Pretty Girl Tears

Chapter 49 Part 2

After what was seemingly an incredible nights sleep thanks to the exhaustion of Lauren's little games I awoke  first to the sound of Fallon and Mani laughing and giggling from within the kitchen, my head well rested but my arm completely dead as Lauren had buried herself yet again against my chest using my bicep as a makeshift pillow for well over 6 hours..

I sank down to peck her warm cheeks either side laughing to myself as those dark brows furrowed into a grumpy grimace, her emerald orbs still hidden beneath her ivory eyelids, it didn't feel like Christmas.. at least I didn't think it did? I never knew what it was supposed to feel like anyway but with another gentle kiss those eyes glimmered from under me made things all the more clear

"Morning baby.."

"Morning! Oh my god it's Christmas!"

She lit up immediately sitting her body beside mine as she rushed to scratch at her waking eyes, the smile spread over her lips more than adorable shocking considering the persona she had taken on only last night.. I loved her switch.. it was dramatic but hey.. who was I to complain

"It is! So.. what do we do?"

I asked nervously sitting myself with a glint of anxiety that I was surprised Lauren had noticed as she reached her palm out to cup my cheek with a small but reassuring smile, the look in her eyes comforting me greatly before shifting to place a kiss upon my lips

"Come on, Fallon wants to give you something"

She spoke grabbing for my palm like a giddy child pulling me from the bed and out into the bright lounge where the tree previously empty now sat filled with gifts and sparkling gold ribbons, I paused in my spot gasping slightly having never seen something so beautiful in my life before glancing up to a forward pacing Fallon that gently shoved a warm mug into my palms

"Morning Coco, tradition!"

I sipped back on the sweet liquid rolling my eyes back as the chocolate film coat my tongue, Lauren did the same placing it down quickly before swinging into mani's arms wishing her a merry Christmas, Fallon however stepped into my side wrapping a single arm over my shoulders before whispering into my ear

"Relax short skirt, just enjoy yourself"

Her tone was soft and reassuring like she really did mean to make me feel better, the tangles in my stomach quickly resolved as a flickering movie began to play in the background, I couldn't help but feel warm as the entire vibe of the room flood with a family feeling presence.. something even with the girls I hadn't felt until now

"So! Fallon.. you wanna tell her?"

Mani spoke with a winking eye as the tall mousy brown woman I'd newly discovered to be my sister walked over towards the tree bending down to grab a gift that quickly sank into my lap, it was wrapped in red.. the only one with such a colour actually and upon peeling back to read the label I noticed it to be signed from none other than Santa..

"You've never had a Christmas before which means you've never had a gift from Santa which is.. well.. not cool so.. here, I know it doesn't fix anything but it's a start"

She spoke gently before perching next to mani while Lauren shuffled to sit adorably next to the pile of presents, her eyes staring on at me as I gulped back on my saliva laying my fingertips over the pretty foil

"Open it! It's ok!"

She spoke as I nod back down into the gift slipping a single digit under the paper before ripping off the exterior only to be greeted with a picture frame, the immediate realisation forcing my chest to suddenly stop breathing, I held it between my palms just staring for a while.. taking in the image of the three girls in front of my all holding pieces of paper, Lauren's said 'we' Mani's said 'love' and Fallon's said 'you' ... we love you.. wide smiles across their faces, I couldn't help but let a single smiling tear drop down onto my cheek with an unexpected giggle as I looked back up to see them all fading back at me