Choices: Part 1

Chapter 19

It feels like I just laid my head on my pillow when Anne jostles me awake. I groan and bat her hand away as she shakes my shoulder.

"Get up! Its Christmas!" Anne says, excitedly.

"I'm well aware." I mumble.

"Well then get your ass moving!" She says.

I open my eyes and Anne is hovering over me, her robe on, and a candle lit in her hand. She is annoyed, her one hand on her hip. I sigh.

"Alright, alright."

Sleepily, I put on my robe and follow her out. No one else seems to have risen so it is just me and Anne who stand around the Christmas tree. Anne eyes the gifts greedily. I look out the window and see the sun hasn't even risen yet. I got maybe 3 hours of sleep.

"Jeez, Anne. It's the crack of dawn!" I complain.

"So? You passed out before I did." She says, not taking her eyes off the gifts.

My cheeks warm and my eyes dart to the couch beside me. Just a few hours ago Sebastian and I were sitting on that couch, making out. I bite my lip as the memory replays in my mind and my hand goes to my neck as if I can see feel his lips there.

I hear a door open behind me and I see Ominis walk out, the tip of his wand pulsating red to guide him, and Sebastian soon follows behind. He looks as tired as I feel with dark circles under his eyes and his hair sticking out at odd angles on the top of his head. When our eyes meet, he gives me a sheepish smile and I catch his eyes dart to the couch before looking back at me, his cheeks turning pink.

"Finally!" Anne says.

"Well, this one," Ominis jerks his thumb towards Sebastian, "Didn't want to get out of bed."

"Same with Erin." Anne says, rolling her eyes.

Sebastian fights back a smile as I stifle a laugh and goes to help Anne with the gifts. Ominis and I follow suit and, as we are sorting the last of the gifts, Solomon comes out of his bedroom, clutching his head.

"Merry Christmas, Uncle!" Anne calls out.

"Merry Christmas." He mumbles.

He takes a seat at the table and waves his wand. A bottle appears before him and he takes a long drink before letting out a huge burp. He rubs his temple as he watches Anne hand out the gifts to everyone. After she's finished, Anne takes a seat on the floor in front of the couch to start opening hers. Sebastian and I sit next to each other on the couch, our legs lightly touching. I catch out of the corner of my eye Sebastian grinning, making my heart flutter.

We start to open our gifts, Anne practically tossing wrapping paper over her head. I got a basket of sweets from Honeydukes from Ominis and Anne got me a black leather journal with my name inscribed on the back in gold lettering. Anne is pleased with the salmon color scarf I got her, gives Sebastian a kiss on the cheek for a book she was dying to read, and practically knocks over Ominis when she leaps up to hug him, seeing he got her a gorgeous silver necklace with a tear drop emerald.

"I'm glad you like it." Ominis mutters, looking rather pleased with himself.

"Like it? I love it!"

She hurries over to the mirror hanging above the fireplace and puts it on. Her fingers linger over the emerald as she admires it, smiling. She blushes as she notices me watching her and goes back to opening her gifts. I spot her glancing a few times at Ominis when she thinks no one is looking.

"Erin, this is great!"

Sebastian admires the wand self-servicing kit I got him. I feel a little disappointed in myself knowing now how his gift to me was more personal, but he seems very ecstatic and gives me a kiss on the cheek as a thank you. Anne eyes us suspiciously, but thankfully, doesn't say anything.