keep shining on // jaze
juliettavalent:
Julietta shrugged, taking in the sight of the incredibly decked halls. It was good to see that she was dating someone who clearly came from a family that was as close knit as her own, apparent in not how nice the Christmas decorations were, but in rather how she could see the personal touches in the way they’d been put up or selected. That included the dozens of candles. “Should I not? It smells like a home, you know? It reminds me of my house. How you can just smell that someone lives there and that the people who live there actually spend time there.” She smiled softly, cheeks glowing softly under the light of the various Christmas lights, the candles flickering. “That’s what it smells like.”
She poked her tongue out at her boyfriend, cheeks flushing not because she was embarrassed, but because she was just so happy. She felt like the keeper of this special version of Baze that nobody got to see, at least not as often as she did. He was just the right amount of affectionate with her in public, enough to be cute, but in private, that was when he really came out of his shell in more ways than one. She adored who he was all the time, certainly, but the Baze that teased and flirted was perhaps her favorite version, mainly because that one was only for her. “No, it’s not a fruit cake! Have a little faith in me.” She picked up one of the bags from the floor, handing it over to him, knowing he’d be surprised that something so heavy could only contain baked goods, but it was stuffed to the brim with cookies, brownies, and candies. “They’re for your entire family. Mainly you, but don’t tell them that.”
Her heart raced a little as he grew closer, the smell of his soap and the warmth of his body making her close her eyes just to savor it for a moment. She’d dated before, but she’d certainly never felt like this with a guy before. She’d never felt this need for connection, and not only physically, but intellectually and emotionally. It was perhaps the biggest feeling she’d ever encountered in her short sixteen years, but it didn’t scare her. Nothing with Baze could be scary. She leaned in to sneak a kiss while he was so close, understanding what people meant when they said someone tasted like Christmas when their lips meant. This was what Christmas was supposed to feel like. Pulling back, Julietta grinned. “Well I just gave you your baked goods, so you’re up!”
If he hadn't known this before, he surely knew it now: Julietta was the perfect girl. His mother's severe scent obsession was always something Baze had been uncomfortable sharing with others, ever since a visiting cousin had mocked him for their "smelly house." But what touched him far deeply than just accepting his mother's Christmas traditions was Julietta's perspective, as kind and wholehearted as ever. Admiration and gratitude fell over him at once and, overwhelmed, Baze took her hand and kissed the back of her palm. With great tenderness, he said, "You're the most incredible person, Julietta Valent."
God, she was so cute. These moments always filled him to the brim, until he was sure that he would explode or overflow with all the mushy emotions he had only dreamed of feeling. He grinned unabashedly at her, thinking he could do this forever — watch her, listen to her, sing her praises from his lips. "Hey, who said I didn't like fruit cakes?" Baze stuck his tongue out at her right back. He eyed the bag curiously as he took it, and let out a soft grunt in surprise at its weight. "Julietta, how many fruit cakes did you put in here?" he asked incredulously. He couldn't put anything past Julietta; her kindness knew no bounds, and Baze knew how much she loved to surprise him with the sweetest gifts. Intending to tease her, Baze took his time opening the bag, moving agonizingly slow. But he couldn't make the act last forever, and finally, he unveiled mountains of sweets. "Oh, Julietta," he breathed out, staring at it with wide eyes before he remembered she was still watching him expectantly. "I love it. I can't believe you did all this... for me." Baze leaned in to kiss her shortly. "Thank you. My family will love it, too."
He smiled into her lips, savoring the warmth that only Julietta could bring him. He wanted to stay like this forever, skin on skin, lips on lips, hand in hand. His eyes were still closed when she pulled back, and they opened with a start when Baze realized it was his turn. "Oh, y-yes!" He grabbed the three boxes and slid them over so they waited, wrapped and unopened, right in front of her. It had taken him hours and many conversations with his mother to decide, but eventually, the two of them had decided on a knit sweater and an apron. But the third gift was special and private: a collection of the poems he had never sent her, both before and after she became his girlfriend. With a colony of butterflies in his stomach, he smiled nervously and said, "I hope you like them."
















