Page 40 of Shifted

“Don’t people get robbed at Markets? Are we sure this isn’t a hazard with how many people will be-” His lips capture mine, and he quickly pulls back, stopping me. The truth was, I was anxious for some reason as if I’d get caught with a boy by my mother who no longer existed in my life.

“People get robbed everywhere, and that isn’t going to happen with me. Come on, it’ll be fun. You need to embrace Christmas Hope, not run from it.” He was right. I honestly hated the holiday itself because my parents almost made it a mission to ruin it for me. He heard all about how fuck up it was with them growing up. We didn’t even spend the holidays with Grandma anymore. Mom didn’t want to go anymore. But when I called Grandma to ask what she was doing last year, she said she was spending it with them. It’s not her fault. She thought I chose to run away from them, not what they did, leaving their seventeen-year-old homeless and out on the streets.

"Come on, we got to make the green line to Kenmore.” He dragged my hand towards the other trains, basically pulling me. He knew I didn’t want to do this, and as the train roared closer, he picked up the speed, "It's a train; there'll be another one!" He laughed as I dragged behind him, determined to make the next train coming in mere minutes.

But his goal was for me to embrace things outside of my comfort zone and live, which I appreciated because I wasn’t alone in this city; I had him to show me what it was like to live, to breathe for the first time in my life without being scared.

He swiped his Charlie card and had me run through first as he followed behind. I didn’t understand why he liked to do that, rob from the city. He claimed it was more fun, but the card I used was free, so technically, there was no difference.

The green line blew by, eventually coming to a stop, and we stepped on. I gripped the pole, and his arms wrapped around me quickly as I jilted when the train moved. It moved forward at full force as the sound of scraping metal could be heard. Eyes lingered on us, but I knew it wasn't because of me.

It was because of him.

"Sometimes I wish you were a little bit more, ugly," I teased because everywhere we went, eyes followed. I couldn’t deny it. I, too, found myself constantly lost in his gaze. But that was because I loved who he was, not what he looked like.

He scoffed, laughing at my remark, and then dipped down to my level, taking my lips into his. I broke free, shaking my head. "Ew, kissing on the T, really? They're going to kick us out!" He stared at me like I was ridiculous, and besides my wishes, he pulled my lips against his again.

The train reaches its stop, and he then tells me we have to hop on the Orange Line as if this wasn’t confusing enough. I took his hand as we walked through the metal dividers and circled back down to the other side. "I'm freezing my ass off; how did you con me into doing this?" It felt about 20 degrees outside, and at this moment, I couldn’t feel my toes quite well, and we hadn’t even been walking around outside yet.

"Christmas at the Seaport, ice skating in the commons, and dinner on Newbury later with music at Copley. Hope, you've been robbed of Christmas in Boston. Come on, it’s our first one. Let’s do it right." His use of the word our makes me feel good like it was truly just us. I’d never been in a relationship before; it was all new. But with him, he made it feel so easy as if I would spend every December celebrating the holiday season here in Boston with him.

"I will not be ice skating." I droned as I dragged behind him once again.

“Alright, deal… maybe,” he laughed as I shoved him slightly, “like some evil little elf following me around?” before I could move in on him again, he raced me to the ticket scanner and got on the other side before me. But he hands his card across, “Truce?” he asks.

“Maybe,” I say, scanning my card.

Eventually, we made it to the Seaport, and the overflow of people didn’t make me feel quite excited. People ran around with shopping backs and winter coats. But the giant Christmas tree in the center of the village was cute, I couldn’t lie.

He began walking ahead of me as I stared, “Hey, come on!” He gestured for me to follow him, but at the pace and distance he had already gained from me, I was about to lose this man in a crowd of people.

"Stop speed-walking!" I yelled, and he stopped short and turned to see me, now annoyed. "I have little legs!" As I reached him, I breathed out in relief, but before I could think, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. "Oh my god!" Horrified as I was brought into the air, suddenly, my body flushed with the warmth of embarrassment.

"Put me down!" Stares came from every direction as my ass was in the air. Though fortunately I chose jeans for today's travels, I was still mortified by the scene itself. He was acting like some child just because I was a slow walker.

"No."

"This is so embarrassing." I squirmed in his arms as he laughed. "We look ridiculous!" He didn't budge as I remained uncomfortable up in his arms. But then I realized he’d taken me into the village, booths, and snow laced the place. Light Christmas music played while tourists filled the park. Suddenly my feet touched the ground, slipping, and soon I fell on my ass.

“Fuck,” I gasped at the pain. My ass cheek collided with the brick ground, and his face now looked guilty. "Oh god, Hope I'm sorry." I scoffed and accepted his hand as he helped me up.

"Now you have to buy me lunch," I insist. At this point, the cold had already spoiled my mood. "I was buying it for you anyway?" he claims, pulling me back into his arms.

I think being nineteen made the world seem more bitter, but with him, it didn’t. I hated seeing people happy or in love because I’d never really seen it in my own life. But being here with him made a world difference with anyone else.

“Come on you old grump, look, I’m sorry… can we just look around?” I nod in agreement, and I wrap my arm around him as we walk. There were many gifts I found silly and fun but too expensive to buy. I didn’t mention it to him because he’d probably feel obligated, and it wouldn’t be a gift from me truly. We stopped at an ornament booth as I scanned them.

"Look at that," I pointed to an ornament of a poorly painted walrus with a silly Santa hat. I thought it was honestly cute, but he looked at it skeptically. "You hate sea animals?" he countered.

"Yeah, but this one is silly." I giggled at how poorly painted the animal was and looked to see that a local artist had made it. I watched as his hand flew over the counter, handing the guy a twenty-dollar bill before I could react. I stared at him, shocked, as he handed it over with a smile.

"Merry Christmas, Hope." I glared at him in response.

"Thanks for the ugly walrus." My arms wrapped tight around him, grateful.

“Anytime Hope.” His lips pressed to my forehead warming my heart.

Present

---