*NOT EDITED*

Chapter 39

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I woke up the next day with an aching body. Every small muscle, that I didn't even know I had, hurt like a bitch. I had fallen asleep on the plane in a very uncomfortable position with my back straight since the chair didn't want to move back and my legs somehow folded underneath my thighs. As soon as we reached the hotel, we took our keys and passed out on the bed.

The next morning, I had no time to complain over my cramping body because Sarah woke up very early to catch Los Angeles in the day.

"Don't wear the heavy clothing that we used to wear in Fairbanks, it's not as cold here," Sarah called from outside the bathroom. Her room was across mine and Damon's and she didn't hesitate to barge in in the morning.

My eyebrows furrowed when I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. The hair around my eyebrows indicated that I was in need of a visit to the Salon again. My hair was sticking up in weird places, and my mouth felt dry and dehydrated.

After finishing my business in the bathroom, I walked back into our room to see that Sarah left. She had laid out an outfit for me to wear on my messy bed. It was a pair of black tights, a military green hoodie from Pull & Bear, and a pair of black half-boots. I made a mental note to thank her later as I quickly slipped on the clothes.

We all met downstairs in the lobby and decided on going out for breakfast first because I wasn't going anywhere without a full course breakfast meal in my stomach. Nobody would have handled me on an empty stomach, anyways.

I trailed behind them, scrolling through my phone, as we walked to the car we rented—a 2015, blue Honda, CR-V. For some reason, I've always had a fascination with cars, which probably explains my undying love to my baby, and I was able to identify any car I'd see.

The weather outside was fair with strong winds that would constantly blow my hair on my face, but it was the good kind of wind. Unlike the winds that would smack a tree to my face in Alaska.

I checked my Instagram feed, and the messages that I received from everyone else. Reece had sent me about a dozen messages, and Ryder a few.  After replying to those of Reece's, I was about to check Ryder's messages when a sudden thought popped in my mind.

I didn't buy any Christmas gifts for anyone.

The panic pulled my heart into my stomach and I stopped walking abruptly.

How was I supposed to buy all the gifts when Christmas was tomorrow?

Damon must've realized that I stopped following them because he turned to look for me. He furrowed his eyebrows in question and I moved my feet to go up to him.

"I didn't buy the Christmas gifts," I said with a sigh, running my hand through my auburn hair, "did you?"

"Yeah, before we came here."

I groaned. Elyse turned around and motioned us over there impatiently.

"Well, what are we going to do?" He shifted from one foot to another.

"We're going to buy the Christmas gifts now," I replied. I grabbed his hand and pulled him over to everyone else before they grew suspicious.

Damon didn't have the chance to say anything else as we got into the car. He just gave me a look with his eyes. There was no way that we could do it.

I replied with a look of my own. There was always a way.

"Uhh, dad, can you guys please drop off Damon and me at the mall?"

I caught the surprised look on everyone's faces. Elyse turned around in the passenger's seat to face us. "Why? We're supposed to be spending the day together."

"Yeah, I know, but . . . Ryder's birthday is coming up soon and I need to get him a gift." I felt immensely proud at the excuse that I made up.

"Oh."—her face fell and a pang of guilt shot through my stomach like acid—"well, when your done just give me a call."

I nodded and watched as they drove off. The streets in LA were one of my favorite features of the city. Palm trees lined every street and the houses all looked similar. Once you got to the part of the city where the skyscrapers started, it took my breath away. The tall, glass and steel buildings stood high with their peaks poking through the cloudy, patch of blue sky.

The car stopped, striking me out of my trance and Damon and I bid them goodbye.

Once we entered the mall, the dilemma of what to get everyone hit me. I never really thought or focused on what my friends liked or preferred which just showed how bad of a friend I am. I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply. Going on like this without breakfast was starting to take its poll on me.

"What's wrong, Ash?" Damon asked, his facial expression etched into a concerned one.

I watched everyone pass by us as they stared at us standing weirdly in the middle of the mall. It struck me how most of the people were wearing layers of layers of clothing. The weather wasn't freezing my blood, but it also wasn't that cold. I guess they were just adjusted to hot weather.

"I have no idea what to get anyone. For all I know, Drake might like antique, wooden, small figures of simplistic stuff. And Bex might like self help books."

"Self-help books?" he asked with an amused look, "Why would she need those?"

"Because she needs self-help?" I asked in a 'duh' tone.

"I know what you can get Emma. Remember that Miley Cyrus signed album that you got?"

My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to grasp what he was talking about in my mind. My mouth formed an O shape when I remembered the album I got last year. I had met Miley here in a Starbucks. She was almost unrecognizable, but I was able to identify her when she accidentally spilled her iced drink on my shirt. It was completely fine by me, but she was so kind and decided to give me a signed album. I wasn't a really big fan of her, but I still liked her and who knew, maybe I would've needed it one day.

Weird that she randomly had signed albums in her bag, but I obviously wasn't about to question that.

"What about it?" We started walking around to avoid looking more like weirdos by standing still in the middle of the floor.

"She's probably her biggest fan ever. Would you mind giving it to her?"

"Not at all. How'd you know about that. That she's a big fan," I clarified.

"I actually don't remember how," he said with a shrug.

Before we can do anything else, I spotted the black and red glowing sign of Tim Hortons from the corner of my eyes and decided to get something quick to eat. The croissant and hot chocolate wasn't enough to fill my empty stomach, but it had to do for now.

Damon got the same thing as me. We took our food in take-away paper bags, and decided to eat our food whilst shopping for the gifts.

He led me into a weird gift shop, the loud clatter of the mall dying down as the bells above the door jingled when we walked in. The interior was mainly made of wood, and it smelled like red apple freshener. The short man with receding black hair and a goatee grinned creepily at us, revealing a gap between his teeth. He eyed us both and I didn't miss his lingering stares at my chest.

"Hey, there," he said, a thick, southern accent coating his words, "how can I help ya?"

"We're just looking around," I replied with a small, hesitant smile.

He nodded with an unsatisfied grunt before turning around to stack the picture frames behind him. Damon pulled me to an aisle so we were out of the weird man's sight.

"Okay, so we can now cross Emma out. And-ooh!" I said excitedly. I turned on the heel of my foot and walked back to the man behind the cashier.

"Do you have records?"—he gave me a confused look and I continued—"you know, the ones that you can play on a vinyl."

"Ahh, I don't have none a' that. Check in the store opposite to us, 'Brandy's Music'. Pretty sure you'll find 'em there."

I thanked him and got out of the store with Damon behind me, the bells jingling once more. In front of us was the big store he was talking about. It looked newly opened, judging by the sleek, white, exterior design that differentiated it from the rest of the stores next to it.

"What are you getting and for who?" Damon asked, staring at the large and crowded store.

"Records for Elyse," I replied.

We walked into it and I didn't need to ask someone for directions to the records—they were obviously showcased on large shelves on the left side of the shop. It was one of the few stores that still sold records, most of them stuck to the modern CD's.

I picked out a couple that were Elyse's favorites—Beastie Boys- Paul's Boutique, The Beatles- Revolver, and Beck- Sea Change. Satisfied with my choices, I walked back to the cashier and payed for the records.

"You've got nice taste." The girl with ebony hair behind the counter smiled as she punched in the button with her thumb, opening the slider that held the money. "Last minute Christmas gifts?"

I chuckled. "Thanks, and yeah. I had so much on my mind."

"Don't we all? Merry Christmas," she said handing me the white paper bag.

"Thank you. You too." I returned her warm smile. Damon was waiting for me outside with his phone to his ear. When he saw me coming over, he ended the call and shoved his phone back in his back pocket.

"Who was that?" I asked suspiciously.

"Uhh, no one special. Elyse was just checking on us." He turned around, avoiding my eyes and I just nodded slowly. I didn't believe him.

"Let's go to a clothing store for kids. I know one where you can get matching clothes for the mother and the baby. It's perfect for Cameron," I said happily.

He nodded and we wasted no time in going there. I chose two, matching, unisex, yellow onesies. It was still too early to know the gender. They were super cute and I was sure Cam was going to love them.

"So, where are we heading to now?" Damon asked as we stepped out of the store.

"A photo studio. I know what to get Ryder."

He nodded and we got directions to go there. It was on the second floor so we had to take the escalator to get there.

I decided to print a photo of Ryder and me. It was a picture of us at the carnival that we went to at the beginning of the year. I had a big smile that revealed my teeth and Ryder gave the camera a grin that popped his dimples. I almost forgot I had the picture until yesterday when I was scrolling through my camera roll to delete the unwanted, useless pictures that took up my storage.

He had an arm around me and we were standing in front of one of the games where you had to knock down all the of the bottles to win a large teddy bear—I was holding one of the large teddy bears. Ryder wasn't able to do it, much to his disappointment and destroying his ego, but he still insisted on getting me the teddy bear, so he just payed for it.

After printing the picture, I also payed for a frame to put it in and I had someone with cute handwriting to write a message on the glass cover:

'You will always be my teddy bear, Little Rhyno.'

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Author's Note:

Hey, guys! Another long chapter, yayay. How're you guys doing?

For some reason, writing this chapter was actually hard, but I was able to go through it. For those who were asking, I don't know how long TGTCTP is going to be. At the beginning I planned it to end at chapter 45, but as you can see, that's clearly not happening. Maybe once I get to a little above 50 chapters. Just know that it won't be more than 60 (hopefully!)

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