My Secret Santa ~ Chapter 4

The next day, I tried to remember the following lines of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," while in Study Hall, since obviously that was what the guy was going for. But I couldn't remember, no matter how much I wracked my brain. Although I didn't know the next verses, I got what it was so far:

"On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree."

Dang, I scolded myself. I should remember this. I'd heard the song my entire life. Why can't I remember it now? I groaned in frustration. Trying to remember verse five, I started humming the tune. On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me....sent to me.... Ugh! I just couldn't remember.

Suddenly, a pair of hands covered my eyes. "Guess who?" a deep accented voice asked from behind me.

My heart accelerated and I tried to identify the voice. "Umm, I don't know, give me a hint?" Was it quite possibly my Secret Santa?

"I'm in your Computer class," the voice stated.

I tried to think of who was in my Computer class, who would do this, and who matched the voice. "Dimitri."

"Ahh, you know me too well my little milashka," Dimitri purred into my ear while taking a seat next to me. Dimitri moved here from Russia a little bit into Freshman Year. His parents were travelers, plus they wanted to live over here where the rest of their family lived.

Dimitri was kind of like Brett in the way that ever since he saw me, he felt the need to have me, one way or another. But, he was also different because he actually got to me. "Ugh, don't call me that." Milashka in Russian meant cutie. Not that I didn't like the compliment, I just didn't want him thinking I was his.

"Why not, kroshka? Still trying to play hard to get?" He questioned while wrapping his arm around me. Kroshka meant baby doll.

I looked up at his warm brown eyes and dimpled smile. Just then, I think my heart stopped. I hated how he made me feel so not in control of myself. I admit I have this weakness of falling for 'bad boys.' Not that Dimitri was into drugs and stuff but like, I don't know, he gave off this VIBE of being bad and dangerous- which I liked for some reason.

But we never talked enough to see if we had anything in common so it's not like I didn't want to be with him- I just didn't know him. Then again, I never really talked to the other mysterious guy either. What was his name? Adam! That's what his name was. Wow, I couldn't even remember his name. How sad is that?

"I'm not playing," I answered evenly, although my insides were melting. He gave me a look that basically said 'Yeah, right. I know you think I'm hot.' Since he didn't say anything more, I took it to mean that he just didn't want to tease me today.

"Look, someone told me to give this to you, I'm not sure what it is." He tossed over a tiny peppermint colored box. I caught it and carefully opened it. Inside were five exquisite golden rings. I gasped. Dimitri glanced over, "Wow, very nice."

"Yeah," I said, mesmerized. "Who gave this to you to give to me?"

"Uhh, some random guy. I didn't know who it was. He just came up to me and was like 'You know Bunny, right?' So I said yeah and he asked if I could deliver the gift to you, so I said sure."

"But, what did he look like?" I interrogated.

"I don't remember," he said stonily. As if he was maybe wanting to prevent me from taking interest in my Secret Santa.

"What, are you JEALOUS?" I gave him a surprised look and raised my eyebrows.

His cockiness returned. "Nope, I'm sure you'd choose me over any guy."

I laughed. "How can you be so sure?"

His facial expression suddenly turned serious. He leaned forward and whispered, "Because of this." Dimitri lightly brushed his lips across mine and my heart started pounding furiously and loudly. His scent was intoxicating, the Ax that I love so much surrounded our little bubble. All of a sudden, he pulled back and smirked. "I could hear your heartbeat a mile away."

My face flushed rosey red and I tried to defend myself. But the bell rang for lunch so I didn't have a chance to. "See ya, my prelest'," Dimitri said as he casually walked out the door. Ugh, cutie pie. Even worse.
~~~~~~~~~
Lunch was torture. Apparently everyone saw what happened in Study Hall with Dimitri. Plus, ten people with bird costumes on started singing Christmas love songs. To me. At my table. IN FRONT OF ALL MY CLASSMATES. I couldn't believe it. Were they going to be singing to me all week?

Then I realized it was Friday and my mood brightened up. No more weird stuff over the weekend. Right?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Saturday, I got a package in the mail with no return address. Inside there was six duck-like thingies that popped out chocolate eggs when I pushed the head down. Cute. In addition to that I got five more golden rings, but they were chocolate. I still loved it.

Another weird thing was when I was going out to get the package earlier I saw three chickens walk across the road. I watched to see where they were going but they just went into some random yard. Funny, you usually don't see chickens in the suburbs that often.

Something else really weird happened too. When I was walking back to my house I saw four mockingbirds, two doves, and a partridge in my tree. Later, when I looked out the window, they were gone.

Sunday wasn't too normal either. I got a text saying "Meet at lake for seventh gift." Curious, I went to the lake conveniently right behind my house. Basically all the birds of yesterday were there, plus the additional seven swans swimming in the lake and six geese were laying on the shore.

I spotted something shiny out of the corner of my eye and found five more chocolate golden rings laying in the grass. There was a note attached that read:

"Bunny,

There's a special place in my heart that only you can touch -
a place where I can go and feel you near.
Throughout the day I think of you.
I see your smile, hear your voice and in my thoughts you lovingly appear.
The way I love you makes it hard to be apart
so when I can't hold you in my arms, I hold you in my heart.

Love,

Your Secret Santa"