☃︎❅✧˖°･::｡･::･ﾟ.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Just seventeen more presents to go. Surely it won't take so long. I've only been wrapping presents for half an hour. I take a break to drink some water and skip a song on my Christmas playlist. "All I Want for Christmas is You" starts playing and I skip that one too.

"Hey, I liked that song," Cole complains from where he's wrapping his presents. He then tries to sing the lyrics himself. Someone needs to tell this boy he should never be a singer.

I'm neatly spread out on the living room floor. There is a pile of wrapped presents and unwrapped presents. My tape and scissors are in specific spots on the couch so I don't lose them. Cole also decided to wrap his presents at this time. I made him go on the other side of the couch, though, so he doesn't see the present I got him.

"Can you hand me the wrapping paper with the black and white Santas on it?" Cole asks and his hand sticks up from behind the couch. I went through the wrapping paper stock to find the one he requested. Of course, he wanted this one. I give it to Cole and he goes back to work. I hear aggressive paper folding and tape cutting, but I don't question it.

I decided to switch my wrapping paper as well. I'm trying to stick to a red-and-white theme, so I avoid all colors that won't match. My Mom bought a cute selection. I don't want to use too many designs, but they're all so cute. I settle on snowflakes and reindeer on it.

"Oh, this one is so cute," I talk to myself. Cole's head pops up from behind the couch. He has a decorative bow on his head.

"Lemme see," He says and I do my best to block my unwrapped presents. Once his eyes find the wrapping paper I'm holding in front of me, he gives a nod and his head disappears.

"No wonder you like it," Cole starts, "You're obsessed with deer, especially the ones at the mall." After his sentence I hear him let out a sigh of pain, immediately following with him explaining he got a paper cut. How does this child survive in the real world?

"You can't blame me. It's not fair that those mall reindeer have to sit inside a building all day,"

"Well then, let me be your hero and free them for you," Cole says sarcastically.

"You won't," I fire back.

"I will."

Our argument stops there. I focus on getting all my presents done. I just have a cute pajama set to box for my Mom and then I'll be done. Cole finishes before me. He asks if he can see my presents now. Since he is wrapped I let him come from behind the couch. A feeling of pride swells within me when Cole tells me my wrapping is impressive. After I finished, Cole offered me help to move the presents to the main tree in the other room.

The presents that I wrapped look amazing under the tree. Cole's... Not so much. The paper is wrinkled and torn in places. The colors are all over the place, I think he used every wrap we had. One present is an even covered entity in Ziptie. I feel bad for the person who has to open that.

"I'm like a wrap god," Cole exclaims proudly while looking at his stack of presents. "Eminem has some competition." I have never facepalmed so fard in my life. His presents are a mess and so is Cole himself. His hands are wrapped in tape, the bow is still on his head, and there is glitter all over his arms. We didn't even have glitter as a supply option.

"Kids!" Cole's Mom squeals behind us. She's wearing a cute Christmas sweater and a champagne glass is in her hands, despite it being noon. "Guess what I bought you guys! Cole, what is in your hair?"

She takes a moment to rip the sticky bow off of his head. Cole gives the most offended expression while gaping at his bow that is now on the ground. "You won't need to wear such a silly piece when I got you something new to wear," Mrs. Clarke continues and grabs two bags and shoves them towards us.

Cole and I pull out our gifts at the same time. I beam happily at the gift. It's a soft pair of green flannel pants, with a matching black t-shirt. I needed a new pair of flannel pajamas. I mean, I might have lots at home, but there is no such thing as too many flannel pants. I look over to see Cole got the same thing.

"It was a two-for-one sale, I thought it would be cute to get you all some matching pajamas," Mrs. Clarke happily explains. I express my gratitude and tell her it's adorable.

"Oh no problem at all, sweetie. I mean, it was either this or a matching set that said "Chest" and "Nuts" on it." She says and starts cracking up. Cole who looked fine a second ago, now looks like he's going to die from embarrassment.

"You have a questionable sense of humor, Mom," Cole deadpans while staring at his Mom who is now almost in tears. She calms and fixes herself. Her nose tilts upwards when responding to Cole, "At least I don't wear dumb bows in my hair." She then turns on her heel dramatically. Cole glares at me while giggling at his Mom's exit.

It's only a minute later when his Mom comes back into the room. "I forgot! I wanted to take a picture of you two wearing them. C'mon now, go put them on." Cole grunts but heads to his room anyway. I follow him down the hallway to my room. A picture wouldn't hurt. It only lasts one second.

I hear Cole's door open back up immediately. Wow, he can change quickly. I take a moment to fix my hair before going back out there.

My Mom is now with Mrs. Clarke, with her phone out. Oh great. I was fine with the idea because it was only going to be on Mrs. Clarke's phone. But now that my Mom is taking a picture too, she'll probably get it framed.

"Alright, get closer to each other," My Mom instructs. Cole and I awkwardly shuffle towards each other. I don't dare wrap my arm around him like most people do during photos. I gave a friendly smile and quickly the photoshoot was done. I'm very grateful they didn't make us do multiple poses.

"Thank you!" They tell us and then go and obsess over their pictures. In the other room, I hear the Grinch movie playing on the television. I can recognize that movie anywhere. I move to the living room to sit down at watch it. Right before I can take the comfiest couch, Cole comes out of nowhere and flops himself onto it. His limps spread out, taking up the whole couch.

"I was going to sit there, move your big butt," I tell him in an annoyed tone.

"Sorry, Rose. But, it's not my fault you're slow. Also, you think I have a big butt?" He smirks up at me. I take my defeat and curl up in an armchair.

☃︎❅✧˖°･::｡･::･ﾟ.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Most of the movie has gone past and Cole has fallen asleep. He's cherishing that comfy couch. My stomach rumbles and I decide to go make food. Quickly, I stand up so I don't wake Cole, but he stirs anyway.

"Where are you going?" He asks. His head tilts from the couch.

"To make cookies," I respond.

"Good. I'm so hungry I could eat the popcorn off the tree again."

"Good." I give an evil smile, "You can help me make them then."

"Do I have to?" Cole complains.

"If you want some double chocolate cookies, yup."

He lets out one final groan of annoyance before rolling off the couch and following me into the kitchen.

☃︎❅✧˖°･::｡･::･ﾟ.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Would you like someone like Cole or Lily-Rose is your life? Would you be annoyed or entertained by one of them?

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, whether you're in the holiday season right now or in any season.