| December 19 | Tuesday Morning |

~ Sam's POV ~

The tingle of something on my neck tickled me out of my slumber. The heaviness of my eyes became lighter as I groaned in protest. I didn't want to get up yet. The sun was barely shining through the curtains! I swear if Charlie-

"Sammy..." Megan's voice sang. "Get up..."

I felt the bed shift as velvet lips traced along my neck and to my ear. A shiver ran down my back as a slim finger traced my spine. Suddenly my body was awake and ready to go.

I faced her only to feel a smooth leg wrap around my hip. Our chests pressed together as my eyes fluttered open. I couldn't help but stare at Megan for a minute.

"How do you wake up perfect?" I mumbled.

"How are you so charming this early in the morning?" she retorted.

I smirked as I felt her warm hands press against my stomach under the fabric of my shirt. That's when I glanced behind her and at the clock on the table near our bed.

"Why are you up at eight? You don't have school to get to," I asked.

"Tell that to my brain," she protested. "I haven't been able to sleep past seven-thirty."

"Except for that morning of your first final."

Red tinted her cheeks. "Yeah, well, we had a long night."

I pulled her closer. "And since I don't have work, we can have a long morning too..."

That's when Charlie tore through the living room and into our bedroom. She leapt onto our bed and basically attacked my face with her tongue.

As I pried her off of me, Megan couldn't help but laugh.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who can't sleep anymore."

Once I tamed my dog, I pulled away and locked eyes with Megan.

"Don't act like you two didn't plan this."

"We didn't!"

Charlie curled up between Megan and I and eyed both of us with those dreaded eyes that begged and broke us down every time. Especially Megan.

"Awe..." Megan scratched Charlie's head. "Let's bring her to the pet store."

"Why?"

"Because... it's almost Christmas."

"And?"

"And?" Megan huffed. "We need to get her presents."

"I haven't even gotten you presents yet."

Megan shoved me. "Sam!"

"I'm just kidding!"

Charlie licked my cheek at the excitement.

"Fine," I broke. "We'll bring her. But you're in charge of making sure she doesn't eat the birds."

"As if."

We got up and dressed for the day, knowing that there wasn't much to do besides do some Christmas shopping and finally decorate our bare tree standing in the living room. It was pathetic really, but Megan and I hadn't had time to even think about anything but work, school and bills up until today.

I clipped Charlie's harness on and walked her out into the winter morning with Megan by our side.

"You know, she might be a little crazy to bring in public."

"I bring you in public, don't I?" Megan countered.

I looked at her with my mouth ajar.

She lifted my chin with her finger and laughed.

"I'm just kidding."

"Then why do I have a feeling you're not?"

As we laughed together she pulled me into her while Charlie used the bathroom. After that, we jumped into her car and headed towards the pet store.

Once we made it, I clipped Charlie on her leash and handed it over to Megan.

"You're on Charlie duty."

Megan rolled her eyes. "You know, she's your dog too."

"Only when she's good is she my dog."

"I see how it is."

The warmth of the pet store surrounded us as Charlie's excitement heightened at the smell of other animals. Megan kept her leash short so Charlie couldn't roam too far and damage anything, but I knew my dog, and I knew she wouldn't be tame for long.

Especially when multiple dogs found her interesting enough for a visit.

"Charlie, no!" Megan scolded.

I turned to see Charlie standing in a basket of toys in search of her favorite one. At Megan's voice, her head emerged with a rubbed ball in her mouth, then, as predicted, she gave it a good squeeze.

The noise seemed to echo through the store and provoke multiple barks from opposing aisles. I stifled my laughter.

"Looks like she wants the noisiest ball in the crate," I said.

Megan knelt to retrieve the ball, but Charlie wasn't having it. She attempted to evade Megan while continuing to chew on the ball, causing more squeaking to occur. I was nearly doubled over in laughter when my girlfriend finally repossessed the ball from our dog.

Megan threw the toy into the basket.

"Thanks for the help."

I held up my hands. "You wanted to bring her."

"I thought you were training her to listen better."

"She's only three months old." I laughed. "We still have a long way to go."

"Well, she also needs a new bed because she's outgrowing her old one."

I looked at Charlie. "You're already getting too expensive."

Megan headed off towards the bedding area, but I got distracted near the dog sweaters. Okay, getting Charlie a winter sweater would be hilarious.

But when I looked up, the sight of Emma talking with an employee sent me spiraling.

I ducked behind another shelf and immediately realized that Megan and I were in the same vicinity as Emma again. Was God playing a cruel joke on us?

As I debated on what to do, I slowly crept past the dog sweaters and into another aisle in hopes to evade Emma and warn Megan.

But when I rounded the corner, I came face to face with the devil herself.

"Sam? Hey!" she said as she pulled me into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

I forced a smile. "I uh... I'm Christmas shopping."

Emma raised a brow. "For a pet?"

"Stuff for my dog."

That's when her expression shifted into confusion. I looked around and tried to spot Megan, but she was nowhere to be seen. Why did Emma look so confused?

"Sam?"

I looked at Emma. "Yeah?"

"You're in the fish section."

I became aware of my surroundings. Yeah, right.

I bit my lip. "Yeah, well, you know my dog gets bored at home sometimes."

"And you think a fish would be good company?"

"What about you?" I attempted to change the subject. "Why are you here?"

"It's adoption day," Emma revealed. "And like your dog, I get lonely sometimes too."

"You don't have a roommate?" I wondered aloud.

"No," she answered. "Parents pretty much got me a one bedroom down the street from uni. It gets boring."

I nodded. "Well, a pet would do you some good then."

Awkward silence settled between us just in time for me to hear Megan's very distinct voice echo a few aisles away from us.

"Charlie come here!"

Emma made a weird face.

"That sounds like..."

That's when I saw Charlie turn the corner of the aisle Emma and I were standing in. Her leash dangled behind her as she stopped and spotted me, her tongue hanging out in excitement. That's when she took off towards me.

Charlie jumped onto me, begging me to pick her up but I couldn't. I couldn't pick her up because I knew who else was about to turn the corner, and this meeting was about to get a hell of a lot more awkward.

Megan's flustered face emerged, and when she spotted Emma and I the look on her face spoke a million words. I mouthed "help me".

"Coach Megan?" Emma questioned.

"Emma," Megan greeted as she side-glanced me. "Sorry about Charlie."

I handed her the leash. "No problem."

All three of us were at a standstill, and I didn't know how to navigate.

"She's adorable..." Emma knelt to pet our dog. "How old?"

"Little over three months," Megan answered.

While Emma was distracted with Charlie, Megan shoved me in an attempt to figure out what the hell was going on. I shrugged and figured my skill of weaseling myself out of unwanted situations would come in handy.

But couldn't we just tell Emma the truth? It would make things so much easier...

"She's sweet," Emma claimed before standing. "This is so weird. I'm sorry. I just feel like I'm back in high school."

I laughed to myself.

You have no idea.

"Thank God we're not."

I could feel Megan's eyes staring daggers.

The tension thickened, which caused Emma to break.

"So, what brings you to Columbia?" she asked Megan.

I shifted uncomfortably as I looked at my girlfriend.

"Uh, I decided to go back to school..." Megan side-glanced me. "I'm assuming it's the same for you two?"

"Yeah..." Emma realized I was awfully quiet. "Wait... Sam, why did you move away from Baldwin?"

I felt my face heat up. "I-I just uh... needed a change of scenery."

"A change of scenery?"

"Yup."

Emma eyed me suspiciously as all three of us fell silent. I felt as if the air around me was toxic as I held my breath and glanced at Megan.

Then I broke.

"I'm sorry this is really awkward."

And as if God heard my prayers, my phone rang.

"Sorry, excuse me."

I escaped the scene and took a deep breath before answering my phone.

"You're honestly a life saver."

"Why? Was Megan chewing you out again?" Blair answered.

"No," I answered. "We're at the pet store and we ran into Emma."

"No shit."

"Yes, shit!" I exclaimed. "I think we played it off though."

"I bet that's a story."

I looked back as I escaped the store. "So, did you need something?"

"I was actually calling to get an opinion on what to get my niece for Christmas."

"Your niece?"

"Yeah. Charlie is my niece."

I rolled my eyes. "I cannot take you and Megan."

"Don't be a scrooge, I love Christmas shopping."

"For a dog?"

"Keep it up and you won't be getting anything this year."

I sighed. "Get her some of those bones she likes. Or a new collar."

"How about... a doggy sweater?"

I smiled to myself. "See, this is why we're best friends."

"You were gonna get her that?"

"I was."

Then we both laughed in unison at the thought.

"I can get her name stitched on!"

"That's extra."

"And?" Blair countered. "Have you met me?"

"Touché."

"Should I get you one to match?"

"Do not get me a matching sweater with my dog."

"It'll be cute!" She continued to laugh. "I can get one for Megan too and you can take a family picture in front of your embarrassing Christmas tree."

"You know what, it won't be embarrassing for long," I defended. "We're decorating it today."

"Well, it's about time. Christmas is in five days."

That's when Megan and Charlie walked out of the store in a hustle. The look on Megan's face screamed "what the hell?" as we quickly made our way to the car.

"That was the most awkward conversation I've ever had," Megan claimed.

"Think she suspected anything?" I asked.

"Emma can sense bullshit," Blair claimed into my ear.

"Well, it was clear Charlie knew you..." Megan sighed dramatically. "Let's just get out of here."

We left the pet store and headed home to decorate our tree, but the mood seemed somber. I hated lying to people about what Megan and I were, but there were certain people in which I didn't know how they would react or what they would think.

But once we got home, I decided to address it.

As I wrapped the lights into our tree I looked at Megan who was separating our tree ornaments.

"Do you think it would be easier to just tell everyone we're together?" I wondered aloud. "You know, like Emma?"

Megan sighed. "It's tricky when it comes to ex-students who know you were once my student too."

"I don't think Emma would think this started while I was your student."

"Sam, we didn't exactly act normal way back when," Megan defended. "And I'm sure if we tell her, she'll start putting two and two together..."

I could see the anxiety of the situation creep up on Megan. My feet brought me over to her as I grabbed her face.

"We don't have to tell her," I cooed. "It was just a thought."

She shook her head. "I hate lying about us. It's the reason I wanted to move away for school in the first place."

I felt my heart clench with sadness. After everything we had been through together, lying about our relationship was the last thing I wanted to do to. But this decision wasn't just mine to make. It was also Megan's.

"So, let's move again," I pitched.

"Are you crazy?"

"Not now," I defended. "After you finish school. We can move anywhere."

"But I like it here."

My shoulders shrugged in disappointment.

"Babe, Columbia is great and all, but Emma is going to be here for three more years. And I'm sure other students of yours will be joining her soon," I informed.

Her eyes caught mine. "So then if anyone asks, we'll tell them."

I raised my brow in shock.

"Screw it. This isn't illegal. This isn't bad," she continued. "And I shouldn't have to lie or whatever to keep other people comfortable.

A small smile creeped onto my lips. "So, what are we going to tell Emma if we run into her again and she asks?"

"Tell her we're seeing each other and to keep her damn distance."

A small laugh escaped both of our mouths.

"I love you," I whispered as I encased Megan in my arms. "Like, a lot. You know that, right?"

"No..." she teased. "I need you to remind me."

I kissed her neck. "And how do you want me to do that?"

She sighed. "I want you to help me finish decorating this tree."

"You're such a tease," I laughed.

"We'll celebrate after."

I picked up a handful of ornaments. "Well, then it looks like we need to get to work."