The following morning I woke up to an empty spot beside me on the sofa. Sitting up drowsily, I wiped my eyes and realised where I was.
Today was Christmas! Better yet, Cam was here to celebrate it with me. But where was he?
Getting up from the sofa, I wandered into the kitchen where the sound of voices met my ears. Gathered around the kitchen island sipping coffee, my family and my boyfriend sat in cheerful conversation.
"Ah, good morning sleepy head!" Cam exclaimed happily when he saw me standing in the doorway.
My parents and sister turned around. Dad smiled at me. "Morning champ. Merry Christmas."
"Yeah, you too." I replied, wandering over to my mother and placing a kiss on her cheek as she ruffled my hair affectionately.
"We're sorry we didn't wake you." she apologised.
"You just looked so cute sleeping!" Cam chimed in with a stupid grin. "Almost made me forget the snoring."
"I do not snore!"
Cam grinned at me, winking. "Oh babe, trust me. You snore. But I'll forgive you for it cause you look adorable when you sleep."
"Oh my god." I said as I filled a mug with fresh coffee. "Stop talking."
My sister grinned at me, looking smug. "You two looked very comfortable last night."
I pointed my spoon at her. "One word, and I'll throw your present in the trash."
"Oh poor me, guess I'm missing out on my dollar-store perfume this year."
"Hey!" I cried. "It was from the bargain bin this time."
"Oh, lucky me."
"Alright stop fighting." Mom shooed us out of the kitchen. "Go get around the tree for the family picture."
"Why do we have to-"
"The family picture, Troye!"
"Okay!" I laughed and made my way into the living room and positioned myself beside Aria in front of the tree.
"Alright, the timers set. Everyone get ready." Dad said. "1...2...3!"
The camera flashed on the tripod, as per every year in the Evans household on Christmas morning.
We took a few more photos to send to our relatives, one in which I gave Aria bunny ears, before spreading out on the floor.
"Alright, who's first?" Dad questioned in reference to the array of presents sitting neatly under the tree.
"I'll go-wait, where's Cam?" I asked, looking around for my missing boyfriend.
Suddenly the doorbell rung and I stared at it in confusion. Looking at my parents, they both smiled and gestured for me to go answer the door. Aria was busy on her phone so I stood up and headed for the door.
Pulling the door open, I nearly dropped my mug in shock at the sight of my boyfriend standing outside in the cold, a tower of at least ten presents blocking his face from sight.
"Cam," I breathed in shock. "What is this?"
Cam lowered the tower slightly so he could beam at me. "Merry Christmas, Troye!"
I gaped. "They can't-what the-no, wait I-what?"
Cam laughed. "These are my gifts to you."
"Ten!"
"Twelve." Cam corrected. "Now watch out, these nearly fell out of my car on the way here."
I stepped aside and watched as Cam struggled to get his haul through the small doorway. Miraculously, he pulled it off without dropping a single gift. I stared at him, flabbergasted. Cam waddled into the living room where my parents burst out laughing at the sight of him.
"Sorry Cam," my mom wiped tears from her eyes as she tried not to giggle. "That's just a sight I never thought I'd see in my house."
"No worries, Mrs Evans." Cam smiled at her. "I just thought your son deserved the best on Christmas."
"This is the second surprise you've given me in twenty-four hours." I said.
Cam peered up at me as he worked to put the stack down. "Guess I'm two ahead of you then, huh?"
We watched in amusement as Cam placed the gifts down with great difficulty before straightening up and grinning at me, pointing to the tower. "Dig in!"
"Way to outshine me." I grumbled as I moved forward. "I only got you one thing and it's a lot smaller than any of these."
"It's not a competition." The grin never left Cam's face. "But if it was, I totally would've won."
"I hate you." I mumbled, earning a laugh from Cam.
Aria was already unwrapping her gifts and my parents leant together, quietly chatting on the sofa as they exchange theirs, so I sit down beside the tower. Believe it or not, it was taller than me sitting down.
I worked my way through the stack of gifts, Cam watching my reactions with an eager smile. Books I wanted, movie tickets, clothes and a framed photo of Cam and I fell out of the coloured paper as I unwrapped each gift.
Holding the framed photo in my hands, I grinned at the memory. It was us on a date at the amusement park that Cam had surprised me with.
Turning, Cam was smiling at me and I leaned over to kiss him before gently placing a small gift in his hands. "Now it's your turn."
Cam took the box and unwrapped it in a swift motion. Lifting the lid off, he quietly gasped at what was inside.
Carefully, as though not to break it, he lifted the necklace out of the box, a silver dog tag hanging off the chain at the end.
"Troye." he breathed. "This is beautiful."
"Read it." I smiled.
Cam turned the tag over and read the engraving on the back. A little piece of our forever.
He looked back to me, eyes gleaming. "You're amazing."
I shrugged. "I wanted to give you something symbolic of us but looking around me, I'd say you won that one easily."
My boyfriend shook his head. "No, I gave you materialistic items. You gave me something that no amount of gifts could ever make up for."
"But all the things you bought me show how much you really know me."
"And the fact that you gave me this shows that you really are the kind, sweet and caring guy I fell in love with."
"Thanks." I laughed, pulling Cam in for another kiss.
"Oi! Get a room lovebirds." Aria called out and we broke apart, laughing.
"How about we just agree that both our gifts were awesome?" I said.
"Deal." Cam chuckled. "Can you put it on me?"
I clipped the chain around his neck and sat back, admiring the gleaming silver and feeling pretty proud of myself for coming up with the idea.
"Alright you two," my dad said, holding the camera. "Get in front of the tree."
"Ugh, really?" I groaned and Cam chuckled.
"C'mon babe, it'll be fun."
We moved to sit in front of the tree and smiled as my dad took the photo.
Soon after Cam fell easily into conversation with my family and I sat beside him, watching the way he spoke with such an easy and caring smile, his eyes bright with hope and energy.
My eyes fell once again to the necklace I'd given him. To him, it symbolised us but it meant so much more to me than that.
The necklace was love, hope, care, passion and strength, all the things I felt when I was with Cam.
And sitting here, beside my boyfriend on Christmas morning with my family, feeling so happy and in-love, I knew there was nowhere else I'd ever want to be.
To me, this was our piece of forever.
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