Finding love abroad

Christmas Eve

Finally, it's Christmas Eve. This past week I spent time with the family learning more about them. Reed is not acting cold to me anymore. He makes small talk here and there. I would not call us friends yet but, it is progress. I also spend a lot of time with Ryder. We watch horror movies, I play sports with him, and sometimes Reed joins us.

I will meet Andrew again today when I go to church. I can't wait to give him the presents I got for him. But I am also scared. What if he doesn't accept? What if he thinks that I am doing it out of pity? I am doing it because I have been through what he is going through. But, I at least had Keith, but he has a stepfather who hates him.

I take a shower and straighten my hair. I wear a hoodie and legging.

I go downstairs, and a beautiful aroma fills my senses pancakes. Yum. I greet everyone and take a seat beside Ryder. I ruffle his hair a bit, he swats my hands and glares at me. I put my hands up in surrender while he fixes his hair. I really don't know what's up with boys and hair. Raven sets a plate full of pancakes. I shower it with syrup and start digging in.

I finish breakfast, and help Raven with the dishes and go to my room to wrap the rest of the present, including Andrew's. Soon it's time for church, and I wear a pink full-sleeved top with black jeans and pair it up with brown boots. I also take a jacket with me just in case it gets too cold.

I take my present for Andrew. I bought him a proper set of winter clothes with gloves and a beanie. Also, a pair of good sneakers. I also got him a cool backpack for school.

I go downstairs and find Raven waiting for me with hands full of food. We both head to the church, and before I get down, Raven stops me.

"Give this to Andrew Kia. It's just food and some sweets." She tells me with a smile.

I take it with a nod and ask Raven to meet me here after an hour. I go inside, and it's filled, as parents or relatives are here to see their children sing, as a choir is placed in the front that is currently singing Silent Night.

I look around for Andrew and find him in his usual place I go and sit near his, and his body stiffens. I let out a quiet sigh. I see John, and we lock eyes. He sees me sitting with Andrew and shakes his head, giving me a disapproving look. I simply smile at him and look away. After some time, the choir finishes with their last song, 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year' and people start leaving. I do a small prayer for my family and also for Andrew.

I look at Andrew, and he is silent with his eyes closed. I take my present for him and place it in his lap. His eyes fly open, and he looks at the present and then finally looks at me. This is the first time I am looking at him properly. He has black hair with black eyes and a scar that runs from his left eye to his lips.

"Hey Andrew, Merry Christmas." I greet him with a smile. When he doesn't say anything, I continue.

"My name is kiara Tennyson. It's nice to meet you." he doesn't say anything. Instead, he takes the present from his lap and hands it back to me and gets up to leave. I instantly catch his wrists to stop him from leaving. He looks taken back, and I let go of his hand.

"Andrew, please accept it. I know you are thinking that I am doing it out of pity, but I am not. I have gone through what you are going through." He gives me a look which says 'how do you know?' but I continue,

"I lost my parents two years ago due to a car crash, and I miss them the most during Christmas. So, I think I know what you are going through. Maybe not all of it, but some. I am not doing this out of pity, and also, nobody should be unhappy during Christmas." I finish and hand him back the present.

"And this is from Raven Scott. She asked me to give this to you." I hand him the food. He looks at me and gives a small smile. I smile back happily.

"Merry Christmas Kiara." he wishes me and leaves. I can't stop the smile that forms on my face. I continue smiling and go outside and see Reed instead of Raven. I get inside the car, and he looks at me weirdly.

"Why are you smiling like a creep?" he asks me, and I grin wider at his question. He shakes his head with a chuckle and starts the car. We hear Christmas songs on the way to his house.

Once we reach home, I go upstairs to change into my Christmas PJs that consists of a white t-shirt that says 'have yourself a merry Christmas' and red shorts with black stripes.

I go downstairs to see the whole family waiting for me to start the Christmas eve dinner. I lick my lips, looking at the table with the food. We say a small prayer and start eating, making small talk. Soon we finish dinner, and all of us go to the living room to put presents and help decorate the Christmas tree. 

At the top of the tree, there is a gold star that extends towards the ceiling. There are small, twinkling lights on the tree in shades of red, green, and blue that rest on a white garland that wraps around the tree. It is beautifully decorated with small Santa's, Reindeer, candy canes, and snowflakes. The tree looks so beautiful. Raven tells me about the boys when they were kids, once we finish decorating. 

"You really won't believe it. When Reed was nine, it was the first day of school, and I had gotten him a new set of fragrant erasers. He loved the smell so much that he kept on smelling it. Soon, his hands started aching, and he put the eraser inside his nose so that he could smell it all day. Well, let's just say that later he was admitted to the hospital to take out the eraser."

I laugh so hard imagining little Reed smelling his eraser, getting tired and putting it inside his nose.

Reed was pouting like a small child that his mom was embarrassing him.

"Mom, why don't you say something about Ryder too? Why am I the one getting embarrassed?" Reed says looking, at Ryder, who was laughing at his big brother.

Ryder stops laughing when he heard this. He gives out a war cry and starts chasing reed around the house. Reed's eyes widen, and he starts running. He goes behind the counter to escape Ryder. Reed comes back to the living room, and before he could escape, I put my foot in front so Reed would trip and fall.

Reed trips and faceplants. Ryder jumps on his brother and sits on his legs, and starts tickling the inside of his feet. Reed starts laughing and begs his brother to stop. But soon, Reed and Ryder both look at me at the same time. A shiver runs down my spine. Both of them smirk, and I start taking a step backwards, having an idea of what they are planning to do.

Soon I start running. I hear the both of them laughing as they chase me. This time Raven sticks her foot, but I jump over her feet. I was too busy jumping that I didn't see reed standing before me I hit him at full speed and fall on my back. Ryder catches up to me and starts tickling me while Reed holds my hands so I won't escape.

"Guys, please .. st.. stop I can't take it anymore ..i ..wi..will do any..thing, please stop." I manage to say in between my laughter. Soon they both stop.

"Anything?" Ryder questions.

Now I am sitting in the movie room watching the walking dead. They know that zombies give me the creeps so, they forced me to watch it.

"You guys are terrible, do you know that?" I tell them.

"We know." they both answer in unison clearly, freaking me out. They are brothers, all right.

Ryder soon falls asleep, and I help Reed put him to bed. I wish Reed goodnight and head to bed.

I am so grateful for this family. Finally, tired from the day's activities, darkness consumes me, and I fall asleep with a smile on my face.