The travel company called. Turned out her flight was pushed back a day because of all the snow.
"Great." She thought to herself, sitting on top of an already-packed suitcase neatly placed in the corner of her room. I mean, it was nice and all to spend Christmas Eve with your mom, but she wanted to head back early to Connecticut so she could have a head start on all her due assignments this month. Everybody else would probably be away with their families and straight A's don't come easy.
She texted her mom, telling her to come home quick because as it turned out, her daughter would be making Christmas Eve dinner for her. She then proceeded to the local supermarket, barely able to view what was in front of her car window.
She was about to pick up a dozen of eggs when she spotted a familiar face at the poultry isle.
"Jake? What are you doing here?" She then approached him. He almost dropped his bottle of milk as he turned around.
"You sure have a way of showing up and startling people half to death." He replied. She wasn't amused.
"Well you're awfully cheery." Again, not amused. Sometimes he wonders how his brother was once head-over-heels in love with this chick.
"What's in the basket?" She asked eyeing what he was carrying.
"Oh um nothing." He replied, hiding it out of her view. "Just my mom, you know, she gave me a list of stuff and…"
"So you're buying tampons for your mother?" She chuckled. She has always been savvy at noticing things.
"What?! No!" He yelled, almost in disbelief. "It's… it's for Marley okay. She asked me to buy these special ones for her because the ones they have at the hospital makes her itch and stuff I don't know…" He paused.
"Please don't tell anyone."
She looked at him like he was a lost puppy. She had to admit it, that tugged her heartstring a little. Teenage boy buying his girlfriend tampons was pretty appealing. Unorthodox, but still appealing. "Listen Jake, I'm sorry. For what I said earlier. About you and Marley. Maybe I was projecting, I don't know. But clearly you care for her a lot and I shouldn't be the one to judge. "
"It's cool." He smiled. Her green eyes were so endearing. So his big brother may have a point after all. "But none of this tampon-buying shenanigans ever gets out okay? Not even to Puck.."
She giggled then zipped her lips in motion. "Speaking of your brother, where is he? Is he around?" She asked, trying to sound casual and not let on that what she really was doing was clutching straws.
"No. He drove back to LA this morning."
"Oh."
He saw the disappointment in her eyes. "But I can call him if you want Quinn. Ask him to come home for Christmukkah."
"No. It's fine." She faked smiled. "I'm leaving Christmas morning actually."
"Okay. Well I guess I'll see you around then." He pulled her into a hug. "Merry Christmas Quinn."
"Happy Hanukkah Jake."
It was only when she was out of sight that he pulled out his phone and started dialing.
"Hey little-half bro with the half-fro, what is up?"