"Ouch!" I hissed while massaging my little toe the best I could with my occupied hand. Let me tell you; it's not easy to walk in a dark hallway with only your cell phone as any source of guiding light. It did not help the fact that I had a blow horn on the other hand. But just imagining the outcome of my blinding efforts was totally worth it.

I reached the first door and opened slowly praying that it wouldn't make a noise. I grinned with blissful glee when it opened completely without a sound. One down, three more to go.

I inhaled deeply and held my breath when it was Nate's door. So I grabbed the handle with shaky hands and let go of the breath I was holding at the same pace I opened the door.

You would think that a SWAT officer would notice a teenage girl opening a door, even in the middle of the night. I shook my head while I bit my lip whilst I went to open the door of my next victim. I held a loud snort when I heard Jake's snoring. Partly amazed at why our neighbors have not complained about it.

When I finally finished opening the last door, which happened to be Matty's, I placed my phone in my back pocket and held the blow horn tightly with a smirk. I stood firmly in the middle of the hallway.

I knew that what I was about to do was going to make my sore throat even worse, but I most definitely knew it was worth it.

Honk! Honk! Honk! Honk! Honk!!

"f*ck"

"holy sh*t!"

"what the hell?"

"ah!" thud!

That's what was heard simultaneously after the blasting noise. Try to guess whose girly shriek was the one heard.

"Merry Christmas, dumbasses!" I screamed trying very hard to contain my laughs.

Then I saw their heads pop from their doors. Their murdering looks told me that I should back away slowly and steadily. Their bodies could be seen now. Some were still tangled up in their bed sheets while others stood menacingly, their gazes piercing right through me.

I began to take slow, careful steps backwards. At the same time, they did the same thing taking deliberate steps towards me.

Run!

With a shriek, I ran down the hall towards the stairs.

"Get her!" I heard Matty yell whilst I heard loud and very near footsteps.

I was racing down the stairs. When I thought that I would finally get to the door, I felt arms encircling my waist from the back, making me halt in the process.

"Oh no, you won't get away that easily." Jake said whilst pulling me back.

"Matty, help Jake to hold her tight." Nate said to him. Oh oh...he's the one giving orders...I'm doomed.

I began to trash violently when Matty held my legs and raised me up making me feel like a hammock.

"Brody go get the water running." Brody nodded and ran upstairs to do just what he was ordered.

"Nate, please, it was just a joke..." I tried to reason but my attempts were made to no avail.

"Too late for that...bun butt." I would be mad at him for the name calling, but the evil glint in his eyes made me shiver in response.

"Ready!" Brody yelled from upstairs.

"You heard him boys, get her up." Nate nodded towards the stairs. He began to walk towards it with me and the boys walking closely behind.

Brody appeared next to me like a soldier waiting for the next order.

"Get the flour." Nate ordered.

"Guys please, it's Christmas!" I kept defending my case, but it landed on deaf ears.

"That's what's nice about it. The water will be a tad bit colder than usual." Nathan winked and turned around the corner nearing what I dreaded the most.

"No!" I cried in desperation whilst I trashed and waggled my arms and feet. In one of my tries, Jake let my arms slip and I fell to the floor with a soft thud. Matty kept pulling me and I tried to dig my nails on the carpet. If I were in another position, I would have found my situation funny since it really resembled a scary movie, with a very low budget.

~~~~

"Achoo!" I shivered, holding a blanket like my life depended on it. These sneezes accompanied a fit of coughs. I hate being sick! I knew I was going to get sick. I've been avoiding it since a couple of weeks ago, when I began to feel a sore throat.

I sat dry on our living room next to the very well decorated Christmas tree. Which, mind you, had nothing to do with my brothers. It was all me. Yeah, I kicked ass on decorating. Who would've thought?

"Stupid assh*les." I murmured when I wiped my dripping nose.

"You know I'm going to get you for this, right?" I narrowed my eyes at them.

"For the contrary my little bun butt, I'm afraid we are even." Jake smirked while sitting on the couch across from me.

"Even my ass! You ganged up on me. Four guys against a defenseless girl? yeah, very fair." I rolled my eyes.

Matty came from the kitchen holding a cup of hot chocolate and handed it to me.

"Sorry, but you know the price for messing with us. You should've been smarter than that." Matty said while sitting next to me.

"I hate you. I'm this close to not give you my Christmas' presents to you all." I narrowed the width between my index finger and thumb to a couple of centimeters. Yeah, a very mature and smart response.

I huffed. Who was I kidding? I knew I was going to give them my presents after all. That's how much I love them. Even after being soaked on a freezing shower...and had flour thrown over afterwards...and spent a great deal of time in the shower getting rid of the flour stuck in my hair...and after they made me drink the stupid flu medicine...yup, must really love these assh*les.

"Alright! Present time!" Nate came down the stairs with Brody on tow.

Jake nodded and walked towards the stereo. The soft sound of Christmas songs began playing. That really set the mood. It was a tradition of ours, started by none other than my mother. We kept the tradition because we all agreed that it made us feel closer to her.

We began to exchange our gifts.

The ones I got for them weren't all that. Got to give me credit for the wonderful shirts and socks I got on my allowance.

My gifts from them consisted of a lot of beautiful and necessary things. From cell phone cases to delicate white gold bracelets, they all got me to stop contemplating plotting their possible murders...for a few days.

The day pretty much stayed the same. Tori, Brad and Mason all dropped by to exchange gifts on the afternoon.

As always, Tori's gifts were suggestive, Brad's were thoughtful and Mason's simply and utterly idiotic.

Wouldn't expect any less.

My friends stayed for supper and I had a wonderful time. That's what I've been in need of.

It's been almost a month and a half since Drake broke my heart and left me. I know we were on a rough state, but I thought that we would've been able to pull through.

I thought wrong.

I've known little of him since then. He's always avoiding me on our classes together, and that's when he shows up.

From what I've heard, he's still fighting and winning, of course.

Still, is it okay to say that it got me worried?

I hate myself to admit it, but I still love him.

Love is a really complicated thing. It comes so easily and unannounced, but it sticks to your broken heart's pieces, even after it's unrequited.

"...right, Em?" Tori asked turning to me.

We were currently sitting at the dinner/pool table having our deserts. Well, I was more playing with mine than actually eating it.

She obviously asked something I didn't not care to pay attention to since I was lost in this unending turmoil that are called my feelings.

"uh, what?" I asked clearing my throat.

She gave me a questioning glance but answered anyway. "That we should totally go to return our gifts from Mason as soon as the mall opens tomorrow. That is, if they are really returnable."

"Hey! Is not my fault that you have such horrible taste and do not appreciate the fine selections of gifts I gave you." Mason defended.

"You call a used 90's hit cd and a couple of tampon coupons from Walgreens fine selections?" Tori asked with a flat expression.

She did have a point. His gifts sucked ass.

They kept quarreling until it was time for them to return to their homes. Something I was thankful for. Don't get me wrong. I love them, but their arguments were getting on my very sick self.

I said my goodnights to my brothers and began to walk upstairs with all my gifts at hand.

When I got in my room, I froze at the entrance. I looked sideways and began to walk forward closing the door after placing all the gifts on a nearby table when I saw that it was safe to do so.

My eyes could not move from what laid on my bed.

I hesitated for a while, thinking if I should take it or not.

I took the remaining steps towards my bed and grabbed with shaky hands the little white box.

I didn't have to guess who it is from. I knew for sure, but...why?

If it was hard for me to take it, imagine trying to open it.

After a few seconds of battling my own reasoning if I should open it or not, I decided to open it. What do I have to lose?

I tugged at the little white bow and lifted the small lid.

Every single once of air I had if my lungs vanished when I saw it's content. To say that I was hyperventilating was an understatement. I was suffocating. Tears started to brim my eyes.

How...How could he?

After coughing my heart out (stupid cold), I went straight downstairs, got my coat, Jake's car keys, and stormed out the door.

There must have been some complaints and questioning coming from my brothers, but I was fuming to even notice.

I got in the car as fast as I could and left my house with one destination in mind.

When I got there, I saw that there was someone home since there were some lights coming from the second floor.

I walked straight to the front door and pounded on it, not caring who else was inside.

When the door opened, who I assume is Drake's father greeted me.

"Um, good evening. May I ask why are you assaulting my front door?" He asked with a questioning stare.

"Sorry to disrupt your night, but I need to know where Drake is." I felt really sorry for barging in on him like this. So my rage became to dim afterwards.

"You must be Emily. Drake's in his room. I'll get him. Please come in." He gestured for me to come inside. I obliged and stepped into the living room. I stood there, not able to sit. I may have been toning down my fury, but I still felt it.

"Hey" I quickly turned around when I heard his greeting.

Drake stood there wearing a black sweater with gray sweat pants. He looked shy with his hands shoved in his pants pockets.

"How...when...where?" I internally slapped my face when I couldn't come up with a coherent question.

"I guess you got my gift." He nodded towards the box that I had firmly clenched in my hand.

"Where did you get this? Why are you giving it to me now?" I tried to hold the tears that were threatening to spill.

"I kept it." Was his simple response.

"I can see that! But why did you have it?" I raised my voice coming near him expecting a clearer answer.

"You dropped it, remember? It was the last time that I saw you when we were kids. I knew I was never going to see you again and when I found it after you left I decided to keep it."

"It—it was my mother's gift to me. It was my favorite necklace. I—I thought I lost it forever." I stuttered.

"I'm sorry. If I knew how much it meant to you, I would've given it to you sooner."

"I just...I just couldn't keep it anymore." He struggled.

"Because it reminded you of me, right?" I knew the answer to this, but I needed to hear it from him. Maybe then...then I would be able to begin to forget him.

He couldn't look at me.

"How...how the hell am I going to begin to forget you when every time I try you reappear in my life?!" I shoved him hard, but it only moved him an inch. He still didn't react to it.

"Why are you hurting me like this?" I couldn't hold it anymore. The tears were now freefalling down my face.

"I hate you! I hate you! I wish you would've never reappeared in my life! I—" I cut my sentence mid through when I began to cough uncontrollably. I tried to stop it placing my hands in my mouth, but to no avail.

"Emily! Are you okay?" I could see Drake's concern clear on his eyes.

I wanted to reply but I couldn't stop, and it began to make it hard to breathe.

When I finally stopped, I looked at Drake and saw that his eyes widened while looking at my hand.

I felt a bile taste on my mouth.

"Dad! Come here quick!" He yelled. Then he quickly ran to me and held me tight. I frowned, but couldn't give any more thought to it since I started to feel dizzy.

I lifted the hand that was covering my mouth and saw what worried him.

Blood

I had blood on my hand that was now dripping down my arm.

I looked at him again and lost the feeling in my legs. Drake was quick to react and lifted me, holding me bridal style.

"I—I..." I couldn't word anything, because by now my sight became blurry and everything around me began to turn.

"Dad! Call 911!" Drake yelled again.

"Stay with me babe! No, no, no, don't close your eyes! Stay with me, please" He pleaded but my eyes were closing on their own. His voice was now a faint whisper.

And what I heard him say before my world turned black shattered what was left of my broken heart.

"I love you"

_________________________

Finally! I was able to upload before Wednesday. Sorry for the wait. Please, vote or comment. I need to know if I should keep going with this story. It takes a lot of time, something I'm lacking off these few days.

Anyways, enjoy :)

Kim <3