“What if no one comes?”

I turned to see Austin looking around the store with his hands on his hips.

“Someone will come, I promise you.” I said working my arms up under his open, red flannel shirt and giving him a squeeze.

“Well, does the beanie look dumb?”

“No,” I said with a laugh looking up at the red beanie on his head with the pom-pom. “You look adorable.”

“Why do I feel so self-conscious?” He asked with a groan pulling away from me and making sure for the hundredth time all the tables were inline and the board games stacked on top.

“Because you’ve worked really hard on this store and everything in it…and now you’re doing something nice for the community and you just want everything to be perfect.”
He turned to me with a smile. “Where would I be without you, Rae?”

“Can I give you your present yet?” I asked with a smirk. Austin had held all present unwrapping until we had made it down to the store and set up.

He nodded giving me the okay and I ran excitedly into the backroom and pulled the little box wrapped in Santa Claus paper out of my purse. I knew he was going to like this. I had spent weeks trying to find something that was perfect for him. I came back and handed it to him excitedly. He took it and opened it slowly building up unnecessary tension.

“Do you like it?” I asked bracing myself as he slowly pulled out the necklace I had gotten him. It was a long necklace with an anatomically correct heart pendant hanging from it.

He slowly turned the pendant over and over in his fingers. “You can’t see it, but on the inside they engraved your mom’s name…” Austin’s eyes came up to meet mine, his breathing slowed. “I emailed your dad to get her name. I figured you can keep her close to you all the time….’cause she’ll be in your heart…get it…”

“Raegan, this is perfect.” He said with a huge smile on his face and tears in his eyes. He slipped the necklace over his head and pulled me into him. “Where did you get this?”

“I can’t tell you.” I laughed breathing in his scent, relief flushing over me that he liked.

“This has to be one of the coolest gifts ever. It’s so badass looking but it has so much meaning…thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I smiled placing a kiss on his lips.

“My presents going to look shitty now…” He laughed.

“No! I’m sure it’s great!” I watched as he went to the back and came back carrying a box. He placed it in front of me and I smiled at him before working the wrappings off.

Inside the box was a bag that I could have only ever dreamed about.

“Are you serious?” I asked him in barely a whisper causing him to laugh. “These are like fifteen hundred fucking dollars….Austin!”

I threw myself on him making him laugh even harder. “How did you know?!”

“I was talking to Charlotte. She said you always wanted a Balenciaga bag so I googled it and picked one out I thought you’d like.”

“You spent so much on me.” I said pouting.

“Do you like it?” He asked.

“Yes.” I admitted.

“Good.” He said kissing me hard.

Smiling I cleaned up the wrapping paper and took my new purse into the back room to switch my stuff from my old one out.

It was long before kids started arriving at the store. Austin had sent a tweet out inviting anyone that didn’t have a place to spend Christmas to come down and spend it with us. The turn-out was amazing. We played board games at the tables we had set up and I placed a bunch of snacks out for everyone. We got to meet each and every kid who had come and took lots of pictures with everyone too. I grabbed my guitar and everyone gathered around. People requested songs and we all sang. The atmosphere in the room was incredible.

“Rae, play an original song.” Austin encouraged, the kids enthusiastically clapping and cheering me on.

“Okay, I can…I wrote this one a few weeks ago after the meet & greet that was here. It’s about you Austin, and your fans and how I imagine they feel about you. It’s called Superstar.”

“This is wrong but I can't help but feel like
There ain't nothing more right babe
Misty morning comes again and I can't
Help but wish I could see your face
And I knew from the first note played
I'd be breaking all my rules to see you
You smile that beautiful smile and
All the girls in the front row scream your name

So dim that spotlight, tell me things like
I can't take my eyes off of you
I'm no one special, just another
Wide eyed girl who's desperately in love with you
Give me a photograph to hang on my wall, superstar

Good morning loneliness, comes around when I'm not
Dreaming about you
When my world wakes up today
You'll be in another town
And I knew when I saw your face, I'd be
Counting down the ways to see you
You smile that beautiful smile and
All the girls in the front row scream your name

So dim that spotlight, tell me things like
I can't take my eyes off of you
I'm no one special, just another
Wide eyed girl who's desperately in love with you
Give me a photograph to hang on my wall, superstar

You played in bars, you play guitar
I'm invisible and everyone knows who you are
And you'll never see, sing me to sleep
Every night from the radio

So dim that spotlight, tell me things like
I can't take my eyes off of you
I'm no one special, just another
Wide eyed girl who's desperately in love with you
Give me a photograph to hang on my wall, superstar
Sweet, sweet superstar, superstar”


I smiled as I finished the song and everyone praised me and I smiled up at Austin who pulled me in for a kiss.