A/N: This is the Christmas part of this Novel, full scene in Aaron-lee’s POV. My Christmas gift to you all. I hope you like it.
Aaron-lee’s POV
Merry Christmas babe
I texted Noel at soon as the clock truck 12, I rubbed my eyes smiling. I’ve been waiting for my clock to show 00:00 so I’ll be the first to wish my love a merry Christmas.
Did you get the text?
Are you even awake?
Dolphin???
Oh come on!
Babe? Noel?
I frowned at my phone glaring at it as if it’s Noel herself. She was asleep that’s why she’s not replying my messages. How could she sleep this early? I mean tomorrow is Christmas. I’ve got to be the first to wish her, if she doesn’t see my text, someone else might beat me to it.
Jumping off my bed, I exchanged my plaid pajama pants for a black Jean and pulled on a red shirt. Grabbing my jacket, I ran my fingers through my hair and sneaked out of my room gently closing the door.
Taking the steps two at a time really slowly I succeeded in descending safely. My eyes widen a little as I see the kitchen lights on. How the hell is out now? I hear the humming sounds of my mother and I guessed she had her head stuck inside the refrigerator. Wait is She pregnant? I froze. The last time I caught my mum binge eating in the refrigerator was years ago and a week after that the pregnancy of the baby sister was announced.
Oh no she can’t be pregnant, can she? Well I wouldn’t put it pass considering how lovey dovey my mum and dad are it’s a miracle we’re just three. But she can be pregnant, not now. Not when my months in this house are numbered. Who would nurture the new baby brother or baby sister? Wait, oh please let it be a baby boy, please please I’m done with baby sisters. Ok back on point, I don’t want to be away from my baby brother or sister, not when he or she is still a fragile baby. No, no no I won’t allow it. If mum gives birth, I’m taking the baby with me to college.
I smile remembering when Mafe was born. I was so excited, I’ve never been ever excited about anything in my life then. When Bella was born I was so jealous but Mafe’s own was different. I wanted to teach her all the good things I knew, I wanted to be the best big brother in the whole world. I learned how to change diaper, feed a baby, carry a baby, everything there is to learn. Dad, Bella and I were constantly fighting for Mafe. Who gets to feed her, bath her, spend time with her and for how long. Mum barely touched her, except during breastfeeding where dad had to always literally drag me out of the room.
I slapped my head pushing out pregnancy and baby sibling stuff out, focusing on the point at hand- sneak out to Noel. I removed my shoes and started tip toeing to the door, as soon as I unlocked it and put a foot out, the lights came on.
“Aaron-lee Altamira!” My mum asked her voice muffled up.
Oops. Abort mission
I turned back to her with a wide smile. She had a half eaten Brownie on one hand, the other resting on her hip and her mouth filled up as she chewed. “Hey mom.” I drawed still smiling.
Swallowing the food in her mouth, she spoke while glaring at me. “Close that door Lee.”
“But Mum…” Her glare turned icy telling me to shut up. “Yes Mum.”
“Where in Jerusalem’s name are you sneaking off to at midnight?”
“I… I…. I am going to Jesse’s.” I say, technically I’m not lying. I’m going to Jesse’s house which is beside Noel’s house. Same thing.
Mum narrowed her eyes using her finger to tell me to come closer, “What are you going to do at Jesse’s by this time?”
“Christmas planning?” I said/asked not knowing what to say. Any how lie won’t work since Aunt Naomi is most definitely at home.
“Go to your room Lee.” Mum said after a minute of silence, stuffing the rest of the Brownie into her mouth.
“But mum… plannings.” I whine pouting.
“Your room Mister don’t let me call your dad.” She threatened. “Its not appropriate to visit a girl by this time.”
I coughed, “a girl? Mum its Jesse. Last I checked he’s very boy…. ish.”
“Jesse? Yeah right.” She paused clearing her throat. “Javi….!”
I interrupted her by clamping my hand above her mouth. “Mom?” I ask in disbelief shaking my head and looking up to make sure my dad didn’t hear her. She muffled something against my hand. “Alright, alright I’m going.”
Releasing my mum, I started climbing up the stairs grumpily. “Merry Christmas My Love.” Mum called back at me. I turned to her frowning at her.
“Well I’m not wishing you back.” I tell her sticking out my tongue to her, she just smiles in return. Halfway through the stairs, I call at her again, “Mum are pregnant?”
She gasped touching her tummy, “Ofcourse not. Why? Is my tummy looking fat? Is it big? Is it protruding?” She ask eye wide.
“No, No. I just wanted to ask.” I say watching her sigh in relief. I hear a room door open and I sprint off, dashing into my room in record speed. Coach would be proud.
Changing back to my night attire, I fall to my bed, checking through my phone. I see a lot of Christmas wishes from my Classmates and school mates, especially the girls but none from Noel. Grumbling to myself I start deleting the messages replying some if I can place a face to the name. The messages are all the same,
Merry Christmas AL *insert heart emoji* missing you so much on this wonderful night*insert sad lonely emoji*. Wish we can hang out? I promise it won’t be a waste of time*insert wink emoji*. Anyway Merry Merry Christmas *insert kiss emoji*
Ha, I wonder whats the need of the relationship status indication if nobody pays attention to it. Only a few girls and the guys send something different and one that I get every year, this one is different and I can tell the girl is good and decent, no flirty emojis just sincere greetings but there’s no name attached, it just under; a nerd who cares about you. Smiling to myself, I construct a hearty wish and greetings to her or him. It’s not everyday a stranger sincerely cares for me. And this nerd who cares about me but really care because I receive a heart warming text from the same nerd every new year, Christmas, my birthday, every time I win something. She or him is my really special fan, and that makes me feel good at times. Suddenly getting miffed up, I shut my phone down. My fan can text me but my girlfriend can’t. Ugh I hate this.
“I want to see Noel” I grumble pathetically into my pillow like a two year old.
I finally sleep off after turning my phone on and checking two more times for Noel’s reply.
.
.
Noel finally replied to my texts in the morning apologizing profusely for sleeping off early and she sent a beautiful Christmas poem that had me forgiving immediately. I wasn’t even mad at her but she doesn’t need to know that now does she?
“Merry Christmas Leelee!” Mafe shouted bursting into my room dressed as Santa, with a white wig, beard and clothes to go.
I laughed as she jumped on top my bed, “Santa?”
She nodded then held her tummy, “hohoho!” She mimicked Santa before wrapping her tiny hands around me in a hug.
“Merry Christmas Swifty,” I say kissing her forehead and using her nickname Swifty. I gave her that nickname because once when Bella and I where arguing about who got the last pizza, she swiftly took it out from below us and we didn’t even notice plus at four years old she could perfectly sing two of Taylor Swift’s without making mistakes. Aren’t I a genius?
“Don’t forget me,” Bella chirped from my room door before launching herself at us.
After all the wishes and greetings, we gathered together and had the best Christmas breakfast ever.
“Aaron Lee?” Dad called just as he was putting a piece of chocolate late cake into his mouth.
I stopped my stare competition with Bella and turn to him. “Yes Dad?”
He cleared his throat turning to look at my mum before bringing his dark blue eyes to me, “Your mum says you have a girlfriend.”
I almost choked on my half chewed cake, Mafe immediately started patting my back as I gulped down some water. After giving her a thankfully smile I turned to my mum but she was completely focused on her plate, her fork moving around it but not picking anything. I sighed, I should have known mum would spill. I wanted to surprise dad on New Year or any day Noel comes by and he’s home too. Granddad warned me to keep away from girls saying they were ‘mere distractions’. How wrong he was. He obviously hasn’t met a girl like my Noel, its the opposite with her. Noel’s my compass. She’s the reason I want to be good. She’s everything to me. My dream.
Anyway, since that’s granddad’s view on girls, its not hard to imagine how he’d feel if I introduced a girl as mine. That’s why I haven’t introduce Noel yet, dad and grandpa are different but not in everything. Since my mum has ruined my plans, I decided to just go with it. The sooner they know, the better. “Yes Dad.” I replied and he stopped chewing and raised a brow at me.
“Really?” I nodded. “Wow, so you weren’t bluffing?” He asked my mum.
She raised her head up smiling proudly, “ofcourse I told you. Lee is in Love.”
Dad and Bella looked at each other then visibly shuddered. Mom and I rolled our eyes and Mafe asked, “What’s in Love and why is Leelee in it?”
We all exchanged glances before Bella speaks up, reading off her phone. “One, its a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person. Two, attraction that includes sexual desire.” Dad and I started coughing, Mum glared at Bella while Mafe rested her hands on the table listening to Bella with apt attention. Bella smirked and continued, “the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship. A person you love in a romantic way. Aaron’s in it because he’s a hormonal teenage boy.” This time I glared at her.
“What does all that mean in four year old language.” Mafe asked again.
This time Mum beat Bella to answering, “it means when you like someone so much, you want to spend all your time with that person because they make you happy.” Mafe frowned stroking her chin. “Don’t worry baby you’ll understand one day, when you grow up.”
“Like Santa?” Mafe asked. “I’m I in love with Santa.”
“Yes!” Mum exclaimed in joy thankfully that she got it in baby terms. “Yes baby you’re in love with Santa.” Mafe smiled satisfied and going back to her dessert.
“So,” Dad spoke out after a minute or two. “Bring your girlfriend home for dinner, I want to meet her”
I couldn’t believe it, I discretely pinched myself but I wasn’t in a dream. “Really dad.”
“Yes, I want to see her.”
My smile was so wide it hurt a little. Finally.
After breakfast and Church, I hurriedly went over to Noel’s house, I couldn’t wait anymore. I wanted to see her and exchange presents immediately. Presents that also involved lots and lots of kisses. I
I had lots of fun at Noel’s, Jesse was also present and his mum too. I told Noel about my Dad’s offer to meet her and she seemed nervous at first but later she agreed to meet up with my family. I was so happy and too excited, I offered give her a ride but she told me not to bother that she’ll transport herself to the house.
When I got home I was even more nervous than Noel had been. I really wanted my parents to like her. If they didn’t, it won’t change anything but if they do I’d be really glad. I don’t think I’ll have a problem with mum though she already knows Noel and she likes her way before she became my girlfriend.
“Cooking show skip, Power Rangers show skip, cartoon skip, cartoon skip, more cartoon skip, ah Mexican telenovelas skip, football eh…” I kept skipping through the channels trying to kill time and looking for something that would stop me from dying my hair pink just so I’ll impress my dad and Noel, most importantly Noel. Although I don’t think dying my hair pink and looking like candy poop would impress anybody, except maybe Jesse who would praise my idiotic braveness and Bella who would worship my hair. The bell went off and I jumped out the bed faster than I would if my pants were on fire. “I’ll get it!”
Running my hands through my hair I rushed to the door and opened it up with my brightest smile than immediately melted into a frown. “Linda! I didn’t know you were out.”
“Rush to grab some fruits at the super market, missed me?” She asked breezing in and letting me shut the door behind her.
“Not really.” I grumbled walking back to my chair before I felt a banana smack my head. I turned to the glaring Linda and snatched the banana out of her hand, “thanks.”
Seven bananas later the door bell rang again, I’ve answered the door twice but it never ever was the person I’m expecting, well third times a charm right? “I’ll get it.”
Repeating the action to look really sexy, like more then my normal natural sexiness, I made my way to the door with another bright smile that would melt away if I meet another wrong person. I opened the door prepared to frown but instead my eyes landed on my most beautiful girl in the world. My angel, my little dolphin, my beanie girl.
“Am I late?” She gasped out, her eyes widening a little in panic.
My eyes instinctively dropped down to the red pumps on her feet with a little heel in them, then to her bare legs looking longer than ever damn. Then over to the red dress on her perfect body, the coat covering her from the chill weather, over to her bouncy curled hair then to her face, the bright shining beautiful gray eyes that were looking at me panicky and finally her lips. She didn’t have much makeup on, she was just like herself, Noel, who I wouldn’t trade for all the gold in the world.
“Aaron Lee Altamira can you stop checking me out and answer my question?” She asked but this time a hint of amusement glinting in her eyes.
My eyes shot up to hers, “w-what question?”
She smiled then cleared her throat, “am I late?”
I smirked moving forward, “You are but we could ditch now and nobody would know you ever came.”
“Ditch to where?” She asked looking up at me in a way that made me want to touch her beneath the pretty clothes.
I shrugged casually, “anywhere you want preferably my room.” Then an arm shot out grabbing her by her waist and pulling her against me. Damn, how is that I go from cold one minute to incredibly hot the next.
Noel gulped, “and risk your father hating me. I rather not.”
“Even if I promise you a life worth of video games afterwards?”
She chuckled, “Tempting but No.”
I chuckled leaning down to her ear, “I love you… in red.”
She held her breath for a minute before stepping away from me, “I’m glad you do.”
With a smile I turned to the door and stretched my hand out to her, “Ready?”
She put her soft tiny hand in mine making a perfect fit. “Yes.”
I lead her into the house, where Bella was trying so hard to make Mafe sit still so she can braid her hair, mum was setting the dining table with different types of food and dad was trying to get a pinch of anything on the table. You’d be wondering why were we nervous, this family is so wonderful and surely easy to please. Hmm well we’ll see about that.
I cleared my throat and everybody stopped what they were doing at once turning to us. Mum and Mafe had identical beams on. Bella silently accessed and examined Noel’s look and she looked pleased, I could see the look of approval and pride gleaming in her eyes and dad, well he adjusted his tie so as to look as intimidating as he usually does to his employers. “Everyone meet Noel Atkins, my girlfriend.” I could see my dad’s jaw tighten a little more, “Noel, my family.” She looked up at me with a smile and gave my hand in hers a gentle squeeze. She was probably remembering when I told her that if I introduced her to my parents, she’d be mine.
Well, she’s been mine for quite sometime now. This just makes it official.
“Noelli!” Mafe shouted jumping out from Bella’s hold and into Noel’s arms.
“Noel you’re welcome. We’ve been expecting you.” Mom said walking to her.
“Thank you Mrs Altamira, I’m sorry if I’m late. Your son,” she shot me a not so subtly glare, “didn’t give me a particular time honour your invitation.”
“Oh no problem my dear, you’re just on time” mum said tearing her away from me and leading her to the dining.
Somewhere along the line, she ended up in front of dad. “Good evening Mr Altamira.”
“Evening….?” Dad asked pretending not to remember her name. Argh I say pretending because I know my dad, he just can’t forget her name so soon. He even still remembers the name of my Kindergarten Teachers. He’s trying to scare her away. Well not today.
Noel didn’t seem scared or intimidated at all instead she smiled at him, “Noel Atkins Sir.” And offered her out for a shake.
She offered her hand out first. I smirked in pride.
Dad seem to feel the same way and he quirked a brow up at her hand, when she didn’t withdraw, I saw a ghost smile play on his lips as he enclosed her hand with his in a firm shake. “Javier Altamira.”
Noel’s smile widened, “its a pleasure to finally meet you sir, I’ve heard so much about you.”
This time dad actually smiled and I saw that look in his eyes. The look I had the first time I set my eyes on Noel. The look Bella had a few minutes ago. The look of Approval. “Likewise.”
Yes.
As you must have guessed dinner went smoothly. Dad and Noel talked a lot. Dad asked her so many questions and surprisingly she asked him too. She managed to hold up her own, being bold and brave. The only time she faltered was when I placed my hand on her bare thigh and she spewed out the drink in her mouth. I didn’t mean to do that though, I just couldn’t help myself anymore.
Mafe sang carols for everyone. Bella played the Piano. I break danced causing everyone to burst out laughing. Noel did a mini puppet show that impressed everyone greatly. Soon we were on the dance floor moving to a slow music. Dad and Mum, Noel and I, Bells and Mafe.
“Have I told you look really beautiful tonight?” I whispered into her ear as we swayed to the song.
“You may have. A couple of times.” She whispered back.
“You are beautiful Noel.” I whispered pulling away a little so I can look into her pretty eyes.
She smiled, “You look Ravishing Aaron.”
I chuckled, the word ‘ravishing ‘ putting a few images into my head. “You did great today.”
“Your family is Awesome Aaron.”
“They’re only like this in beautiful girl’s presence.” Noel just smiled relaxing her head on my body. “Wanna sneak into my room later.”
“Yes.”