EDITED VERSION: Chapter Twenty

"Shut up, Darian," I heard Nathan hiss in the hallway.

I sat in my room listening to music and editing the manuscript that I had written for my Creative Writing class last semester. Even though I wasn't in that class anymore and there really wasn't much use continuing to edit it, I did it regardless because deep down, I wasn't ready to let go of the characters I spent my every spare moment on. Despite trying to remain focused on my work, I found it extremely difficult because every five minutes I would hear a thud and then Nathan and Darian would start biting each other's heads off. What they were doing? The Lord only knows and I'm too scared to figure it out.

My cell phone rang, breaking me from my thoughts. Looking down at my phone, I saw Alex's name pop up on the screen. Letting out a sigh, I picked up the phone. "Hey, Alex."

"Wow, don't sound so disappointed, sis," Alex's voice rang through the phone.

I rolled my eyes and pushed my laptop off my lap, and went to sit at the edge of my bed. "I'm not disappointed, you just never call and you really pissed me off with that Jude thing you pulled. Did you know he refuses to talk to me now?"

My sister sighed, not an apologetic sigh, but more of an annoyed one. "I know. I'm sorry, I just wanted you to get back out there and find someone who makes you happy."

"You still had no right to do what you did," I snapped. "Not only did Jude stop talking to me, but Nathan was pissed at me for days."

"I know, I know," Alex whined. "I'm really sorry Audrey."

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed, staring at my floor. "Just don't pull that kind of stuff with me again. I have enough to deal with."

There was a pause and I could only hear Alex breathing. After a moment she said, "Do you miss them too?"

"They say holidays are the worst," I nodded, even though I knew she couldn't see me. "It feels weird not being with them right now."

"Well, at least you have your roommates," I heard a smile in her voice as she said, "I bet you went crazy with decorations, like every year."

I laughed and laid down on my bed, feeling tired of sitting. "Actually, I didn't decorate. Wasn't in the Christmas spirit, I guess."

"Awe," Alex began. "At least have a gingerbread cookie or something to get in the spirit."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Did you have a gingerbread cookie to get in the spirit?"

"Nah, I went with adult eggnog."

"Nice," I said slowly. After a few seconds of silence, I said, "Well, tomorrow I will be in the spirit. Samara and the guys are planning to have a little celebration before Darian and Nathan go to their parents for dinner."

"That sounds nice!" My sister said enthusiastically. I could practically picture her eyes light up and a smile appear on her face.

I smiled slightly and began to play with my hair. "Yeah, I think it might be fun."

"I bet it wil-" Alex began but was cut off by another thud and I heard Nathan say, "Shit! Wait - yes!"

"Bro, keep it down. She'll hear you!" Darian whisper yelled to his brother.

Curiosity won me over as I heard Darian scold his brother for being loud. Saving my work and closing my laptop, I raised from my bed and started for the door.

"Hey, Alex?" I said.

"What's up?" My sister asked, sounding mildly concerned at my tone.

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. "I think Darian and Nathan may be trying to kill one another so I'm gonna have to let you go."

Alex let out a little chuckle. "Alright. Well, Merry Christmas little sister."

"Merry Christmas," I said with a smile. "I love you."

"I love you too," my sister said sweetly.

Right when I was about to hang up, I heard Alex say my name.

I brought my phone up to my ear. "Yeah?"

"Try to have a good Christmas, okay? Mom and Dad would hate to see you loathe your favourite time of year."

I blinked back a few tears and nodded my head, again, out of habit. "I promise."

The line went dead and I took a couple of deep breaths. After I collected myself, I threw my phone lightly onto my bed. I opened my door slowly and poked my head in the hallway. "What is going on out here?"

"Don't come out yet!" Darian yelled as loud as he could.

Not risking his wrath, I stood against my door frame and waited for Darian's approval.

A few minutes later, Darian made his way down the hallway with a huge grin on his face. "Close your eyes, we have a surprise for you."

Closing my eyes, I sighed. "It's not Kieran again, is it?"

"Oh hell no," my roommate answered. He grabbed my arm and led me to the living room. "Something even better."

Stumbling over my feet a few times, Darian finally got me to stop walking and positioned me so I could face a certain direction as he let me go. "Alright, open your eyes."

When I did, I couldn't help but gasp. The living room was completely decked out with Christmas decorations. White twinkling lights hung from the ceiling, along with paper snowflakes. On the coffee table, a wreath was placed with candles sitting in the middle. But nothing could beat the Christmas tree that was in the corner, decorated in silver and blue ornaments, tinsel, and lights, with a large glittering star, sat on the top.

Nathan stood beside the tree, a Santa hat resting on the top of his head. He gave me a lopsided smirk. "Merry Christmas, princess."

Tears started to form as I turned to Darian to give him a hug. "Thank you, guys."

I made my way to Nathan to give him a hug as well. He wrapped his arms around me and I felt his breath on my neck as I stayed there. I looked up at him as tears poured and said, "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Nathan wiped the tears streaming down my face and his hazel eyes stared at me with nothing but warmth. "I promised to make your Christmas special, didn't I?"

***

"Merry Christmas!" Samara singsonged as she opened our apartment door.

"Merry Christmas!" Nathan, Darian, and I said in unison.

Samara made her way to us in the living room, gift bags filling both her hands. She placed them under the tree and all of us stared at her. Once she realized we were looking she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Don't look at me like that, Christmas is the season of giving."

"What did you get us, everything in Nordstrom?" Darian asked sarcastically, cracking up at his own response.

Nathan and I exchanged a look and we both rolled our eyes.

Darian sat on the chair and Nathan and I sat on the couch. Meanwhile, Samara made herself comfortable in the bean bag chair Nathan spontaneously bought on Amazon a few weeks ago.

Clapping his hands together, Nathan looked around the room. He cocked an eyebrow and said, "Ready to begin?"

Everyone nodded their heads but suddenly, I remembered something. "Wait! We need to put on Elvis Presley's Blue Christmas!"

Samara gave me a strange look. "Why?"

"Because it isn't Christmas without the King?" I answered in a tone that sounded like it was the most obvious thing ever. Samara cocked an eyebrow and I rolled my eyes. "My dad always said that."

My friend nodded her head slowly, not bothering to argue with my logic.

"I've got you covered, princess," Nathan said, he pressed the remote to the stereo and Elvis's Blue Christmas began to fill the apartment.

I smiled to myself and my insides started to feel warm as I remembered my dad always trying to serenade my mom with this song while he made her coffee every Christmas morning. Looking at Nathan, I gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Nate."

Nathan only gave me a smile in return and Darian stood up to pass out the presents. He went straight for Samara's giant gift bags and passed them out to us, quickly. Eagerness was plastered on his face as he plopped down on his chair and threw the tissue out of the bag. His eyes went wide and a grin formed, nearly going to his ears.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to stretch my neck so I could see.

Darian plunged his hands in the bag and brought them out. In his hands, were beanies of nearly every colour possible and some had designs on the front. There were at least ten or twelve and Darian hugged them all. When he noticed all of us staring, he narrowed his blue eyes. "If any of you steal my beanies, I will set your hair on fire."

I held my hands up in surrender and chuckled lightly. "I promise to not touch your beanies."

"Good," my roommate said in finality.

Samara smiled and she said, "I'm glad you like them. Audrey, you're next!"

I nodded my head and started to take the tissue out of the large gift bag. When I reached what was at the bottom, I laughed so hard, tears started to form. At the bottom of the bag was the green hoodie Samara had lent me the first time I met her. Even though she had said I could keep it, I refused and gave it back to her next class.

"What's so funny about a green hoodie?" Nathan asked, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

I wiped my tears and smiled. "The day I met Samara, I got soaked from the rain and she told me I looked like a drowned poodle and then gave me her hoodie so I wasn't in soaking clothes for the whole class."

"You really did look like a poodle," Samara mused. "But you look better in that sweater than me. Now you can't give back, it's a gift!"

I narrowed my eyes at my best friend and nodded my head. "Well played, Jones. Well played."

She tilted her head and brought her hands up, her palms facing upwards. "I try."

Samara jerked her head over to Nathan. "Your turn!"

Nathan didn't need to be told twice, diving into the bag he pulled out a box that said, Home Brew. His eyes went wide and looked at Sam. "Is this a brewing kit?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah, my mom got it for my dad but he had no interest in it. Never been used. I thought you'd like it, being a bartender and all."

"Thanks," Nathan said with a smile.

It was nice to see him smile, he had been doing it since he and Darian surprised me last night with the Christmas decorations and I never wanted him to stop.

Darian clapped his hands together and our gazes shifted to him. He was sitting on his chair, still having his beanies close to his chest and one sat on his head that said cutie. "I don't have anything psychical to give you because they haven't been sent here yet, but I got us all tickets to the music festival that's happening in the summer."

We all let out a collective gasp and thanked Darian profusely. He had a smug look on his face. "I totally won Christmas."

"You don't win Christmas, dude," Nathan scoffed. "Christmas isn't something you win."

His brother stuck out his tongue and Nathan rolled his eyes. Digging into his pocket, Nathan passed each of us a card. Samara's contained a gift card to Sephora which was incredibly fitting seeing as she practically lives in the store. Darian's contained a gift card to Starbucks, which was also incredibly fitting seeing he also seems to live in that place. As for me, my card didn't contain a gift card, but rather a necklace that looked similar to the one Nathan always wore. Nathan leaned over and had a twinkle in his eye. "It's a Celtic knot, just in case you were wondering."

I nodded my head as I looked down at it. Studying it more closely, I noticed it almost looked like two hearts intertwined but one was upside down. Looking back at Nate, I saw the one that hung from his neck. "But mine is different from yours, what does yours mean?"

Nathan looked down at his. "It's a Dara Knot. I got it when travelling, but it symbolizes an oak tree, but others interpret it as meaning strength."

I was about to ask what mine had meant but Nathan quickly beat me to it. "Do you want me to help you put it on? I mean, if you want to wear it."

Thankfully, Samara and Darian were too busy to notice mine and Nathan's exchange as they started comparing notes as to what each of them should get from the places Nathan had gotten them gift cards from.

"Of course, I want to Nate," I handed him the necklace and I felt him brush my hair to the side so it wouldn't be in his way as he placed the necklace around my neck. I felt him get the clasp onto the rings, but yet, his hands still hovered over my skin. Looking down, I admired it. "It's beautiful."

Breaking apart Darian and Samara's feud about whether Starbucks is better than Sephora, I said, "Alright, well I still have some stuff for you guys."

Getting up from my spot, I went to get my gifts from underneath the Christmas tree. Picking up a small bag for Samara, another bag for Darian, and a box for Nathan, I passed them out.

Samara opened her bag and screamed at the top of her lungs. "YOU GOT ME THE RIHANNA MAKEUP LINE?" She squealed and ran to give me a big hug. "I LOVE YOU!"

I patted her back and gave her a smile. "You're welcome."

She sat back down and started to open her makeup and test out swatches on her arm. Meanwhile, Darian got to work on opening his gift. Similar to Samara's reaction, he started freaking out. "You got me a yearlong subscription to Mubi and American Cinematographer?"

I gave Darian a smile. "Well, you're the best roommate ever. And the best deserves the best."

My roommate shot me a grateful look and I smiled sweetly back at him. I then looked over at Nathan, who looked confused. "What's Mubi and the cinema thing?"

"Mubi is a streaming site for films and the American Cinematographer is a magazine for filmmaker enthusiasts," I replied. Giving Nathan a smile, I jerked my head slightly. "Open it, I promise you that you'll like it."

Nathan nodded his head and began to tear the snowflake wrapping paper off the box. When he saw it was a white box, he gave me a quizzical look. I jerked my head again, emphasizing to keep going. Once he opened his gift completely, his eyes lit up, to the point I could see various colours swirling about. He looked at me and gave me a look I've never seen before. It was a smile. But this one was one that caused me to feel something strange flutter about in my stomach.

"Audrey," he began. He held up the signed Floyd Mayweather boxing glove and stared at it in awe. "This... This is amazing."

I winked at him and gave him a wicked smile. "I told you you'd like it."

Carefully placing the gloves back in the box and putting them on the coffee table, he leaned over and brought me in for a tight hug. "Thank you, princess."