━━━━ 🌼 ━━━━
CHAPTER 8
Julian
MERRY CHRISTMAS 
━━━━ 🌼 ━━━━

<>Unchained Melody by; The Righteous Brothers

      I SIT ON MY BED CROSS-LEGGED trying to finish wrapping my secret santa gift for my secret santa before going to the lounge room to meet Annie, my friends and her friends. When I get there, Annie opens the door wearing a red dress with the sleeves cut off and black flats. And I start thinking to myself,
      The Girl in Red. She smiles at me and I notice for the first time that her eyes sparkle.
      “Come on everybody is waiting.” Annie says and I walk with her into the lounge. I spot Liam sitting on the couch with Trina eating popcorn  and Annie's friends who I think are Wally and Winnie, and two other people. The room is decorated with bright red, green, and white christmas lights, a large Christmas tree in the corner with presents laid out all around it.
     "Julian, this is Wally, his sister Winnie, Wally’s girlfriend Jen, and Winnie’s boyfriend Michael. Guys, this is Julian, my… my…” She introduces me.
     “Her friend.” I say as I shake everyone’s hands. Liam and Trina have seemed to already have met Annie's friends so they come right over to me and give me hugs.

☆

      Me, Annie, and Trina, and Michael sat on the floor, while Liam, Wally, Winnie, Jen sat on the couches. “Alright, I got a baseball signed by the Boston Red Sox, a tobacco pipe, and a Boston Red Sox jersey. Mhm, it’s a tough one but I’m gonna have to guess… Winnie.” Wally says and Winnie smiles. “Yeah! How’d you know?.” Winnie asks.
     “Wild guess.” Wally shrugs, it was Trina’s turn. “Okay so I got a mixtape with love songs with the song ‘Love You Like A Love Song’ on it twice, so I’m guessing my secret santa is Liam.” Tri says and points to Liam.  “You guessed right.”
     “Why all the love songs?” “Well someone needs to teach you how to feel.” Liam says. Trina smacks him in the chest with her present. Everyone then bursts into laughter. And last but not least, It’s my turn next. “Okay I received a sketchbook, coloured pencils, and an old fashioned Polaroid camera. so I’m gonna have to guess… Ms. Annie Grace.” Annie gives me a huge smile and fake bows.  Everyone applauds us and then the room goes quiet. “Annie, can you hand these out while I go to the washroom?” I whisper to Annie as I hand her a Santa bag with other gifts. “Wait there is only supposed to be secret Santa presents, those are the rules.”  “Winifred Astrid Neptune, stop trying to eat christmas!?” Wally shouts. We all laughed.
      After we say goodbye to our friends, Annie and I take a walk around the hospital floors.  “Did you like my gift?” I ask, sounding cheeky. “Of course I did. I used to have a kaleidoscope when I was little until I lost it, and I love the book too.” She playfully nudges me on the shoulder. I laugh and take her hand in mine. “I'm glad.” I smile and kiss the back of her small hand lightly.