On Santa's lap - S01 E23

3 months ago

On Santa's lap - S01 E23

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 23

I had that urge again. To eat cake.

So here I was an hour after Nik walked out sitting on the kitchen ground waiting for my cake to rise. I could see the light aqua colour I had dyed the cake. And the orange essence frosting was waiting in the fridge already made.

This was my least favourite part, waiting.

I placed my phone in dire need of charging on the ground, after scrolling through hundreds of cake frosting designs on pintrest, I realised I couldn't be stuffed decorating it hardcore. Just simple light orange frosting, maybe some caramelized orange rings and some zest.

Or maybe I'll just eat it.

I should have just gone to Coles, and picked up a $2 cake. Caramel mud-cake. Now I felt like caramel mud-cake. I bit my lower lip as the buzzer finally went and I opened the oven pulling the cake out. Placing it on the bench I realise, it wasn't waiting for the cake to cook I hated. I hated waiting for it to cool down even more. It was just so tempting to just ice it, there and then since it was just staring at me.

There was one small flat on the top of the cake, due to probably me doubling the temperature it had to cook at. I just wanted to eat cake.

It was edible.

I stretched my legs out wondering if I was a bit too harsh on Nik, I didn't mean to be, well I sort of did. He was better of than whatever was going on between us. I didn't do commitment, and I don't think I could with him. He was a great guy, I groaned running my hands down my face.

Great, insert the typical, its not you its me, line here. The buzzer went off and I took the cake out placing it straight in the fridge, so it could cool down fast and I could eat it faster. I dipped my finger into the orange icing licking it off, there was a bit too much orange essence but apart from that, it tasted okay.

I was so used to being alone, it was so weird having someone else care about you. And that made you care what they care and it just made it one big mess. Single was easy. Alone was nice. Uncommitted was string free, quite literally. Isolated was trouble free and solitary was peaceful. But then.

Being with someone?

That was a whole new definition itself.

There was parts I liked, and Nik wasn't bad company, he was...tolerable. Well more than tolerable, and it helped that I was somewhat attracted to him, but the question remained. Could I be in a relationship and be happy?

I opened the fridge taking the cake out, it wasn't even cold but I couldn't be stuffed waiting, I grabbed a piece off with my fork and then dipped it into the frosting.

I just wanted to make and eat my cake as well.

"And then he said, no," Mike laughed while I just raised an eyebrow at him shaking my head at his fail attempt of a joke.

"What's with you today,"

"Nothing," I said shrugging as I wiped the glass. It was relatively quiet as we nearly closed. The latest hits were being played softly in the background. I yawned leaning on the bench with bubbly Ash came skipping over.

"Guess what?"

"What?" I asked as I packed the alcohol back under the counter.

"Guess,"

"You both that watch you were looking at the other day,"

The smile slipped of her face, "Damn it, why do you always guess right," she said walking around the counter. I smiled at her shaking my head, "I told you to tell me but you wanted me to guess," I said as she rolled her eyes hopping onto the seat.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

I looked at the time, ten more minutes. My hand subconsciously pressed the button on my phone, checking if I had the time, or maybe I was checking if I had any messages.

I mean I wasn't waiting for someone to text me, but the lack of the green icon was...weird, especially when I had a inflow of them the past few weeks. It oddly made me happy.

Ash cleared her throat and I looked up as a customer walked towards us, "We're closed," I said.

He nodded, "I know I just wanted to ask what time you get off today,"

"What?" I asked looking over his shoulder at the table he walked over to see a bunch of guys watching.

I knew what this was, a dare. Or something.

"I was thinking we could go for a bite after this,"

"I'll pass, Ash do you want to go with the gentleman here?"

Ash grimaced shaking her head, it wasn't about how he looked, he wasn't too bad on the eyes, "Sorry she's also busy, just wait, Mike!" I called out loudly till my manager poked his head out the store room.

"What?"

"Do you want to go have some food with this gentleman?"

Mike looked up, "Sure," he wiped his hands on his jeans rushing towards us, "Hello handsome,"

The man looked between us, "Never mind, I get it," he said before walking off and I silently smiled to myself.

"Man we are so mean," Ash chuckled and Mike looked at me, "Was it something I said?"

I walked out of the door, pulling my hair out of the pony tail, and my eyes automatically went to the spot where Nik used to lean against the spot numerous times. The spot was empty.

I zipped up my jacket, I wasn't looking cause I wanted him to stand there, I was just...curious.

And then the escalator was empty and he wasn't down at the bottom either. I stopped taking out my phone, browsing through some things, and I didn't know why I was waiting here.

It wasn't like he was going to come running to my rescue to save me from an awkward conversation with Gavin, because Gavin was also gone.

I casted look over my shoulder at the escalator, counting to ten.

Maybe I should text him.

Maybe not.

Kicking a stray can I walked towards the light, right, why would he reply? If you weren't such a bitch to everyone he probably would reply.

I kept casting a few looks over my shoulder before I mentally slapped myself, stupid girl could you look any more paranoid.

Even though the urge to look back was there, I kept my head down and my hands in my pocket. Maybe I'll talk to Rachel to sort my head out.

I looked up as I crossed the street, not really paying attention to the surroundings so when I heard someone clear their throat and grabbed my wrist I screamed looking up at the dark figure leaning against a building, disappearing into the wall.

"Shit it's me,"

"Fucking hell Nik!" I snapped placing a hand on my chest, "You scared me!"

I closed my eyes taking a deep breathe till I realised his hand was still around my wrist and it was warm, the warmth that made you want cuddle up and sleep when it was cold.

He was lucky I didn't whack my bag across his face in self-defence.

"Sorry,"

"What are you doing here?" I said not pulling my hand back like I usually would.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"Waiting for you,"

I looked around, "Here?" I asked. Why in the middle of a random street?

"Do you want to get hot chocolate?"

And I looked down to realise the interaction of this street was where we went to get hot chocolate last time, and I sighed, no. I didn't feel like hot chocolate, but I did oddly feel like company.

"I guess,"

He nodded letting go off my hand and it felt weird without his fingers around my wrist. I clasped my hands together so I didn't reach for him and followed behind him.

The only place was 7/11 like last time, and the guy behind the counter looked like he was about to fall asleep when we walked in. Filling up two cups he handed me one and I held the warm liquid as he threw some coins onto the counter before we walked quietly to the city square to sit down.

It was silent, there wasn't even seagulls around to make noise and it was disturbingly quiet as we both sat there.

And whilst I didn't feel like drinking hot chocolate, I raised the cup burning my tongue on the hot liquid as it was an excuse not to speak first.

Wait, this was being childish. Just say something. You're both fully grown adults and you're sitting here like little kids.

"I'm sorry,"

Jinx.

We both went back into silence awkwardly and then I looked up, "Wait, why are you sorry?"

Nik looked up looking at the tree instead of me as he crossed his legs at the ankle, as he leaned back on his hands shrugging, "I shouldn't have left last night,"

"I told you too," I said not realising why he was upset cause of that. He frowned looking at his feet, a incomprehensible look on his face.

"I still shouldn't have left."

But you came back.

Well, sort of.

Maybe.

"I'm sorry for annoying you and following you around and hassling you, I didn't realise how annoying it would be." he said and I looked up, wait, what was he saying.

"I guess it was a little bit childish but when I saw you, it was weird. It was sort of entertaining to see how much you hated the pictures," he said his eyes briefly looking up to meet mine.

"And then when I went to get a drink with the elves I saw you there, which I wasn't expecting and thought to come talk to you and found it amusing how annoyed you were about Christmas,"

I looked at the ground pulling at the grass.

"And then you sort of finished every day nearly at the same time I did, I just found you interesting, I didn't realise how annoying it would be for you,"

It wasn't annoying, anymore.

"So I guess I'm sorry for that too."

I just sat there not sure exactly how to respond to this, I had things I was sorry for as well, but I didn't know how to put it out there. Because I was awkward like that, especially with my words.

And before I knew it, my drink was empty, somehow drinking all of it and the tip of my tongue had that furry feeling you got when you burnt yourself.

And there were a million things I wanted to say, and instead I said, "I should head back,"

Nik nodded getting up, taking my empty cup with him as he walked to the bin and I tucked my hair back into my jacket before it blew all over my face making me eat half of it.

I watched as he walked back, bringing an envelope out of no where, oh wait, it was tucked inside his jacket, "Here,"

I looked at the white A4 envelope in his hands, "What is it?"

"A gift,"

I looked up at him confused before I took the envelope from him. What was it?

He opened his mouth, to say something and then shook his head, "Come on, I'll walk you back,"

"I can walk-,"

"It's three in the morning, I'll walk you," and so he did, in awkward silence. Thankfully it didn't take me long and I didn't bother arguing about the stairs either.

I opened my door, trying to get the courage to say something, anything but I was pretty bad.

"Thanks," I said looking up and he nodded slipping his hands into his pockets and I stared as he turned around before I shut the door sighing.

Well that was shit.

I grumbled kicking off my shoes and dropping my bag, great Eve, well fucking done. Why did your tongue get caught up all of a sudden. I looked at the envelope I realised I was still holding and opened it.

As I pulled it out I realised it was a picture, not any picture but the picture from the first time, and I glared at it.

Glared because Evan looked great, smiling at the camera, Santa looked great, mischievous and cheeky as he looked at me, and I looked like an idiot with a double chin and fat arse.

It was the time where he pulled me onto his lap, so half my leg was in the air, my eyes wide and my mouth open.

It was a shocking picture.

That idiot.

I glared at the picture before throwing the door open. Did he leave? I hurried down the stairs, running out of breathe half way as I ran down the last ones and onto the street, "Nik!"

He was gone, the street was empty.

Well shit.

I grumbled kicking the ground before realising I wasn't wearing any shoes and regretted it swearing.

I turned around to leave when I saw his silhouette, poke back around the corner, "Eve? Is everything okay?"

He took a step towards me before I broke into a little run, and before he knew what hit him, well Eve hitting him, I threw my arms around his neck, my body colliding with his making him stagger back before his hands gripped my waist to steady us before we fell onto the ground.

"Don't leave," And I was pretty sure I was killing all circulation off in his neck from hugging him too hard but I was pretty sure if I let go he would disappear into thin air since he is santa and need to go to North Pole to do his shit.

And I didn't meant, don't leave me tonight, I meant don't leave and go out of my life.

It was a moment before his hands moved to embrace me, "I'm not leaving," He said before I felt his lips against my cheek, "I'll never leave, I was just giving you space,"

I don't want space, it was as useless as it was on a keyboard right now, okay wait, it was pretty useful on a keyboard.

"Never is a long time," I said pulling back, I was content with now. And if there ever came a day where he did leave, I would be okay with it. But I wasn't okay for him to leave now.

Definitely not now.

I felt his thumb against my cheek and he opened his mouth and then closed it, "What?" I asked seeing him wince.

"I was going to say a cheesy pun but then I realised I'd probably ruin the moment,"

I rolled my eyes, "You already ruined it, so shut up and kiss me,"