"You'd say that today holds something special, something holy and not superficial." Christmas Must Be Something More - Taylor Swift
Just Friends
Chapter One
When you get to your home - your true home in New Jersey, not the one you had to buy in Los Angeles so that you could film for months at a time - every inch is decorated. From the still-green lawn to the banisters inside, everything has lights, tinsel or fake snow. "I'm going for the white Christmas theme. What do you think?" your mother asks when she opens the door, flashing you a smile. You laugh and nod, but you still wipe your eyes from exhaustion. She frowns. "Go take a hot shower, baby and then take a nap. I'll wake you up when your father gets home. Your cousins are coming tonight as well so we're gonna have a dinner at seven, okay?" she reminds you, rubbing your back.
You yawn and nod, kissing her on the cheek. You trudge upstairs, putting your hands on the wall to be your support since the banister has bright red and green tinsel going up and down. You stop halfway up, looking down to the living room. There in the center is the tree along with a few random trees. "Mom." You say, surprising her. She raises her eyebrow at you questioningly. You point to the tree. "Why isn't the tree done yet? No lights or anything." You ask, nodding towards it.
Your mom gives you a smile. "Did you think just because my little baby is flying across the country everywhere that our Christmas traditions aren't going to happen?" she gives you a pointed raised eyebrow, smiling wider before going into the kitchen. You sigh, slightly happy, slightly complacent, and go back to going upstairs. It isn't that you don't like Christmas, because it is magical, but lately, you just haven't gotten into the holiday spirit as you have in previous years. Obviously you are thankful for everything Jesus Christ has given you. You thank him every day, but that doesn't mean you actually like Christmas.
To you, Christmas is ten percent gifts, ninety percent family drama. You remember that one year your uncle almost started a fist fight with your father because he drank a little too much eggnog. That was a bad year, to say the least. You just want peace this Christmas.
And maybe a little snow.
When you get upstairs, your phone starts buzzing. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose, and if you ever saw it, you could even say it glows., the text reads. You let a giggle escape your lips, shaking your head. It's feeling a lot like Christmas, huh, Shane? What time are you getting home? You text him back before going into the bathroom. You turn on the hot water, smirking at the cinnamon candles that are burning. You take a deep breath, letting the apple pie smell waft through you. I love Christmas. I'll come over later in like two days. By the way, when you get home, check your bed. Shane replies.
You raise an eyebrow and for a moment pause to wonder whether you should abandon your hot bath for a couple seconds. Biting your lip, you sigh and getting out of the bathroom, a big smile creeping up on your face. You push open the door to your bedroom, letting the familiar smell hit your nose. You missed your bedroom, with so many months of sleeping in hotel rooms. You look straight to your bed before bursting out in laughter, shaking your head. You go the bed, throwing yourself on it to grab a big stuffed reindeer that laid on top of your pillow. "Thanks mom." You call out, squeezing the deer to your chest. At least, his text now makes sense.
You hear your mother laugh. "Thank that boy of yours. He harassed me until I put everything perfectly." She calls back. You bite your lip. Everything?, you think to yourself. You pull your phone again. I love the reindeer, Shane. :D, you message him. You sigh again. You're afraid all these very optimistic people are gonna change your pessimistic Christmas views. You look at the deer closely, flicking its bright red nose until going down to its collar. You lower your eyebrows, letting your fingers touch the silver chain. Suddenly, your phone starts buzzing again. You get it and put it to your ear. "Hey." You manage to croak out.
"Hi!" he says, a little too hyper. You laugh and he clears his throat. "Too much coffee, sorry. Anyways, I got that from Germany. If you look at its butt, it has some German gibberish - just so you know." You flip the deer over and roll your eyes, but your fingers on still on the chain. You can almost hear his smile. "Is it snowing over there yet?" he muses, knowing you want to ask him about the necklace.
"No, it isn't. At least, not yet. The day after you come apparently there's gonna be a storm." You are surprised at the excitement in your voice. You have been living in California for so long; you forgot what it was to have a white Christmas. "Shane, what is this?' you finally ask, looking at the neck of the deer again.
He smiles. "Do you like it, kid? I didn't get that in Germany. That was in from Paris. I saw it in this really nice shop and thought of you." He informs you softly. "Do you like it?" he breathes out again, his voice breaking - suddenly nervous. You close your eyes and let out a silent laugh. You look at the necklace again.
It is a simple silver chain with what looks like a diamond ornament that has the words Please Be Mine inscribed on it. "You realize you took two holidays and meshed them together, right?" you deflect the question. Of course, you love it. But that isn't the point. He was an answer.
And your answer is still no.
He laughs loudly before, "Ow!" You raise an eyebrow, wondering what's going on in the other side of the world. "Will you shut up? I'm trying to sleep and you giggling like some gay fool with Mitchie - Hi Mitchie! - is not helping me. So say goodnight, let her get situated at home again, and you'll talk to her tomorrow. Now, Shane." You hear in the background. You smirk, coughing to disguise it.
"Tell Nate hi for me too." You shake your head, getting off the bed. You put the deer on the middle of the bed, before taking off the necklace as best you can with one hand. You set it on your counter for when you get out of the bath, hearing Shane grumble on the line.
"He does realize I'm the older brother, right?" he speaks into the phone but it's directed towards Nate, so you don't say anything. He huffs. "Fine. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Mitchie. I cannot wait to see you. There may or may not be more surprises." He says quickly, and you roll your eyes again. "Don't roll your eyes, Mi! I know you, kid. I don't care if you hate Christmas. We're gonna change that. Actually, a lot of things are gonna change this Christmas." He teases you.
You pause and ignore his words. "Mhmm." Is all you say. "Goodnight." You say with a smile.
He chuckles. "I love you, kid. We'll talk tomorrow." He lets you go. You close your phone, throwing it on the bed before going back to the bathroom. You are so ready for that hot bath.
--
It's not that you don't love him or that you don't want to be his. It's that you don't want to not be his, and you know that if you get together, you could never go back to being friends. Plus, you're ninety percent certain that your competitive label would forbid it. They already dislike your friendship - they would absolutely hate your relationship. Plus, your moms really, really do not like each other. "I don't know why you want to waste your time on that boy. He was never good." You mother says as you help her with dinner.
You laugh. "You just don't like him because he broke your vase by mistake that one day a million days ago." You point out. You grab some carrots, washing them before setting them on counter. Your mother snorts loudly. You scrunch up your nose. "Attractive." You say, putting the knife towards her for a second.
"He was like seventeen. Give him a break. Also, it was technically Dad who brought the basketball inside." You say as your father comes in. He feints a look of surprise and innocence. "Me?" he mouths, giving your mother a kiss before putting his arm around your shoulder. "Yes you. Now, tell Mom that Shane isn't so bad." You say, huffing at your mother.
She rolls her eyes, looking at your father pointedly. "Oh, she's right, Mitch. That Shane is horrible. I mean, he's respectful, always grateful, never curses, and has a good set of morals. Damn that boy!" he says sarcastically, stealing a cookie from the tray. You smile and look at your mom, raising an eyebrow. She rolls her eyes again, putting her hands on her hips.
"You've never needed my approval for that monster. Why now?" she asks, already knowing something is going on. You wonder how long it took for him to call her before she picked up so that she could put the deer on your bed. "Are the two of you dating?" she says, her eyes widening. You father tenses, taking his arm off your shoulder.
Your cheeks turn red, as you go back to the carrots. "N-no." you stutter. She scoffs, looking her husband for a couple seconds.
"You can't date that boy!" you father says, crossing his arms. You roll your eyes, lifting an eyebrow. "We brought him into our home and what does he do? He breaks one of our most expensive vases." He continues, scolding you with a pout. You laugh as you mother sighs loudly.
"Fine. Do what you want. You're eighteen. Make your decisions. Just don't have that boy's disgusting mother anywhere near me." She says, point at you just as the door bell rings.
"Quick. Hide, Mitchie. Ms. Grey obviously just heard your mother and she's coming to set her straight. Although, I do place my money on mom. Cathy doesn't stand a chance against her." Your mother glares at your father as you laugh. She pushes him in order to get to the door, but your father sneaks a kiss.
"I don't know, Dad. Remember Cathy Grey had to deal with four sons her whole life. That has to toughen a women up." You argue and your mother throws her hands up in expiration, muttering something about people ganging up on her. You shake your head, going back to cutting the carrots. Your father bites into his cookie, leaning on the counter against you.
"So this boy…" he trails off, lifting an eyebrow. You tense slightly, shrugging a little, keeping your eyes on the knife. "You like him?" he asks bluntly.
You sigh, putting the knife down. "Yeah I do, Dad, but… I can't date him. He's too famous. I still have a career going. He's my best friend. And he's amazing. I don't deserve him. All I'm doing is hurting him and I hate myself for it." you frown, your eyes getting sad. Your father sighs, bringing you to his chest. He puts his chin onto of your chin.
"Love means more than what other think. More than your mother and the magazines and the fans. If people truly love you, then they will love you for what you choose to do as well. Love prevails - even if there are a couple blizzards along the way. Love will always be with you - even if you lose everything along the way. If this boy loves you for who you are, then you deserve him. You deserve the moon and if he tries to give it to you, he wins in my book. Don't worry about the haters, baby girl." He advises you. You feel tears come to your eyes as you look away from him.
"Where's Mitchie! I need to see this girl and how big she is. I saw her at the Grammy Awards. How did you let her wear something so low cut, Marie?" you hear the undeniable voice of your loud obnoxious aunt. You groan and look at your Dad. He rolls his eyes, stealing another cookie.
"Get out of here. I'll cover." He says, brushing your hair back. You smile brightly at him, hugging him before leaving the house.
XXX
So that's my cute Christmas-y beginning. I hope you guys like it. it's out of my comfort zone to write fluff, but eh :D
Please, review?
Love you
Sandy
