I was thinking about waiting till Christmas to do this, but then I thought I shouldn't.
Christmas morning.
It's a joyous day where you are literally pulled out from under your blanket and onto the hard floor by your younger cousins who aren't even suppose to be in your room.
They then proceed to jump up and down on your bed while screaming the phrase, " EMMA IT"S CHRISTMAS! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! SANTA CAME!" for the longest time before exiting your room. Fun times, no? Gala, crawling on the floor, came around from the other side of the bed.
" This is why Christmas comes only once ever year."
I got up from the floor and walked down stairs with her. The same cousins that had pulled Gala and me out of bed were now running around the house while others were watching Jingle All the Way in the living room. In the kitchen my mom, her three sisters, my aunts, and my dad's sister with her daughter, Brianna were making breakfast.
" Merry Christmas girls. Glad to see you're finally awake," Aunt Laura greeted us with a cheery face. When my aunts turned back to what they were doing, Brianna glared at me. Gala flipped her off, and in the funniest way possible, she turned to her mother sputtering words about how rude Gala was being. We left in a hurry. My cousins on my dad's side and my mom's side do not get along well at all. Neither do the adults, but that's a different story.
After about thirty minutes of waiting around, breakfast was served. The adults ate at the dinning room table while us kids ate in the living room. Older kids commanded the couch and the younger ones took the floor. Someone had changed the movie to National Lampoon's: Christmas Vacation. It was at the part where the guy, Clark, receives his 'bonus check', but it's not really what he expected. My younger cousins started to crack up as he ranted about his boss. True, it was funny, but I've seen this too many times to 'ROFL'.
" Who's ready to open gifts?" Aunt Marie chimed. Everyone gathered around my family's Christmas tree, and presents were distributed by name. My cousins on my dad's side were clearly spoiled by their parents. Their gifts were elaborate and unnecessary, in my opinion. Of course their gifts to us were equally the same, elaborate and gaudy. I didn't care, though. Free is free, am I right? *Insert winky face emoji*
I received gift cards to my favorite stores, a new camera, an iPod from mom and dad since Frankie broke my old one, a box of blonde hair dye from my Aunt Laura (she prefers my blonde hair over the red), and my favorite gift: a new phone. Luke received a new baseball bat (season is going to start soon), a pair of Beats headphones, and also a new phone.
My younger cousins started to play with their new toys, and surprisingly Brianna started talking to Gala and I. She wanted to try out the hair dye I got as a gift from her mom. I didn't really want to, but everyone was staring at us, so I just agreed. The three of us headed to my parent's bathroom since it was larger than the others. I got towels; Brianna poured the dye into a bowl, while Gala looked for clips.
When I came back, I set the towels on the floor of the bathroom and on the counter. I washed my hair in sink to rinse some of the color out. We separated my hair into sections, and then Brianna applied the dye to my hair while Gala 'danced' to music that played from Pandora.
" It should be easy since a lot of the dye is out," Brianna said during one point. After what seemed like forever, I got to see my blonde hair. The only problem was that my hair wasn't blonde. It was pink. PINK! What the hell? I looked over at Brianna who was trying to stifle her laughter, but ended up cracking up. Side note: Her laugh is retarded.
" The look on your face is hilarious," she giggled. I mean, it didn't look that bad. It wasn't like it was some hot pink color. Just a nice normal light-ish pink color. Brianna must have switched the hair dye while we were out of the room. It didn't matter to me.
" Emma, Gala, Brianna, come down stairs. There are some more gifts that haven't been opened, " Aunt Clara called for us. Brianna sighed, fixed her blouse, and then walked out of the room ahead of us.
" No matter how funny she thinks this is, jokes on her. You look sexy with pink hair, " Gala purred. To be honest, half of me actually wanted to have blonde hair again, but the other half liked this color. I'll just wait for it to fade out. My roots will come out soon.
Since Frankie and Valeria weren't really 'blood related' to my family. My aunts and uncles, even grandmother and grandfather, on both sides of the family were trying to get them to pick who was 'da best'.
Much to my parent's disapproval, Aunt Clara's family went out and bought us a pet cat, after previously talking to Valeria on what her favorite pet is. Lucky for mom and dad, a cat was Valeria's second choice after pony. Uncle Maverick's family bought us a new dog. Surprise, surprise, our parent's got us a puppy for Christmas. So that puts my family at: 3 dogs, 1 cat, 6 people, and 1 raccoon that keep going through or garbage. (Luke, Frankie, Valeria, and I decided to name him Kimber. No questions please.)
Well, isn't this just a cluster fuck? Our doorbell rang, but that didn't interrupt the adults' arguments for even a second. I was the only one who probably heard it ring. I got up from the floor and answered the door. Rodrick stood on the other side. He eyed me up and down then that stupid ass smirk of his appeared on his face.
" The fuck are you wearing? And what happened to your hair?" Rodrick referred to my Hello Kitty pajamas that I've been wearing all morning.
" It's called clothes and it's none of your business," I replied bitterly.
" You look awful."
" Look, if you only came here to make fun on me then screw you," I tried to close the door, but he stopped me halfway.
" Sorry, ok? I just wanted to give you your Christmas present. That's all."
" Alright, what is it?"
" It's in my van. You're going to have to come with me to get it," he pointed back to his car that was parked along my sidewalk. I sighed deeply, closed the door, and slipped on my shoes and a jacket.
" I'll be back in a bit. Rodrick wants to show me something," I called to my parents. No one, of course, heard me say this. When I came outside, Rodrick was sitting patiently on my porch. He stood up, and we started to walk over to his car. He opened the back doors and motioned for me to go inside. This better be good.
Once inside, he closed the doors behind us. I started to become uncomfortable while sitting on the floor. From a box, he pulled out a small dog. As he held the, what I think was a puppy, in his arm, Rodrick had a smile on his face. I couldn't help but smile, but also at the same time I knew I was going to get my ass kick for this by my parents.
" Oh my God, she is adorable." I scrambled over to where Rodrick was.
" It's a he."
" No, it's a she."
" Fine, is you want a transgender dog then-"
" Did you even check?" there was silence, " That's what I thought." I lay down on my back as I played with her. She was just too adorable to say no.
I couldn't tell what type of dog this could be, unlike the purebred/recognizable ones my parents and uncle got for us. Our parents got us a little French bulldog, while our uncle got us something with a little more protection. His 'friend's' female husky gave birth to a husky/Doberman mix. The dog had the markings of a Doberman, but the eyes and standup ears of a husky. But this dog was just unrecognizable.
It looked like a cocker spaniel mixed with a dachshund or some type of long bodied dog. Except that it's tail was curled like an Akita. It was fairly tall despite it's long body. I doubt it would grow any bigger. Its coat was hard to explain. It was like golden like a retriever, but a bit darker. It also hard white marking that went from its chest and spread to the inside of the legs and stomach.
" What's her name? I asked as she bit at my hand with her sharp teeth.
" Doesn't have one. I wanted you to decide." After dog-with-no-name calmed down, I found myself cuddling close to Rodrick. He had his arm around me while I stroked the dog's coat.
" Thank you," I whispered. He kissed the top of my head, and I started to feel uncomfortable again. I was with Jasper and he was with Paisley. I hate him and he hates me. This was just a…it was a…well; it's a sorry-your-dog-died present.
" I should get going. My parent's are going to kill me when they see her." He reached for my hand.
" Why?" It surprised me that he wanted to know.
" My aunt got my family a cat, my uncle got my family a dog, and my parents got us a puppy. You're the plot twist." I held the dog up. Rodrick chuckled.
" I'm sorry. I just wanted to get you a better present than Jasper. By the way, what did he get you?"
" He went back to England for Christmas. I think he said something about Skyping me…oh shit; I was suppose to Skype him. Thanks for the present, but I have to go." Rodrick held the door open for me. I got out and tried to run to my door, but ended up slipping on the slick sidewalk. If Rodrick weren't behind me, no name dog and I would have fallen down.
" Thanks again," I said.
" Don't mention it." I took a few more steps before turning around and looking back at him. Without thinking, I put no name down and ran up to Rodrick, wrapping my arms around his tall frame. When I didn't feel him hug me back, I backed off. The cold weather brought out the blush in his face.
" Sorry," I said quickly. If Rodrick's blush was somewhat showing on his face then my blush must be lighting up my face. Once again, I turned around and walk up to my door, grabbing the dog on my way there. I shut the door behind me and sank to the floor. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
" Who's that?" I heard Brianna's voice. She and Gala were both standing by the window, looking outside.
" What are you doing?"
" Nothing, just spying on you and your boyfriend," she chimed. My blush came back.
" Sooo, did he give you your 'Christmas present'?" Gala asked. I knew what she was hinting at. I shook my head.
" Yep, I certainly got the D," I joked. I was able to get their attention away from the window.
Brianna screamed at the top of her lungs, " HE GAVE YOU THE D?" In the background, you could hear a glass break on impact with the floor.
" HE GAVE YOU THE WHAT?" My aunt screamed from the kitchen (?) in response to what Brianna had just announced. Yep, Merry Fucking Christmas you guys.
I had to explain to everyone that by 'D', I meant dog. After a long talk and two phone calls to Mrs. Heffley, my parents were able to get the full story on why their son gave a dog to me. My parents finally let me go to my room. I took my dog (they had deemed the dog mine, and therefore I was the most responsible for the dog) up to my room with me.
Logging into Skype, I could see that I had missed 5 calls from Jasper. I felt so bad. I called him two times, and on the third he picked up.
" Merry Christmas from England!" he shouted. I laughed. Him and another person sitting next to him had those ridiculous part hats on. " How are you, Love?"
" I'm great. How's Christmas for you?"
" Extraordinary! I missed my family and friends so much. Oh, Emma, this is Steven, my best friend. He's like a male Amber, almost," they both laughed and so did I. After a while of chatting, Steven left at the request of Jasper.
" What's that in your lap? Is it a stuffed animal?"
" No, it's a dog."
" You got a dog for Christmas? How cool is that?" I giggled, and then explained the whole story to him. He laughed at the part with my family, but stopped when told him about Rodrick.
" So he went out and bought you a dog?"
" No, no he found her on the streets. To be honest, I'm happy he got her. She might have died if he hadn't."
" Yeah, but who gets someone a dog for Christmas?"
" My family and a lot of kids who want puppies for Christmas. It's very common."
" I think it's stupid. Doesn't he know that your family has to pay for that dog now? If any thing, it's inconsiderate." Jasper was showing his jealous side, and I didn't like it.
"Well, it's my present not yours. At least he got me something…" There was that awkward silence of Skype again.
" Hey, I'm sorry. I wish I were there to be with you. Maybe when I come back, we can do something for New Year's. I heard someone was throwing a party." I smiled.
" That would be nice."
" I should be going now. See you in a few days."
" See you," I hung up first. I looked at dog with no name, " I think we should give you a name soon. Also, your brother and sisters need names too."
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