Page 18 of Searching for Beautiful
He’s dressed so differently from most of the other guys, in a pair of cargo pants, T-shirt with a long-sleeved shirt underneath it. I don’t know why I’m focusing on his clothes. Probably because it’s easier than looking at the rest of him, because Christian is even cuter than he was before.
“Whew!” Mr. Powers slips into the classroom, saving me from replying. “Shh, don’t tell. I’m setting a bad example by being late to my own class on the second day. That kind of behavior shouldn’t happen until at least the second month. ”
Everyone in the classroom laughs, except for Christian and me. Almost like the way Ian did a minute ago, Christian shakes his head at me. This time, I feel like I really did disappoint someone.
I didn’t even say hello.
Chapter Thirteen
Before
Rolling over in bed, I stretch. The second my arm comes into contact with something that hadn’t been there when I went to sleep, I remember what day it is.
Christmas.
My heart dances as I push up in bed and grab the box. My fingers rip at the wrapping paper, which has extra tape holding it down. Mom always does that, trying to make it harder for Dad and me to get into our packages.
Green paper falls to the bed as I keep tearing into the shoebox-size gift. Once I see the box, I don’t have to open it to know what it is.
My eyes actually tear a little, which I know is silly. Not many fifteen-year-olds would get so excited about a pair of bunny slippers.
After pulling the lid off the box, I giggle when I see the pink slippers inside. They look just like—
“Ah, so you got them. ”
Turning my head, I see Mom standing in my bedroom doorway.
“This is an awesome memory gift, Mom. ”
Every Christmas we give one present called the memory gift. It can’t cost more than fifteen dollars and it has to be something that holds a special memory from the past. Mom’s parents are super wealthy, which is cool and all, but they’re the type who try to buy your love rather than earn it. They didn’t help her find “her thing” the way she was determined to help me find pottery. Didn’t dance with her or watch her make pottery for hours, like she did with me. Dad said a couple years after I was adopted, Mom made the memory gift rule because she always wanted to make sure gifts were about love and not just materialistic things.
“Well, it is my fault you had to get rid of the first pair. ” She chuckles. “Let’s try not to carry these around with you this time. ”
I swat her arm when she sits beside me. “I was four. ”
“When you got them. Not when I finally made you toss them, even though you said you’d never forgive me. ”
A smile spreads across my lips. “Well, I guess I’ll forgive you now. ”
When I was four, I got my first pair of bunny slippers and I loved them. Some kids carry a blanket or a stuffed animal. Me, I carried my bunnies. I’d been brokenhearted when she finally told me I was too old to carry around slippers I’d outgrown.
“You better. ” Mom stands. “Now hurry up. I can only hold off your father for so long. He’s going to jump into the rest of the gifts without us. ”
She gets to the door before I speak. “Thank you. This is my favorite memory gift I’ve ever gotten. ”
Mom blows a kiss. “And getting you was the best gift your father and I will ever have. ”
Me. I’m special to someone as cool as her. It makes me the luckiest girl in the world.
Chapter Fourteen
Now
I flip through the channels, not really paying much attention to what flashes across the screen. I’ve never been much of a TV person, but now, at least it’s something to do. Doesn’t seem to make it more interesting, so I just keep going through the stations, over and over like I actually care what pops up on the screen.
Depression sucks. I want it to be over already.
I wiggle my toes in my bunny slippers. This time, I’ll never get rid of them. It’s so funny how I hadn’t thought about my slippers in so many years, until she gave me the memory gift again. She just seemed to know stuff like that. That’s how Mom was. Dad called her beautiful, but he always said he loved her for her heart. Because of how beautiful she was inside.
