Let's Get Reckless.

“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” Is all I heard while being shaken viciously out of my sleep.

“What!?” I yelled, opening my eyes to see an highly active Joe.

“It’s Christmas! You have to get up!” I yelled some more.

“Not if you keep yelling at me” I muttered, rolling over and putting my head in the pillow.

“Reeeeeiiiinnnnaaaa” He whined, laying his head on my back.

“Nope.” I lifted my head to say, putting it right back down.

“Fine” He heard him huff. He got off the bed and I thought he was leaving but obviously I’ve forgotten who exactly my boyfriend is.

“Joe! Put me down!” I screeched and he threw me over his shoulder. He simply laughed, smacking me on my butt, saying ‘Behave’. Ugh, he’s so…Joe.

I couldn’t even acted like I was mad when he put a bounce in his step, making me go up and down. I giggled, as he walked around upstairs, making sure everyone had went down.

“I have to brush my teeth, Smart Guy.” I told him.

“We can do that” I could practically hear the smile in his voice. Careful as to not hit my head, he got us into the bathroom and turned so he was facing the wall and I was facing the sink. “Do your do so we can open the presents, Lovely.”

“Joe?” I said, running my tooth brush under the water and putting a line on toothpaste onto it.

“Yes.”

“I love you.” I smiled before brushing my teeth, hearing his reply of ‘I love you, too’

&Reckless

“Oh, Joseph! Put her down” I heard Denise say as we came down the stairs, singing ‘Best I Ever Had’. “And stop! You know I can’t stand that stupid song.”

I laughed right along with Joe as he complied and put me down.

“Thank you, Gorgeous.” I smiled at him.

“My pleasure, Beautiful.” He kissed my hand and I giggled, kissing his lips. He wrapped me in his arms, close to his chest. “Love you. Merry Christmas”

“Merry Christmas, Joe. Love you, too” I smiled against his neck.

“Really, you too are adorable. I hate it” Nick flicked Joe’s ear as he passed. I rolled my eyes, going to kick Nick in his butt.

“Merry Christmas, Cutie Pie.” I said sweetly, making his glare turn to an eye roll, then he smiled, pulling me into a hug.

“Merry Christmas, Jay.” We both smiled before the three of us went into the family room to join everyone.

“Merry Christmas!” Joe and I yelled together, jumping up high. We received eye rolls and Merry Christmas’ all around.

We sat on the ground side by side before Joe spread his legs, and sat me in between, wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on my hair. Paul had a camcorder, slowly circling the room, having us smile and wave.

“Since it’s Christmas, I want everyone to go around the room and tell the people next to them that they love them. Give them a hug” Denise smiled, clasping her hands.

Immediately I tackled Joe in a hug, kissing him all over his face as he laughed, wriggling around.

“I love you I love you I love you I love you” I repeated over and over, hearing everyone laugh at us. Finally when he began to tickle me I sat up, laughing.

“I love you too, Reina. A lot.” He smiled, kissing my hand, making me blush. “Now I’m also scared of your physical side” We all laughed again, before hugging other people. Me and Frankie hugged our faces squished together, Maya was the calmest hug along with my mom and Denise and Paul, Nick and I tried to see who could hug the hardest, almost breaking each other in the process. Once I felt my back crack and lost lots of air, I gave, falling onto the couch afterward as he smirked.

“Love ya, Jay.” He blew a kiss; Nick Jonas is such a stink winner.

“I don’t love you anymore.” I pouted, going to hug Kevin and Danielle. After that was all done, we sat back down to open presents. I’ve never seen people so vicious to open presents. But really, I can’t talk, because as soon as the wrapping paper began to fly, I joined in.’Thank you!’, ‘I love you!’, ‘Oh My Gosh!’, ‘Sock!’ and other phrases were yelled as we opened our presents.

I only slowed down, getting to my last present: Joe’s. I wanted to open that one separately. Joe did the same thing, smiling at me. We swerved our bodies so we were facing each other.

“Same time?”

“Nope,” He shook his head. “You first.”

“Kay.” I smiled. I opened mine slowly. It was a thin rectangular box, wrapped nicely, surprisingly. I got the paper off and was left holding a sky blue velvet box. I let my fingers open it up and gasped. I carefully took it off of the box holding it up to admire.

It was a beautiful white gold locket. The heart was medium sized, a heart engraved in the middle that was surrounded by little flowers and designs. I ran my fingers over the heart itching to see what was inside.

“Open it.” He urged, as if he could read my mind. Laughing softly, I did so. A picture of Joe and I stared back at me. It was edited, making it black and white. Looking at it, I remembered when it was taken.

We were in Hawaii, on the beach. It was sunset and we’d been out at Hanuama Bay, snorkeling. It was after we’d gotten back from the weekend of Joe’s birthday and I don’t remember why but I was mad. Joe sang me silly songs to make me smile. He told what a great thing I was in his life.

“Joe, I love it.” I whispered. He grinned, taking it from my hands to clasp it around my neck. He situated it, looking into my eyes. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” His lips brushed mine, “Merry Christmas. Let’s open that gift of yours”

I blushed, thinking my gift probably sucked compared to what he got me. He ripped open the paper to reveal the scrap book. I’d spent forever drawing, writing, sticking, and developing pictures.

“This looks awesome” He smiled, immediately flipping through it. It was probably every picture we’ve ever taken together, including a few from before I even liked them. On some pages, I’d put in songs I’d written or poems. I watched as Joe read some of them, smiling at the words.

“This is great, Reina. I love it. A lot” He hugged me.

“I’m glad. Merry Christmas”

&Reckless

We all decided to go outside and play in the snow after we ate breakfast and got dressed. Our cabin was a two story which had huge hills behind them; perfect for sledding down.

Frankie and Maya wanted to make snow men so Nick, Joe, and I pulled our sleds to the top of the hill.

“Last one down eats dirt.” I smirked, sitting on the sled, feet planted on either side.

“I guess you might want to find someone else to kiss on, Joe.” Nick teased while I glared.

“Ready,” Joe started, ignoring the both of us, “Set, GO!”

We all pushed off, rocketing down the hill. I screamed happily as I went over bumps and kept rushing down. We all got to the bottom of the hill but didn’t slow down the slowest. And I’m sure non of us really thought through the possibility off flying into the bushed that were a few yards from the hills. All three of us tumbled in, curled in balls.

“Oh my gosh!” I laughed, falling out of the bushes and laying on the ground.

“Anyone saw that coming?” Joe asked, lying next to me.

“No.” Nick answered, laughing also. After a minute or so, we were back at it; hitting a dip and flying all over the place that time.

By the end of the day I could say this was one of my favorite Christmases; the favorite. I had family, friends, and love; it couldn’t be better.