So, this right here is a new story! I am writing it strictly by myself but the idea and few details are ForeverInYourArms! This was obviously a request and I am determined to make it good for her~ This whole story will be dedicated to her!
I hope y'all enjoy.
A few things you should know! One: Clare's parents ARE divorced in this, but Glen and Jake do NOT exist. ;)
Clare's POV
I cannot believe it is already that time of year! You know what time of year I am talking about! I know you do…well; if you don't know then I guess I will just have to tell you! It is coming up on the holiday season! My favorite time of year! But, what makes this time of year even more amazing is that I get to see my grandmother every year on these two weeks. It is sad, I know, but this is the only time we ever see her.
Except the one year my grandfather died due to a serious illness. She was crushed and we had to go up and visit and attend the funeral. I miss him very much, though I was never as close to him as I am to my grandma. Most kids my age would laugh and roll their eyes at the fact that they had to go and visit an old relative…well, not me! I can proudly say that I am 16 and going to see my grandma for winter break. But, also, that I am really excited about it!
"Clare!" I heard my mom calling me from downstairs. I sighed…knowing this was my first trip with just mom and not dad. It has been about three months since the divorce has been final, and both parents have been doing exceedingly well with sharing the house, and making my happiness first priority. I know my mom is very lonely though right now, and honestly, so am I. We both kind of drown ourselves in work.
But, we are alive and well, we may not have everything working out quite yet, but we will get there eventually. "Yes?" I called back, even though I know exactly what she was going to say…that it was time to go. "We have to go now. Run through the house to make sure you got everything you need! All of your electronics and chargers, things like that." I rolled my eyes. Of course that is what she is thinking of.
I knew this would happen. She is going to always be 'working' to make it look like she is busy, and then she won't have to talk to her mom, my grandma, about the divorce and how unhappy she is. I know that part of her attitude is so I don't feel bad, but if she really didn't want me to know how miserable she has been, maybe she should try actually smiling for once, or maybe, actually wanting to eat at the proper time, not dropping five pounds a week, strictly because she is too upset to consume food.
Anyway, back onto what is important…making sure I have a toothbrush and things like that. I know that if I forgot something of that nature that I could just buy it at the store there, but something's are more important than electronics and the internet. But I still went all around, up and down and found nothing that I needed with me, which meant I got everything, if you didn't catch that.
"I'm ready now!" I called down as I was practically running down the stairs, about to fall on my face at any moment. "Clare, calm down, we are only going to grandma's nothing to get a broken nose over." These are the comments she makes to me these days. You learn to just smile, nod, and agree with her…because if you don't, well, bad things happen.
And by that I mean, you get in trouble for 'mocking her'. Pathetic I know, but she can't ever know that! We had already packed the car earlier this morning so all we needed to do was get in the car and just, well, go, which is basically what we did. We stopped once or twice, but we really just wanted to get there, at least I did. I'm sure my mom wants to be away too. The further we are away from the house she raised her children in with her ex-husband, I think the better. But when we did get there I practically ran to the door until…
"Clare, get your butt back here an get your stuff! I'm not going to do it for you, you aren't three!" She yelled at me so loud I am sure most of the neighborhood heard her. Oh, yippee! As I made my way back to the car… "Oh, Helen! Leave the stuff and just come say hi for once!" I gasped and turned around. I ran as fast as I could yelling, "Grandma!" I hugged her very tightly and when my mom came behind me, I heard her mutter under her breath, "Maybe you are three."
Yes, these things do get annoying…I know the question you are going to ask. Because well, I ask it myself every day. I'm not psychic, don't worry. "Come on, you two! Let's catch up for a little while. Then you can get all of your stuff out from the car." I looked at my mom who shook her head. "I'd rather just get it done now, then we can visit." My mom then walked back to the car.
"Has she been like this since-" I cut my grandma off. "The divorce? Yes." Her face saddened but when I smiled she returned it. Her face lit up for a slight second then said, "With the excitement from you two arriving I forgot to do something." She walked back into the house then came back out with a plate of her famous cookies. I scrunched my eyebrows together, clearly confused.
"The people that live across the street moved in about a week ago, I hadn't gotten around to welcoming them, so I was thinking that maybe I could do it now…but I think you should do it." She explained while handing me the plate full of her delicious treats. "But, I don't even live here…are you sure, you don't want to?" She smiled and nodded.
"I'll help your mom…just tell them that they are from the poor old woman across the street and you are just visiting, but that I give them my welcome to the street and that I hope they enjoy the cookies!" After that was said she waved me off. I really didn't understand why she was so persistent about me delivering these to the people that just moved in. I have never had nor will I have a relationship with these people. But, it is the holiday season, a time for joy and giving…maybe that was grandma's lesson.
Normally, every time I come to visit my grandma, she always has a new task every year. She is determined to make me learn something new that year about what the true meaning of life is. I find it funny in the sweetest way possible. But like any good granddaughter would, I take the task and conquer it by the time I leave to go back home. It is I guess a little game in a way…one of the best games you could ever play in the world though!
So, I made my way across the street. Noticing that the yard was very undone. Grandma did say that lived here only for a week, and if I remember correctly the old man that lived here before was always in doors. I guess I judged a little too quickly, you do have to give people some time to get settled. I smiled at the quaint house, it was very classy and cozy, or so it looked it from the outside. But when I looked to my right, where the driveway is, I jumped so high that I dropped the plate of cookies.
I looked behind me, realizing that grandma and mom were no longer outside…and that all of the car doors were closed and so was the front door of the house. I turned back around and let out a small scream because there was no a guy standing right in front of me. His eyes widened. "You don't have to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you." He smirked after saying that and rolling his eyes. He bent down and collected the plate in his hands.
"Drop something?" He smugly questioned. What the heck was wrong with this guy? I stared at him for what seemed like forever…how could I have missed the fact that his eyes were greener then grass itself. He cleared his throat and waved a hand in front of my face. "Listen, I know I'm gorgeous and all, but you are seriously making me uncomfortable." He smirked again. I shook my head and averted my eyes to the ground.
He chuckled a bit before tipping my head back up to his face. And when I realized that the smirk was still stuck on the stupid face I groaned. "Is there something wrong?" He asked while handed me the plate back. I shook my head.
"My grandma lives right across the street and she wanted me to give you these cookies. I do not live here I am just visiting for the fabulous holiday season…she wants you to enjoy them and say welcome to the street. But she is getting older and you are clearly a bad-ass person, so don't do anything to her, because if you do I will have you arrested and sued for every penny you have, which is probably just one penny, considering the way you're dressed, and that awful thing on wheels right there." I said all of that so fast and said it with just one breath…that was pretty awesome. And to add effect to the speech I had just made, I slammed the plate back into his hands and turned and walked away.
I didn't look back until I had to turn around to close the front door of my grandma's house behind me. I saw him there, frozen, plate still in hands…with a shocked…wait for it! Smirk on his face. That stupid kid is so stupid that ugh! I am so glad that I don't live here, I just hope that I can avoid that guy for the rest of my time here.
Because I won't let anything, anything ruin my holiday season.
Thanks so much for reading I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, please let me know what you thought of it in a review~