Christmas Rituals

There was a family ritual that we Summers used to follow, back when things were...different. We would wake up quite early on the 24th, assemble in the living room and start off the day as a happy family on its way to Christmas celebrations. Dad and I would be checking the decorations on the Christmas tree, setting up the presents (because let's face it, I was too smart to fall for the Santa Claus deal) and the whole scene for the night while mom would start her cooking preparations in the kitchen. Once we were done, we would join her and spend the whole day together, building up to midnight. Every second was spent with laughter and joy.

The happy memories of those days still lingered in my mind - how dad would start singing spontaneously and twirl my mom around the living room as I watched them with starry eyes, and when mom would sneak me a taste of the triple-layered chocolate cake she was baking when dad was no where nearby. As I sat near the fire place, curled up under a comforter with a mug of hot chocolate in hand and my eyes fixed on the flickering flames, I saw those memories reflected in the burning red.

Dad had left for work early this morning, but not before waking me up and apologizing for the millionth time. Since first term had officially come to an end on the 18th, all I did was lounge about our house. Alone. Which didn't help when he returned to see me sprawled on the couch, fast asleep after having waited to spend some time with him.

"May-bear," he whispered one night, caressing the top of my head with his hand. "Hey." I opened my eyes slowly and peeked up at him through my eye lashes, making out his face.

"Dad," I croaked and had started to sit up, rubbing my eyes. "What time is it?"

"It's late," he had said, the regret evident in his voice. "Honey, how many times have I told you to just go to sleep? You don't need to wait up for me."

I yawned and stretched my arms behind my head, muttering a casual, "What kind of daughter would that make me?"

All dad would do is smile tiredly and kiss me on the forehead before helping me to my feet and leading me up to my room. He would tuck me into bed like he used to back when I was a kid. I would be half-asleep but conscious enough to make out the tired circles beneath his eyes, and the stress lines that were growing more visible by the day. And no matter how many times he told me off for staying up, I still continued to do it anyway. Tonight, however, was different.

I set the half empty mug down on the floor, careful not to spill the hot chocolate I could no longer bring myself to drink onto the carpet. That had been my fourth mug, and the sugar should have gotten me feeling restless and hyperactive by now but all I felt was numb.

I glanced at the clock again. 

10:25 P.M.

"May, I'm so sorry about this. But I'll try and make it back as early as possible. I don't like the idea of-"

"Dad, stop apologizing. I get it. This is something you have to do. Besides, you've got tomorrow morning off right? We can spend Christmas day together."

The guilt on his face had struck me right in the heart. I felt selfish, wanting more of his time when really, he was doing this for us. For me. Being the sole income earner wasn't easy and I understood that. Yet, it didn't make any of this easier.

I took my phone out of my pocket and scrolled through my messages. Everyone had gotten a little busy with their lives since the term had officially ended and I didn't blame them. Unlike me, they'd all made plans and they stuck to them. Nevertheless, I didn't go without the occasional text from each and every one of them, asking how things were going. It was nice to know they remembered me, especially Leo who made it a point to shoot me a message wishing me good night without fail.

Unfolding my legs from under me, I leaned down and picked up the half-empty mug, heading over to the kitchen. My footsteps were light unlike the heavy weight in my chest as I set the mug into the sink and started to do the small number of dishes that had piled up. It didn't take too long. When I got back, the clock read 10:40 P.M.

"Shame," I muttered to myself and sunk back down on the couch with a sigh. "Might as well watch some TV." I grabbed my comforter and remote, turned on the TV and made myself comfortable after selecting a channel that broadcast the various Christmas celebrations in major cities around the world. It was the closest I would get to anything remotely festive this year.

Occasionally, my eyes flickered to the clock. Dad still wasn't back. Well, it was to be expected. He was a hard worker and it made no sense for me to sit here feeling mopey about spending this Christmas alone when he was out busting his ass off for both of us. That's right!

Feeling another surge of (surely temporary) energy, I bounced back to my feet and decided to fix myself some thing to eat when I heard the door bell go off and froze halfway to the kitchen. Whirling around, I looked back again into the living room.

10:55 P.M.

Dad couldn't have possibly made it back that early.

The doorbell buzzed again. Snuggling my feet into my fluffy purple slippers, I pattered over to the door with my comforter still wrapped around me.

"Coming!"

The doorbell buzzed a third time just as I swung the door open to the sight of the last people I expected to see.

"Surprise!"

Amy, Nick, Damien and Leo all stood before me on my front porch, with the happiest grins on their faces which only grew as I openly gawked at them.

"W-what? How? You guys."

"Let's wait till her brain recovers from the shock," Damien said with a grin, leaning against the wall. They were all dressed up neatly, and in no way looked like they had just decided to make a spontaneous visit by to wish me well.

"What are you doing here?" I exclaimed, still staring in absolute shock at the four people assembled in front of me.

"We're here to celebrate with you of course," Nick grinned and held up several plastic bags of what I guessed were snacks.

"Yeah, Leo figured that you would be spending the Christmas alone because of your dad working so much. We hoped it wasn't true but then he called your dad up and, well," Amy rubbed the back of her head and shot me a stern look. "Why didn't you just tell us?"

"Never mind that, it's freezing outside. Let us in."

I nodded at Damien's words and stumbled back to let them enter through the doorway, my eyes trained on Leo. He had known? He was the last to enter and as I shut the door, he waited for me before we headed quietly inside to the living room where everyone had already made themselves comfortable.

"Damien, you get the bowls from the kitchen. Nick, glasses. Leo, unpack the presents we got and set them under the tree," Amy commanded, standing like a military general in front of the fire I had going. I watched as they all followed her orders, completely dumbstruck by the turn of events. She pushed me back down on the couch, grinning mischievously. "And you, my dear, just sit and relax."

"Amy..." I started but she shushed me and sunk down on the spot next to me, holding my hand in hers. "The night is still young, and we have so much to do together."

"No." I started shaking my head to myself before repeating myself louder, "No." Everyone had settled them into the living room by then and stopped, looking at me with a whole lot of concern. "You guys can still leave if you want to," I spoke quietly, folding my hands in my lap.

"May, what are you talking about?" Nick spoke up at me from across the room, his eyebrows furrowed deeply. "We came here for you."

"But you all had other plans! Like you two!" I gestured at the couple (who I only then noticed were wearing the sweaters I had gotten them). "You two were supposed to go away on your first trip together! And Damien was supposed to be spending Christmas with his aunt and uncle which I know means a lot to him. And you!" I pointed at Leo who was smirking at me from across the room, looking all too amused with my reaction. "You're not in France!"

"May, calm down."

Amy grabbed both my hands and brought them down to my side, a smile tickling the corners of her lips.

"Don't you think we knew what we were doing when we decided to come here?"

"But-"

"No buts," she snapped, placing a finger on my mouth to silence me. "How did you expect us to enjoy our Christmas knowing that you would be spending it all by yourself, huh? It's a miracle that Leo had a hunch and we found out, even if it was pretty last minute."

They all nodded, staring at me meaningfully. I sighed and sunk back into the couch, hugging a cushion tightly against my chest.

"I just feel horrible. I ruined your plans."

"No, you didn't," Damien smiled. "We're all happy to be here. Besides, now I can start filling up that photo album you got me. Starting with tonight."

I smiled a little at that. "I guess."

"Now wipe that frown off your face May," Nick chirped, ever so cheerful. "Because this night is about to take a turn for the better."

And it did.

From that moment on, it was all fun and games. We all got ourselves comfortable in the living room, with me sat between Amy and Nick on the couch while Damien and Leo sat on the sofa across us. Nick had brought with him a bunch of board games and snacks to munch. Leo had brought some music from his house and took the liberty of playing it through the speakers I had in the living room. Damien? Well...he just did the usual and got on my nerves by constantly jabbering me about how happy I must be that stable boy had, once again, come to rescue the princess. And beyond the witty remarks that I threw back at him, I knew they could all see that this meant a lot more to me than I could possibly show.

"How come you didn't cook this time 'round May?" Damien asked, munching through his second pack of tortilla chips. "I was bragging about your heavenly cooking skills to these guys in the hopes that you would have made something."

"Damien," Leo hissed, a warning in his tone.

Damien's eyes widened before he stuttered a, "o-oh, right. Sorry."

I laughed and shook my head at the boys, giving Leo a grin to let him know I wasn't affected by Damien's questions.

"I will be cooking. Tomorrow. Dad's staying in from work Christmas day, fortunately."

"Can we believe you this time?" Amy asked, eyebrows raised in clear suspicion.

"She isn't lying," Leo spoke up on my behalf. "I talked to Mr. Summers and he said he would definitely be home tomorrow."

I grumbled under my breath, "I still can't believe you did that without telling me. How did you know anyway?"

Leo shrugged, his eyes returning back to the game of Risk we had going on. "I just had the hunch. And besides, you're not that great a liar."

I frowned and focused back on the game. Screw my mission of conquering Asia and Australia, I was going to squash his stupid blue troops. Yup, that's the way to do it May. Kill the guy in a game.

The night passed on. When midnight hit, we all wished each other an official merry Christmas, Leo's hug lasting a bit longer than the ones I had with the others. I could feel the smile on my face grow when he whispered he was happy he got to celebrate the real thing with me. Happy didn't cover how I felt about them being here tonight. In fact, with them here, I barely noticed the hours passing by. I did however notice the fact that Amy and Nick were starting to get a little burnt out.

It was nearing a quarter past one when Amy stood up and off the couch and stretched her cute little arms, joints popping beneath the sweater.

"I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Me too," Nick joined in, standing up and putting an arm around his girlfriend. "I think Amy and I should take off now, May."

"Can you guys drop me off at Jessie's on the way?" Damien got up off the floor, patting down the several crumbs of biscuits and chips that lay scattered on his clothes. He shot me a small grin and added, "I'm sorry May but I did promise to drop by my aunt and uncle's place at some point tonight."

"It's fine!" I got to my feet to give them a hug goodbye, thanking them for coming.

"No problem babe. Just don't forget to open up the presents," Amy gestured at the pile they had made under the Christmas tree.

"Are you sure you don't want to be around for that, guys?"

"We would but we want you to open it up in the morning, with your dad around. It would feel more like Christmas then."

My heart warmed at what Nick said and I stepped forward to give them all one last hug before following them out to the door and waving goodbye. When I got back to the living room, I saw Leo sat on the couch facing the television with space next to him (meant for me of course). He peeked over his shoulder at me and smiled a little.

"You don't have to go?"

"Do you want me to?"

I sunk down on the couch, crossing one leg below the other and looked at him. The light of the flames flickering from the side of the room reflected in his eyes, casting a brightness to his face. It brought out the sunny blonde silkiness of his hair which he had combed back, spare for the couple strands that fell in front of his eyes. Leo licked his lips and I stared at his mouth, longer than I should have, before smiling to myself and turning away in embarrassment.

"No," I muttered.

"You sure? I can leave if you want me to."

Throwing a side glance at him, I saw him grinning in that way he usually did to tease me. Usually, I found it downright annoying but now my heart felt like it was going to spontaneously combust in my chest.

"Whatever," I sputtered, reaching for the TV remote to distract myself. "As long as you don't act stupid."

"Like I am now?" he nudged me on the side with his elbow, leaning closer.

"Precisely."

Leo laughed and settled back, relieving me of the worry that he was coming far too close into my personal bubble. I turned the TV back on to the same channel I had been watching before but spare for the occasional comment about the TV reporter or the fact that Dubai was over-doing it again with their Christmas decorations, Leo stayed quiet majority of the time.

Something looked different about him tonight and I couldn't figure out what it was. It couldn't be the hair. I mean, I did feel tempted to reach over it and run my hands through it because of how impeccably soft it looked but then it wouldn't be the first time I had wondered what hair conditioner Leo used to look so flawless. Maybe it was his eyes? Could be that. They looked lighter, happier. Or maybe it was the fact that he had a permanent smile on his face. It was the longest I'd ever seen his lips turn upright and stay that way without frowning about something stupid that Damien had said, or perhaps sneer to mock me about some sarcastic retort I would have aimed at him . I couldn't place what it was.

The fact that he was so absorbed by the show gave me the perfect opportunity to sneak a few secretive peeks at him without him noticing. Or at least, that is what I thought right up until that moment.

"Makayla, how long are you going to stare at me like that?"

I gasped and looked away so fast it almost gave my neck whiplash. Wincing at the sudden popping noise, I pretended not to know what he was talking about but now it was Leo who was staring my way, all too humored by my actions.

"I wasn't staring."

"Yes. You were."

"I was...having a passing glance," I muttered, my eyes still fixed on the screen but I could make out the satisfied grin on his face from the corner of my eyes.

"Three whole minutes isn't what I would call a passing glance."

I groaned loudly. My head hit the back rest of the couch as I squeezed my eyes shut. He was never going to let it go.

"This is what I meant about you acting stupid."

"You mean charming," he chuckled.

"No. Stupid."

"You clearly have your definitions mixed up."

"You're right because such confidence is the most attractive thing a woman can find in a man," I said sarcastically, opening my eyes and rolling my head to the side to look at him.

"Finally, you admit it," Leo retorted with a wink before looking back at the screen. "Stare at me all you want, I'll pretend I didn't notice this time."

"You're a dork."

"Maybe but I'm your beautiful dork who you can't stop taking your eyes off."

I frowned. "Damien has rubbed off on you in very bad ways."

Leo's smile faltered for a second before he grinned, but it looked forced this time. " He can annoy you and I can't?"

"Your very existence is as annoying as it gets, Leo." I stuck my tongue out at him and stood up, starting to walk away from the couch and to the kitchen. I needed a glass of water; to drink or throw it on his face I would find out later but when I peeked through open kitchen view, I saw him watching me with that Leo-smile of his.

"May?"

Ba-dump.

"Y-yeah?"

What was that just now?

"Cook something for me?"

My eyes widened, snapping to the clock and back at him.

"You're kidding. It's 1:30, Leo." I raised an eyebrow and added, "Is this about Damien boasting about my cooking?"

Leo's brows furrowed. "No. No, it isn't. I'm asking because I want to eat something you made specially for me. It has nothing to do with Damien."

There was an odd level of sincerity in his voice that had my heart racing in my chest. Considering the fact that Leo probably had the most classy meals made for him all the time, this made me almost nervous.

"O-okay," I mumbled. "I guess I'll get to work."

"I'll help," Leo said and made his way over to the kitchen. "I'm a good cook."

"No kidding," I grinned. "You?" The image of him in a chef's hat made me giggle.

"Oh, you would be surprised," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm all yours tonight, May. Just tell me what to do."

For some reason, I liked the sound of that.

--------------------CHAPTER END---------------------

I know this update is way over due but my life is in shambles right now. I am a living, breathing zombie, surviving on less than five hours of sleep each day so please, spare me the judgmental look you must be giving the screen for this late update. 

That being said, Act I is only a couple chapters away from completion (FINALLY!!) and I'm looking for some good cover designers who might be interested in making the next cover for Act II (the sequel to this book). I have the pictures I want to use and the general idea of how it'll look but I'm super swamped with uni so I'd love to have one of you guys help me out! Shoot me a PM or comment below if interested!

Act I is close to a finish so I'll be sure to update faster this time around x) Keep an eye on your library!! 

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