Erin woke up with a huge grin on her face.

Today was the day.

"Merry Christmas!" she said to no one in particular.

She jumped to her closet where she kept the secret Santa gifts, unwrapping the wrapper once she laid her hands on it. On it was a piece of paper with the writing:

Cally's coming

Frowning, she opened the next box. Inside was a booklet labelled 'STUFF YOU SHOULD DO'.

Before she could flip it open, a paper fell out.

You're not allowed to open this until Cally takes you to the place

She frowned again, a sigh escaping from her lips. Was Cally a part of all this? Did she know all this time?

She had a creeping suspicion of who her secret Santa was. At least she knew she could trust whoever he was, since her best friend was involved.

As if right on cue, her doorbell rang and through the window, she could see the figure of her best friend waiting by the front door.

Knitting her eyebrows together in confusion, she dashed out of her room to the front door. Curiosity laced her veins as she faced the grinning face of Calista.

"You knew?" Erin exclaimed in disbelief, "All this time? I cannot believe you, Cally."

"You know you love me," Cally said while putting her eyebrow up and down.

Erin rolled her eyes, "So where are you gonna take me?" she asked lifting the book, "He said not to open until you take me to a place."

"Yup," Cally said popping the 'p'.

Erin groaned, "I swear if you're kidnapping me."

"I swear we're not," Cally said raising her hand up, "Now get ready, you're still wearing your stained shirt and all that."

"But it's comfy," she whined.

"No way," Cally said, pursing her lips, "You go get ready and be down in ten. I'm gonna raid your fridge while you're at it."

"Hey," she protested to her best friend before getting pushed back to her room.

With a huff, she trudged back to her closet and picked out a dark red sweater and skinny jeans. After shimmying into the pants while looking like a total idiot hopping around, she applied a bit of make up and slipped her feet into a pair of black ankle boots and grabbed a matching red beanie. She took her black sling bag and looked at the mirror, satisfied.

She dashed down the stairs and basically yanked Cally, who ended up dropping her apple.

"Hey," now it was her friend's turn to whine.

"It's okay, Jill will clean that up later," she said, a smile still lingering on her face.

"Someone's excited," Cally said, while elbowing her friend playfully, "Did you bring all the stuff he told you to bring?"

Erin grabbed the stuff out of her purse and laid it out on the ledge in front of the car. Cally grabbed the blindfold and handed it to her friend, "Wear it."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"B-but you're not kidnapping me right?"

Cally rolled her eyes, "We've known each other since we were five, come on!"

"Okay, jeez," Erin grabbed the blindfold and tied it around her eyes. Once her vision was completely blocked she told Cally she was 'blind'.

Cally started the car and she could feel the car moving.

"It's a surprise," Cally explained, "You can't know where we're going or else you'll find out who he is before he reveals himself."

"Do I know him?" Erin asked, looking to the left, where Cally was supposedly sitting.

"Yes."

"Is he a classmate?"

"Eh."

"Is he cute?"

"Well, it'd be weird if I say he is but you'll definitely find him cute."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would it be weird if you think he's cute?"

"You'll see."

Erin felt the car stop and heard the door being opened. She heard Cally walk out and shut the door and a few seconds later, her side of the door was open.

"Come on," Cally said, "I'll guide you."

And so, Erin held on to Cally's shoulder. Her friend guided her through what felt like a maze of tunnels. It went left, right and left and right. After what seemed like forever, Cally untied her blindfold and Erin found herself in a pitch dark room.

Shoot, they were kidnapping her.

When she was about to scream, Cally held up a small box up to her. It was a battery holder and Erin couldn't help but look at her friend in confusion for the nth time today.

"Put the batteries in," Cally explained as if it was the most obvious thing ever.

Which it was, actually.

Erin grabbed the battery from her purse and slid the batteries in. Cally clicked a button and what happened next sent a gasp escaping from her lips.

Fairy lights turned on, bedazzling the room with it's delicate, beautiful light. It trailed across the room and ended by another door. The lights seemed to form a pathway, with two parallel lines forming a path in the middle. In the dimness of the room, Erin could see her friend grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

She pulled on Erin's arm, "Come on."

And so they trailed the line until they reached another door.

She couldn't help but feel like this was some sort of escape room but gave credit to mysterious guy for coming up with all of this.

Her heart started beating ten times faster when she remembered who was behind all this.

Mystery guy.

Anonymous.

Her secret Santa.

She smiled when she remembered and didn't even have to hear what Calista had to say, she grabbed the key she received the other day and slid it through the keyhole.

Just as expected, it fit perfectly and she twisted it, unlocking the door.

She pushed it open and inside revealed a completely lit room with Bryan standing in the middle. His face was completely red, matching the Santa hat atop his forehead.

Above him was a banner that said, 'Merry Christmas from your Secret Santa"

Erin couldn't help but smile widely as his name escaped her lips, "Bryan?"

She looked at him in disbelief but deep down, she knew. She knew all this time. From the familiar brunette in the Empire State building, to him at Pap's, him suggesting the promise ring, and him tracing his hands across her neck while clasping the necklace together.

But she had crossed off the thought every time she recalled his oddly cold disposition.

"In the flesh," he said grinning nervously.

He held out another box, with a red ribbon tied on top of it, "Your last present from your secret Santa."

"I think I knew it was you," Erin said with a smile

"You did?"

"Maybe. But you have been acting all weird recently, like you've been avoiding me so I didn't know what to think."

"I was kind of trying to hide my feelings for you," he replied shyly.

She smirked, "I thought I saw you on the Empire State and at Pap's too."

"Oh yeah?" he asked, "Why didn't you come over to me?"

"I was looking for my secret Santa and I guess at first I thought it was impossible, that it'd be you," Erin said with a blush.

He laughed. "Open it."

She trailed her fingers through ribbon, her heart racing. This was her final present. Everything felt surreal. Like a dream come true.

She knew it was him but she couldn't believe it.

"A scrapbook?" Erin gasped as she grabbed the thick book and flipped it open, revealing picture of her, Bryan and Cally ever since they were kids, "Oh my gosh, Bry, I-" she cut herself off by giving him a hug.

And somehow it felt perfect, as if her body moulded perfectly to fit into his. She pecked him quickly on the lips and giggled once she saw the shocked look on his face.

"Thank you, secret Santa."

"You're welcome."

They then spent Christmas sitting by the fireplace, looking through each picture, laughing as they reminisced each memory. Bryan held Erin in his arms, wondering if he should've confessed a lot sooner. She looked perfect, snuggled between his arms.

Erin couldn't help but smile the whole day, her body engulfed in the warmth she never knew she needed. He was perfect.

And there it was. Two best friends, who had been deeply in love with each other for quite some time now, a magical confession, and an unforgettable Christmas.

- T H E E N D -