Callista
Dinner slowly ended and everyone headed to the large living room to begin opening gifts. Taylor and I were the first to leave the table, and we went to lie under the tree again.
Once in the living room I slid myself under our tree and made room for Taylor to join me. He too slipped under the large tree and lie on his back next to me. I was just staring at him and making little effort to hide that fact when he opened his beautiful mouth.
" I never thought I'd find anyone else in the world that did this," He whispered to me, as if speaking any louder would shatter our little world.
" Huh" I had not been paying attention to a word that left his mouth but to how perfect his face looked as he moved his lips.
" I mean I didn't think that anyone else just laid under the Christmas tree for the sake of getting away. It's cool that you do though." He, again, whispered.
" I didn't either. No one ever understood why I did this. It was just what I did when the rest of the world got to me. In the rest of the year I disappear to the tree fort. My parents and siblings make fun of me for it they say how I'm so introspective and I'm a loner and have no life but I deal with that. When you have a family this size and you're like me you just find places to go and think and be alone this is one of my places."
" I know what you mean about big families and all, I've got five brothers and sister and one more on the way. My house is just like this and the tree is an awesome place to escape when you need some time. I escape to our tree house too, I mean in the rest of the year." He smiled again, "We have so much in common its kinda funny"
" Yeah, its pretty cool" was all I could manage to say, his smile left me dumbfounded. I could only imagine what a single kiss from him would do to me. Probably render me lifeless for days, in a complete state of bliss.
I looked up at the tree again, the white lights shined down on me. The silvery, glimmering angel's hair played tricks with my eyes and the vibrant Christmas decorations glowed with an unseen light. I could hear O Holy Night playing softly in the back round and began to quietly sing the words. " O Holy Night the stars are brightly shining this is the night of our dear saviors birth." Suddenly realizing what I was doing I ceased singing and closed my eyes.
" Long lay the world in sin and error pining till he appeared and the soul felt its worth, a thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn�" Taylor continued and I listened as he softly crooned the words with such emotion.
I was startled when he reached over and took my hand in his. He looked over at me and the look in his eyes told me more than words ever could. His eyes were gleaming and emotional they were so unlike any other eyes I had ever seen. I had gazed into a guy's eyes many times before, but never had it meant so much as it did now. I wished that the moment would never end but it unfortunately came to an end with the wail of a child.
My young cousin Yvette was running around and had tripped over a wire to one thing or another. She fell face first on the hard wood floors, nothing to break her fall. Yvette was startled for a second, but only a second, then she immediately began to wail in pain and shock. Taylor quickly slid out of his position, letting go of my hand. I was momentarily upset about this but my anger faded fast.
He walked over to Yvette and scooped her up from the floor and protectively rocked her in his arms to quiet her. "SSH. SSH. It's okay. It's okay. You're all right, no cuts, no blood. In fact I think you'll even live to see some of your new Christmas gifts," he said grinning at her.
Yvette stopped crying and looked up at Taylor, then she beamed back at him. "Who are you?" she asked with a look of adoration upon her face.
" I'm Taylor Hanson one of Noah's friends."
" Oh." She paused with a mischievous grin on her face; "you're cute!"
" Thank you. So I'm guessing you're feeling better now." He said blushing softly.
" Yes I am," she said and gave Taylor a kiss on the cheek. Then she squirmed out of his arms and ran into the kitchen shouting, " I kissed a boy! I kissed a boy!"
Taylor laughed and offered me a hand. I had slid out from under the tree while he was attending to Yvette. I gladly accepted and he hauled me off the floor, I too was laughing whole-heartedly.
" She is too cute for words!" He whispered in my ear.
The soft breath that escaped his lips along with his words tickled my ear, and I shuddered in delight. "Yeah she is a sweetie, but then again so are you."
"Well ya know you didn't have to tell me that, I already knew"
" Ugh!" I gently groaned and I gave him a soft shove, he stumbled back and fell into the plush armchair behind him.
" Thank you. You know you're really sweet too."
" Thank you." I looked down at my ever-fascinating shoes and blushed, "but I mean that you are so good with little kids and you don't even know her."
"Well she reminds me of my little sister Avery, just a bit younger. Plus she's related to you so what could be bad about her."
I nervously giggled and beamed at him. He was so sweet to me and we hardly knew each other. I wanted to tell him just how much he meant to me but I feared I would scare him away, no matter how sensitive he was. I merely added the sweetness and loving to the list of virtues he possessed, which gave me a way to explain my strong attraction to a person I had known for such a small amount of time.
I sat down on the couch and he came to sit next to me. He took my hand once again and looked into my eyes.
" You know you're eyes are so beautiful."
" Thank you." I again blushed and looked away, toward the tree.
He cupped my chin in his left hand, and brought my face around until it was just inches away from his.
" Why do you always look down, when I look at you. I want so much to just stare into your eyes and every time I start to, you look away. I promise I won't hurt you, I don't bite." He tenderly said, still holding my chin. By this time my eyes were locked in his and even if I wanted to I could not look away.
" I d..."
" SSH. No explanation needed." He silenced me by putting a finger to my lips.
Then slowly he angled his head and I did too. We began to bring our heads together and our lips had just began to brush against one another when...