I Found Myself Falling...Not For the Right Thing Either

I tried not to stare, but not speaking to Kent was causing me to go insane. It was almost Christmas and it sucked trying to figure out if I should get him a gift or not. I wanted to get him something, but I didn’t want to feel like an idiot when he didn’t get me anything because we weren’t talking…

“Why don’t you just go and talk to him?” James asked, nudging me.

“Because…” I whined, “I don’t want to explain to him why Craig kissed me and why I didn’t tell him.” Katie just stared at me. “What?” I asked, looking down to see if something was wrong with my outfit or if something was on me.

“Why can’t you just tell him why you kissed Craig?” She asked. I gasped.

“How can you dare say I kissed Craig, it was the total opposite!” I confirmed. Katie and James exchanged looks before both rolling their eyes at me.

“Sure hun, that’s it.” I got angry. How could they think that I, Rae Daniels, would kiss Craig Moore. I snorted.

“You guys are idiots. Get that out of your head. He’s the one who kissed me and I know it because I was the one who encountered it.”

“So answer us this…” I looked over at Katie.

“What?” I asked.

“How come you hid it from Kent when if he kissed you that wouldn’t be such a big deal.” I tried to interrupt her, but she continued, “And! Why didn’t you stop the kiss.” My jaw dropped.

“Katie.” I muttered. She looked over at James whose jaw had dropped.

“You didn’t stop the kiss?” He got out, closing his mouth slightly because he was still in awe.

“Well…” I couldn’t think of a lie. I didn’t know why I didn’t stop the kiss either. Maybe it was because I-

“Maybe she felt something.” Katie pushed, waggling her eyebrows. At that I was disgusted.

“He’s like my brother and my mortal enemy, don’t forget.” I pointed out.

“I think she secretly likes him.” James whispered to Katie.

“She goes up into her room at night and worships him.” Katie agreed.

“Alright you two, enough!” A few people from tables around us turned and stared. Embarrassed, I sat down and tried to hide my flaming cheeks. “I don’t worship Craig and I DON’T like him.” I glared at the two who were giggling at their little comments that I missed when I tried to save my sanity from being taken by those who heard me yell loudly during lunch.

“We’ll stop if you just tell us that you like him.” James told him, biting into his pizza. I rolled my eyes.

“I won’t say it because it’s not true.” Before they could get anymore little zings at me I got up and walked away from the table. I really couldn’t answer their questions except I absolutely did NOT like Craig Moore. Yet if I didn’t like him I would have stopped that kiss and told Kent right away like the trustworthy girlfriend that I wasn’t…

“Hey pretty boy, you’re girl’s here.” I frowned at Craig’s remark. He just winked back at me. Why couldn’t he act like he did the day at the mall? He was so sweet and kind. Nice and… wait! What was I saying? This is Craig I’m talking about. The one that I DON’T like… or so I hope I don’t.

Kent turned around to look up at me. His face didn’t show any emotion and it kind of sucked to see that. I was hoping at least for angry because then I’d know where to go with my explaining. Like explain, or maybe grovel on my knees and plead for him to speak to me. The eyes from the rest of the guys at his table didn’t help either, especially Craig’s blue ones.

“Can we talk?” I asked Kent. The guys drew closer except Jake and Craig, who leaned back in his chair to listen to what I had to say about the mess that he’d created. “Alone?” I added. The guy’s faces dropped as they leaned back and started up a new conversation. I tried my hardest to not look at the blue orbs staring back at me and keep the puppy look in my own.

“Alright.” Kent finally agreed, standing up. Without waiting he started to walk out of the cafeteria. I followed closely behind him. I was trying to think of what to say to him, but my mind was blank. It wasn’t drawing anything up. I cursed myself for not being able to think of anything just in time to walk into someone. I landed on the floor with a ‘humph’. I cursed myself again for not paying attention to where I was walking. When Kent raised an eyebrow and lent a hand I took it graciously.

“Sorry.” I muttered, embarrassed that I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and totally ran into him just to make myself fall over.

“Okay.” At first I thought he was saying okay as in, ‘it’s okay that you just made a total fool of yourself in front of me’, but then I realized he meant it in a ‘okay, explain’ kind of manner.

“Well, you see…” I was still drawing blanks as I bit my lip to try and think harder. Kent leaned casually against the wall in the dark hall we were in and it made me go crazy. He looked so sexy. His eyes didn’t show sexiness though as he stared at me, anxious for my explanation. “Okay, I have no explanation for what I did,” Kent started to get up, but I pushed him back. “But, I want to say I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about the kiss as soon as I ended it.”

Lying doesn’t get you anywhere Rae.

Shut up!

I waited for Kent to say something, but when he didn’t I tried to think of more things to say.

“I didn’t mean anything to happen and I didn’t want to lose you as my boyfriend and friend so I thought if I kept it from you long enough I’d come up with a better explanation than this, but I was wrong to do that.” I paused for effect. I’d watched too many dramas in my lifetime to see that the pause gave them time to think if they should take you back or not right before you ask. I grabbed his hand softly with my own and looked up with oh the so famous puppy eyes and asked, “Can you forgive me?” I wasn’t expecting him to reply so fast with a question I wasn’t ready to answer.

“Just answer me this…” He paused. I didn’t know if it was for effect like I had done or if he was just thinking of his choice of words. Something I totally had forgotten to do in my explanation. “Did you like it?”

“No.” I answered almost immediately. Kent’s face seemed to lighten.

“Positive?” He pushed. I nodded.

“Positive.” I lied. I wasn’t positive if I liked it or not. I mean it was different from kisses I’d had in the past, especially with Kent and all, but it kind of had a spark. Maybe it was just the timing and everything, but I still wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. “So, do you forgive me?” I asked again, looking up to his eyes.

He pulled me close to him before pressing his lips to mine. I couldn’t help, but smile. That meant that he’d forgiven me! Or did it mean the one last kiss before we part and go our own ways? When I felt him nibble slightly on my bottom lip I realized it was the first choice and I was glad. I actually missed his lips on mine. He pulled back to take a breath in and smiled.

“God, you don’t know how much I missed speaking to you.” He said, pecking my lips.

“Well let me just say this.” I pecked his lips back. “You’re really good with the silent treatment. I was going crazy.” He chuckled at my remark.

“I know.” I pushed him a little, but he caught his balance and twirled us around so my back was against the wall so he could kiss me again before the bell rang for the end of lunch.

♥

“So you two back together?” Craig suddenly asked me. It made me jump at his suddenness. It scared the shit out of me.

“Yes.” I answered, returning to decorating the Christmas tree.

“Oh good.” Craig commented, picking up an ornament and placing it on the tree.

“Don’t put it there.” I told him. Craig cocked an eyebrow before he picked the ornament back up.

“When should it go then Captain? Here?” He was about to put it in a crowded area, but I grabbed his hand and pulled it back.

“No.” I scolded. I moved his hand over to the top of the tree where no ornaments had been placed in awhile. “There.” I said, making his fingers place the ornament perfectly on the branch. I didn’t let go after he let go of the ornament though and neither did he, but when a voice called our names we both jumped and let go of each other’s hand.

“Craig! Rae! Where are you guys?” I wanted to curse myself. It was Kent.

“Decorating the tree!” I called to him. I took a few steps away from Craig and grabbed a handful of ornaments making it look like we weren’t doing anything… which we really weren’t, but I didn’t want to make it seem like we were because we were just holding hands. Well not hands, but fingers…

“Oh there you are.” I turned and gave him a smile.

“Yupp, Craig was just helping me decorate it.” I explained.

“Well, now that you’re here…” Craig put his ornament into Kent’s hands. “You can help your girlfriend finish.” Kent just smiled and took the ornament from Craig. He turned and started to put it on the tree in an area where it was crowded. I would’ve stopped him if I wasn’t watching Craig’s retreating figure. Had he not just had the same moment I did a minute ago?

Maybe it was just me. Just my stupid mind playing tricks on me, I didn’t feel anything just then. It was all made up in my mind. I didn’t realize it, but Kent was talking to me as I was trying to figure out what had just happened.

“Rae?” I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at him.

“Sorry, thinking. What’s up?”

“You’re holding the last ornament.” I looked down and saw the last ornament dangling on my index finger.

“Oh, so I do.” I lifted my finger up and placed it on the highest branch right next to the angel at the top. “There. Now we’re done.” I told him. He nodded.

“Looks great.” He complimented.

“Thanks I tried to make sure every ornament was placed just right.” I explained, walking towards the dining room where dinner was being set.

“I meant you, but the tree looks nice to.” I loved when he smiled. It just made me want to melt.

“Thanks.” I blushed. I grabbed his hand and entwined our fingers as I led him into the dining room where food was being placed and people were taking seats. I looked around and it looked like everyone was here, Jake, Katie, James, my parents, Jared, Ian, Kent, Craig, me, and sadly, Liz. Liz was all over Craig in a short red dress. It was kind of sickening and I think I wasn’t the only one to notice as my father coughed loudly next to them. Liz detached her lips from Craig’s and sat in her seat. I tried to take my eyes off of them, getting the gross thoughts out of my head of what she’d be doing to him under the table. The only two seats left were across from them so Kent led me over and pulled my chair out.

“Thank you.” I told him, scooping my dress under so I could sit without it going everywhere. I wasn’t really accustomed to wearing dresses so much so I tried to make sure I was sitting properly for wearing one so I crossed my legs one on top of the other. I wasn’t used to wearing shoes in the house either. We normally take our shoes off at the front door, but tonight everyone had them on so I picked out a pair of green heels from Katie’s closet to match my dress. With her approval of course!

“Who wants to say grace?” My mother asked. James and Jared both raised their hands at the same time and the table erupted into laughs.

“You can do it.” James offered politely.

“Nah, you can do it man.” Jared said, putting his hand down.

“Alright.” James cheered happily. He started when I noticed someone looking at me. I turned my head to see Katie’s eyes bulging out of her head. I scrunched my eyebrows and mouthed a ‘what’ to her. She tilted her head to the side. My eyes followed in the direction she was aiming and they landed on Liz and Craig. I didn’t know what she meant at first. I couldn’t see anything, and then something brushed against my leg. Katie had to grab her mouth before laughter would come pouring out.

My jaw dropped and I pulled my leg away. Disgust must’ve been written all over my face because Ian stopped listening to James say grace and cocked an eyebrow. Katie whispered something in his ear and he started to chuckle softly. It wasn’t funny! It was disgusting! I knew it was Liz too by the heels that she was wearing.

“Amen.” James finished. A chorus of ‘amen’s rose from the table as we all started to dish food out.

♥

“How did that feel?” Ian teased as we all walked into the living room so we could exchange gifts.

“Disgusting.” I told him, sitting on the couch next to Kent and Katie.

“I bet.” Katie commented. She started laughing and so did Ian.

“Shut up you two. She doesn’t even know.” I scolded them. They tried to simmer their laughter fits, but it was too funny to stop laughing at.

“What’s wrong with you two?” Jake asked as he came around the couch and sat next to Katie.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” I told him. He just shrugged before grabbing a gift I had watched him wrap a few days previous to today. The silver wrapping paper was the same for the gifts that I had wrapped. I picked up one of mine, making sure to label them so I would know whose was whose. Names started to be called and gifts were exchanged. Boxes started to pile up as everyone got a gift from everyone. We weren’t one of those families to do Secret Santa and give one gift per person. We loved buying gifts for each other.

“Rae! Here is yours.” Jared called my name, handing me a messily wrapped gift.

“Thanks.” I said, placing it in front of me on the floor. “Hey!” I protested as Kent grabbed one of my gifts.

“Oh, sorry, thought that was mine.” He grinned, sheepishly. I gave him a quick kiss before grabbing my last wrapped gift and handing it to my father.

“Thanks honey.” He said, exchanging his for mine.

“Thanks dad.” I took the box and placed it on the top of my pile which was the leaning tower because of how I stacked them so fast.

“O.M.G.” I knew that voice. We all looked up to see Liz’s shocked face.

“What?” We all asked.

“I totally forgot your gifts!” My mother laughed.

“It’s okay dear. Gifts aren’t all Christmas is about.” My mom explained. Liz smiled.

“Okay, good.” She then grabbed a gift from Jake and placed it in her pile. Everyone else seemed to let it go, but I was caught up on it. Liz had been coming to my house for Christmas Eve to exchange gifts since we were both 7 years old. How could she possibly ‘forget’ our gifts the 10th or so year we’ve been doing that?

I wasn’t mad because I didn’t receive another gift, I was mad because Liz wasn’t who she used to be. She was wearing totally different clothes, hanging around new people and acting like she didn’t care about anyone except herself. Liz was never like this. This year had changed her. I don’t just mean how she acted either. She had always thought Craig was hot, but never wanted to date him. Now she’s throwing herself at him. She even made-out with my brother when I was being hunted down by Craig! I looked up at her just as she turned she saw me looking. She didn’t smile like she would’ve last year. She just rolled her eyes and turned to Craig who was sitting next to her, well under her. She was basically in his lap.

“Alright, you can open!” My dad announced as soon as every gift was passed out.