Just Friends (28 page)

December 2
nd

M
adeline refused to let go of Ethan as we tried to leave our parent’s house. We made the correct decision of packing all our bags and putting them into the car before stopping to say goodbye. Madeline was ready to leave for school.

“I don’t want you to go!” She shouted and started to cry.

I knew my emotions were not capable of lasting long so I quickly hugged everyone and rushed back to the car. Ethan’s emotional side was far stronger than mine. “Are you ok?” He asked, sliding into the car alongside me.

“I’m fine.” I replied.

Today Ethan was wearing his piano tie I bought him for our first Christmas. The design of it is very self-explanatory, it was a sideways keyboard printed along the tie. “Is there anything you want for Christmas?” I asked to distract myself. I’ve decided to give him the letter from his Mum on Christmas Day. Anytime before then may affect his concentration towards his performance on Christmas Eve.

“I haven’t given it much thought to be honest, ties are clearly essential, but you only need to buy me one or two. There’s no point buying loads because it’ll ruin the tradition.” Ethan replied, peering out of the window.

“You must want something?”

Ethan wiggled his face. “I already have everything.”

I scowled at him in sarcasm. “Stop turning into my Mum and tell me what you want.”

“How about a holiday?” He responded quickly.

I thought for a second, “You already have a plane?”

He patted my knee, “Yeah, but the holiday still needs organising, doesn’t it? The plane gets us to wherever we’re going.”

I nodded, “Ok.” My mind began to wildly search for the perfect holiday destination. “I’ll surprise you,” I added.

“Perfect, thanks August.”

December 10
th

B
etter late than never
as my Dad would always say. So now I am frantically arranging all of my Christmas presents. Today was a productive day. I spent the entirety of my morning working out in the gym. My New Years resolution is to work out more and stay in shape. I’m trying to make my six-pack appear a little more prominent. I can also wear all the running clothes I own for what they’re supposed to be used for.

After my workout, I took a shower and grabbed my laptop and searched online for my Christmas presents. I had written a list of everyone’s gifts.

Mum –High heels

Dad – New TV

Madeline – Sneakers, tour around ice cream factory

Max – Concert tickets

Eleanor – The same gift as Mums

Ethan – Holiday, personalised playing cards, ties

Since Ethan is giving my parents our house from us both, I realised my gifts to them should be more… normal. So, I got Mum, Eleanor, Jasmine and I, four of the same sized black high heels, we all have the same size feet. I added Jasmine to the list when I decided to call the genius who designed and created my dress. He also does heels. He explained he would deliver my Mum’s shoes in person since he’s visiting his boyfriend’s family for Christmas, and they only live thirty minutes away from my family. So that’s very, very, very convenient and cute. He’s extremely nice and polite. He’s French, and has a very lovely broad accent. He wasn’t too happy with the short notice I left him with, but because I looked so good in his dress he made an exception for me. He said he would surprise us, too. So I’m super excited to see what these shoes look like. If they’re as good as my dress I don’t think we’ll be taking them off!

I ordered Madeline six pairs of
Converse
– purple, red, black, white, blue and pink. I know she’ll love them. It’s the unwrapping I’m sure she will enjoy the most, having all those boxes piled up for her. Her excitement will be uncontainable. And I called Ron’s ice cream and organised a tour around their factory or whatever they call it where they make the ice cream. So she’ll be able to see how her beloved bubblegum ice cream is made! It’s going to be the best gift
ever!
I can just imagine walking around and turning to find Madeline had vanished, then the next moment I just see her swimming in the bubblegum ice cream mixer.

When I spoke to Eleanor about a gift for Max she explained that Max would like two tickets for the ballet. Obviously they’re for her, but she said to get them for him anyway. I know it doesn’t really make sense, but I followed her instructions. Her happiness brings him happiness I guess. Relationships are weird.

As for Ethan’s gifts, I’ve designed him some golden playing cards that have his own cool design on the back with his initials inscribed on them. Every card is the same, apart from the Queen of hearts; on that one it has a photo of me with a cheesy childish grin and two thumbs up. I thought it’d be funny. They come in a lovely wooden box. I hope he likes them because I spent the
forever
designing them!

As for a holiday I booked a trip to the Maldives. The main reason I booked this holiday is because it’s beautiful and sunny and we’ll be marooned on a small island for ten days. Meaning we’ll be able to spend lots and lots and lots of time
alone
.

And of course, ties. I had a long search through a huge collection of ties, although none appealed to me. The perfect one inevitably showed itself. Nothing else came close to this tie. It was a sky blue tie with falling snowflakes draping on it. It even came in a unique crafted box, how cool is that? Out of all of his ties, this one would be my favourite.

I shut my laptop after ordering everything, letting out a huge sigh of relief. Ethan was doing press-ups in the gym when I emerged from my bedroom. I rushed in and laid across his back as he continued, wrapping my arms around his chest. We’re by far the cutest couple, not to be a couple, ever.

December 16
th

I
t’s almost midnight. Ethan and I are sat in bed watching an episode of Patrick Miller’s show. I wasn’t watching it to tell you the truth. I was drifting off to sleep. Something had been on my mind all day though, the source of where all this came from. Ethan paid for it all, but the money in that bag I saw a while ago hasn’t paid for everything.

“Ethan?” I whispered, rolling over and onto his chest.

“Yes, dear?” He replied, flicking his eyes off the television.

“How did you pay for everything? Honestly.”

I closed my eyes in hope he’d think I was adorable, so he wouldn’t get mad at me for asking.

He inhaled and exhaled deeply. “My Dad didn’t drink himself to death. He was… shot, because he owed a casino owner in Italy a severe amount of money. When the owner found out he didn’t have the money he was owed, he shot my Dad. I went over to Italy as soon as I left the hospital, saw my Dad one final time before having him sent back home to be buried next to my Mum. The casino owner had twelve casinos scattered around Europe. They all closed that same weekend. Each one mysteriously emptied of its sixty or seventy million banks... I walked away with seven hundred and seventy three million by the end of the weekend. I bought myself a private plane with the money from the first winnings, to fly me to every other casino. Then I went to Switzerland, to open a bank account where the money remains now… not bad to say I’d just come out of hospital, huh? I think we can both agree that I’m pretty good at roulette.”

I remained silent. A tear ran down my cheek as I winced my eyes. I know why he had kept this a secret, it’s not easy telling someone your Dad was murdered. And then so many questions would have to be asked. I felt nothing needed to be said, so I cuddled up to him and squeezed him, snuggling my head into his chest more. He already knows that I’m sorry and I’ll always be there for him. Our emotional moment was interrupted when I burped out of nowhere. Ethan laughed so hard he had to roll out of bed to compose himself.

“Way to brighten the mood, August!” He joked.

Embarrassed, I laughed with my head underneath the pillow, desperately wishing that didn’t just happen.

December 17
th

H
orrible cramps struck me at lunchtime, resorting me to my bed, feeling sorry for myself. Ethan, being the annoying person he is, brought me a hot water bottle, a basket of assorted muffins, a large tub of Ron’s cherry ice cream, a huge bunch of flowers, and last but not least a massive teddy bear bigger than me. He stumbled into my room, dropping the bear beside my bed as he scanned my room to find a suitable place to put it. He was wearing the love heart patterned tie I bought him for our eighth Christmas together.

“Sorry I didn’t come to your aid earlier, I was busy searching for things I thought would help.”

I snatched the hot water bottle off him, settling it on my stomach.

“Come here.” Ethan said, sliding into bed and cuddling me.

“I want my bear.” I murmured into his chest.

Next thing I knew, there was a teddy bears face smothering us both.

“Where on Earth did you get this?” I asked.

He laughed, “Teddy bear shop.” He kissed my forehead and squeezed me.

“No kissing.” I growled.

“Ok sorry.” He released his grasp and rolled the teddy bear off of us. A muffin then appeared in front of my eyes, which I immediately inhaled.

“You’re so adorable.” He whispered.

I reached over him and grabbed a couple of muffins, stuffing one into my mouth and one into his. We spent the whole day laying in bed and watching movies. If I weren’t in so much pain this would have been a wonderful day.

We shared the ice cream while watching
When Harry Met Sally
. Not the most convenient film to watch regarding my situation in all honesty. So I fell asleep. Later on at 11:42pm, I woke up, still in Ethan’s arms. I slipped out of bed and wandered to the bathroom.

When I came back, Ethan was still asleep. I sat beside him and watched him sleep peacefully for a minute or two before kissing his forehead and whispering, “I love you,” making sure I avoided waking him.

December 19
th

A
s I strolled downstairs this morning, the biggest bare Christmas tree I had ever seen in my entire life was planted in the corner of our living room.

“How the hell did that get in here?” I asked as I descended the stairs.