'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  I stepped into my car trying to shake off the hurt and flat out confusion from being kissed by my ex then being suddenly blown off. What the heck was I thinking?I shouldn’t be so mad, he probably just got caught up in his emotional pain, and I was the one to receive the kiss. I tjust hurt that it seemed like he had regretted it.

  My eyes pooled with tears. I was filled with anger and fear, fear that I had fallen in love with someone who didn’t want me back. A fear that I was easy to play and too easy to get hurt. Easier to play than a child's game of tag, except my heart was it.

  CARSON - Parking lot

  Crap, Chelsea stormed off. I had to say, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for her to be here. I needed someone and Chelsea was the perfect person. It was like it was meant to be. I’m an athlete and I believed in superstitions. All great athletes do. It wasn't by chance that she had been here; it had to be fate.

  Feeling the touch of her soft pale skin around my hand sent a jolt through my body, pumping my blood faster. I could barely control myself.

  I leaned over the console, and I crushed my lips onto hers. My pulse raced. I couldn’t help it. It felt right. Her plump lips parted, and I slid my tongue into her mouth without even a thought. My palm fell down her lower back and I pulled her close. I knew it was ok because she didn’t pull away.

  I felt her chest move up and down with every breath she took. I could barely keep myself off of her. But I had to restrain myself. I couldn’t take advantage of her kindness or her nurturing instinct that sent my body into overdrive.

  So I pulled back for one moment, just to get her reaction. I wanted to be sure that she felt as excited as I did. I was ready to cuddle her, hold her longer, keep her near. But when I pulled back. We both paused for a second. Then, I saw surprised regret written across her face. It was as clear as if it were written in sharpie right across her forehead

  I was caught off guard. Wow, did she really hate me that much? Is there any possibility of changing her mind about me?

  Her fists balled up. She swiped up her purse. I even thought I saw her eyes well up.

  My face washed with guilt. I opened my mouth, but words couldn’t come out. I wanted to ask her to stay. But she would have stayed if she liked me. Would it have been wrong to make her stay? I was so confused.

  She slammed my door and stomped off looking pissed. I don’t think she even likes me. That sucked because I could really use her around. She had so much hate toward me.

  What did I do wrong? Well, except dump her after eighth grade. I know I broke her heart. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I was just so wrapped up in the pretty package of Angelina. Long flowing jet black hair, dark brown eyes, legs for miles and she cheered. So seeing her at football practices, practicing cheering on the sidelines while we were on the field was I guess just natural. The only thing that was unnatural was our chemistry. No matter how hard I wanted our relationship to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, none of the pieces fit. Being with Chelsea, I thought that all girlfriends were that easy and perfect. But I was wrong.

  I wanted that relationship with her again. Something inside lit up when I thought of her. My stomach fluttered when she was around. It was an instant attraction, an unexpected impulse or urge I couldn’t ignore.

  I wanted to ask her out again. Reconsider our past relationship and consider getting together as a couple again. But I was too nervous. And then, she just left me, filling me with chills in my car. I adjusted my pants where she made the blood flow in places like no other girl had done.

  I had to come up with a plan. Every time I was near her, I screwed it up. I had to come clean to Trevor. He was my best friend. He’d figure out how to get her to like me again. Damn, I was the most popular guy in school. How was I missing this target? I was the king of flirting, but everything I was doing wasn’t working. But then Chelsea wasn’t every girl.

  Chapter 6

  Chelsea - Mittens

  Monday morning, we stepped through the school doors into the crowded school halls. It was another cold, dreary winter morning. Just a few days from Christmas break. I had a thousand things swirling in my mind. Even pushing Carson out of my head, I still had work, presents for my mom and brother, a Christmas project for English class, and of course, the Christmas Tree project.

  Amanda, and I made our way through the crowded hall to the lobby for a quick glance at the tree, checking to see if anyone had taken a mitten. I did a quick prayer that some classmates would at least take a few or maybe a teacher, or I was going to have to put in a lot of overtime at work to buy all those presents.

  “Chelsea?” Amanda said.

  I hiked up my bookbag as we came to the lobby.

  “What?” I asked. I lifted my head. My jaw dropped at the sight of a bare tree, left solely with silver garland.

  “What happened to the mittens?” Amanda asked. Her jaw dropped as wide as mine.

  I circled the tree. Was this a sick joke? My stomach twisted. Every mitten was gone. There was no way people had taken every mitten to buy a toy.

  My fingers swept the tree for any trace of a fallen mitten, but nothing. I bent down scanning under the brush. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I bit my lip to hold back my emotion, trying to figure out if I should be steaming mad or elated. But actually, I might just vomit.

  “I don’t know.”

  I scrambled around the tree evaluating the situation. My nose crinkled in confusion.

  Amanda put her finger to her chin and began spewing out possible scenarios.

  “Maybe a coach required a team to take a mitten. Or maybe the principal requested the teachers to each take one. Or maybe a club. It could be anyone, Chels.”

  I steadied myself and narrowed my eyes suspiciously at Carson's group in the corner of the lobby. It wasn't fair to boldly accuse them, but I would find out and odds were not in their favor.

  “Yeah, anyone who can be a real jerk and steal them all. Which is probably the most likely scenario.”

  “Chelsea, you can’t possibly think they’d do something so mean.”

  “They definitely can and would.” I crossed my arms tightly. In my mind, there could not be any other possible explanation. But oddly, Carson’s group didn’t move an inch. If they did it they’d be revelling in their accomplishment. Could there be another explanation?

  The warning bell erupted into an ear piercing ring.

  “Well, come on. If we get to class, we can ask around. Someone has to know something.” Amanda tugged at my sleeve and we headed down to our classrooms.

  “Alright, but I swear they better not be pranking me, or Carson’s going to get it.”

  “Ah, or maybe you want Carson to be your problem,” Amanda grinned.

  My eyebrows scrunched together.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I sneered. I really didn’t have any idea what the heck Amanda was talking about. I never hinted that I thought he was cute, or well more like a drop dead hot mass of muscle that made my insides bubble when I saw him.

  “I caught you staring at his butt in lunch last week,” Amanda teased.

  I swallowed my breath. Oh my God, she saw. But how could I help it? My eyes started at his perfect hair, dropped to his bulging arms, and may have dipped past his waistline, to his incredibly perfect tight butt.

  CARSON - Mittens

  Yesterday morning, I took nervous peeks to my side checking out Chelsea's reaction. It looked like she was thoroughly confused by the situation. She wasn’t happy or mad. It was like she wasn’t sure what to make of it. I was hoping she’d be happy, but I know when she checks out the presents, she’s gonna flip. And it’s gonna be great. I can barely wait to see her face when she sees the surprise of gifts under the tree.

  Me and Trevor collected the mittens off the lobby tree the night before. We snuck out of the locker room with my duffle bag during practice. We stuffed each mitten in the pocket of my bag, I told the coach we had to go to the locker room to get my phone so I could call my mom t
o tell her to pick me up. And Trevor said he had to use the bathroom. I grabbed my duffle bag from my locker and we met in the hall. I took the mittens home to my mom and sister.

  I had no idea what the hell half the things were, but my sister was a big help. She had a blast and even better, my mom was supportive of the cause Chelsea had going and gave me her credit card to buy things. Even better, each toy was under fifty bucks, some really under, so the cost wasn’t more than a couple hundred, which was less than any shopping trip my mom had ever done.

  Last night my mom and sister wrapped the presents. It became a real family affair pulling this off. The first time in a while we were all in the same room together with happy feelings and enjoying ourselves. When my mom and sister finished each package. I stuffed them into a garbage bag and placed them in my trunk.

  Now was our chance to make a mad dash to my car to get the presents and shove them under Chelsea’s tree, before the coach notices us gone.

  I gave Trevor a signal when the coach was distracted. Trevor and I snuck out the gym door and sprinted to my car. We laughed the entire way. We were cold as shit and in our basketball uniforms of shorts and sleeveless shirts.

  We ran out to my car and brought in two large green garbage bags full of presents and began setting them up around the tree.

  “Carson!”

  Jesus, I nearly had a heart attack. My heart pounded as I turned around to the coach. “What are you guys doing?”

  “Nothing, Coach.” A bead of sweat trickled down each side of my face.

  “Doesn't look like nothing.” Coach accused. He propped his hands on his hips in his typical disciplinary stance. It wasn’t that threatening actually. He peered around us to the now partially filled bags of wrapped presents.

  This really turned out to be a whole family event and best friend event that brought us all closer. I just wish it would bring me and Chelsea close. Maybe I should have shared it with her about what we were doing. It was all for her anyway, so why was I keeping it to myself? Honestly, as brave and outgoing as people think I am, I am chicken when it comes to talking to Chelsea.

  “Did you guys buy all these presents?” He floated his finger back and forth to all the presents.

  “Yes, sir.” I answered.

  I rubbed the back of my neck. Seemed kind of stupid now. I did all this for a girl who doesn't even like me. She probably hates me even more now that I stole that kiss from her. Although it felt great, and I might not be able to hold back again.

  “Well, good job. But why are you hiding it? You should get credit for doing something like this. Be proud that you did the right thing. Take pride in helping others, boys.”

  “Well, Coach, we just didn't’ want to make a big deal about it.” I shrugged it off.

  “Alright, well, hurry up,” His eyes fell to the face of his watch. “We got a half hour left of practice.”

  “Yes, Coach.” We said in unison. Trevor and I looked at each other and chuckled about getting caught.

  We quickly finished stuffing the bags in our lockers and shot off back to practice.

  Chapter 7

  Chelsea - Presents

  The next morning, I trudged my way through the mass of students. We filed into the school like a herd of animals. I wasn’t looking forward to coming in today. I still had no idea what happened to all the mittens. It seemed like they just vanished into thin air. No one knew anything.

  Today, after school the Charity Club is gathering to make new ones. And that sucked because the list was long and cut out all those little tree shapes again was a lot of work. Not to mention we lost two days of promoting the presents on the tree.

  It was discouraging. I was kicking myself. I thought I could do a good deed and give back to the community, but I was wrong. I can’t count on anyone except my friends.

  I felt such a weight. What if these kids didn’t get anything for Christmas now because I didn’t try hard enough, or what if they thought I didn’t follow through and I was a joke? Ugh, the thought of letting the kids down and the shelter down was crushing my heart.

  And on top of that, I couldn’t get Carson out of my head. That amazing kiss. But then he said thank you at the end. What was that supposed to mean? That's something you say to a friend or a buddy for helping you, not after giving someone the biggest most sensual exciting kiss they’ve ever had. Or maybe it wasn’t that exciting for him.

  I trudged the hall; I don't think my head could be any lower. My chin was literally glued to my chest. But my eyes couldn't resist spying on my creation, the giving tree.

  I first scanned the lobby. It was packed full of kids waiting for the homeroom bell and school to officially open. The annoying rich group in the corner of the lobby chatting as usual. You could almost see where the tile was worn from their daily congregation routine. They adorned the lobby like a newspaper that gets thrown into the same spot on your lawn every day.

  “Oh my God, Chelsea!” Amanda squealed as she squeezed my arm.

  “Ow, What was that for?” I wasn’t in the mood. My eyes followed her line of sight to the sad tree, bent from Trevor’s inadvertent tackle, missing limbs from years of haphazardly being disassembled and thrown into the janitorial closet, but I froze for a brief moment. There were things in front of it. Jesus. There were dozens of toys and wrapped presents. What the hell happened?

  I darted to the tower of newly purchased boxed toys and gifts. What the hell happened?All the air escaped my mouth. I was speechless. Where had all these presents come from? This was like the weirdest and best Christmas surprise ever.

  “Oh my God!” I threw my hand to my mouth trying to contain my emotion.

  There was a pile of gifts beside a mountain of perfectly wrapped presents with red velvet ribbon on each and the cutout mittens that I had made attached to each bow.

  I nearly fell to the floor. I tossed my bookbag and purse on the floor and cried.

  “Chelsea! What happened?” Amanda asked repeatedly as if I didn’t hear her the first ten times. But I couldn’t answer that question because I was just as startled and confused.

  “I don't know.”

  The principal stepped through the mass of students. “Chelsea I’ve been looking for you. Great work. The school board will love this. The school newspaper will want to get a shot of this. Have your club meet me here tomorrow morning, and we’ll get a photo for the paper.” He grinned. He was so disgustingly happy.

  Carson - Presents

  I positioned myself to the side in my group. I hope it wasn't obvious. I was able to catch a glimpse of Chelsea over my shoulder. She was beaming. She was so happy checking out the presents. I felt great inside. She deserved it, and I was glad to be the one to make her happy.

  This girl had just made me happier than I had felt all year. Just by watching the sheer joy on her face from receiving the presents for others. I wished I could share her excitement with her. Then again, I doubted if she’d be this excited if she knew they came from me.

  I wanted to hold her, kiss her, share her excitement with her, but when I looked into her eyes after that kiss, her regret and anger had been clearer than an empty glass.

  The bell rang. I grabbed my duffle bag from the floor and saw a tree cutout hanging from my bag. My heart almost stopped. I grabbed it with my hand and squashed it with my palm then stuffed it in my pocket.

  How the hell was I going to cover this one?

  I slowed my pace, until I was following my group. Trying to play it cool, but my head was spinning with dreaded thoughts of being caught with a mitten by Chelsea. She’d probably yell at me, thinking I was playing a trick on her.

  My group and I walked down the hall to our lockers. When we split up, I grabbed Trevor’s arm and pulled him back just before he walked away.

  “Ow bro.” He gave me a confused look. I didn’t blame him. I was confused too, but for a different reason. What was I going to do with this tree?

  “Trev, look what I just found.” I swear he must have
seen the sheer terror on my face. I felt like I was in a horror film, trying to find a place to hide from a killer.

  I retrieved the mitten from my pocket, displaying it in my palm.

  “Holy shit, where'd that come from?” Trevor made a fist and covered his laugh with it. I punched his arm. Prick was laughing at my expense.

  “My bag, I must have missed it.”

  “And so?” Trevor asked as if it would just disappear.

  “What the hell am I supposed to do with it?”

  “I don’t know. Just put it back on the tree or something. Someone will buy it for her. Who cares.”

  “What if they don’t?” I couldn't bear to think if one kid out of all the rest didn’t wake up with a present.

  The warning bell rang.

  “That’s on you, buddy.” He laughed and took off. “Later!” Trevor let out a full-on laugh as if I just told the funniest thing.

  I grumbled. Yeah real freaking amusing. He was absolutely no help at all.

  But then I remembered Chelsea asked me to take a mitten. This would be that mitten. It was actually a good thing it got left behind. I’d have my mom and sister wrap it and I’d hand it to her. At least then I could share some excitement with her.

  Chapter 8

  Chelsea - Ending

  I had to leave the presents overnight. The newspaper committee took photos of our Charity Club and Principal Toomey. I didn’t mind leaving the presents behind. This way everyone could see them all yesterday and today. I was so proud of the gifts.

  At the end of the day, I waited for the crowds to disperse before tending to the tree. I was more than excited to load my car with the presents. Once the students cleared, I gathered a load of presents in my arms and so did Amanda. With our arms full with a pile of presents, we exited the school to the emptying parking lot.