Melody

The next couple days seemed to drag on. It was as if someone decided to stretch it out into a month, when it was just four days. Christmas was the most festive that it ever got around the house and I wished it would end the moment my eyes opened to the sound of Mia's pounding on my door.

In a baggy blue sweater, I went down the stairs for us to exchange gifts, everyone pulling theirs apart at the same time. My dad kept getting up to take calls every so often, which Margot didn't seem to mind once she got her big fancy necklace and earrings. Mia got tons of makeup and clothing, as did I, but I noticed that Margot slipped more things in for her daughter. I was both used to it, and didn't really care, as I didn't want anything to begin with.

After that, we had a light breakfast, before everyone had to make sure the place was spotless. The caterers arrived soon after and began setting up while everyone got ready for Margot's family to come over once again. Mia came down the stairs in a red dress that showed way more cleavage than I thought necessary for a family dinner. It was tight fitting, and wrapped up around her neck, but there was a large cut out in the chest area. I wore a loose green dress that had a v-shaped neckline, and big sleeves. It had a ribbon to tie around the waist before flaring out a little. Margot simply gave me a once over before turning her nose up and walking away with a frown.

The doorbell rang, and Margot's brother, Stephen, and his wife Rita appeared first. Their son, William, actually made an appearance for a change too. Then Adalyn and showed up with a new guy as her date, who she introduced as Wesley. I felt sorry for that poor soul, because he was called West, Wyatt, Wayne, and even Willy, which got confusing with William. Adalyn's daughter spent Christmas with her dad, so she wasn't there to distract Mia from her scrutinizing looks.

After a three-course meal, filled with humble-bragging and backhanded compliments, Margot and her family sat around talking while my dad disappeared into his office. I hung around in the background for a while before going to my room to wait for everyone to leave. Once they did, I was able to exercise until I couldn't see straight, since I couldn't avoid eating during the meal.

On Boxing Day, Mia and Margot went on a shopping spree, while I didn't feel the desire to pushed and jostled by the hundreds of people that would be at the mall. I spent my day locked in my room drawing in my sketchbook. In the early afternoon, I went downstairs and peaked into my dad's office, curious to see what he was doing. His head was down as he paced back and forth with the phone to his ear. I sighed and went back to my room, where I spent the rest of my day.

Carson texted me throughout the days he was away, and while it was better than nothing, I still wished I could see him in person. But, between drawing, homework, and watching shows that had to do with fashion, I kept myself fairly busy for the next few days.

Gavin managed to drag me out of the house one afternoon and brought a gorgeous ball gown to take pictures in. The dress was royal blue and had a plunging neckline. It sucked in at the waist and flair out beautifully. Gavin explained that I needed more pictures to post on Instagram and as it would help with my modelling. We went to a nearby forest – the one Serena and Summer pulled me into earlier on this year. However, it was more welcoming and much prettier when not being attacked by two blondes who barely knew a window from a hole in the wall.

The snow was untouched and buried the ground that the tree roots hid beneath. Above me white flakes clung to pines and the bare branches of maples, oaks, and birches. It looked like Narnia. And in my deep blue dress, I was the queen. I stood in the snow and posed, leaning against trees, standing straight, raising my arms, working every angle of my body until my I couldn't feel my body.

Gavin smiled and gave me my jacket when we were done, before helping me into his car. I sat in the car and glanced through the pictures on his camera. I was thankful for the heavy makeup I did and the big dress hiding most of my body, but still in some angles I felt like I looked fat.

"You'll edit these before posting them, right?" I asked. "And don't use anywhere my arms look chunky like this," I added holding up the camera. Gavin chuckled.

"You're so picky," he said, but agreed anyways. I knew he knew that we couldn't post ones where I looked fat. People would crucify me in the comments.

When I went home, I took a long warm bath to warm up before tucking myself into bed with my laptop. I went online, ready to commit to watching Project Runway, but instead, with Carson on my mind, I decided to watch Bridge to Terabithia. Smiling when the first scene flashed across the screen, I couldn't wait for Carson to be two minutes away, rather than two hours.

***

In the early afternoon of December 29th, my doorbell rang, and I smiled already knowing who it was. I was wearing a black and white plaid skirt, with a loose white sweater that tucked into it. To keep my legs warm, I wore black stockings underneath the skirt. I had curled my hair a little and put some make up on, wanting to look nice for Carson.

I skipped excitedly down the stairs and flung the door open to see my handsome boyfriend standing on the porch. Without thinking I threw my body at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He stumbled backwards slightly as he caught me and chuckled. There was something about him standing there that made me forget the cold weather, and pretty much everything else.

"Somebody missed me," Carson said before kissing my cheek.

"What do you mean? This is how I greet anyone who comes to the door," I teased. Carson laughed at that as I let him inside my house. "Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, except I was missing you," Carson said. My lips curved up into a smile.

"I missed you too," I said.

"Want to go to our favourite coffee shop?" Carson asked. I nodded and grabbed my jacket and thigh high black boots. "So, how was your Christmas?"

"Let's just say I'm glad that it's over," I said as we stepped out of the house.

"That bad?" Carson asked.

"It wasn't horrible, but between Margot, and her siblings Adalyn and Salty Stephen–"

"Salty Stephen?" Carson laughed.

"Whoops, I call him that in my head," I replied, as we got into the car.

"Okay, now it sounds like you have more to catch me up on," Carson said. I smiled, feeling happier than I had in days.

_______________

Author's Note: Yay another upload! It's a little bit of a filler but I didn't really find it necessary to go too in to detail when explaining what Melody did those days without Carson! But Carson is back and Melody is so much happier!  Melody didn't love her Christmas experience, what are your Christmas/holiday traditions? What do you think might happen next?

I'm SO excited because Paper Thin has been chosen as part of Wattpad Picks and will featured in the High School Hijinks section! It's also at over 144,000 reads and 5,700+ votes which is amazing! Thank you guys for supporting this book and me! It means so much!

Shout outs this chapter go to: user1575911, shan11304, queen_ten-ten, Unicorn_Attacker, preciouschunkybeast, and Jmelyn91 for voting and/or commenting! I love reading what you guys think, and seeing you vote on every thing! It brightens my days!

Quite a few outfits coming at you this chapter!

Melody's Christmas outfit:

Mia's Christmas outfit:

Melody's dress from the photoshoot:

Melody's outfit when Carson comes home: