Disclaimer: I don’t own CSI Miami XP

A/N: LOL… thanks to floofymiko for inspiring me. This very OOC drabble is based (loosely) on true events. XD … I’d also like to thank my other friend (he knows who he is :P) for helping me out with random parts of this drabble. LOl.

Again, very OOC. RaVe with hints of NED XD

And this is a little out of order, as in time jump… they’re eighteen right now. LOL. XD

Troublesome Gifts:

Ugh… why am I doing this again?… The little voice in the back of her head reminded her. Tomorrow’s his birthday… She rolled her eyes. Right, but I’m hand-making this… thing for him…

…and there goes a chunk of my skin.

She dropped what she was doing to grab a yellow Curious George Band-Aid. A smiling little monkey gazed up at her, covering the spot of red.

Okie, back to work… I’ve got a deadline. She picked up her handiwork and continued on. So tedious… when, Valera, have you ever been this …meticulous about something?

Must be for someone special.

Shut up.

She groaned. Her stupid thoughts. Her imagination kept wandering off. Focus! This needs to get done! At this rate she would never get any sleep… and she needed to look at least semi presentable when she handed over the gift.

Wonder who’s online… She shook her mouse and while sewing, scanned her AIM Buddy List. A teeny, almost unnoticeable sinking feeling settled when she observed that he wasn’t on. Oh well, I’ve gotta finish this anyways.

A few minutes past before the familiar bing-bing sound caught her attention. It was her good friend, Eric Delko.

CaramelFrapp: hey valera, whatre u up to?

TomBoy144: doing a little project.

CaramelFrapp: o right, that thing for ryan’s bday tom?

TomBoy144: yeah… . so hardddddd

CaramelFrapp: hehe, I wouldn’t know, but hand-sewing a GameBoy case… sounds… not fun.

When he didn’t say anything more, she went back to work. Only a few more stitches to go… not too bad… it at least looks something like poker chips… She shook her head. Why do I do this to myself? She heard another bing-bing.

CaramelFrapp: So… uhm. You’re a girl.

OK… he’s just asking for it.

TomBoy144: … yeah… im well aware of that fact.

CaramelFrapp: … I mean like… would you know what a girl would want?

TomBoy144: gotta be more specific delko…

CaramelFrapp: uhm… I don’t kno what to get nat for Christmas…

TomBoy144: Uhm… you two’ve known each other forever… seriously…

CaramelFrapp: Yeah I know… but I don’t know… I need … a different perspective?

TomBoy144: get w.e you want… or make her something… or serenade her.

CaramelFrapp: WHAT???

TomBoy144: dude, chill… just ask her what she wants or sth.

She went back to sewing. Almost there. She chewed on her lower lip in deep concentration and wouldn’t have noticed that her other friend was on, if it had not been for the obnoxious flashing orange color vying for her attention. Hmm…who’s that? L0ca4M0cha???

L0ca4M0cha: hii valera!!

TomBoy144: …nat?

L0ca4M0cha: yupyup whatcha up to?

TomBoy144: er… xmas stuff. Changed your sn?

L0ca4M0cha: mmhmm needed a change from m0cHaL0Ve … I need an opinion.

The eighteen year-old rolled her eyes. Gee, I wonder what she could possibly be asking… omygosh… YUSH!!!!!!! I. AM. DONE. WOOOO!! Eh… too lazy to wrap it… She looked up to see her friend had IM-ed her.

L0ca4M0cha: What’re you getting Ryan?

L0ca4M0cha: Like… I mean are you still making that GameBoy case? But that’s a bday gift…

L0ca4M0cha: Cuz im trying to figure out what to do for eric...for xmas

Valera laughed as she ran down to her kitchen, scanning it quickly. Hmm… Her eyes fell on the small pile of brown paper lunch bags. Nice. After a bit of fumbling, she smiled triumphantly. It fits. Perfect. Woo Now what to do. Oh right. Her countenance fell. Now, Christmas cards... She ran back up and responded to her waiting friend.

TomBoy144:shrugs i don’t kno…

TomBoy144: you and eric have the same tracked mind… LOl

L0ca4M0cha: huh?

TomBoy144: shouldn’t you know? Guess what??? I finally finished ryan’s gift .

L0ca4M0cha: LOl yay!! XD and … I was thinking about knitting a scarf maybe? But I always forget how to finish those things… LOl.

TomBoy144:yawn you did that last year nat

L0ca4M0cha:T yeah… im stumped… I would… ask speed, but….

TomBoy144:wouldacouldashoulda… P he aint here no more… and theres nothing we can do about it.

L0ca4M0cha: yeah…. I guess I’ll sleep on it… good night valera!

TomBoy144: Night.

L0ca4M0cha: Oh… wait… eric’s on.

TomBoy144: LOL… okie well, im gonna go to sleep… don’t you forget to lol.

L0ca4M0cha: funny PP

TomBoy144: I kno im hysterical D

L0ca4M0cha: LOL… sweet dreams

TomBoy144: you too!!

She said similar goodbyes to Eric, put her away message up, and shut down her computer. Eh… I’m too lazy to do cards…

Crawling underneath the sheets, she let the comfort of her bed envelop her as she fell peacefully to sleep.

With that thought, she turned around. Wait… this is stupid… just knock and give… that simple… Stop being such a girl, Valera… just do it.

She raised her fist to knock again, but jumped back when it opened by itself.

“Maxine! Come in, come in.” A small brunette woman urged her into the small home. His mom. She stepped in and answered the usual ‘how are you’ questions. “Well, sweetie, I’ve gotta run, but Ryan’s in the kitchen.”

“Ok, thanks.”

She had to try her best to refrain from laughing when she entered the sparkling white kitchen. It never ceased to amaze her, the cleanliness and order of the Wolfe home. That, and there was Ryan sitting Indian-style on one of the chairs seated at the island. He had his light blue flannel jammies on and was eating freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk.

He looked up as she cleared her throat and his face instantly brightened. “Balerwa!” She cracked a smile. What a dork. After swallowing, he apologized. “Sorry, hey! What’re you up to? Wanna cookie? My mom just made them.”

“Uhm… sure…” She sat beside him and set down the brown paper lunch bag on the countertop. Ryan’s mother made amazing baked goods.

Other than the sound of chewing, there was silence for some time, which was broken by a single question.

“Hey, whats that?”

“What?”

“In the bag.”

“Oh.” Her face flushed. “Uhm… uhm… Happy Birthday!” She shoved the gift awkwardly at him.

“Ooo… can I open it now?”

“If you want…”

He pulled it out of the bag and before he could say anything, she exclaimed, “It’s a case for your GameBoy!”

His eyes bugged out. “You made this. . . by hand?”

If she thought it was impossible to get any redder, she was wrong. She couldn’t trust herself to speak and just nodded quickly.

“Wow…. WOW… I’m impressed.” He turned it, opened it, closed it, and scrutinized it, fingers stroking every detail. “WOW… I’m REALLY impressed.” He was wearing a very dorky smile. “Thanks!”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Wow.”

“I’m gonna head back home now… thanks for the cookies…”

“Oh, ok. Don’t forget to stop by later!”

She stuck out her tongue and said, “I won’t forget!”

They both laughed and she left the house. He really liked it. A huge, dorky smile of her own spread across her face.