For some reason school is always more fun around the holidays.

I wish I could tell you why.

Maybe it's the holiday spirit and all that jazz.

"One week until Christmas!" Chanel cheers.

"I haven't even started shopping for presents," Nikole admits.

"I already have everyone's presents," Ivy says. "Now I just have to wait for the day to give them out."

"What are you getting Carter?" Chanel nudges me as we walk down the halls.

"Who said I was getting him anything?"

"Why not?" Nikole asks. "You like him don't you?"

I roll my eyes. "So? It's not like he's getting me anything either. And I don't want to make things awkward by getting him a gift? What if he thinks I like him?"

"What would be so bad about that?" Ivy says.

"Um try everything!" 

"One day Aubrey you'll realize what a terrible mistake you're making," Ivy chastens me.

I ignore her. There's no way I'm getting Carter anything. Especially now that he knows my terrible secret.

"Hey blondie," he greets me as we sit down at our table in the cafeteria.

"Shut up," I glare daggers at him.

"Sure blondie," he winks. I suck in a breath.

"Aubrey was the cutest blonde," Chanel gushes. "Sometimes I wish she'd go back to her real hair color."

"Never gonna happen."

Nikole opens a cup of yogurt. "But why?"

"Because. And I'm never dying it back so drop it. The only time you'll see me blonde is on Halloween."

"Shame," Carter shakes his head.

That very same day in English class Ms. Faye announces her annual secret Santa. 

Ugh.

It's hard enough shopping for my friends, now I have to shop for some random too?

She passes around the stocking and when I get it I reach in and pick out a slip of paper.

Carter King

It's sad that I'm not even surprised at this point.

Now I have to get him a gift. Of course I tell the girls.

"It's fate," Nikole says at Pinkberry. "The universe is playing Cupid."

"Well I wish the universe would stop. I have no idea what to get him," I groan and lay my head on the table.

"What do you know about him?" Ivy asks.

"That he's an annoying, arrogant, asshole and for some Godforsaken reason I like him."

She gives me a look. "That's not what I meant."

"Get him a gift card," Nikole suggests.

"For what?"

She shrugs. "I don't know, somewhere he likes to shop."

"I don't know where he likes to shop!"

"Don't listen to them," Chanel says. "The way to a mans heart is through his stomach. Get him food."

I roll my eyes. "So specific Chanel. Perhaps I'll buy him a restaurant."

"What a great idea!"

"This is hopeless," I complain. "Why did I have to get him?"

"I got it!" Ivy suddenly exclaims. We all turn to her.

"Ask his sisters. I bet they'd know what he'd like."

I mull over this. Not a bad idea.

🎄🎄🎄

"Aubrey what a surprise!" Carter's mom mom exclaims. "Please come in."

"Hi Ms. King," I step inside.

"How are you?"

"Just preparing for the holidays," she answers. "What brings you here?"

"Is Carter home?"

"No unfortunately he's out. I can tell him you stopped by."

I shake my head. "That won't be necessary. I'm actually here to talk to the twins."

She looks surprised. "Oh! Well they're in their rooms if you want to go up."

"Thanks Ms. King."

"No problem."

I climb up the steps and knock on the twins door before cracking it open.

"Aubrey!" They squeal and run up to hug me.

"We missed you!" Olivia squeezes my leg.

"I missed you guys too. But I need your help."

"Anything!" Sophia readily agrees.

So I explain my dilemma.

"Don't tell our mom," Olivia whispers, "But Carters been saving up money."

I raise a brow. "For what?"

Sophia leans in real close. "A motorcycle."

"He used to have one in England but mom made him sell it," Olivia says. "He used that money plus money he saved up to buy the car he has now."

"Except now he wants a motorcycle again," Sophia finishes.

Okay this was cool and all but what did this have to do with getting him a gift? Because if they were suggesting I buy him a motorcycle then they were out of their minds.

"You want me to get him a motorcycle?" I ask slowly.

They nod like bobble heads.

Ok clearly they didn't understand the situation.

First and foremost I couldn't just roll up to English class on a motorcycle. Second of all I didn't have money to even buy one.

I'm pretty sure a motorcycle couldn't fit in a gift bag or be wrapped.

"Anything else?" I question. "Besides a running death trap?"

They shrug.

Great. This whole big idea was a bust.

"Thanks anyway. I gotta go now but I'll see you guys later."

"Bye Aubrey," the chorus.

I close the door to their room and sigh. I'm about to leave when I pause. Before I can change my mind I search for Carters room. After opening a few doors I find it.

It's surprisingly neat. The bed is made, his clothes are all hung up or folded. Besides the occasional stray wrapper everything is clean and in order. The walls are dark green and there's lots of posters up of motorcycles and cars. And some basketball posters as well.

I search through his stuff to try and figure out what he likes. I notice that Carter is a fan of bandanas. He usually wears them during games to keep his hair back or in general.

Not to mention Carter in a bandana is hot.

He has almost every type. Guess I can't get him that.

I search his closet. Typical guy clothes and scuffed up shoes. Except...

The only shoes that actually look not so worn out and are in boxes are his Nike shoes. Come to think of it he keeps all his Nike items separate from his regular clothes.

Carter likes Nike.

I smile.

Bingo.

🎁🎁🎁

"What's in the bag?" The girls ask the day of our secret Santa exchange. 

"Carters gift."

"Oooh what is it?" Ivy tries to peek inside. I slap her hand away.

"No touchy!"

"Will you at least tell us what it is?" Nikole pleads.

"It's just a sweater and hat. No big deal." The shoes were way over my price range.

"You got him a sweater and hat?" Ivy looks surprised.

"It's Nike. Carter likes Nike. Now drop it."

Everyone is buzzing excitedly in class. There are all types of gift bags and present boxes. I was so worried about what to get Carter I didn't even think about who I got or what they'd get me.

"Ok everyone time to exchange gifts!" Ms. Faye claps.

I walk up to Carter and shove the bag at him. "Here."

He smirks. "That's funny."

I cross my arms. "What's funny?"

He slides a Victoria's Secret bag towards me. "Here."

My mouth falls open. "You got me?"

"Sadly yes."

I ignore him and peek inside the bag.

OMG.

He got me a PINK set.

There's a sweater and matching sweats, socks, a headband, a perfume set, and no way are those the cute silk shorts I've been eyeing!?

"Carter I cannot accept this," I'm so shocked and happy. "This must've cost a fortune."

And I know you're saving up for a motorcycle.

He shrugs. "No biggie. I didn't know what else to get you and when I was snooping around your room I noticed you had the Victoria's Secret catalog with all the PINK items circled."

For some reason I want to cry. "Thank you," I smile at him. The urge to hug him is strong but I resist because well....that would be weird.

He opens his gift and pulls out the sweater and hat grinning. "Nice."

I blush. "You like it?"

"Hell yeah," he puts the hat on.

Cuteness overload I swear.

I'm feeling incredibly happy but as usual Carter ruins it.

"Thanks blondie," he says with that annoyingly hot cocky grin on his face.

Ugh. Why do I even bother?

THANK YOU LORD FOR I HAVE DONE IT. I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED THIS CHAPTER AND YALL HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I STRUGGLED OMG THE STRUGGLE WAS REAL. NOT TO MENTION LIFE SMH UGH IM JUST HAPPY RN

not my best but oh well

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