23. A morning gift

Waking up next to her was probably the best feeling ever . Her being so close to me, her hair spread around her like a black ocean, her light perfume sending shivers down my spine . She is the definition of an angel . The small breaths she was taking were the only thing disturbing the perfect silence of this winter morning along with the quiet echo of the others laughing downstairs . I could stay here forever and watch her sleep until the last moment .

"Are you staring at me?" she whispered her eyes still closed .

"I am" I laughed "It's hard not too"

She smiled moving closer, her hands laying on my neck as she placed the sweetest kiss on my lips .

"Morning" she whispered in my ear turning me into a blushing mess .

"Stop that..." I smiled .

"What?" she chuckled her lips brushing my neck .

"Making me blush"

She backed off a few inches and smirked at me "Indeed" she said kissing me again her hand travelling down my waist . She was killing me .

"I've never felt so safe" she looked at me with this brightness in her eyes "Thank you..."

I couldn't say anything . That was surely the most beautiful thing someone has ever said to me and the only thing I could do was to kiss her harder, her heart beating against mine as she layed on top of me her body shivering .

"Are you cold?" I asked puting a hair strand behind her ear .

"N-No I'm fine"

"Ayla?"

"Yes?"

"You don't have to lie to me" I smiled "And we don't have to go further now"

She mouthed a 'thank you'  and snuggled to my side . I pulled up the covers on her making sure she wasn't cold anymore .

"You're okay Ayla" I stroked her hair humming a childhood lullaby that came into my mind right this moment .

"You're the one making me feel okay..." she whispered .

____

"Soooo?"

"What?"

"Aimee"

"Justin"

"Oh come on girl, spill the tea!"

"There's no tea to be spilled"

"Aimee" Justin was giving that don't-mess-with-me look "You spent the night with the girl you've been crushing on since highschool"

"See? You already know everything" I smiled .

"I hate you"

"No you don't, come on I would rather be home before Christmas"

"It's in two days"

"Yeah and if you keep pacing around I'm afraid we'll have to sleep here tonight, come on" I picked up my suitcase and walked to Justin's car outside . Today was the last time I woke up to the view of the forest and I was going to miss it hard . But at least I was going back in town with her .

"Hey need help?" she asked coming out of the car .

"I'm fine thank you" I smiled closing the trunk snow falling on my feet .

"Okay" she kissed me "Sit next to me?"

"Sure" I kissed her back enjoying our last moment here .

"Okay guyyys stop kissing and climb in this car!" Justin shouted passing by, his arms full of bags and boxes .

"What's all that?" I asked opening the door .

"Bags and boxes" he grunted trying to put everything in the trunk .

"Yeah that I see" I laughed .

"Christmas decorations mainly, and some family memories too" he sighed after finally finding enough room for everything "Okay everyone, we're leaving say goodbye to the house!"

_____

As soon as I opened the door my dad ran to me picking me up as if I was still five years old . He was wearing his usual 'BEST DAD' apron and the smell was telling me that one of his cakes was waiting for me in the kitchen .

"Hey, you're mom bought you this the other day, she wanted to be here today but the hospital is full, they needed her" my dad handed me a small pouch I recognized being from the small jewellery we used to go where we were kids .

"I get it, that's so nice" I opened the pouch and found a silver necklace to which was hanging a fine bird shaped pendant "That's so pretty..."

"Yeah she was sure you'd love it. And you have to taste this!" he smiled giving me a piece of what looked like the best cake ever .

"Wow" I speaked my mouth full "That's your best shot"

"Yes!" he clenched his fist in victory "Anyway..."

"What?"  I asked trying not to choke on the cake .

"You seem different"

"Umm... really?" If trying to hide things were an olympic game I would definitely lose .

"Come on, I'm your dad, I know you"

I could've said anything my red cheeks would've given me away .

"I guess... I guess I feel a bit different"

"And who's the lucky lady?" my dad smiled .

"Umm" I chuckled "You remember Ayla?"

"Ayla? The Ayla from highschool?"

"Yep..." I couldn't refrain a smile to grow wide on my face .

"Well she seems to make you happy"

"She does"

"Then it's great" he took me in his arms before heading to the living-room . That was something cool about my dad, he never asks too many questions, as long as you're happy he's too .

"Hey dad I'm gonna go to sleep the road was exhausting"

"Alright, goodnight angel"

"Goodnight dad"

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Christmas day

10:00am

1 new message

Ayla : Happy Christmas Aimee Queen <3

If happiness could be bottled up I would keep all of her messages forever .

Aimee : Happy Christmas Ayla <3

One hour before I finally got to see her again . It felt like an eternity had passed since we came back from the cabin and I desperately wanted to hold her in my arms. I went back to my appartment leaving my dad struggling with the last decorations . I was now trying to find something decent to wear and that was going to be complicated . Not everybody looks good in everything . Except one of course . Finally a red dress would do it . I tied up my hair in a high ponytail, put on some liner and finally I was ready . I heard a knock on the door and couldn't help but run to open it . As my eyes landed on her my heart stopped . She was more beautiful than ever . Her black curls were framing her face, glitters highlighting these gorgeous eyes .

"Hi" she smiled "You're so pretty"

"H-hi" Come on woman keep you shit together "Y-you're stunning"

She chuckled "Won't you let me in?"

"W-Oh yeah yeah" I stepped aside letting her enter my small appartment .

"That's nice" she walked around as if she was visiting a castle when the living-room was actually the size of her toilets .

"Thanks" I smiled "That's not a palace but-"

"I thinks it's great" she cut me and by the look on her face I could tell she was sincere .

"You want something to drink?"

"Umm yeah what do you have? "

"I have coke, ice tea..." I opened the fridge and found laying at the bottom a bottle of "Champagne"

She laughed .

"But Ayla doesn't drink" I smiled "Coke?"

"I hate coke" she walked too me "But champagne sounds good"

This look could kill me .

"Really?" I asked trying not to blush which was definitely a lost cause .

"Really" she said grabbing the bottle her face dangerously close to mine "Glasses?"

"I-I umm right here" I grabbed two glasses in the drawer while she was uncorking the champagne .

"Thanks"

She brought the glass to her lips her eyes scanning me .

"What?" she asked smirking .

"Nothing" I sighed .

"Why are you staring?" she was so close I could almost feel her lips brushing mine .

"You're the one staring" I replied out of breath .

"Oh yeah that's true" she pressed her lips on mine pushing me against the counter my glass falling on the floor as her hands found my waist .

I could barely breath through her kisses, I could just hold her tight my hands on her neck as she kept pressing her body against mine .

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<3