeals excitedly and even goes to the other room to put it there.

I laugh at her enthusiasm.

The next to bags I grab are identical and for my parents. They open them and take out the matching pajamas.

“I even bought them to match the colors of your room,” I joke and they laugh, giving me hugs.

“Thanks, they’re really amazing,” they tell me as I take the final bag which holds the smallest gift but that doesn’t mean it was any less worthy.

“John,” I say, grinning as I give him the bag.

“I can’t accept this,” he says when he opens the bag. “It’s too much, Steph.”

“It’s a Christmas gift, John. You have to accept it. Plus, it’s kind of good for me as well because I’m sick of your stupid phone going off every time we’re texting or talking.”

He stares at the black iPhone in the box and shakes his head. “You didn’t have to buy the most expensive phone out there!”

I roll my eyes at him. John’s family isn’t rich so they don’t really buy a lot of new things and cell phones are the last thing on their list.

I could buy him a phone so I thought, why not? I mean he always saves up all year to get me amazing and expensive gifts for Christmas and my birthday so he deserves good gifts in return as well.

“Stop complaining John and give me that thing you call a cell phone so that I can take your SIM card,” I tell him.

He gives me a hug and whispers a thank you in my ear as he hands me both phones.

“My turn!” My mom says and so the gifts start coming.

I got a beautiful dress from my mom and a pair of matching heels from my dad. As soon as I saw them, I decided that they were what I was going to wear for New Year’s Eve.

The dress is a dark blue color and has a golden zipper to the right. The heels were the same golden color as the zipper and they had a cute little bow at the back.

John’s parents got me white headphones and a really cute bright blue iPhone cover with white butterflies on it.

John’s gift to me is the last gift left.

The bag is the smallest bag of all but I know better than to judge a gift by its size.

He hands it to me and I slowly open the bag. Inside there’s a tiny green jewelry box.

I open the box and my eyes widen. I just stare at the beautiful ring inside. It’s the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever seen. It’s a silver infinity ring and on the infinity there are around twenty small stones tracing it and which I immediately recognize as my birthstone.

I don’t notice that I have been just staring at the ring for like three minutes now until John speaks up.

“It’s not a proposal if that’s what you’re thinking,” he jokes and I laugh.

“It’s so beautiful. Every time I tell you the same thing but seriously this time it’s the most beautiful gift ever.”

He smiles at me that smile I love the most and I give him a hug. I take the ring from the box and put it on my finger then show it to my parents and John’s parents.

They all gasp and stare at the ring. It really is that beautiful.

After the gift exchange, we set the desserts on the table. Marissa makes some hot chocolate and we all sit in the dining room eating chocolate cake and cookies as it snows softly outside.

At that moment, all my problems fade away and all that I can think of is that right now I am happy.

Christmas with the people I really love is what I needed.

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I can't believe I haven't uploaded in two weeks! :O

I am so sorry for that! I had ten days of exams and I didn't have time to write at all :S

Exams are over, though, and Christmas is here :D So excited! I have my Christmas concert tonight and tomorrow night at school xD

Oh by the way, does anyone know what's up with the new Wattpad iPhone application? I updated it today but it sucks -.- Is it just me or is anyone else experiencing some problems with that too?

Picture of the dress on the side --->

Happy Birthday to MissPhotography101  deliciousfrosting143 and love_emma. Have a wonderful year! :) And I'm sorry if this is late!

Thank you for reading!

Next Upload: This weekend or after Christmas.

Aim for this Chapter: 200 votes.

Have a wonderful day/night everyone! <3