Claimed For Christmas

Brooklyn Small snowflakes fluttered down all around me. I could feel my toes already turning numb from the cold as I carried two large presents to my car. “Are you sure you just don’t want to wait until tomorrow? I mean, the roads are going to be horrible.” “What’s the point of surprising my boyfriend for Christmas, if I’m not actually there on Christmas?" I glanced towards my roommate, giving her that determined look I’ve been showing her all morning. “This is our first one together. There’s no way I’m going to spend it away from him.” Growing up, I didn’t exactly have the best experiences when it came to Christmas. It was always just mom and me, and after she was gone, I was placed in a few foster homes during the holidays but it was never anything that was my own… This year, I’m finally going to have something that’s mine…or should I say someone. My boyfriend, Tyler Scott. We met last year. It was during a football game, and I was working at the concession stand. I didn’t know it at the time, but he was a pitcher for the college baseball team, the Pennbrook Buccaneers. “I don’t think we’ve met before.” His deep voice cut through the stadium chatter, making me look up at him in surprise. Up until that point, I’ve just been handing out order after order. So for someone to talk to me, I wasn’t expecting it. Especially from someone like him. “I’m Tyler, and you are?” He asked with the most heart stopping smile I had ever seen. Tyler had short sandy blonde hair with bright green eyes. His square jaw, and straight nose gave him that classic boy next door look. He was handsome, really handsome. “Brooklyn.” I managed to say, and that’s when his smile widened. “Well, Brooklyn, it’s nice to meet you.” He reached his hand out, offering it to me. “Really nice to meet you.” Instead of shaking it, I shoved the slushie he ordered into his hand, and looked towards the register. “Is there anything else I can get for you?” I asked, trying not to be flustered right now. I could tell he was confident, and that intimidated the hell out of me. I was just a freshman, and he definitely seemed older. “Your number would be nice.” He added smoothly, and I cleared my throat awkwardly. Oh god, I was not expecting that. Boys were the last thing on my mind at the moment…and Tyler gave off major player vibes. “Can I help who’s next?” I yelled past him, deciding just to ignore him. The last thing I needed was for the concession manager to see this guy holding up the line and flirting with me. I needed this job so I could buy groceries for the week. Eventually, he walked away, and I thought that meant he had given up. Boy was I wrong. He came back three more times…and each time, he broke down my walls one by one until I finally gave him my number just so he would leave me alone to work. That night he texted me, asking to go out to dinner. I almost said no, but my roommate, Jillian, ended up talking me into it. A week later, Tyler took me to the nicest restaurant I had ever been to, and afterwards he snuck us into the baseball stadium and laid out a blanket in the middle of the field so we could stargaze. It was like something out of a movie. After that day, Tyler and I were inseparable. He was the perfect boyfriend. Then two months after making things official, Tyler was scouted by another college who had interest in him joining their team. It was a school he applied to before but didn’t get accepted to at the time. The only problem was, it would be three hours away. At first I wasn’t sure he would want to do the long distance thing…but we’ve made it work somehow, and he’s been amazing. That’s why this Christmas, I wanted to take the final step in our relationship. Tyler has had every one of my firsts up to this point but the biggest. Yeah we’ve done everything else in the book, but for some reason, I wasn’t ready to go all the way. Now, I think I’m finally ready. “I know…and I’m happy that you’re making things work long distance, but you don’t need to risk your life for the guy.” Jillian mumbled, pulling me from my thoughts. Stepping towards my car, I shoved the presents into the back before slamming the trunk shut. “That’s why I’m trying to leave now before it gets too bad.” I turned back around to face her. Jillian’s blonde hair was tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head. She had on a fluffy cheetah print robe, leggings, and pink slippers. Even though it was already one in the afternoon, she had literally just woken up. I guess whatever party she went to last night must’ve been a wild one. “Ugh, fine, just leave me to deal with my dad and the new wife all on my own.” Jillian crossed her arms in front of her chest before letting out a sharp breath that came out in a tiny cloud in front of her face. “I thought you loved Heidie?” I asked curiously, trying to keep up. I swear just yesterday she told me those exact words. “I mean, I do…but I have a feeling he’s going to tell me she’s pregnant or something.” She grumbled, and I stepped towards her, wrapping my friend into a hug. “You always said you wished you had a sibling growing up.” I reminded her, and she let out a dry laugh. “Yeah when I was a kid, not when I’m twenty. It’s just weird.” It was a weird situation, but I know deep down Jillian would end up loving it. Since her mom passed at such a young age, it was just Jillian and her dad since she was five. Jillian always wished her dad would find someone and remarry. She wanted him to be happy more than anyone, and once he introduced Heidie to her, she was supportive even if Heidie was half her dads age. She saw how happy she made him and that was all that mattered. “I know, but you’d still be happy for them.” I reminded her, making her sigh dramatically before pulling back from me. “Yeah, yeah…we all know you’re right.” She muttered before finally cracking a smile. “Are you sure you can’t just come with me? I feel like it’s tradition now…” I’ve gone home with Jillian the past two Christmases, and it was great. Her dad only lives thirty minutes from here, so it isn’t too bad of a drive either. I just feel like this year, I actually have plans that are my own, and I’m super excited to do them. “Tyler’s going to be all alone up there. I just want to do this for him.” I told her, and she nodded her head in understanding. “Ugh, I swear if he doesn’t piss his pants with excitement after seeing you, I’m going to drive down there myself and kick his freaking ass.” She grumbled before squeezing the life out of me with another hug. “Okay, I better get going before it really starts to come down.” Luckily, it was only a dusting of snow right now, so I’m hoping I can get there before the storm starts. “Just make sure you text me when you get there.” “I will.” “Oh, and remember what I told you. It’s not the size of the ship that matters, it’s the motion of the ocean-” “Okay! I got it!” I rushed, feeling my cheeks start to warm. “Merry Christmas Jillian.” I added, seeing my friend fighting a huge smile. “Merry Christmas Brooky. I hope it’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of.” She whispered before pulling me into another hug. “You deserve it. All of it.” For a moment, I felt like I could cry. Her just saying that meant the world to me because I hope it was too. Maybe this will be the start of many amazing Christmases to come. I can’t wait to surprise Tyler. He has no idea I’m coming…this really will be the best Christmas ever. I can’t wait.