Home for Christmas
Halloween was a low-key affair at Rockport Hall Preparatory Academy. Diana had enjoyed the trick-or-treat booths her school did for the children in the town. But that was over. She'd stayed at school through Thanksgiving, with other students who didn't go home. Although she didn't hate the school and had made some friends, she'd still been angry that her parents had sent her.
She'd be going home for Christmas holidays in just three weeks. Her mother wanted her to invite her new friends home. Diana had been brooding about whether she would, or even should.
Without realizing it, she had been pacing in the room she shared with Lilli. Lilli came in and knew something was wrong with Diana.
"What's troubling you?" Lilli asked softly.
"Christmas holidays. I know they're not for three more weeks, but my mother wants me to invite you, Shawn, and Josh home with me. I'd love to have you come," she hastened to add, not wanting to hurt Lilli's feelings. "I'm just not sure how Shawn and Josh will fit in with the group at home."
Lilli nodded, understanding immediately what was wrong with Diana. "Don't you think it's time you told me what happened at home before you came here?"
Diana took a deep breath and decided Lilli was right. "You can't tell anyone else," she begged. "It's still embarrassing."
"No one will hear it from me," Lilli assured her.
Diana nodded and began to tell her story. "I told you there was group of us." Diana went to her bedside table and took a picture of the BWG's out of her drawer. "We called ourselves the Bob-Whites of the Glen, or BWG's for short. My club jacket is in the closet. You've seen it. Anyway," she pointed at each member as she named them. "This is Trixie. She's a co-president. She and I were best friends from kindergarten until about seventh grade, when my dad became a millionaire. This is her brother Mart. I had a huge crush on him, and thought it was mutual. This is Brian. Trixie and Mart's oldest brother. He's in college now. This is Honey. She taught me that having a lot of money didn't mean I had to change everything about myself. Here's her adopted brother Jim. He was a runaway. And here's Dan, member number seven. He was a juvenile delinquent and belonged to a gang before the New York City judge found his uncle."
"Okay," Lilli said. "I now know who they are, but what happened? I can see that you've been hiding a lot of pain. Did any of your friends cause it?" She looked angry for Diana at the thought.
"Not too badly. And not on purpose. This is Brain and Jim's second year of college. Mart and Dan are seniors, and Honey and Trixie are juniors like us. I decided that I was mature enough to have a boyfriend, so I told Mart how I felt. He kindly and gently told me that he thought of me as a special friend, but not a girlfriend." She sighed heavily. "I was crushed. If I hadn't been waiting for him, I could have just about any guy I wanted. I don't mean that in a conceited way at all, but it's true. I wished I had someone to talk to, but Honey and Trixie were so busy missing Brian and Jim, and solving mysteries, that they didn't have much time for me. I didn't come right out and say that I needed a friend either, so it's not their fault that they missed the cues. I started distancing myself emotionally from my friends. Dan noticed and tried to talk to me, but I didn't want to discuss his best friend with him, you know? So I started hanging around with other people, not the best people. The group I chose wouldn't know how to be true friends if they looked it up in the dictionary. They were just out for a good time. That was what I thought I wanted. I ended up getting a reputation of a tease. The last straw was that I became smart-mouthed with my parents. That caused a lot of trouble. I spent the last two months of school almost continuously grounded for things. Once for even coming home drunk. So that's my story. I don't know how I should act if I see anyone, and I don't know what they'd think if they saw how I am with Josh. My friends may think I've reverted." Diana looked out the window as she finished.
Lilli hugged her roommate. "I'll be glad to come home with you, if even just to be a buffer. And if you invite the guys, I don't think it would upset anyone, unless Mart gets jealous. But that would be his fault. He let you go, after all. And you've gotten over him. As for your teasing relationship with Josh, anyone can look at it and see that it's a friendly thing. No big deal. You two tip-toed around each other. Now you're really and truly friends, and even Josh and Shawn are friends now. We may not be as big a group as the one you left, but I think you're lucky to find another group of friends. Not everyone has that. I don't really have friends at home because I don't really know anyone my age there since I'm always here. You've got the best of both worlds. It's your decision if you want to bring them together. I'll understand if you decide not to. You won't hurt my feelings. So don't trouble trouble 'til trouble troubles you." They shared a laugh.
"I do want you to come, and I'll ask the guys too. I just hope that both groups get along. The Bob-Whites aren't used to personalities like Josh's!" The girls giggled again.
Two weeks later:
Diana was getting more nervous about taking her friends home with her. Lilli was packed and ready, and Shawn and Josh had promised to be ready on time. She had received letters from Honey and Trixie and written them back with the news. They wrote back, sounding excited about meeting them. Diana was packing to keep her mind off her nervousness. Lilli was attending a study group, so she didn't have anyone to take her mind off things that could go wrong. She jumped when the phone rang. She grinned as she talked to the person on the other end. Throwing everything she had been holding into her suitcase, Diana dashed out of the room.
On the steps to the fountain in the quad, she met up with Josh, Lilli and Shawn. She laughed delightedly as her friends unpacked a surprise picnic.
"I thought you were supposed to be with your study group," she said to Lilli.
Lilli laughed. "And leave you pacing enough to wear a path in our lovely carpet? I don't think so! But since these two birdbrains couldn't see any difference in the way you've been acting, I convinced them that this was exactly what you need."
"Also," Shawn told her, "You could tell us what we will be doing and what's expected of us."
Josh gave Shawn a Look. "What we'll be doing sounds fun to hear, but what's expected of us? There's something more than manners?"
Diana rolled her eyes at the guys that she knew argued more out of fun than anything else. "From the letters I've gotten from Honey and Trixie, we'll be plenty busy. We'll leave from here on Saturday morning, get home in the afternoon, and have that day to unpack and just be there. There will be plenty of time for riding and skating. There's even going to be a dinner at the Beldens'."
"Wow, that sounds like a lot, but I know it won't be too much," Lilli commented. "Will we at least have time to meet your brothers and sisters?"
Diana nodded. "I figure that I can spend a lot of time with them, especially after you leave. I will spend some time with them while you're there. You can keep me company, ride, or hang out in the game room while I'm with them."
There were nods all around.
One week later:
The school was half deserted by the time the Lynch limo showed up. The driver got out to put the bags in the trunk and hold the door open for the teens. "I'm sorry, Miss Diana. I had to replace the fan belt before I left. Somehow, it was broken."
Once away from Rockport, Diana noticed that they were getting much closer to her home in Sleepyside and started playing with her hair, twirling it around on her fingers. Lilli and Josh started teasing her about the name of her hometown while Shawn looked out the window, studying the town itself.
Diana gasped as they pulled up to the house. Standing on the steps were the BWG's to welcome her home.
Diana forgot her nervousness upon seeing the welcoming smiles of her friends. Even Brian and Jim had made it home to welcome her. She was out of the car almost before it stopped and in a group hug with her friends. All were laughing and chattering so much that Diana almost forgot about her boarding school friends, who were standing by the limo. As she caught a glimpse of them, she called for them to come over so she could introduce them.
She disentangled herself from the Bob-Whites and made the introductions, starting with, "This is Lilli. She's my roommate. This is Shawn. He's really smart and really serious, although we're trying to cure him of that." Shawn laughed at Diana's words. "And this is Josh. He's a horrible tease, but we like him anyway." She then set out introducing her Bob-White friends. "This is Trixie, our junior Sherlock, and Honey, our Dr. Watson. This is Brain and Mart, Trixie's brothers. Here's Jim, Honey's brother. And this is Dan." The next few minutes were spent in confusion, with everyone saying hi to each other.
"Your friends will be staying for the night, so don't you think you could steal a few minutes to say hello to your parents?" a cool voice said.
Diana stiffened and walked over to her parents, sedately hugging her mother with a low and hugging her father with a little more enthusiasm. "Hello, Mother, Daddy. How are you?"
"We're better now that you're home," Mr. Lynch said.
"Yes, we really did miss you," Mrs. Lynch answered.
"Thank you, it's nice to be home," Diana replied, somewhat awkwardly.
"You can see the twins later. For now, why don't you show your friends to their rooms? Everyone's staying," her mother suggested.
Diana nodded. "Come one, everyone. You can put your things away and we'll have a snack."
"We've already put our things away," Trixie told her. "But Honey and I will help you and Lilli, and we'll send the boys to help Josh and Shawn."
Once everyone had unpacked, they met in the dining room. "Wow!" everyone said in one voice, looking at the 'snack.' There was a full vegetable tray, a fruit tray, a chocolate cake, a plain cheesecake, and sodas on the table. An extra look showed ranch and bleu cheese dips for the vegetables, and caramel and yogurt dips for the fruits.
True to form, Josh was his normal self. "Shall I fix my ladies their plates?" Diana and Lilli laughed while Honey and Trixie looked bewildered.
"Go on and fix your own plate, Josh. I think we can handle it," Diana told him, trying hard not to look at Lilli, for she could hear Lilli's giggles plainly.
After eating, the large group went to the game room. Dan started playing a video game, and, taking Dan up on his offer, Josh joined him. Shawn was talking to Lilli when Diana, Honey, and Trixie joined them. Brian, Jim, and Mart were playing pool after everyone else turned down the general invitation.
"Hey you two," Diana interrupted Shawn, "What are you doing by yourselves?"
"Just wondering when Josh will grow up," Lilli joked.
"That'll never happen," Diana said. "Besides, he's fun the way he is."
"He makes me a bit uncomfortable," Honey commented.
Trixie nodded. "He's not what we're used to," she agreed.
Diana and Lilli looked at Shawn for explanations. "He's just having fun," he said. "He's not too serious about anything. He thinks life is an adventure. He also just likes teasing people, especially pretty girls. In truth, the only time that gets him in trouble is when girls start to think he's serious about them. If more girls were like Diana, there wouldn't be as many hurt feelings and trouble."
"Like Diana? What does he mean by that?" Trixie looked at Diana sharply.
Diana rolled her eyes. "Nothing bad. Just that when he teases me, I tease back. No big deal, Trixie, so get that disapproving look off your face."
"Okay," Honey interrupted before an argument could start. "I think I can deal with that. What's your story, Shawn? You're nothing like Josh, so I can't believe you're really friends with him."
Shawn smiled. "At the beginning of the school year, you'd be right. We weren't friends. But then he met Diana and she took him down a peg or two by not falling for him. I became friends with Diana and Lilli and I were already friends. When Josh started hanging around Diana more, he became a friend to all of us."
Honey smiled too. "It's great when things like that happen. Lilli, how did you and Diana become friends? I know from past experience that being roommates doesn't mean automatic friendship."
Lilli shrugged. "We just seemed to click. We have a lot in common. There's not much more to it than that. There's just one thing we don't have in common that I'm jealous of. I don't have a great group of friends at home. I don't have any friends at home. I'm always at school, and in the summers, there are family vacations, so how could I make any?"
Diana slung an arm around Lilli's shoulder. "Mi casa es su casa," she said. "And my friends are yours."
The group was then called to dinner. After eating and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas with the twins, they decided to call it a night.
Sunday:
Diana and Lilli awoke first. After taking showers, they decided to see about breakfast, and met Josh and Shawn in the hall on the way to the kitchen.
"This is just like school," Lilli commented.
"Except it's a lot warmer getting to the food," Josh joked. "Your friends are pretty great. Dan's cool. And Honey and Trixie are hot."
"Don't get any ideas, Josh," Diana told him in a mock stern voice. "Honey and Trixie are unofficially unavailable."
"Don't worry about it, my sweet Diana. You'll always be first in my heart." Josh winked.
Diana laughed. "Why, Josh. I wasn't worried a bit!"
A few hours later, everyone had eaten, showered, and readied themselves for the day. Brian and Jim grabbed the picnic baskets the Lynch's cook prepared. The group decided to separate and meet at the Wheelers', with Diana, Lilli, Josh, and Shawn riding and the others in the Bob-White station wagon.
Right before leaving, Terry ran outside stopped the group.
"Diana!" He yelled. "Why did the turkey cross the road?"
"I don't know. Why?" Diana yelled back.
Terry shrugged. "Doesn't matter. It got run over anyway."
The teens laughed and Diana sent Terry back inside to at least get a coat.
Once at the Wheelers' stables, they got a surprise. Ben Riker was saddling up Thunder. Diana performed more introductions.
As Josh was walking around inspecting horses, Diana got a wicked idea. She resolved to talk to Bobby as soon as possible. Soon, the eleven teens set off on a ride. Diana was humming, and soon the other three girls picked up on it. They all started singing softly, increasing their volume as the guys joined in the song. Jingle Bells could be heard before the group was seen.
After a brisk ride through the preserve, the horses were returned to the stable, except for Sunny and the other Lynch horses, which were left in the corral. They walked to the lake for a bit of ice skating.
After skating, a bonfire was built to help warm everyone up and the subject of funny holiday memories came up. Lilli could barely speak as she told her story. "The last time we had a holiday dinner at home, my aunt, uncle and cousins came. The cook had fixed the turkey and was so proud of its presentation. My cousin Ryder, who was thirteen at the time, put a bottle rocket in it when the grace was almost over. When my father went to carve it, the turkey exploded." She stopped to reign in her laughter. "I swear, the cook cried so hard she could barely tell us that she was quitting her job. Now, we always have holiday dinners at a restaurant." Lilli had to wipe tears of laughter from her eyes.
"Now, why didn't I ever think of that one?" Ben jokingly asked the group.
"Don't!" cried out Honey, Trixie, and Jim.
Before the group knew it, it was time to put out the fire and go home. Mart, after learning that he was interested in electronics, asked Shawn to come over to help him with a project. Shawn agreed and Diana jumped on the chance to invite herself, Lilli, and Josh as well.
Monday:
The girls again awakened before the guys. Diana had shared her plan with Lilli and both girls were giggling when Josh and Shawn came down for breakfast.
"Is my shirt on inside-out?" Shawn asked nervously.
"Not this time," Josh answered. "Either they're crazy or they have a plan that doesn't include us."
Shawn pretended to think this over. "Can I choose 'C'? Both of the above?"
Diana, Lilli, and Josh immediately felt their jaws drop. "You made a joke," gasped Diana.
"When did you learn to do that?' Lilli asked.
"Way to go," cheered Josh.
Shawn simply blushed and hid behind his breakfast.
After eating, the four teens hurried to ready themselves to go to the Beldens'.
Once they were inside and warmed up with Mrs. Belden's homemade hot chocolate and rum cake, Mart and Shawn disappeared to work on the mysterious project.
Diana once again had that 'look' on her face as she called Bobby over to talk to him. She winked at Lilli, who immediately started a conversation to distract everyone from noticing that Bobby and Diana were talking seriously.
No one saw Bobby rush upstairs.
Mart and Shawn had been working companionably in Mart's room. Shawn was advising Mart how to make the project simpler and go more smoothly.
"What are you building this for anyway?' Shawn finally asked.
"A few years ago, Ben constructed Bobby a 'par-squirrel' and Bobby has chattered about nothing but, even though now he comprehends it wasn't an authentic creature. I was contemplating if I manufactured this automaton for him, he'll refrain from conversing about that moth-eaten portion of fluff."
Mart's love of large and unusual words was beginning to wear thin on Shawn. He just rolled his eyes and said, "Okay. You want your younger brother to get more excited about something you give him than the neighboring rich family's cousin. Got it."
Mart gave Shawn a scathing look, but went back to work. After fifteen minutes went by, Mart couldn't stop himself. "Just what is Josh and Diana's relationship?"
Shawn looked up briefly, conveying his confused expression. "Nothing. They're just friends."
"Then what's with all of the flirting?"
Shawn wrinkled his brow, wondering what it was that he didn't know. "That's just what they do. They tease each other, they have fun, and they're hardly ever serious together."
Mart looked at Shawn with narrowed eyes. "Are you with Diana?"
Shawn laughed and shook his head. "Diana and I are friends, just like Diana and Josh are friends."
Mart somehow felt very unsatisfied. "Well, I think I can do the rest of it. Thanks for the help."
Shawn nodded. "It was fun. I enjoy building things. Don't touch that--"
"Ouch!" Mart had just gotten shocked by a wire he shouldn't have touched.
In the kitchen, Bobby and Diana were careful to be quiet as Bobby got an object out of the freezer. "Be careful," Bobby whispered. "The toe broke off last time I used him in a prank."
"Bobby, what would I do without your rubber frog and your smarts?"
"Ask Larry or Terry," replied Bobby with a grin.
Diana giggled. Winking at Bobby, she called, "Josh! Could you come here for a minute?"
Bobby nodded and left the room.
Josh appeared in the doorway. "You called, my pretty?"
She pouted. "I need a hug."
Josh opened his arms. Diana closed her eyes to hide the mischievous glint she knew was there. Thankful he had layered up and had a large sweatshirt on, she slyly dropped the object into Josh's waistband. She quickly moved her hands up, as if rubbing his lower back had always been her plan.
She kept her arm around his waist as they walked into the living room together, unaware that Mart had seen the hug.
Josh started to sit down on the couch when he suddenly jumped up. "There's something in my pants! It's cold and wet! Get it out! What did you do, Diana?"
Diana was laughing too hard at the sight of Josh jumping around to answer. Lilli had run into the kitchen to hide her giggles.
"Why don't you go to the bathroom and get whatever it is out?" Bobby asked sensibly.
With a final glare at Diana, Josh hopped to the bathroom. Within five minutes, he came back and threw a half defrosted plastic frog he'd finally succeeded in getting from his pants at Diana. "I will get you back," he threatened.
"I'll be looking forward to it," Diana said, laughing and not noticing Mart's glowering expression.
Thursday:
The rest of the week flew by, and before anyone knew it, it was time to go to Dinner at the Beldens' house.
It was a lively affair. When Diana and her guests arrived, Bobby was wailing. "Mart! You broke the remote!"
"I did not, rapscallion!"
'Did nots' and 'did toos' were soon heard. Trixie finally had enough of it. "The remote is not broken," she shouted, stepping between her brothers. "It just needs new batteries."
Without looking, she tossed the remote over her shoulder to Brian, who neatly caught it and replaced the batteries.
Once dinner was finished and the kitchen was clean, Mrs. Belden gathered Lilli, Josh, and Shawn around for hugs.
"Since this is the last time you'll be visiting, I want you three to know that I'm very glad to have gotten the chance to know you, and as far as I'm concerned, you're as much part of the family as the Bob-Whites are. We have very stretchy walls, and any time you want to come back for a visit, let me know." Mrs. Belden smiled at each teen.
"Thanks, Mrs. Belden," Lilli said, getting choked up. "That's really nice of you to say."
Josh gave Mrs. Belden an extra hug. "That's really great of you. Thanks a lot. I may just take you up on that. After all, you're such a hot mama!"
Mrs. Belden laughed, knowing Josh was teasing again to cover up how touched he really felt.
Shawn nodded. "I agree with both of them, except for the hot mama part. I mean, you're pretty, but...Aww man!" He blushed and finished his thought. "We may just see you again soon."
At the Manor House, they found that Celia had left enough snacks out to last all night long. Everyone talked and laughed and cemented friendships. Even Ben joined in. Invitations to visit each other flew from every mouth.
Friday:
No one had slept for more than two hours when Miss Trask came in.
"Good morning," she said. "Jeeves will be arriving in about half an hour to take Diana, Lilli, Josh, and Shawn to the train station."
Once packed and showered, the small group hurried to the door to await the limo. The Bob-Whites and Ben lined up to say good-bye to their new friends. There were handshakes for the guys and hugs for the girls.
After hugging Honey and Trixie, Josh whooped. "I've actually hugged all three Bob-White babes!"
Everyone laughed, knowing not to take him seriously by now, although Mart, Brian, and Jim's laughter was a little unsure and forced.
At the train station, Diana and Lilli cried a little as they all hugged each other and promised to see each other at school after the New Year. Luckily, all three trains were due within five minutes of each other, or there would have been a lot more tears.
Diana arrived home, still wiping her eyes from the good-byes. The twins were in the nursery, which was now an oversized playroom since they were getting so big. And the Lynch parents were in the living room.
"Diana!' called Mrs. Lynch. "Could you come here please?"
Diana found her parents smiling. She stood a bit straighter. "Yes, Mother?"
"We have an early Christmas present for you. We would like to tell you that we miss you very much while you're at school. You're early present is that you don't have to go back if you don't care to."
"But, didn't you pay for the whole year?" Diana was stunned.
"Well, yes, we did," Mr. Lynch answered. "But right now, we don't care. We've enjoyed having you home."
"When do I have to know for sure?" she asked her parents.
"Just let us know by New Year's Day," her father answered.
Diana turned and wandered in a daze up to her room, shutting the door softly behind her. "Why do they have to give me the choice when I'm actually enjoying the school and the friends I have there?"
This is a submission for Moon-Spinner's Ho Ho Ho Project.
Author's Notes: Not my characters, blah, blah, blah. Thanks to Lindsay and Mal for looking this over for me. I didn't want to overburden El and Julie with something so close to the holidays as I know they're both way busy. Merry Christmas