Santa's Coming

Madi POV:

I've always loved Christmas. The colors, the snow, the lights, the music. Just everything.

Lexa is the complete opposite. She hates bright colors. She doesn't really like the cold. Lights are always bothering her and she hates happy music.

So I wasn't sure why she agreed to go Christmas shopping with me. Our town has little shops along the street and I wanted to go in every single one. Lexa had no complaints as she followed me.

We've agreed to only get each other one gift. But I was still getting a gift for Hazel and my friends. We did a gift exchange and I got Liv. I was just gonna get her a bunch of makeup.

"See anything?" Lexa's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Uhh..." I looked at the makeup pallets. "Maybe this one." I looked at the sparkly colors. Liv loved sparkly eyeshadow.

"Looks good. Can we leave now? If I hear Jingle Bells one more fucking time I swear..." Lexa kept her head low. She wasn't wrong, Jingle Bells has played about ten times in the past half hour.

"Yeah." I smiled at her. We paid for our stuff at different registers because apparently she bought me something.

I bought her something too but at the other store. I made her wait outside as I paid.

We headed outside and began our walk home when my eyes caught something in a shop window.

"Lexa, look!" I stared at the window.

"What?" Lexa turned and looked at the window. Then her face drops. "Oh, hell no."

"Come on! What could be better than me and you wearing matching PJ's!?" I asked her with a big smile on my face.

"Death." She stared at me.

"Please. We'll look so adorable." I begged.

"I hate adorable." Lexa shook her head.

"There are snowmen on the front!" I pointed.

"No way." Lexa shook her head.

Two hours later, we were at my house and Lexa would not come out of the bathroom. Yes, we got the PJ's. No, Lexa was not happy.

"Come out!" I told her for the third time.

"I look ridiculous!" Lexa groaned.

"I'm wearing the exact same thing. Get out here." I looked down at the fluffy blue pants. They were covered in snowflakes and they were adorable.

We only had to wear the PJ's for one day.

The door opened and Lexa walked out with the grumpiest face ever.

"Aww, you look so cute." I smiled at her. She looks so different in such a new outfit. I never thought I'd ever see her wear anything like that. Ever.

"I hate it." She deadpanned.

"It's only for Christmas Eve. You don't have to wear them for three days." I said, sitting on my couch.

"One day. I promised one day." Lexa pointed her finger at me.

"Admit it, they're comfy!" I stared at her, waiting for her to crack.

"Nope. I hate them." Lexa turned around and removed her shirt. I stared at her back.

Man, she was hot.

I looked away when the bathroom door shut and she was out of view.

I put my head in my hands. Why do I feel like this? I haven't felt like this since-

It doesn't matter.

I looked over at the counter as a phone rang.

Lexa's phone.

"Lexa, your phone's ringing!" I called out.

"Who's calling?" She yelled back.

"Uh...Max." I read the name. Who's Max?

Lexa exited the bathroom and ran over to me. She swiped her phone off the counter and answered it.

"Hello?" Lexa tried not to sound as out of breath as she looked. "Yeah. No, I'm coming now, stop crying." She hung up.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

Lexa looked up at me. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just work."

"Is Max...your boss?" I questioned.

Lexa looked ready to laugh. "My boss? That dork wouldn't have a business without me."

"So I'm guessing not a boyfriend either." I added.

"Boyfriend?" Her eyebrows rose and she looked disgusted. "Absolutely not. Ew. No. As much as I would love to continue this conversation with you, I gotta go. Text you later?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Bye, flower." Lexa hugged me.

"Bye, Lexa." I smiled as I watched her leave.

I really hope I don't look ridiculous in these PJ's.

Lexa didn't text me for five hours.

I actually sat on the couch and stared at my phone on the coffee table. Every time I got a notification I practically threw myself across the table to see if it was her. She just makes me feel safe. Maybe it was just because I haven't had a real friend since...long ago.

Or maybe it was because I had a crush on her.

Ugh. I hate having feelings for someone when I know I can't fulfill them.

Christmas Eve was so exciting. I'm meeting with my friends in an hour to exchange our gifts. I wore a pair of leggings with these cute books I bought online. I paired it with a red Christmas sweater.

I knocked on Lizzie's door.

An older woman opened it.

"Oh, you must be Madison. I'm Carmen. Elizabeth's mother." She smiled.

"Hi, Mrs. Gomez." I stepped inside.

Instead of being covered with Halloween decorations, it was covered in Christmas decorations. It looks way bigger without the party crowd from Halloween.

"You have a beautiful home." I told her.

"Why, thank you." Mrs. Gomez smiled. "The others are in the living room."

"Thank you." I told her before walking to the living room. There sat all my friends as they spoke among themselves.

"Madi!" Lizzie smiled, jumping up and hugging me.

"Lizzie, hey." I smiled back.

"Move!" Liv shoved Lizzie as she hugged me next.

"I want a hug too!" Chase jumped up, mocking the girls as he hugged me.

Matt hugged me when I sat beside him on the couch.

"Madi." Jack nodded at me with a smile.

"Hey, Jack." I returned the gesture as he hugged me.

"Who's ready for the gift exchange!?" Lizzie jumped up.

Chase was first and he gave Lizzie a blanket with weed symbols. Lizzie loved it.

Lizzie gave Matt a bong. Yes, a bong. Matt was excited to use it.

Matt gave Jack a pair of Jordan's. Jack put them on.

Jack turned to me. "Madi. I got you."

I stared at him as he handed me a bag. I opened it and saw the letters to my name. They lit up too.

"Wow, this is so cute." I smiled, looking at the yellow designs.

"Push the button." Jack pointed.

I pushed it and the sign lit up. "Thank you." I smiled, hugging him. I turned off the light before picking up the bag I got for Liv. "Liv, this is for you."

"Ooh." Liv smirked, opening the bag. "Holy crap. Madi, this is my favorite pallet! How did you know?"

It is?

"Oh, I just saw the colors and was like 'Liv likes these colors'. It's just a coincidence." I told her.

"I was gonna buy a new one after Christmas and now I don't have to. Thanks, love." Liv tackled me in a hug.

Then Liv gave her gift to Chase. It was a new football set.

After we all said goodbye it was time to head home.

"Hey." A voice caused me to look up. I was ordering an Uber. It was Jack.

"Hey." I replied.

"Wanna take an Uber with me?" He asked.

"Sure." I nodded. "I can pay you back."

"No need." Jack waved. "He'll be here in about three minutes."

"Thanks again for the sign. It's really cute." I told him.

"I wasn't sure what to get you, if you want something else we can switch it." Jack said.

"No! I love it." I shook my head.

"Hey, I know you live alone and all so if you want to join me for Christmas Eve my family's having a small get together." Jack offered.

"Oh...thanks for the offer, but I am doing something." I smiled.

Jack's face faltered. "With Lexa?"

"Yeah, actually." I nodded.

"Madi...I get you two are friends and all, but she's not a good person." Jack faced me.

"She's more than just a drug dealer." I whispered, not wanting anyone to overhear.

"She's basically a criminal. I don't want her to drag you down too." His voice was getting deeper.

"She's not gonna drag me down. Lexa's actually a really nice person. She and I don't have family but we have each other. It's good to have someone who understands. Yeah, her and I are two very different people, but-" I stopped as a car pulled up. Our Uber.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I don't know her like you do." Jack apologized. I wasn't gonna say anything, but it looked like he wasn't sorry.

The ride was silent until the driver stopped in front of my apartment.

"Thank you." I told the driver. "Have a good Christmas."

"You too." The driver replied.

I got out and looked at Jack, who remained in the car. "Have a good Christmas, Jack. I'll see you soon?"

"Yeah. Merry Christmas, Madi." Jack smiled.

I nodded back before I shut the door and watched the car drive off. I headed inside and went up to my room. I texted Lexa she can come over whenever she wants.

About twenty minutes later there was a knock at the door. Lexa almost matched me. She wore black leggings with her converse. A dark red crop top paired with a black jacket.

She held her bag and a small Christmas bag. I invited her in.

"Wait, I know what would go great with your outfit!" I ran to my room and returned with a hat. A Santa hat.

Lexa rolled her eyes but bent down so I could put it on her.

We ordered pizza and sat on the couch as How The Grinch Stole Christmas played. Halfway through the movie my legs ended up across her lap. When the movie was over I smirked at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lexa raised an eyebrow.

"It's PJ time." I smiled back.

Lexa groaned loudly. "I avoided this moment, you know?"

"You love the jammies, don't lie to me!" I leaned closer to her.

Lexa's face dropped a bit. Did I say something?

"Fine, go put your jammies on." She tapped my knee with her hand.

"Will you put yours on?" I asked her.

"Will you be upset if I don't?" She retorted.

"Yes." I nodded.

"Ugh, fine." Lexa sighed.

I was so happy when we reentered the living room in our PJ's.

"We look so cute!" I jumped up and down.

Lexa tossed the Santa hat on the couch.

"Let's take a picture!" I pulled out my phone.

"No! If anyone sees me like this I will actually jump in front of a bus." Lexa glared.

I frowned. "What if it's on a polaroid camera? I'll have the only copy."

Lexa stared at me for a long moment. "Fine. One picture. It never leaves this house, we clear?"

"Crystal!" I smiled.

I ran into my room and got my camera. Mary Ann got me it for my fifteenth birthday.

"We can sit on the couch." I already saw Lexa sitting there so I figured we'd just take it there. I put the camera on the coffee table and angled it so we could be seen. "Ready?"

Lexa nodded.

I pushed the button and ran. I jumped in the air to land on the couch beside her. She caught me and helped stable me so we were both sitting up. We laughed together and when I looked up we were so close and staring right into each other's eyes. My smile slowly dropped as I realized how close we were.

She realized too because she looked at me in a way that made me feel special. So very special.

The flash of the camera caused us to look away.

"Crap, we weren't even looking. We can take another." I laughed nervously. I reached forward and waved the picture in the air as we waited for it to develop.

When the picture did develop, I noticed how perfect it was. We were both looking at each other with an indescribable feeling.

"I don't want another." Lexa spoke up. I looked over at her. "I love that one."

A smile emerged over my face. "I love it too."

Lexa and I ended up falling asleep on the couch. I felt a hand brushing my hair. My eyes fluttered open as I realized I was, once again, laying on Lexa's chest.

Was she awake already?

I looked around for my phone. It was plugged in across the room.

"You can go get it." Lexa's voice scared the crap out of me. I looked up but her eyes were still closed.

"How did you know I was staring at my phone?" I practically gasped.

Lexa opened her eyes and looked down at me. "I opened my eyes, saw you looking, then closed them again." She had a teasing smile on her face.

My cheeks felt warm. Duh, Madi, she was looking at you.

Wait...she was looking at me? For how long?

"Right. I knew that." I rolled off the couch...and straight onto the floor. "Ow."

"You alright?" Lexa rolled onto her side.

"Yep. I'm good." I crawled over to my phone. It was already nine. I stood up and walked back over to the couch. "Merry Christmas!" I jumped on her.

"Ow!" Lexa yelped, then she wrapped her arms around my waist and flipped us around. I stared up at her until I registered what position we were in. Lexa did too because she smirked. "Ready for your gift?"

"Are you ready for yours?" I whispered back at her.

"Sure am." Lexa nodded, getting off of me. Was it weird to say I didn't want her to move? "I just realized you don't have a Christmas tree."

"I didn't feel like buying one. We can use...uh..." I looked around. "Here." I pulled my fake sunflower plant over to us.

"The sunflower is our Christmas tree?" Lexa laughed.

"Hey, it's a good replacement." I crossed my arms.

"It's perfect." Lexa replied. She moved towards her stuff and that little Christmas bag she brought before putting it under our sunflower...plant.

I moved into my room and put the little Christmas box under the sunflower too.

"Open mine first." I pushed the box towards her lap.

Lexa agreed and opened the box. Inside was a bracelet. It was half of a butterfly and it was green.

"It's...beautiful." Lexa held up the bracelet.

"There's more." I told her. She looked up as I opened my palm, which held the other half of the butterfly. It was blue. "I got you green because it matches your eyes. I got blue because-"

"Your eyes are blue." She finished. I nodded.

I put the bracelet on as she did the same.

"Not sure I can top this." Lexa muttered. "But here you are." She slid the small bag over to me.

I opened the bag and pulled out a small black box. I looked up at her and she was looking at me nervously. I opened the box and saw a sunflower necklace. But instead of the middle being the disk flower, which I believe the middle of the sunflower is called, there were diamonds. Seven small diamonds.

"Are these...real diamonds?" I asked, my jaw was almost on the ground.

"Yeah. We passed by a jewelry store the other day and the second I saw it...I thought of you." She told me. I looked up and stared at her with a huge smile on my face.

"I love it!" I moved forward and hugged her. She fell backwards and we both laid on the floor. "Put it on me?" I whispered.

"Of course." She replied. I sat up and lifted my hair as she placed the necklace around my neck.

"Thank you." I faced her.

"Merry Christmas, Madi." Lexa smiled, brushing the hair out of my eyes.