Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 47

Skyler's POV

"Sky wake up," someone hums in my ear shaking me gently. I groan flipping over in protest. Suddenly light fills the room, followed by Catalie, Sashton, and Michael. 

"WAKE UP!" Sylvana screams, as Michael climbs on the bed and starts to jump. "It's Christmas!" I sit up and look over at Luke who's smiling fondly. "I tried to warn you..." he tells me and I stick my tongue out at him.

"Wait what's going on here?" Sylvana asks motioning between us, Luke and I look at each other guiltily. "Nothing." we reply in unison, Sylvana nods and grabs Natalie's hand rushing out of the room. 

"Come on let's make hot chocolate!" I let out a laugh and brush a hand through my hair. Ashton looks at us with a smirk. Stupid Ashton always knows everything. I try to give him a look that says please don't say anything and he seems to understand. 

"Skyler, come on let's open presents!" Sylvana shouts, I roll my eyes and climb out of bed. "Give me five minutes!" "I'll be timing" she warns. "Ashton your girlfriends insane!" I remind him and he nods fondly, "Yeah." 

"20... 21... 22" Sylvana counts down, I squawk tumbling out of bed and landing on the floor. I blink a couple times fast. Suddenly everyone still in my room starts laughing at me.

"That's it, everyone out" I demand pointing at the door, Ashton clutches his side and all four of them file out of the room. I stand up slowly rubbing my bum and walk towards my closet. I've been waiting all year for this moment. I think as I pull my ugliest Christmas sweater off of the hanger.   

"One minute 57 seconds, one minute 58 seconds" I run out of my room into the living room which now has a tree filled with presents under it. I gasp. "Suprise!" they shout  together.  "Woah!" I say taking a couple steps towards the tree. "I know right?" Sylvana says excitedly passing me a mug with the words HOHOHO written across it. 

"This, is amazing who did this?" I ask mouth ajar.  They all look at each other. "We did." I feel tears brimming. "Woah, woah, woah is she going to cry? Because I did not sign up for crying!" Michael complains shaking his head.

"Group hug!" I sob attempting to wrap my arms around all of them. I hear Calum groan as we all embrace. "I love you guys." I sigh. "We love you too Skyler." Ashton replies humouring me. "I'm on the fence" Michael says, Sylvana smacks the back of his head "Ouch!" 

"Ok, present time!" she sings pulling out a terrible wrapped boxes from under the tree she inspects it carefully looking for a name. "Ashton!" She reads finally passing it to him. 

"This is the shittiest wrapping I have ever seen" Ashton announces holding it up, Michael pouts. "Now I'm on the fence about you too." "How will I ever go on?" Ashton mocks I laugh, and Sylvana hands out the rests of the presents. 

Two hours later we were all gathered around a fire (even though it was warm outside) laughing, drinking, and reminiscing. I hear a phone rings and Natalie pulls her out. She had been off all day, a lot quieter then usual even blowing Calum off when he wanted to hold her hand but it was clear to me this wasn't more relationship drama her eyes had dark circles and it looked like she hasn't slept in days. 

"Hello!" I can hear Emma's voice through the phone even though it's not on speaker. 

"Hey." Natalie replies the corner of her lips twitching up into a smile they chat for a little before Natalie pulls the phone away from her ear and turns the speaker on. "Hello?" Emma shouts through the phone. "Hey Emma." I chuckle. "Merry Christmas je t'aime!" "Huh?" Michael asks confused, I snort covering his mouth with my hand.