Thin Ice (18 page)

“Do you want to call him now?”

“Might as well get it over with.”

He takes my hand and gives me a reassuring look. I press call and my dad answers on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi dad.”

“What’s up kid? How was your last class?”

“Got an A.”

“Good keep it up. Been working out?”

“Yes sir.”
A little lie won’t hurt him.

“Hitting the weights?”

“Yes dad.”

I see Dylan shaking his head out of the corner of my eye, obviously unamused.

“So when is your flight home?”

I let out a sigh and Dylan’s grip tightens on my hand. “I told you I was staying here remember?”

“So you’re not coming home? What are you doing for Christmas then? You should be home for the holidays.”

“I’m going to Dylan’s.”

“Is that ok with him? You don’t want to be a bother.”

Before I can answer, Dylan takes the phone out of my hand and answers for me. “Hey Vito it’s Dylan. Elli is coming to my house for Christmas and my parents and I are extremely excited to have her.” He hands the phone back to me and my dad is still talking on the other line.

“Dad, I have to go I have work. I’ll talk to you later. Yes, ok I will. Bye.”

I take a deep breath and I don’t realize I’m looking down until Dylan takes my face in his hands and tilts it to look up at him. Even with the phone call from my dad, it’s impossible to let it get to me when Dylan is with me, constantly reminding me that it’s ok. But he doesn’t have to say it. Just him being here means that I’ll be ok.

This is the first Christmas I’m not spending with my family. It’s a little weird, but I'm okay. Especially since it’s with Dylan.

Yesterday, I did last minute gift shopping while Dylan was at practice, and I'm pretty proud of what I got for everyone. I mailed home a package with presents for my family. I bought my sister a necklace she’s been eyeing and a Starbucks giftcard to fuel her obsession. I gave my parents a combined gift; a GPS for all the traveling they do. And lastly, Dylan helped me pick out some hockey gear for Dom when I met him at the rink after his practice.

Tegan and I decided to get into the Christmas spirit and have Dylan and Anderson over to make gingerbread men, trade presents and watch Christmas movies. I chose The Grinch and Tegan picked Elf.

We bake and decorate cookies while we watch Will Ferrell take on the streets of New York trying to find his dad. I make a few dozen extra so that we can bring them to Dylan’s parents tomorrow. After we clean
ed
 up a destroyed kitchen and our faces that were completely covered in flour, it’s present time.

Since I’m spending the entire holiday with Dylan, we decide to wait to give each other our presents until Christmas morning. So I give Tegan her present first. A complete spa day at the salon she’s been wanting to go to. I wrapped it up with a new robe, slippers and a bunch of lotions she loves from Bath & Body Works. I added a few little gag gifts like a ‘cute guys holding puppies calendar’ and a book on ‘how to control your shoe obsession’. I got Anderson one too, and Dylan nearly doubled over laughing when I gave it to him.

Then Tegan and I bring out our combined present to the guys. We wrapped a giant box, stuffed it with a ton of tissue paper and when they finally unwrapped it and got to the bottom, there we’re two tickets to a Lightning vs. Rangers hockey game. I would have loved to go, but I want Dylan to have some guy time. Anderson is freaking out and rushes over to kiss me on the cheek, and then Tegan full on the lips. I don’t know if that means they’re dating yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s a strong indication. I’ll have to talk to Tegan when she gets back from break. I feel like we haven’t had too much time together recently, even though we’re in the same class and live together. A definite girls night is in order.  

Tegan then hands me a box and says it’s from her and Anderson. Even though I told her I didn’t want anything, she told me to shut up and open the worst wrapped present I’ve ever seen. However, she managed to put a bow on it. When I start to open the gift, it says ‘To Elli and Dylan’ on the tag, so I make Dylan open it with me. Inside the box is a ‘Witch’ and a ‘Wizard’ mug, a stuffed animal of Hedwig, a framed picture of me and Dylan from when we went paint balling, and two tickets to the Harry Potter park in Universal. I literally jumped over the table and tackled my best friend out of pure excitement.

Dylan then brings out two boxes. One for Tegan and one for Anderson, that curiously looks like a shoe box. Tegan opens hers first and cheers as she holds up the new Mario Kart game with a controller shaped like a wheel. Then Anderson opens his and a look of death comes across his face. He looks up and says “you are never going to let me live this down are you?” And then I look in the box. It’s a pair of hot pink stilettos and Tegan looks like she’s about to steal them for herself.

“Not a chance bro.” Dylan replies.

When it’s Anderson’s turn to give Tegan her present, he hands her a box that was shaped oddly enough like a shoe box. What is it with these guys? When she opens the lid a smile takes over her face and she drops the box and rushes to Anderson as she attacks him in a vice grip.

“So I’m guessing that’s a yes?”

“Duhh!”

Dylan and I wear matching looks of confusion, so I look over at the box and surprisingly there aren’t any shoes in it. However, on the lid is written ‘will you be my girlfriend?’ and a stuffed Mario plush is holding a rose where shoes should be. Well, whatever questions I had about them dating have just been completely washed away.

When all the gifts are opened, we sit on the couch and watch the Grinch. I don’t know why this is my favorite Christmas movie, but it doesn’t feel like the holiday without it. I’m laying against Dylan as he whispers in my ear.

“You didn't have to get me anything you know. Just having you is all I need.”

“Will you never fail at making me blush? “

“I hope not, because then I’m doing something wrong.” He hugs me a little tighter and adds “Thank you for the tickets.”

“You’ll get your real present on Christmas. And I don't know how you became a Rangers fan living in Florida, but I wont argue since they're my team.”

“I obviously have good taste.” And then he kisses me and says “Just wait
‘
till you open my present.”

“Dylan! I told you not to get me anything!”

He makes a disgusted face and says “Of course I got you something. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t?”

“You’d still be the best boyfriend ever. I seriously don’t want or need anything. I already have everything I want.” I hold him a little tighter and he smiles.

“Ahem, some of us are trying to watch a movie.” Tegan yells. She’s lying with Anderson on the floor, completely surrounded by all the wrapping paper we haven’t picked up yet.

When the movie is over, Dylan and I go to sleep and leave Tegan with Anderson in the living room. She has an early flight so she just plans to stay up all night and sleep on the plane. Anderson is taking her to the airport, so I plan on sleeping in. Dylan’s all for it since sleep has been pretty absent for me this month, and whenever we get up we’re going to head over to his house for breakfast and to help set up for the party.

        As we lay in bed, I think about how much has changed since I’ve moved here. Becoming your own person is something you learn how to do over such a long period of time. Whoever says ‘high school is the best time of your life’ are the ones who stopped learning.

I've never been to a Christmas party but I'm pretty sure this is the best one ever. Dylan’s parents invited their family, friends and their neighbors, and Dylan has introduced me to each and every one. Everyone was ecstatic when he introduced me as his girlfriend and I must have answered enough questions about myself to write a novel. I thought I would be extremely nervous, and for a little while I was. I think it helped that we were here early to help set up, and people gradually came in, so I wasn’t hit with everyone all at once.

Dylan’s family Christmas tree is incredible. I haven't had a real tree in years because of my dog. She tried to drink the water at the bottom, so we decided a fake tree was the best decision. Dylan’s mom has a huge collection of ornaments. Every time we hung one, there was a story to go with it. My favorite was the one Dylan made for her in his 4th grade art class. It’s a popsicle frame with a picture of him and three missing teeth. The day he made it, he brought it home and it accidently cracked in his backpack. He was so upset, he tried to glue it back himself. His dad found him with his hands stuck together, completely covered in glue. He helped him fix it and rewrapped it for his mom to open Christmas morning.

I'm talking to one of Dylan’s cousins as he goes to help his dad with something in the kitchen, and dam
n
, this girl can talk. She's very pretty, she's skinny
,
 and has killer style. I learned her name was Sophia and she goes to school for fashion design, which explains alot. Her style is very classy, but not in your face, like she wants to be the center of attention. We’re talking about different artists when I feel two arms wrap around my waist and a head prop on my shoulder. Oh the joys of being short.

"Are you ladies done with talking about guys who cut off their ears, or should I go talk about sports with the rest of the manly men?”

“Hey! Van Gogh is brilliant and he chopped off his ear for love!” Sophia protests.

I pat Dylan on the head and comfort him. “Don't worry, I'll let you keep your ears”. That has us all cracking up and then Sophia’s mom calls her over to where she's standing with a group of older ladies. Before she goes, she looks at Dylan and points a finger at him. “I like her Dylan. Don't screw it up.”

“I don't plan on it.” He turns me around in his arms and gives me a quick kiss. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

I’m not wearing anything like Sophia, but
I
 have on a black dress that has a gold floral pattern in the top. I saw it when I went Christmas shopping and realized I had nothing to wear to this party. I matched it with the black booties I wore at Thanksgiving.

Since I haven't answered him yet, I reply "I think you mentioned it. But have I told you how perfect you are?"

“You might have, but it’s only because of the amazing girl I’m with."

“Oh where is she?! I must meet her!"

“Hmm I don't know, but If you see her, let me know. I have something for her."

“
O
h yea? Care to enlighten me?”

“I would, but she's the only one I can give it to.”

“Oh
,
 then let me go find her for you.” I pretend to turn and walk away, when he brings me back to him and kisses me. A full, on the lips kiss. His hands wrap around my waist as he pulls me closer to him and I reach up and wrap my hands around his neck. We may or may not have an audience right now, but I couldn't care less. All that matters is me and Dylan.

When we finally pull apart, I smile and decide to continue the teasing. “Well I'll be sure to tell your girlfriend you're an amazing kisser.”  He smiles and we make our way to where everyone is getting ready to eat. As the table comes into view I’m overwhelmed with the amount of food laid out. There’s a huge turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, a few trays of lasagna, biscuits, corn, fish. You name it, it’s on the table.

I hope I don’t look rude if I don’t try everything. There’s no way I can eat a fraction of what’s in front of me. When I give Dylan a worried glance, he smiles, pulls out my chair for me and kisses me on the cheek. “The lasagna is amazing. My mom makes extra every year and we eat leftovers for a week. Try that first.” He takes his seat next to me and I take a calming breath. Before we start making our plates, his dad taps on his glass to make a toast.

“I'd like to say how grateful I truly am for all of our friends and family. Christmas wouldn't feel right without spending it with the ones we love.” Dylan squeezes my hand under the table as
his
 dad continues. “I'd like to also welcome a certain young lady who has done nothing but put a permanent smile on my sons face, and for that, my wife and I are extremely grateful.” He holds out his cup towards me and I raise mine towards him as well. I'm sure my face is bright red, but the fact that I somehow make Dylan even just a fraction of how happy he makes me does something to my insides. Dylan’s dad finishes off his toast with a few well wishes and a Merry Christmas, and then everybody is digging in. I try the lasagna like Dylan said and it’s absolutely amazing. I don’t remember the last time I ate pasta and I don't want to overdo it. So I eat slowly and keep up conversation with everyone sitting around me.

And then a realization hits me like a train.

This is the first holiday that I haven't gotten judged for what’s on my plate. Or over think about what I’m wearing and constantly tug at the fabric covering my stomach. A giant smile takes over my face and I look over at the man responsible for putting it there.

"Wake up! Wake up! It's Christmas!"

"Dylan! You're going to hit your head on the ceiling! Stop jumping on the bed!"  
I
 say as I  laugh at my
‘five
 year old
’
 boyfriend. I look at the clock that reads 7
 
a
.
m
.
 and pull the blanket over my head. “Santa doesn't come till 8!”