Cheesy and a mess... and ... i dunno lol 

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Scott loved Christmas. He loved the hustle and bustle, the happy colors and lights, the bright, cheery music. He had a bit of a love/hate relationship with the whole present buying process, but really who doesn’t.  The mall was overrun with last minute shoppers rushing around like the world was ending.

He only had one present left to buy…a present for his mom.

He felt like a fish out of water as he looked around the department store. There were just TOO many options and too many things to look at and get distracted by.

He strolled down the aisle, pausing to look at a sweater that he liked for himself when he spotted the cutest man across the way, holding up a pair of shoes to show a really pretty brunette girl.  He inwardly let out a sigh. All of the cute ones were straight. He tried to be covert as he stole a few glances at the duo, pretending to still be mesmerized by the houndstooth sweater in front of him. 

He wasn’t sure why, but he just couldn’t bring himself to walk away. He began to think up scenarios to talk to him, just to have a moment of interaction, but it was all cliche’ and obvious. He sighed as he picked up yet another sweater, very nice but way too small for himself.

Then it hit him.

He took a deep breath and made his way over to the pair who were still contemplating the shoes that the adorable man was now wearing as he tried to decide whether they were what he wanted or not.

“Excuse me, I’m really sorry to interrupt.”

They both turned to look at him and he hoped and prayed he wasn’t blushing. “I’m just… buying a gift for someone and you’re about their size and I didn’t know if you could… maybe tell me if this is about right? Or? I mean if you don't mind... that is... ”

The man’s lips were lifting into a smile that had the perfect dimple as the perfect punctuation.

“I’m sorry that was probably really rude. I..”

“No, no. It’s actually really smart. Can I see?” He held his hand out for the sweater and it took Scott a moment to realize what he wanted before he handed it over.

“For your boyfriend?” The pretty girl inquired boldly, earning her quite the look from her friend.

Scott shook his head.

“Oh, I’m sorry that was most definitely rude.” She tried to backtrack.

“No, it was fine. No boyfriend this year... fingers crossed for next year. It’s for my cousin.”  He shrugged,

He hoped it wasn’t just wishful thinking that he swore he saw the cute man’s smile grow just a bit as he looked at the tag inside the sweater Scott had given him. 

“It’s probably perfect.” He handed the sweater back to Scott and gave him a warm smile.

“Thanks. I really appreciate it.” He didn’t know what to say… and after racking his brain and coming up blank, and of course a few awkward moments, he turned away, but looked back over his shoulder. “You should get them, the shoes. They look really nice on you.” and with that he headed back to the clothing, quite a bit disappointed that he hadn’t been more clever or witty or outgoing. He’d always been really bad at this, but that was a failure of epic proportions. The guy was here with his perfect girlfriend who had spotted which team he played for a mile away.

Way to go, Scott.

He looked at the sweater again… his cousin would hate that sweater.

__

“Mitchell!” She elbowed him.

“Owww!  What!?”

“He was gorgeous… like painfully gorgeous. Like four leaf clover kind of gorgeous!!”

“I know…” He sighed and sat down to take off the shoes, deciding to buy them after all.

“Are you kidding me right now. He was making an excuse to talk to you.”

“Oh, please. A guy like THAT would not make an excuse to talk to me.”

“You idiot. He is going to put that sweater back, just you wait.”

He rolled his eyes, just knowing she was wrong, but he kept glancing up as he tied the laces to his own black shoes. Sure enough the gorgeous blonde sighed and plopped the sweater right back where he’d gotten it, not bothering to give it a second look.

you’re actually an idiot

He stood up wanting to go after him, but what was he going to say now? So as it turns out I have a cousin about your size... wanna help me pick out a sweater!?

He sighed.

“Go, he’s getting away!” she pushed him.

“What am I going to say?!”

“I dunno, I’m single… so take me now?!”

He gave her a look but quickly realized he would lose him around the corner if he waited too long. It wasn’t every day that someone that looked like that came along, so he headed off towards him. He was glad the long legged man was taking his time perusing the women's handbags as he walked and hadn’t actually gotten too far.

“Hi. Um...   I’m sorry to bother you but, um … you see, funny thing… “

Mr. Beautiful looked at him and he got a bit lost in blue.  He sighed. “Ok, I don’t really have anyone to buy anything for that is the same size as you, I’m just trying to think of something to say and I’m sticking my foot in my mouth… but I still can’t seem to stop talking… so I will just… go die over there.” He was MOR.TI.FIED as he turned away. The word vomit had just happened and he hadn’t been able to stop it.

--

Scott couldn’t believe it when he’d looked over to see the dark haired man (who was really just way too cute for his own good) again. He listened to him speak and couldn’t help but smile at the awkwardness. He was just as nervous as Scott and it somehow made it easier.

“Wait.” He reached out to gently touch his arm as he turned away. He gave him a smile when the embarrassed man finally turned back to face him. “I don’t really have a cousin who is about your size either. I was just making up something so I could talk to you.”  He blushed and felt more like an awkward teenager than he had even when he was an actual teenager.

“I’m Mitch.”

He smiled. “Scott. So now that we’re past excuses, would you maybe want to go get coffee sometime? I mean, if you like coffee, I mean we could do something else if you wanted.”


-

This guy was everything, and he could not have been more excited. “I LIVE for coffee.”

“Me too. I think I would die without it.”

“Oh, me and Kirstie are going to be heading to lunch soon at the food court. I don’t know if you’re hungry... but you should join us.”

He nodded as he followed Mitch back to his friend. “Oh, do you think she’d be willing to help me figure out what to buy my mom?”

Mitch threw his head back and laughed. “She’s amazing at gift selection. I’m sure she’ll be ecstatic to be given a challenge.

He let out a gasp as he tripped over a shoelace he hadn’t quite finished tying, but just as he was about to hit the ground he was caught in two strong arms. They both were a bit frozen as they stared at each other. His heart skipped a beat in his chest. “Thanks.”

Those pretty pink lips twitched upward. “Any time.”

As Scott got him settled back on his feet they realized Kirstie was standing there with the biggest grin on her face.

“You two are going to make the cutest Christmas cards ever.”

He rolled his eyes but the blush on Scott’s face was absolutely adorable.

We will make the hottest Christmas cards ever. Maybe there really is a Santa! Merry Christmas to me.