I drew something for "Different". I'm going to update the story with the art and it will be on my tumblr. I hope you all like the chapter. Thank you so much for your comments. You guys are all so funny and I love reading each and every comment. Also, Matiky, I might steal the Grinch idea. Not gonna lie. Haha.


Holly took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she ran her hands along the steering wheel in an effort to try and focus on anything other than her racing heart. She had only been waiting in Gail's driveway for around ten minutes but the longer she waited the more anxious she got. After her parents had mentioned inviting Gail over for the holidays she had been giving herself an almost never ending pep talk to get herself to actually ask. Waiting in Gail's driveway made it all sink in that Gail had actually said yes and that she was actually going to get to spend the holidays with Gail. Though, it did also mean that Gail was going to be meeting her family. Her very weird and sometimes incredibly embarrassing family.

"Oh god, what have I done?" whispered Holly to herself as she smacked her head into the steering wheel.

It only just dawned on Holly that she was about to cart Gail off to a lion's den of "positive energy" and "hug therapy". Gail, the most closed off and guarded person she'd ever met in her life was about to be introduced to Patricia Stewart and Holly wished she had thought about how disastrous that could be before she'd asked. She probably still would have asked since she didn't really want to spend the holiday away from Gail knowing that she'd be alone at her home. Or really at all because even if Gail was spending the holiday with her own family Holly would still want to see her.

Holly couldn't believe Gail was real and was really in her life. Underneath all the thorns, Gail was one of the most interesting and amazing people she'd ever met. She still couldn't believe that Gail broke up an entire party just because Shawn said some mean things about her. And she couldn't bring herself to ask Gail anymore about it because Gail was very adamant about not wanting to repeat what he said which gave off the air of not wanting to talk about it. Though Holly was fairly certain she knew what he had called her and she wondered what Gail thought about Holly being a lesbian.

Holly was pulled from her thoughts when two quick knocks on the passenger side window made her jump. She quickly fumbled to unlock her backseat and watched as Gail pushed a travel case and backpack next to all the stuff from her room. Then Gail hopped in the front seat and smirked.

"Did I scare you?"

"I was just thinking," said Holly as she hooked her phone up to the stereo.

"About?"

"Which indie band to make you listen to first."

Holly smiled when she saw Gail's face scrunch up in disgust out of the corners of her eyes. So, when Holly set her phone down and worked on backing out of the driveway she had to stop herself from laughing too hard when Gail realized pop music was playing and not some soulful acoustic piece. Gail immediately turned up the volume and started singing along to the song.


"We're here."

Gail woke with a start and looked around her. Holly's hand was gently resting on her upper arm and it dawned on Gail that she had fallen asleep. She tried to casually wipe her mouth on the sleeve of her jacket as if she wasn't just drooling but even if Holly saw she didn't say anything she just smiled at Gail and squeezed her arm.

"Good morning."

"Ha ha," said Gail dryly while pulling out her phone and looking at it. It was a little passed seven in the evening.

As Holly got out of the vehicle, Gail tried to gain a bearing on her surroundings. They were parked in a long gravel driveway that led up to a large two story house that years of HGTV had taught Gail was in a prairie style. It had colorful lights decorating the outside and a tree in the front yard decorated like a Christmas tree. Gail couldn't see much in the dark but she could pick out other houses covered in Christmas lights down the road so it was obvious that the houses in the area were a good distance apart. Not very far but also not right on top of each other like in a suburb.

Gail stared at Holly's house. It looked so warm and inviting but she figured she was just imagining that based off of knowing Holly and what little she had said about her family and how close they all were with each other. When Gail's door opened to a smiling Holly she just blinked at her while still trying to wake her brain up from passing out during the ride.

"So, is this where you finally murder me?"

Holly's smile grew.

"Why ruin the surprise?"

"You could have told me you live out in the middle of nowhere," said Gail as she unbuckled her seatbelt and hopped out next to Holly. "This is way too much nature Holly."

"Don't worry," said Holly as she shut the door and pulled out Gail's stuff from the back seat. "No one expects you to leave the house. I wouldn't want you getting too much fresh air."

Gail went to reach for her bags but Holly walked gracefully passed her and toward the front porch. She quickly jogged up to Holly and nudged her with her hip. However, before she could say anything about being able to carry her own bags, barking erupted from inside the house pulling her attention to the front door. As they reached the stairs the front door opened and a woman not much older than Holly stood in the frame with her arms crossed. Even with just a glance of this woman in the dark Gail could tell she was just as gorgeous as Holly and Gail started to wonder if all the women in the Stewart family were secretly Amazonion godesses who moved to Canada.

"You're late, Hols," said this woman who Gail assumed was Holly's sister. She seemed really serious and Gail was reminded of Elaine and her chest tightened but then the woman smiled and everything was okay again. She pushed the screen door open and held out her arms. Holly put Gail's stuff down before accepting the hug. "Long time no see, nerd."

Part of Gail thought it was cute but for the most part she stood to the side awkwardly. Physical affection wasn't normal in the Peck family so Gail never really knew how to react to it. When Holly finally pulled away she stepped back and motioned to Gail.

"April, this is Gail. Gail this is my sister, April," said Holly as she picked Gail's bags backup and pushed passed April into the house. "I'm going to drop her stuff off in the guest room. Can you introduce her to everyone?"

"Of course," said April. She smiled at Gail and motioned for her to step inside.

Gail followed Holly and April inside and watched Holly head up the stairs nearby but before she'd gone too far up them she turned and looked at April.

"Except mom," said Holly pointedly.

April nodded then turned to Gail as Holly continued up the stairs.

"I take it you're not a hugger," said April. Gail shook her head and April smiled the same crooked smile as Holly. "Good luck with that. Come on, Mark's in the living room holding back the hell hounds."

Gail quietly followed April into one of the adjoining rooms and spotted a man wrestling to keep hold of the collars on a German Shepherd and a Foxhound. When he spotted April and Gail he released them and they happily bounded over to the two of them and started sniffing and pawing at Gail.

"These two are Lady and Ripley and this is Mark. Mark this is Holly's friend Gail," said April.

"I take it you're the brother," asked Gail. She knew he was but she didn't know what else to say.

"Yup, that's me," said Mark as he moved to one of the sofas since he wasn't holding the dogs back anymore. "It's nice to finally meet you."

Mark looked like he was about to ask Gail something when Holly bounded into the room and stopped next to Gail. Both dogs immediately latched onto Holly for attention and tried to stand up tall enough to get to her face. Neither of them succeeded but it was incredibly cute to watch. Then Holly looked up at Gail and her brows furrowed.

"Here." moved towards Gail and pulled her hat off along with her scarf. "Let's put this stuff away."

Gail's heart picked up pace like it always did when Holly got really close to her. So, she quickly took of her jackets and handed them over before Holly decided to help her with that too. When she turned back toward Holly's siblings she realized they were both watching the two of them. And the smile on April's face made Gail's cheeks feel like they were on fire.

When Holly came back into the room from putting Gail's stuff in the hallway closet she must not have noticed anything out of the ordinary. But she did notice her brother on the sofa.

"Hey, Markimus," said Holly.

"Hey, Hollipotimus," replied Mark. "How was the drive? There was construction on my way in so it took forever. I only just got here a little before you two."

Gail's eyebrows shot up as she turned and looked at Holly with a smirk. Holly refused to turn and look at her but Gail was positive she knew Gail was looking at her and why. That alone was enough teasing material for a year. Gail couldn't shake how uncomfortable she was but the thought of being able to gather hilarious blackmail on Holly was something she hadn't considered before. And it was a fantastic realization.

"It was fine," said Holly with a shrug. "A lot of salt trucks out but that was about it. Where's mom and dad?"

"Dad's in the kitchen finishing dinner. Mom was in the study last time I saw her," said April as she sat down next to Mark and pulled out her phone. Then, as if she remembered something, she looked up and pointed at Mark and Holly. "By the way I'm sorely disappointed in both of you for being late."

"Awww, did you have to set the table?" asked Holly with a smirk.

"Yes, and I hated every second of it," said April. "I'm the oldest, I should get to just sit around and enjoy the festive ambiance of the first dinner of the holidays. Not slaving over proper fork placement."

"That's okay," said Holly as she grabbed Gail's hand and started leading her out of the room toward the back of the house. "I'll probably have to redo it all because you haven't done it in so long."

"Is setting the table really that serious?" asked Gail out of earshot of April and Mark. She had so many questions about how the Stewarts celebrated the holidays so she could be prepared but she also didn't feel like asking idiotic questions in front of anyone other than Holly.

Holly just laughed.

"No," she said. "When we were younger she got mad she had to set the table so she put forks on everyone's seats because that's the sort of revenge a ten year old comes up with. She hasn't been allowed to set the table since."

"I'm guessing someone got a fork in the ass?"

"Yes," said a man's voice as they entered the kitchen. "And I haven't been able to sit right since."

"Dad!" yelled Holly with excitement as she hurried around the island in the middle of the room and into the arms of her father.

Gail couldn't help but smile at how happy Holly was to see her father and she wondered how her own father would react if that was how she greeted him. He'd probably think Gail was on some really serious drugs. Mr. Stewart looked like a genuinely nice man though and he looked at Holly like she was the world to him. Gail's heart ached but she couldn't tell if it was for Holly or because she was a little jealous of her family.

"Dad, this is Gail," said Holly as they broke apart.

"So, this is the infamous Gail," said Holly's dad as he walked over to her and wiped his hand on his apron before holding it out to her. She graciously took it, thankful it wasn't a hug. "Benjamin Stewart. You can call me Ben. Holly's told me so much about you."

"All good I hope, sir," said Gail. She really hoped.

"The majority of it," said Ben with a smile as he glanced over at his daughter who Gail realized looked a little uncomfortably suddenly. Gail met Holly's gaze and tilted her head.

"I might have mentioned you once or twice before we were friends," said Holly sheepishly.

Remembering what Holly thought of her before they were friends, Gail grimaced and wondered exactly what she told them.

"It's quite alright, Gail," said Ben as he clapped one of his hands on her shoulder. "We've all had our own ups and downs."

The sincerity in Ben's voice and the way he smiled at her so warmly made the ache in Gail's chest tighten like a knot. It wasn't jealousy. It was the realization that better parents were out there and that she'd just been stuck with terrible ones. It was loneliness. And she knew she was half a second from her fight or flight reflexes kicking in and sending her running. Then she looked over at Holly who just smiled at her and it's like the weight was lifted. Not all the way but enough to breathe.

"Now, ladies, let an old man finish this dinner so we can all dig in sooner rather than later," said Ben. "Gail, Holly told me you're allergic to tomatoes. That's it, right?"

Gail nodded and so Ben smiled in response and headed back over to the stove while Holly moved back around the island towards Gail.

"Is mom in the study?" asked Holly without looking away from Gail and she wondered if Holly could see the panic that she was feeling moments before.

"She is, but she's on a call, kiddo. Probably won't be able to talk to her until dinner."

"Okay," said Holly. Then she lowered her voice a little to just address Gail. "Come on."

Gail let Holly grab hold of the sleeve of the sweater she still had on and direct her out of the kitchen and out the backdoor onto an enclosed porch. Lady and Ripley happily followed them out and darted for the dog door on the screen door to the backyard. There was a space heater in the middle of the porch surrounded by chairs and Christmas lights had been hung up along the rafters along with a few other decorations. Gail loved how alive the Stewart's house felt. Her own home felt so sterile and cold.

"You okay? You seem a little overwhelmed," said Holly.

Gail smirked and leaned against the wall next to the door.

"It's just different," said Gail. "Very different."

"Bad different?"

Gail shook her head and then looked at Holly who was leaning on the back of one of the chairs. Holly was so smart and funny and a million other things that Gail wasn't. They lived such different lives and had such different families but there they were, brought together by Gail's bad choices and Holly's caring nature. Gail didn't know what she did to be lucky enough to have Holly stumble into her life wearing a Goonies shirt and short shorts but she was forever thankful. Which was something she didn't think she'd ever told her friend.

"Thanks," said Gail.

Holly smiled and tilted her head, letting her long hair fall to one side as her glasses slide slightly down her nose.

"For what?"

"Everything."

"Well, I mean I couldn't just let you sit at home alone," said Holly with a shrug. "That's no way to spend the holidays. Besides, I would have missed hanging out with you."

"Not just for this," said Gail. "I mean, everything."

Holly looked down nervously as her smile widened.

"You don't have to thank me, Gail," said Holly. "What are friends for?"

But they weren't always friends. Gail knew that. If it weren't for Holly helping her that night in the bathroom they might never have been more than strangers. Holly had taken a chance on her.

It was now or never for Gail to take a chance.

While Holly was looking down at her phone, Gail pushed herself off the wall and closed the gap between them. She lightly grazed Holly's chin with her finger and lifted her face until she could comfortably lean in and kiss her. It barely lasted a few seconds but when they broke apart both girls sighed like they were letting out breathes they'd both been holding. Gail backed up and licked her lips while watching Holly carefully. Just as Holly opened her eyes, Ripley and Lady came rushing onto the porch and jumping on Holly like they hadn't just seen her. She looked down at them for a second before looking back up at Gail who smiled slightly and pointed up. Holly looked up at the mistletoe hanging above her head and blinked.

"Don't mind me," said Gail as she reached behind her for the door knob.

From Holly's reaction she was fairly certain that she wasn't as alone in her growing feelings as she had originally thought. But even so, she was Gail Peck and she was going to tread very carefully. There was no sense in getting herself hurt in a place she couldn't easily get away from.

"Wait," said Holly, shaking her head. "Where are you going?"

"To get something to drink," said Gail. "I'm thirsty."

Holly smiled her lopsided smile as Gail bit her bottom lip and walked backwards into the house. Ben greeted her and pointed her in the direction of the sodas when she asked about drinks. She grabbed a can and headed back into the living room where Mark and April were busy playfully arguing over who was the favorite child. As she lifted the can to her lips she couldn't help but lick them and think about that kiss moments ago.

When Holly entered the room with a drink of her own and two happy dogs following her she sat on the sofa next to Gail. They glanced at each other for a moment and smiled. Gail didn't know what would happen next and, while she had an idea, she didn't know for sure how Holly felt. All she knew in that moment was that she still hadn't met Holly's mother yet and that Holly's lips tasted like mango chapstick. Both thoughts made her nervous and she hoped her heart rate slowed to a reasonable speed before dinner.