Chapter Twenty One Christmas Party

"Mom?" I called as I walked upstairs.

"In here, sweetie."

I headed into her bedroom and she was laying out different outfits. She had a deep red long-sleeved dress, a pure white two piece pantsuit next to the dress, and a forest green pencil skirt with a dressy white shirt on her bed.

"Can I borrow your car?"

She looked at me. "For what?"

"Last minute shopping."

She sighed. "Colby, you know I hate when you do things at the last second."

"I know, I know."

"You can take it but I want you back here in two hours. We have to go to-"

"The Christmas party. I got it." I interrupted her.

"Don't be late."

"I won't and if I were you, I would go with the red dress." I informed her. "Dad would love it."

She glanced at the dress and smiled. "You think so?"

I nodded. "Definitely."

Red was her color and it was great actually. It matched her oh so passionate personality. Even though she would never admit this, she could be strong-willed and once she agreed to something, anything, there was no changing her mind.

She felt like we could always talk to her and pretend there was always another option and she was open-minded. Yet, she wasn't and there was only one option. Her option.

I climbed into the red Nissan Rogue car as soon as Levi was pulling into the driveway. He got out and made his way over to me.

"Mom's actually allowing you to take her car."

"Yeah she is. But only for a couple of hours."

"Why?"

"Christmas Party."

His eyes widen. "Oh shit! That's tonight?"

I grinned. "Leave it to you to forget something this big." I said. "Don't worry. I knew you would do this so being the amazing sister I am, I already have your outfit. It's in your room."

"You're the best."

"Hell yeah I am and don't forget it."

"I'm gonna call Hailey and let her know." He informed.

I started the engine and backed out the driveway. It didn't take me long to get the mall but it did take me a while to find a parking spot. I wasn't the only last minute shopper.

Shopping for others, wasn't a hard task for me. It came naturally. I never second guessed myself and it kinda helped when you already know what the other person wants or thinking of.

Like Dad wanted a new recliner and watch. The recliner wasn't going to fit in the car, obviously, but I could handle the watch. It was kinda of pricey but manageable. Mom acted like she didn't want anything, like every year, but she loved when we buy things for the house or the garden. This year, I was getting her a designer handbag and kitchen utensils.

Levi and Hunter were probably the easier ones to shop for. They were my brothers and they always went for the obvious and overused gift. I told them I wasn't going to get them anything because last year, they forgot about me.

I couldn't be as mad because techinally I wasn't even supposed to be home for the holidays. I was supposed to be on my way to a "concert" (A dance show if you wanted the truth) but the roads were bad and they had to cancel it.

Once I had everyone's gift, I exited the mall and loaded all the bags into the car before hopping in. I checked the time and I had twenty minutes to make it back to the house before Mom flipped out on me.

A little under eight minutes later, I was at the house and making a run to my room with all my presents. I didn't exactly have a specific hiding place, so I just stuck everything into my closet and hoped that no one looked inside. Which they probably wouldn't. They didn't have a reason to look in my closet or to be in my room in the first place.

"Colby?"

"Yeah Mom, I'm here." I told her.

"Okay. Just making sure. Do you have what your wearing?" She stood in my doorway.

I nodded. "Yes, I'm about to get ready."

"I have a question." I looked at her, waiting for her question. "Straight or curly?"

"I haven't seen your hair anything but straight. Go with curly."

She nodded. "Alright then."

I began to get ready. I pulled out my black no sleeves long romper and my red heels. I placed them on my bed and walked over to my mirror. I pulled my wild hair into a high ponytail before starting my make up.

I moved on to my harder task. My hair. I split it into four sections and brushed it out. I made two braids in each sections before running the straighter over the braids. Once I was sure my waves would come out alright, I took the braids out and teased my hair.

I stripped out my clothes and replaced it with the romper. I stuck my feet into the heels before heading back to the mirror. I placed big hoop earrings in and ran a dark red color over my lips.

I took a couple of steps back and admired myself in the mirror. I might have or I might not have did I few poses here and there.

"Oh Colby." Mom walked into my room. "Can you help me with this?"

She was holding a silver necklace around her neck. I motioned for her to turn around. I hooked the locked into one of the many holes and she spun around.

"I think you might be right." She looked at herself in the mirror, running her hands down the sides of her dress, smoothing it. "Red is definitely my color."

She glanced at me and smiled. "You look beautiful."

I smiled back. "Thanks Mom."

"We need to take a picture."

"Sure, okay. Where's Levi and Dad?"

"Levi is waiting for us downstairs and your father is meeting us at the party."

I nodded. "Alright."

We left my room and walked downstairs. Levi walked around the corner and into the foyer.

"Took you long enough."

"Oh hush." Mom told him. "Come on, we're taking a picture. Stand right there." She pointed at the wall with the millions crosses.

We did as she said and we take about four pictures together and three individuals. We took a couple of Mom before we all took a picture.

"Okay I think that's enough pictures." Levi said.

"You can never have enough." Mom replied, looking through her phone. "Let's go. The party started half an hour ago."

She grabbed her coat off the coat hanger and the keys before opening the front door. We trailed behind her. I got into the back while Levi rode shotgun.

The party was being held at one of Dad's close friend's house. He loved throwing parties and get-togthers. He was a funny guy. He was actually a friend of the family but he seemed more of an uncle.

Ten minutes later we arrived at the house. Cars lined the driveway and more were coming. John knew a lot of people. Mom parked the car, a little far from the house, and we hopped out.

We walked up the sidewalk and into the house. John's wife, Renee, saw us and made her way over to us.

"Blair!" She greeted with a bright smile. "So glad you could make it."

Mom hugged her. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it."

Renee hugged Levi and I. "The kids..well I shouldn't say kids. The young adults are downstairs if y'all wanted to go. But y'all don't have to if y'all don't want to. I don't want to seem as if I'm trying to get rid of y'all."

"It's fine. We're just go see who's all here." Levi told her.

We headed for the stairs and on the way there, we bumped into a few familiar faces. John being one of them. Downstairs was just like upstairs but with people around our age.

Hailey was already here with a flute of champagne in her hand. She was wearing a silver glittery, mid thigh length, thin strapped dress, with white heels. Her long blond hair was tumbling down her back in soft curls.

She had her back towards us as, she leaned forward at the bar. Levi placed his hand on the small of her back and he whispered in her ear.

I looked away from them when I felt skinny arms wrap around my waist. I glanced down and I smiled.

"Hey, pretty girl." I said, hugging her. "What are you doing down here?"

"I can't stay. Mom won't let me." She pouted. "She said I have to go with the kids my age but I don't wanna go with them. I wanna stay here with you."

"Trust me, it's more fun where you're going." I told Skylar. "I don't wanna get you in trouble so go back upstairs, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay." She sighed, she ran up the stairs and disappeared out of my sight.

I took a seat at the bar, away from Levi and Hailey. Cassidy wanted to be here but she got stuck babysitting her four younger siblings while her parents went out on a dinner date.

"Are you getting anything?" The bartender asked, standing in front of me.

He looked at him and I had to admit he was pretty cute. The kind of cute where you didn't wanna say anything stupid but you couldn't say anything either.

I shook my head. "No. I'm good."

He nodded once. "Alright. Call me if you change your mind."

I quickly looked at his nametag before he walked to the other side. Trey. Well Trey, you're hot.

Just as I was thinking about changing my mind, he showed up and took a sit beside me.

"Are you still not going to talk to me?"

I wanted to ignore him but I couldn't. I turned my head to the side and faced him.

"That depends are you going to tell me your secret?"

He sighed. "Cole, why can't you let it go? It's been a week."

"Because you're suppose to be my boyfriend. Why are keeping things from me?"

"I told you, ask Jayce. Once he tells you, I'll tell you."

"And I told you, he won't tell me anything. So to anwser your question, I'm still not talking to you. So, leave me alone."

He reached out to touch my thigh and I removed it. The weird thing was, when Chance touched me, I didn't feel the tingles. I didn't feel what I usually felt. I felt nothing.

I didn't know if it was just because I was mad at him or because I didn't feel anything for him anymore.

"Cole?"

I looked at him. "Give me until the end of the break and then maybe I'll talk to you."

"I can't wait that long to touch you, to kiss you."

I chewed on my lower lip, debating if I should kiss him or not. I decided I would and I leaned in to peck his lips.

"Happy?"

"No."

He placed his hands on the side of my face and brought me closer to him. He kissed me but instead of a short kiss, it was a long one. I pulled away from him and he smirked.

"Now, I can wait." He walked away from me and I tried to figure out what the hell just happened. I was suppose to be giving him the cold shoulder. The silent treatment. Not kissing him.

"Oh you can suddenly talk to Chance again but not me." Jayce's voice reached me.

I turned my head. "I wasn't talking to him. I'm still mad at him."

He raised both eyebrows. "Oh really? Because from where I was standing I could really tell you we were mad at him by kissing him."

"I don't need your permission to kiss my boyfriend."

"You wouldn't want to kiss him if you knew what he was hiding."

"Then why don't you tell me?" I asked.

Without missing a beat, he answered. "He's using you."

I frowned. "No he's not. You're just saying that so I can break up with him."

He shrugged. "Maybe so because he is using you."

"Whatever Jayce." I said, looking away from him.

Why would Chance want to use me? What could he possible want from me? No, Jayce was lying. Chance wasn't using me. He couldn't be using me.

"Don't say I didn't try to warn you." Jayce said before walking away.

I glanced up when a green drink was sat in front of me. Trey stood there.

"Figure you might needed one." He told me.

"Why?"

"You looked tensed and it's the holidays. You shouldn't have to worry about anything."

I wrapped my fingers around the cold glass. "Thanks."

"What do you think you're doing, baby sis." Levi said, taking the drink from me.

"Having a drink."

"Do you wanna give our dear Mother a heart attack?"

I rolled my eyes. "It doesn't have alcohol in it."

"Let me taste it just to be on the safe side."

He took a sip and smacked his lips a few times, tasting it.

"Nah, you're good. There's hardly any in there."

Hailey sat beside me. "I saw you talking to Jayce. What happened?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

She gave me a I don't believe you look. "Tell me."

"It really was nothing." I changed the topic. "You look amazing. I love your dress."

"Thank you and you do too. Where did you get your romper from?"

The night went on and I didn't see Chance or Jayce for the remainder of the party. Mom came downstairs, later on, and informed us she was riding with Dad. She gave Levi her car keys and I took it from him. He was so not driving home.

Thirty minutes later, Hailey was helping me get Levi into the car.

"Thank you." I told her, shutting the Levi's door.

"No problem. You sure you don't want me to follow you home to help you?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. It's late anyway."

"Okay. Have a good holiday."

"You too."

After she hugged me, I was on my way to the house. All the lights were off, except the porch light. Mom and Dad were asleep.

I wasn't about to carry Levi into the house, especially not upstairs to his room. I shook his shoulder.

"Levi get up."

He made a grunt noise and I shook him again.

"Levi."

This time he opened his eyes. Barely. I got out the car and guided him towards the house. I locked the door behind me and made my way upstairs.

Levi went into his room and I went into mine. I stripped out my outfit and put on a over-sized t-shirt. I removed my make up and pulled my hair into a bun.

I packed my bags for our trip in the morning before getting into my bed. I didn't have a chance to think about Jayce's word before my eyes closed and sleep took me into their world.