December 1st

A thin white blanket of snow suffocated the what-used-to-be lush green grass of my lawn. The trees swayed, from the heavy white ice that clung to the thin branches. They seemed to be crying out- begging someone to get it off of them. Sighing, I pulled on my leather jacket and stopped staring out the glass door to the winter horrorland and walked out into the biting cold.

Wind whipped around my face, tugging my hair in all directions as I walked up to my old, rusty truck that used to be white. "Hey, Baby. Up for a drive?" I asked the inanimate object as I brushed the horrid snow off the hood and scraped the ghostly ice off the windshield.

I walked around to the driver's seat and pulled on the handle, expecting my door to pop open. Yeah right. That didn't happen. Instead, the door clung to the rest of the car, as if pleading for me not to open it up and make it colder than it already was. "Come on, Baby, don't do this to me." I mumbled, yanking harder and harder on the handle until finally, with one super strong pull, it opened. Only, I wasn't expecting it so I found myself down on the ice-covered road, back against the asphalt.

Groaning, I got to my feet, brushed myself off, and went to get in my truck, only to find the impact of the door swinging open had caused it to slam shut. Well, my day was off to a great start.

After wrestling with the door for another few moments I finally got it open without falling on my butt and climbed into the car, sitting down on the cool leather seat and slamming the door shut.

Holding my breath, I turned the key in the ignition and by some miracle my truck actually started. I patted the dashboard. "Thanks, Baby. We're just gonna go for a short trip, I promise." I said, before pulling out onto the road and driving off.

…

Thirty minutes later I parked in the visitor's section of the hospital and walked in. "Mr. Walker." One nurse greeted as I walked down the halls. I nodded in response and kept going until I reached her room. Taking a deep breath, I walked in. "Hey Grandma." I said, automatically plastering a smile to my face at the person who had raised me since I was seven.

"Hey Nicky." She said and I grinned brighter even though she sounded worse. It was so out of character for me, but I couldn't help it. My Grandma always cheered me up.

"So, how are you feeling?" I asked, walking over to the bed and leaning against it.

"I've had better days." She croaked out and grabbed my hand. I squeezed hers reassuringly.

"Don't worry, you are in the best possible care- I should know, I practically grew up in this place." I joked, thinking back to all my sports injuries, stupidity injuries, and my bike accident. Grandma wheezed out a laugh that faded into a cough and I quickly got her a glass of water.

"Need anything?" I asked once she had drank half of it.

"Oh no, Nick. Why don't you go have some fun tonight with your friends? You don't honestly wanna stay with an old lady on a Saturday do you?" Grandma asked and I laughed.

"Of course I do." Cause today could be your last. I didn't say it, but we both knew that's what I was thinking. The doctors were trying their best, but they also said it would be a miracle if she made it past New Years.

"Nicolas, I'll be fine. You need to go one day without worrying about me. Why don't you go on a date with that Lissa girl? Didn't you say she might be the one?" Grandma asked, elbowing me suggestively. I rolled my eyes and smirked.

"Grandma, Lissa broke up with me last month. You know that." I pointed out.

"Well, she made a darn good casserole." Grandma said, and I laughed.

"Yeah, but I loved her cooking, not her." I muttered, looking down at my black converse.

"I know Sweetie, but why don't you find another girl? You were a lot happier when you had someone to wake up to." Grandma told me, and I sighed. Here we go again! She always found a way to do this to me. Bring up the whole 'I'm not as happy single' thing.

"Grandma, you're the only girl in my life- and I'd like it to stay like that." I added.

"Nick, we both know I'm not gonna-"

"No! You're going to make it through this! You have to!" I interrupted, not realizing how much my voice rose. "You're the only family I got. I need you." Grandma didn't stop my rant, just ruffled my hair when I was done and smiled sadly.

"You don't need me, Darling. You're seventeen and you found your own place. You're obviously getting enough to eat, you have a steady job, and you wouldn't let me help you out anyways. You're too independent for that." Grandma explained and hugged me. I took a shuddering breath, feeling tears in my eyes. We both knew what that meant. Grandma knew she was gonna die soon- she didn't even have hope for herself anymore. But I was never going to lose my hope, no matter how small it was.

Grandma pulled back and grinned at me. "So, how are your grades?" She asked. I groaned and pulled my report card out of my pocket. In all honesty, I was top of my class, but as far as everyone else was concerned, I was a D student.

"All high A's. Now this belongs in a frame." Grandma said, looking up and smiling at me, smoothing back my hair. "Oh sweetie, I really want you to be happy, even when I'm gone."

"I know. Look, I have to go, but I promise to be back tomorrow." I said, glancing at a clock. I kiss Grandma's cheek and hugged her one last time. "Love you!" I called before walking out the door.

"Love you, Nick!" She called right before I shut the door, and then ran off towards my truck.

Of course it wouldn't start. That would be too easy. "Baby! Come on!" I snapped, patting the dashboard while I kept turning the key in the ignition. "If I'm late for work one more time I'm fired." I muttered, and as if that convinced it, my truck started up.

...

I ran into the cafe, hopping over the counter and grabbing the black waist apron, tying it around my waist and praying Jeb hadn't noticed I was late.

"Hey Nick!" He called right before I headed off to a table. You are so dead. I thought to myself as I spun around, only to find a very familiar, beautiful girl standing next to Jeb.

"You remember Max don't you? My niece? Anyways, she's here for the holidays and I expect you to show her how this place runs. Oh and, I should fire you, but I won't because I know what you're going through." Jeb added.

Max grinned at me, flipping her dirty blonde hair over her shoulder subconsciously. I smiled weakly at my ex-girlfriend. Long distance sucked, but we'd made it work, up until I went out with Lissa, and then everything got really shaky and well, Max ended it the same day Lissa did.

Jeb scowled at me and walked off into his office. Max dropped her grin and grabbed a waist apron, tying the strings together and glaring at me. "I still hate you." Max muttered, snatching my notepad and pencil.

"And I still love you." I whispered as she walked off, too far away to hear my quiet voice.

I hated that it was Christmas Time, and Max still hated me.

I don't own MR

This is going to be a 25 chapter story. A chapter for each day till christmas. I know I shouldn't cause of all my other stories- but they're just short chapters and it's kinda like a count down to Christmas!

Soar on

VR