Year Two

Skylar's P.O.V

Once we had gotten to a large, crowded shopping mall, we browsed through the stores, taking our time to pick out or gifts for the boys. Since Rachel and I know all the boys love beanies, they each got a few without question. So far, I had gotten Luke shirts, beanies, and wrist bands because I know he loves them. While I was picking out Calums gifts, Rachel was strolling through the t-shirt isle looking for Ashton's favorite bands. She is so determined to get Ashton gifts that he'll really like. Its sweet, I bet Ashton's doing the same thing.

~

By the time we had finished shopping, we were exhausted but happy. We both were honestly weren't thinking when we got back from the shopping. We had nothing to wrap the gifts in, but luckily Rachel's friend, Demi, had given us plenty of wrapping paper, bags, and boxes. By the time we had finished wrapping and labeling everything, we were sighing in relief.

I had texted Luke that we're on our way, telling his to leave the door open because I seriously doubt we could knock with the presents in our hands. It felt weird to walk around campus barely being able to see what's in front of us. But Rachel and I had fun, laughing nearly the whole time there whenever one of us almost fell or dropped a present. I had told her that I would love to come along with her for Christmas, but I would have to return to New York in January. When we reached their apartment, we ran through the door way and softly dropped out gifts on their couch and flopped down beside them.

"Well, that was unexpected!" Michaels voice boomed through the room, making Rachel and I laugh.

"Are all those for us?" Luke asks, jumping off his chair and over to us. I quickly smack his hand way as he reaches for a present.

"Touch and you lose a finger." I growl, earning a laugh and a kiss on the check from him.
"Aw, you guys are just too cute." Calum gags, making us smile at him.

"You're just jealous, Cal." Luke teased, pulling me up and spinning me into a hug.

"Wait!" I screech, pointing at an empty corner of the room. "Where your Christmas Tree?"

~

"This is seriously sad, you know that?" I mutter, staring down at the sorry excuse of a Christmas tree we bought in Luke's arms. The off campus Christmas tree lot only had small trees.

"Its not that bad, Sky." Ashton laughed, smiling unconvincingly at me, before meeting Rachel's eyes and shaking his head. My mouth twists to the side of my face, and my eyebrows pull downwards.

"So much for having a great Christmas, huh?" I grumble, pulling my beanie farther down my face.

"Cheer up, you big baby!" Calum adds, throwing an arm around my shoulder and squeezing my tightly.

"Thanks for the complement, Cal. Being called a big baby is exactly what I needed to hear."

~

Once we had gotten back to their apartment, I nearly pulled my hair out when they had told me when they didn't have any lights for the tree. Thankfully the boys knew a sweet elderly couple who let us borrow some lights. We had a great time to say the least. While Rachel and I were decorating the small tree, the boys sang a few Christmas songs. By the time we were finished, it was midnight and we were all tired. Since I'm going to Rachel's tomorrow and I won't be back until after the next holiday, Luke and I had promised to text and call each other whenever we could.

I was truly excited to finally meet Rachel's family, from what she's told me about them, they're super nice. When we had gotten back to the dorm, we set down the many gifts the boys had given to us. Turns out, they were shopping just like we were. We decided on packing our bags, rather than doing it in the early hours of the morning. Rachel had called a cab and arranged for it to arrive at Cambridge around 5 am, which I had groaned at. By the time we were in bed, it was around 2 in the morning. I had fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Notes