Surprise

 Moving quickly I rushed out grabbing the white box, glancing over to my house breathing out in a sigh of relief that my step father still wasn't home and wouldn't see me out here, as I walk back into the house T looks at the rectangular box in my arms smiling wide. " Santa brrr-ot you a present early!" she squeals out in excitement. I chuckle at her sweet innocence. " Nooo, I don't think it was Santa. He's still on vacation until Christmas," I tell her. She seems to ponder over what I said. " Yeah its still to warm for Ruud- olf," she sweetly answers. Smiling at her sweet face noding my head up and down chuckling lighlty. I carry the rectangular box into the kitchen placing it down on the table. My thoughts racing as my nerves begin to go haywire the longer I stare at the box. For the life of me I couldn't figure out who would have left something like this for me... I didn't have any friends or family that cared about me or boys who liked me and Mrs. Mulberry always gave me her random little gifts at school. My heart started pounding at the thought it was just another prank from the kids in the neighborhood.

I push the present to the back of my mind turning to face T. " T are you getting hungry, would you like me to order dinner for us?" I ask her in my softest voice. " Her little green orbs beam with joy at the thought of food. " Pizza!" she squeals out at me. My face was always stuck in a permenant smile when I was around her sweet face. " If that's what my lady wishes," I say to her bowing slightly. Her face growing into the biggest ear to ear grin. " Cheese," I slighly remark to her raising my left eyebrow at her. She franticly shakes her liitle head yes at me.      " With cheezzy bred too plz," she says smiling showing me all her baby teeth. " As my lady wishes, would you like me to put on another movie for you before I order dinner or would you like to wait and we can have our tea party after I'm done," I ask giving her choices to choose from while she waited for me.  " Movie plzz, I want to watch Barbie with mermaids," she squeaks. Briskly moving to the livingroom I switch the dvds and hit play. I walk into the kitchen grabbing the house phone and dialing Dave's Pizza. 

I listen to the ringing tone before I hear " Thank you for calling Dave's Pizza this is Emily, what delicous food may I place on your order tonight," Emily's tender voice ringsout over the phone. " Hey Emily it's Jasmine can I place an order please," I reply to her. " Oh hey Jasmine how have you been? It's been awhile sense you've placed an order with us, would you like your usually?" She questioned. " I've been okay and yes I would like to place my usual order. I'm babysitting Tasha tonight and you know how she loves Dave's Pizza," I giggle back at her in response. " Okay one large regular crust cheese pizza with a large order of cheesey crazy sticks, the total comes to twenty two dollars and thirty four cents. Were not really busy tonight so that should be deilvered in about twenty minutes," she states to me. " Okay sounds great! Thank you Emily and have a good night," my tone flowing into the phone sounding with the small smile on my face. Glancing over to the table where the white box sat. I get this weird fluttering in my stomach. I breathe in deeply taking three big breaths before I muster up enough courage to walk over to the table. I look over the delicate baby blue ribbon how it's laced perfectly around the rectangular box. The note attached to the ribbon read out

My sweet Jasmine,

The gift in this box will only add to the beauty you already hold, I hope it will bring a dazzling smile upon your face, for I never want to see your face covered with sorrow again. I will be wishing for the day when I will be able to hold you in my arms and kiss all your fears away and one day be able to steal your heart as you have mine.

Yours Truly,

L. 

I couldn't wrap my mind around anyone thinking I was beautiful or would even want to be with me. I've always been told I was to disgusting to look at and I believed it because no one would peer at me for to long always looking away quickly. I was told trash cans smelled better then me and they would feel safer kissing one of those then ever touching my lips. This had to be a joke, no one in their right mind would what someone like me, I'm the scum of the earth, my mind screams at me. Shaking away the unpleansant thoughts, I slowly pull the ribbon watching it untie until it's no longer encompassing the box. Clasping each end I lift the top off cautiously not sure of whats inside. Praying it's not another hoax, I set the top of the box off to the side with a small sigh of relief that nothing has happened so far, on first glance I see turquoise tissue paper covering whatever is inside. I grab a small piece of the tissue paper pulling it gentlely away with the next few layers , before my eyes land on the most vibrant colors I have ever seen. Picking up the fabric, I am now met with a beautiful summer dress. It was off the shoulder and came down just pass my knees with a v slit on the left side that carouseled down in a small ruffle train. The colors were an amazing emerald green with light pinks and red.

I hear the door bell sound out echoing through the house letting me know our pizza has arrived. I swiftly move to place the dress back in the box when a gold envolope catches my eye. I remove it from the box and hesitanly open it; to find another note and a stunning white gold necklace with matching earings. The note said 

What is a gorgeous dress without matching accessories. I hope you find them just as beautiful  as I do you!

Yours Truly,

L.

I hear the door bell ring out once again followed by a squealing Tasha " Pizza is here Jazzy." I place everything back in the box gentlely and rush to answer the front door. Opening the door with speed I am met with a dark haired young men. " Hey Jasmine long time no see," I hear from Jacks husky voice. Smiling up at him I nod my head lightly " Yeah I've kinda been off in my own little world lately," I respond to him in a low tone while handing him the forty bucks Tawnya left me to pay for dinner. Waiting patiently as Jack counts back my change, he says     " Well have a goodnight ladies and Tasha I hope you enjoy your cheese pizza like always," he says grining at her as she clung to my legs shying away from him with a little smile of her own hidden. We both chuckle lightly as we wave good bye and closing the door T and I move into the kitchen to eat our yummy dinner. Dave's Pizza always filled the house with it's delicous aroma. I grab down two plates and place one slice of pizza on each with two pieces of the crazy bread sticks. Placing down the plates on the table I slide the white box over to the other end. Softly asking T what " She would like to drink with her food," she quietly answers " Some fruit juice please." Striding over to the fridge I grab out the juice and two cups from the cabinet pouring both of us a glass. Sitting down as I place our cups on the table T says " Very pretty," pointing to the dress hanging slightly out of the box. " Yes it is very pretty, just wish I knew who gave it to me so I could say Thank you to them," my voice smoothly says back to her with a slight grin pulling at the corner of my lips.

Now I just had to figure how I was going to hide it from him. The last time I brought new clothes home and he saw me wearing one of the out fits. He had stormed up to my room tearing apart everything until he found the clothes Mrs. Mulberry had given me. I watched in horror as he took them outside to the fire pit in the back yard and doused them in lighter fluid, turning and looking at me before he struck the match yelling at me " You think I don't pay attention to the clothes you wear and I wouldn't figure it out! I already have to look at your ugly face everyday! I will not tolerate a fucking thief on top of it." I watched as the match dropped, the lighter fluid bursting into flames. I stood there with tears slowly strolling down my face watching, as the fire engulfed the clothes in its orange glow turning them to ash.