After the Snow

Chapter 2 - Surprise

Chapter 2

Surprise

(Bree's POV)

It was that time of year again. Christmas time. The time when the snow fell, people sang Christmas carols, ate lots of cookies, and gave presents. The happiest time of the year. I still loved it, but now it reminded me of Anthony.

Five years ago in my young, high school mind, I had truly believed I had fallen in love. Yeah, that Christmas night when he had kissed me and then flown off with what looked like Santa's slay confused the hell outta me. I just told myself I would get an explanation the next time I saw him.

So I waited. I waited, and waited, and waited. But, he never came. Christmas vacation was over, I went back home and started school again. For some reason, I believed that he could find me wherever I was, including my home and not at my grandma's.

Every day I thought about that night and stared at his present. I wore it everywhere and never took it off. Whenever no one was looking, I would breathe on it and look at the little message engraved in the stone.

Bree,

Merry Christmas

Love,

Anthony

Some would call it obsessed, but I call it what it is; a young girl in love with someone who was never coming back. I can't quite remember exactly when I figured it out. It might've been the day I started college in Minnesota, or the day I turned twenty, but either way, it had been five years and I hadn't seen so much as a hair on Anthony's head.

When I realized it, the depression set it. I was devastated and angry. The funny part was I wasn't even mad at Anthony, I was mad at myself. I was mad that I had let myself fall in love with a complete stranger.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't be mad at him. I kept telling myself there was a reason that he never came back. My mind would always go straight to the worst case scenario; he had passed away. I would get sick because I was so worried, and finally, I said enough is enough.

I forced myself to take the first few steps of getting over Anthony.

Eventually, he faded to the back of my mind. I would still think of him, but it wasn't every day of my life. I didn't get rid of the necklace, but I did manage to shove it in a shoebox and put it in the back of my closet. Out of sight out of mind.

I continued on with college and met Scott. He was so nice and sweet I couldn't help but want to be his friend. He helped me through my grandma's death, he kept me strong. All the way to Senior year we were best friends, and then something happened.

Scott kissed me.

It was totally out of nowhere and unexpected. At the time, I had no clue that he liked me in a romantic way. We were sitting in my living room, watching a movie like we usually would every Saturday night. That particular night we were watching The Princess Bride. When the movie finished, it was well after two AM, and we were both exhausted.

"I assume you're staying over, again," I had said, pretending to be exasperated. Scott spent the night almost every Saturday because or moves would end so late. It had never been a big deal. He would sleep on the couch, and I would seep in my room.

Instead of responding, he had leaned over and planted a kiss straight on my lips. He pulled away and apologized profusely, and immediately left my house. That whole night I had stayed up, sitting in the exact same spot, trying to sort my emotions. Finally, I came to the conclusion that I liked Scott. Or at least I told myself I did because the alternative was that I was still in love with Anthony.

So, when I saw him that next Monday in English class, my heart almost stopped. His short brown hair was messy as usual, he was smirking at me, and his brown eyes were sparkling, but I saw him in a whole new light. Grasping every bit of courage I could muster, I had walked straight over and kissed him. We had been a couple ever since.

Three months later, we decided that Scott should move into my apartment. At the beginning of Christmas break, he did. It was a little overwhelming for me, and we got in more fights than we usually did. After three days, I announced I was going Christmas shopping with Mackenzie.

Mackenzie and I kept touch. In fact, she was spending another Christmas with me in my little apartment. Oh, and let's not forget, Scott would be there too. When I first saw her waiting for me in front of the mall, I screamed.

"Mackenzie!" I shrieked, running over to her. It had been over a year since I had seen her.

"Bree!" She exclaimed, wrapping me in a huge hug. "Oh my God, it's been forever!"

"I know right?" I gasped, pulling away and tucking my hair behind one of my ears. "We have so much to catch up on!"

"That's why before we go shopping, we are going to sit and talk!" She commanded, pulling me inside out of the cold and dragging me through Starbucks. I ordered a hot chocolate and sat down, ready to spill my guts to her. She knew about Scott, but she didn't know about the latest development of our relationship.

"So," I said, sighing. Was I ready to tell her? Well, she would find out later anyway. "Scott moved into my apartment." Mackenzie's eyes got huge, and she started choking on her hot chocolate.

"He did what now?!" She coughed. "And you didn't think to tell me sooner?!"

"I'm sorry," I muttered, "I just didn't know how..." She pursed her lips, giving me the 'there is something wrong with you' look.

"And your parents, who are paying for the apartment I might add, are okay with this?" This time, I choked on my hot chocolate. Okay, I'll admit it...I hadn't exactly told them. "You haven't told them, have you?"

"I figure I'll tell them eventually...You know? I mean, they'll be here on Christmas eve.."

"How in the hell are you fitting all these people in your little apartment?!" Mackenzie smirked, knowing I hadn't thought any of this through. I had never been one to plan very far ahead.

"Okay," I sighed, rolling my eyes, "I don't have a plan. I was hoping you would be able to help me?" She sighed, setting her hot chocolate down and moving on to her sugar cookie.

"You'll have to tell your parents, of course," she started, and I nodded. Of course, I had to tell them, I just hadn't really thought of when..."If they don't kick Scott out, they'll have to stay in a hotel."

My gut clenched at the thought. Surely my parents wouldn't kick out my boyfriend, they weren't that cruel.

"And Scott is staying in your room, yes?" McKenzie continued, looking me over curiously. I blushed slightly, embarrassed to admit that yes, he had been staying in my room. "You little sneak!"

"We haven't done anything!" I exclaimed, cupping my cheeks to hide my embarrassment. She gave me a 'sure' look and continued to sip her hot drink.

Deciding to leave it as it was, I brought my hands down from my face, letting the warmth soothe my cold fingers. It was below freezing outside, and I was having trouble warming up.

"I'll just stay in the living room, then," McKenzie continued, and started fishing in her purse for something. "Oh! Hey, I have an early Christmas present for you!"

"Really?" I asked, peering over the table to try and see it. I would feel bad for a while, seeing as I didn't have a present for her, but I would take it gladly. That's what best friends are for.

"Mhmm," She said absently, pulling a card from her purse and pushing it across the table from me. I could already see what it was, it was an iTunes gift card.

"Aw, thanks, Kenzie," I laughed, remembering how I had complained of needing one the other day. Even though I hadn't seen that girl on over a year we had video chatted often.

"It was no problem," My friend shrugged, finishing off her hot chocolate. "So, I need details on Scott! When did you two become a couple?!"

Butterflies erupted in my stomach from the thought of my boyfriend. I was crazy about him, I really was!

"A few months back, I suppose," I said, playing with my fingers. I really wasn't comfortable talking about the subject of boyfriends since the Anthony incident.

"Oh, hey, I've been meaning to ask, have you heard from Anthony?" And there was the question I didn't want to hear. Every time someone asked me my stomach would drop to the floor, I would feel sick, and tears would prick my eyes. I don't know why, but even now that I had Scott my reaction was the same.

"Um, no," I whispered, looking down at my lap. Why did my body react like this? Every time I heard his name my chest would hurt and feel restricted like I was being held under water and couldn't breathe.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry!" McKenzie quickly said, reaching across the table and grabbing my hands. "I didn't realize he was still such a big deal to you!" I shook my head, quickly wiping my cheeks. A few stray tears had slipped past my eyes, and I was beyond embarrassed.

"No, no, he's not," I reassured her quickly, still shaking my head. "I'm over him! I have Scott now, anyway." In reality, it sounded like I was trying to reassure myself, not McKenzie. She gave me a sympathetic smile, patting my hand.

McKenzie grabbed all her trash, "Come on, babe, let's get this shopping over with. I'm tired!" I smiled, silently thanking her for the change of subject, and followed her around the mall.

We spent the whole afternoon shopping, getting Christmas presents for our loved ones. I had already got McKenzie's, so all I had to get was something for Scott and my parents.

For Scott I got him a few books, because, let's face it, he was a book worm. I got him all four of the Eragon books because he had been complaining that he didn't own any of them. Personally, I thought they were stupid.

For my mom, I got some cooking stuff. Just some pots and pans that she would need, because she had just moved into a new house with my stepdad, Jeff. He was nice enough, but he hadn't quite replaced my father. No one could. He was nicer, though.

For Kayla, my sister, I just got a bunch of really cute clothes from JCPenny. She was ten, so she was starting to really love clothing. I also got her some nail polish and makeup, because she was allowed to play with it. Nothing major, just some light pink eyeshadow and clear lip gloss.

And for Jeff, I just got a gift card to some hunting store, because I knew he liked to hunt. I didn't really know what to get him, because I had only met him a couple of times, but I knew I had to get him something because he was part of the family now.

When McKenzie and I finished shopping, we headed straight back to my apartment, exhausted. McKenzie followed me since she didn't remember the way. I practically ran up to the apartment, hoping Scott would be free. I was freezing and all I wanted to do was cuddle with him under a blanket.

"Babe, I'm home!" I yelled, dropping my bags on the floor. I left the door open for McKenzie, letting all the cold air in, unfortunately.

"There's someone here to see you!" Scott yelled from the bedroom. Who could it possibly be? I wasn't expecting anyone...I hadn't looked in the living room yet, I had basically kept my whole back to the room.

"Um, okay," I called back, shrugging off my coat and putting it on a coat rack. There was a coat I didn't recognize hanging on it, but it looked vaguely familiar. Confused, I spun on my heel, and my heart almost stopped.

Anthony.