Under the Mistletoe (Christmas Special)

Chapter 10

THIS ISN'T THE LAST CHAPTER. This is a super short chapter because there's gonna be another after this :) and there will be an epilogue after that!

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I finish wrapping all of the presents I got for everyone and let me just say, my wrapping is perfect. I guess that's tooting my own horn or whatever, but seriously. I think I deserve an award for being such a good wrapper.

Christmas is in three days and I have everyone's presents. I'd say that I've been pretty successful on present-buying this year because last year I went shopping on Christmas Eve. I think I deserve a sticker for that on top of my award for wrapping.

As for my boyfriend mission, I think I'm just going to give up on that. I mean, Christmas is three days away. I could call Sam, but I really have no motivation to. He's everything I could ask for in a guy, yet there's something about him that just doesn't click with me. But it's not really him, it's me.

Did I seriously just say that?

Whoever wrote me that letter and gave me those flowers has yet to be discovered, but who really cares? There's no doubt that I would date whoever sent them without question, but it was probably just a joke someone pulled on me. My sisters and Melissa denied that it was them, but I'm still sure they're guilty. Oh well.

I get up and head into my kitchen. I open up my freezer and pull out a tub of Panda Paws to celebrate my award for wrapping and sticker for present buying. I have to find excuses to eat ice cream, don't I?

I usually opt for chocolate ice cream, but I'm in a Panda Paws type of mood. That's why I keep it in there - for those times that I'm not feeling chocolate. Things as important as this need to be well thought out beforehand.

I sit at my countertop and dig in with a large spoon. I pull out my phone and scroll through my Instagram feed. I decide to post a picture of me with my ice cream. I'm a cool cat.

I really need to start doing something with my life. I should go to Uni. Maybe that will be my New Years Resolution! To go to Uni and get something accomplished. Maybe I'll get a real job and finally become a writer like I've always wanted.

A knock on the door interrupts my daydreaming. I drop my spoon and get up to figure out who my daydream crusher is.

I flash a wide smile as soon as I realize who it is, "Hey, Liam! Wow, it's been like four days. It feels like forever." I give him a hug, but he hardly hugs me back. "Like for-eva. You get me? You get me, Liam? you get me? You know how I get shaky after having ice cream and get all hyper? You should know that I'm eating Panda Paws right now so you're experiencing that hyperness and shakine-"

He puts his hand on his head and runs it over what little hair he has. "No, Josie, please stop. I need to tell you something and it can't wait. If you keep talking and being all perfect I'll convince myself not to do this and I really need to do this. I need to do this now."

I raise my eyebrow, "Okay."

"Look, that letter. The flowers. It was me. It was all me. It wasn't a joke. I actually feel that way about you," he drags his eyes up from the ground to meet mine. "I'm not trying to pull a prank on you. I'm crazy about you and I thought that if you felt the same way about me you'd know that it was me from the letter. I left it unsigned because I thought maybe you wouldn't know since you didn't feel the same way and therefore I wouldn't ruin our friendship like I kind of am right now. Also because I'm a wimp but that's besides the point.

I just couldn't keep it inside anymore and I thought that letter would help me feel like I wasn't hiding it anymore but it didn't. I've felt this way about you for so long and you said you were looking for a boyfriend and I wanted to tell you before you got one. It was on my Christmas Wish List, actually. I knew seeing you with a different guy would kill me and I thought if there was any chance for us it would have to be before you got someone else. I don't expect you to feel the same way about me so I'm not expecting you to respond to this in any way to this but I really hope we can still be friends because I love you. Not only in the couple type of way but in the best friend type of way. You're the most amazing person I've ever met and I don't want to lose you even if you don't feel the same way about me." He finishes his rant with a deep breath.

My jaw drops. It was Liam who wrote the letter? Liam, as in my best friend? I don't even know what to say! I have to say something! What do I say?

My brain is frozen.

Hello? Brain? Feel free to work. Anytime now. I kind of need you.

You too, lungs.

Am I the only one that finds it necessary to talk to internal organs when they freak out? Because that's what I'm doing - freaking out.

I AM FREAKING THE HELL OUT.

My best friend is in love with me. My best friend! That's going to take a while to process. Especially for someone as slow as me.

Since when has my life become some cliche romance? Since when does Liam love me? Since when am I actually questioning whether I love him back?

I snap back into reality as I see Liam walking away and saying, "Well, I'll see you around, I guess. I hope we can still be friends"

And of course I'm just standing there with my mouth hanging open, catching flies, as I watch my best friend, who happens to be in love with me, walk away.

My stupid brain never bothers to listen to me.

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You're all probably pissed at Josie...haha. I kind of left this at a cliffhanger (I think?) but the next chapter is already almost finished and will be up when this chapter receives 200 votes & 40 comments? Does that sound fair? 200 VOTES AND 50 COMMENTS, READY GO.

Happy New Years Eve, and thanks for reading! <3 xoxo