SAM's POV

~Tuesday, Christmas Eve, Winter Break~

I slept in all morning. Looking over at my alarm clock, I saw that it was 11:45 am. Luckily, I don't have to work today because of the holiday... I wipe the sleep from my eyes and slowly lift my achy body out of bed. I go through my daily routine. 

After getting dressed and putting my hair into a bun, I walked downstairs to the first floor of our house, smelling bacon along the way. Entering the kitchen, I see my mother scrambling some cheesy eggs on the stove and she smiles when she sees me.

"I knew bacon would wake you up. How did you sleep?"

"Okay," I reply. I grab an empty plate and wait for the food to be done.

"Antonio is out running some errands. I was gonna ask, did you buy all of your Christmas presents yet?"

"Mom, that's your job."

"No, I mean for other people -- for your friends. If not, I suggest you go to the mall today and get all of your gifts so you can pass some out at the dinner tomorrow."

I groan and lay my head down on the table. "Mom, I've been there this whole weekend! I'm tired of going to the mall all the time..."

"Well, if you had gotten your gifts ahead of time, you wouldn't have to go." She brings the frying pan of scrambled eggs over and puts some onto my plate. She also brings the tray of crispy bacon and blueberry muffins to the table as I help myself.

"I'll do it later today..." I grumble.

"Nuh-uh. I know how you like to procrastinate. Go right after you eat. Here, you can use my card." She hands me one of her credit cards and I gladly take it. I devour my food in less than five minutes and get ready to leave, but my mama holds me back before I can go.

"Wait... I wanted to talk to you about something while Antonio isn't here. I know you probably don't like him staying over here so much..." She says while fidgeting with her hands.

"What gives you that impression?" I ask sarcastically.

"I'm being serious. Since your father left, it's been a struggle between focusing on my career and trying to revive my love life. I may not have a lot of time to spend with you lately, but I promise you that we will hang out more after this week."

I furrow my eyebrows and stare at her. "Okay?"

"Sweetie, just know that whatever happens... I'll always love you."

"Okay..." I reply again. Why is she acting all weird?

My mother lets out a sigh, rubs my shoulder, and walks out of the kitchen. That was strange. Chile, whatever. Let me get out of here before she decides to have another talk with me.

***

I check Becca's name off my list. She's always easy to shop for; just get her some make-up or shoes and she's ecstatic! I also decided to get something for Diggy's little sister and brother. A simple barbie doll or stuffed animal should do the trick for Miley since she's still in elementary. Hmm... what about Russy? As I check off Miley's name, I search for the perfect gift for Russy.

"What do teenage boys like... besides shoes and video games...?" I say to myself as I walk further into the toy section.

"Are you an option?" A very familiar seductive voice says behind me. I get butterflies in my stomach, but ignore the feeling and turn around.

"Jake!"

"Wassup?" He smiles, dimples and all.

"Hey..." I instantly smile and feel my cheeks get hot. The last time we talked, he was confessing his feelings for me. Woo-wee... did not see that one coming. I also didn't think that I'd get kinda nervous around him now, like, ya girl don't know what's happening.

"You're shopping for gifts I see. Need any help?"

"Actually yeah. What should I get for a teenage boy?"

"Hmm. Depends what he likes," Jake responds.

"I don't really know. I would get him, like, some shoes, but they too expensive."

We walk by the outdoor equipment aisle. We pass by a long row of basketballs, footballs, baseballs, roller skates, skateboards, etc.

"Roller blades?" Jake suggests while pointing down the aisle.

"Maybe... he might have to wait a while to use them though. He ain't rolling nowhere with this ice and snow." We both laugh a little. I grab a pair of black and red rollerblades and put them in my cart. I cross Russy's name off the list. Easy enough.

"What else you got?"

I sigh and make a stank face while looking at Jake. He laughs at me and grabs the list from my hands, reading it. "Uh, oh." He says.

"He should get nothing. Shoot. He should get some common sense or a brain. Or a life."

"He's still coming to your family's dinner?" Jake asks while holding onto the side of the cart, looking me in the eyes.

"I invited him. Well, my mom always invites their family because her best friend is Diggy's mom so... I pretty much see him every Christmas. But this time it's gonna be different. After all the stuff that's happened... it's gonna be so awkward." I sigh.

"Are you still mad at him?"

"...I don't know. I just wanna kick him in the balls, you know?"

Jake smirks then says, "I was thinking about what you said yesterday, about Julie. I'm gonna accept the money. No matter how much I may hold a grudge, I do believe that people can change. And with that being said, I think maybe you should give Diggy another chance..."

"Didn't you just tell me yesterday how horrible he is? And you were saying that I should forget him. If he isn't gonna treat me right, somebody else will!" I mock his speech from yesterday as he starts chuckling.

"Yeah, yeah... look, I don't like how he treated you, and I'll never forget what he did. But as someone that cares about you... I'm just saying you should forgive him. I mean, it's Christmas. We're supposed to be loving not hating." He shrugs.

"I hate when you're right," I say, folding my arms and frowning at him.

He laughs. "You're welcome."

"I still have to figure out what gift to get him."

"How about a gift of forgiveness or friendship?" Jake suggests.

"That's cheesy. Maybe--" I was interrupted by the store's loudspeaker. The person was asking Sam Goode to come to the service desk up near the front of the store. That's random. What do they want with me? After the announcement ended, Jake and I walked to the front of the store to see what was up. Standing by the service desk was my mom's friend Antonio. Why is he here?

"Hey, how are you Samantha?"

"Good... how did you know I was here?" I ask, a bit creeped out.

"Your mother told me that you went shopping. I actually had to shop for my own things, so I came here and happened to see you walking in the store so I thought I would call you up to the front," he explains.

"Oh. Okay..?"

Antonio looks at Jake and relaxes his stance. Then, he grins a bit and looks back at me. "Is this one of your friends?"

"Yeah, this is Jake." They shake hands. "Jake, this is... a friend of my mom's. Antonio."

"Nice to meet you, Jake," Antonio says.

"You too."

"So, is that all? Can I go shop some more--" I say.

"Oh! Right, sorry. I actually wanted to ask for your advice." He presses his fingertips together and his whole expression becomes more serious. "What kind of jewelry should I get for your mother for Christmas?"

"Jewelry?" Why is this man buying my mama jewelry? I mean it's a nice gesture, but usually friends don't buy each other jewelry. But boyfriends do...

"Yes. Should I get her a necklace or a bracelet? Or earrings?"

"Um..." I looked between Jake and Antonio, not knowing what to say. Jake furrowed his eyebrows at me.

"Uh, I think Sam is overwhelmed by the mere thought of jewelry. You see, diamonds are a girl's best friend, so I say all of the above," Jake confidently and comically rescues me from the awkward silence. Antonio smiles.

"You think so?"

"I know so. The more the merrier!"

"Alright... thank you, Jake. Sam, I'll see you at home." Antonio rushes off with a huge grin on his face.

"'I'll see you at home?'" Jake asks, looking just as surprised as me.

"It's a long story... um, let's get back to shopping," I respond.

"Okay. Anything to spend time with you." Jake wraps his arm around my shoulder as we walk. This makes me laugh and I push him away from me.

***

~Back home~

I walked into the living room where our Christmas tree twinkled with multicolored lights, various gifts wrapped in holiday-themed wrapping sat beneath it. Name tags revealed the receiver of these mysterious gifts. Setting down my shopping bags near the couch, I sat down on my knees and began sorting out my gifts and wrapping them in paper.

"SAM?! IS ANYONE HERE?!"

"I'm here," I yell.

I hear footsteps coming downstairs. Mama G enters the room.

"You get some good things?" She asks.

"Mhmm."

"Antonio ain't come back yet?"

"No... he's probably still shopping somewhere."

"You need help?"

"Nah, I got most of them done..."

There's a moment of silence.

"What time are people coming over tomorrow?" I ask.

"At 12."

"Did you have to invite Justine's whole family?"

"Sam, you know they come over here every year. I don't know why you're fussing over this all of a sudden," Mama says while crossing her arms.

"I don't wanna see Diggy. I just know he's gonna have a stank attitude and I'm not trying to get in trouble for slapping him, especially not in front of the pastor," I complain.

"Stop being silly. Look, I know you dealt with a lot these past weeks at school with drama or whatever, but you can't let that hinder you from having a good time. Sometimes you have to forget about all the past anguish and live your life the way that you want to. Don't let one person prevent you from doing that," She says with a sigh. "I don't know what has gone on between you and Diggy... but if y'all are true best friends, you would forget about the wrongs that you've done and maintain your friendship."

I didn't say anything, I only kept wrapping my gifts.

"You can be silent all you want -- you know I'm telling the truth. So wipe that grim look off your face and smile for once in your life," my mom demands.

"I do smile," I retort with an unintentional neck roll.

"Girl, you have one more time to roll your neck at me!" My mom grabs a couch pillow and throws it at me. I laugh and so does she. We share a look at each other for five seconds and then awkwardly look away. Then, Mama G clears her throat, "Do you wanna help me cook the rest of the food for tomorrow? The ham still needs to pre-cook and the mac-and-cheese could use a special touch..."

"Sure." I grin and get up from the floor, then I follow her into the kitchen...

My mom might be right. I don't wanna be all depressed for the rest of the year. I've somewhat forgiven Julie, or at least I've made a little peace with the fact that I won't accept her drama anymore. So why can't I forgive Diggy?