Someone left me review asking about a writing Christmas story. I started this a while ago and debated on continuing it, but instead thought why not.
Enjoy.
Looking at the yellow flashing light appearing on the dashboard of my car, I'm reminded of how lucky it is I stopped off for a full-tank of gas when I last had an opportunity. I don't worry - there's still enough for the 2 or so minute remainder of my journey, but the thought of having to find somewhere to fill it up isn't an enjoyable thought.
Travelling for Christmas isn't as exciting as it seems. The weather outside is borderline dangerous, the traffic on the roads added another hour and a half to my journey, and the never-ending repeat of the same Christmas songs on the radio is enough to drive me crazy.
I can't quite call it home - because the home I'm staying the next 7 nights is not the one I grew up in, and it for sure is not going to be filled with any of my family members.
I've never spent Christmas with anyone other than my family. The suggestion came about when my best friend of well over 15 years, Polly, suggested 'friendmas'. While I rolled my eyes at the initial proposal, the idea of spending the holidays with those you love but don't grow as quick to anger with was certainly more appealing than spending it with my parents. Plus, things haven't exactly been easy for Polly - not since her trivial divorce from her now ex-husband, Pete.
While the boot of my car is filled with bottles of alcohol and bags of food that we're all looking forward to dipping into, the sound of the GPS telling me I've arrived at my destination puts out all thoughts of excitement for the holiday to amazement at the sight of the home Polly has rented out for us.
I'm unsure if I'm the first to arrive, but as I look further to the driveway, I see one another car that must belong to one other person from our group of 5.
The front of the home is covered with a redbrick pattern, giving off the feel of it being a contemporary home rather than a Christmas one. It's not something I'm complaining about; I'd take anything over parking on the drive of my childhood home.
"Piper!" I hear a recognisable feminine voice as soon as I park up and open my car door.
While it isn't the person I thought it would be, I'm greeted by the girl who lived in the apartment next to the one Polly and I lived in fresh out of college, Esme.
It's been a good few months since we last saw each other, but as she pulls me into a hug, I chuckle as I feel the air being squeezed out of my lungs.
"You the first one here?" I ask once Esme pulls back from our hug.
"You're the last one here!" she laughs, moving around to lift up the boot of the car. "And the one with all the food and wine," she continues, the pitch in her voice rising once she eyes the bags of food and drink.
"I think we may need some more hands to help with there," I say, knowing it took me several trips to fill the car with all necessary supplies.
"I'll go get the others," she says, rushing back inside despite wearing slippers on her feet, and I smile at the thought of what this next week is going to hold.
Although there's only 5 of us, it's nice to spend Christmas with your friends. While Polly is my closest - and longest - friend out of the group, the dynamic with the others is an enjoyable one.
We met Naomi during an accounting internship my Dad organised for myself and Polly during our first year of college. Unlike the rest of us, she's married with a husband - and by the looks of how much of the near-empty vodka bottle she'd already consumed when I first arrived, she arguably needs this time away more than the rest of us.
Sam, meanwhile, is a family friend of Polly's that I've known for nearly as long. During our early years of knowing each other, I think she saw me as a threat, but we're long past any spells of tension.
The only negative to arriving last is that I didn't get a pick of the rooms. It's not the end of the world, but while Polly's room is fitted with a jacuzzi-like bath and a king size bed, it makes my shower and regular double look mediocre. The room is a decent enough size, and from the main window by the bed, there's a view of the large back garden that has a cabin towards the bottom and what looks like an outdoor spa area on the patio.
While I'm ordered to settle in and unpack, the other four insist on making dinner considering I did the bulk of the shopping. I give them an hour to make progress before heading downstairs to see if things are anywhere near ready. It's entertaining to watch given the knowledge they had all started drinking before I arrived, but a minor part of me wishes we'd agreed to go out somewhere instead to save this slow attempt at making a meal.
By the time the food makes it to the table, it's nearing 9pm and I can feel myself growing tired. The other four are in their quite tipsy, very giggly stage of drunkenness, and while I wish that was me in that moment, the thought of consuming alcohol isn't something I want to prioritise at this moment in time. In an ideal world, the others suddenly grow tired and decide to go to bed within the next few hours, but somehow I can't see that happening anytime soon.
"Piper, you drive," I hear my name bringing me out of my thoughts.
Naomi is waving a glass of wine in the air while she explains her point. She isn't making a tonne of coherent sense, but the others provide some context for me to understand what they had been talking about.
"The store's like 20 minutes away," Polly explains, and in this moment I'm left wondering why she picked a location so far from any shop of convenience.
While I'm used to the busyness of Manhattan, coming to this more countryside-like part of Connecticut reminds me of why I left in the first place.
The four rack off a list of items that they apparently need from ice cream to a particular chocolate bar, and while I'm not particularly wanting to go back outside, I consider that it's maybe the boost I need to be able to join in a little more for the next few hours.
"Alright. Just don't all fall asleep. I'll be pissed if I travel for nothing," I stand from my chair, somewhat internally cursing myself for not having touched a drop of alcohol since I arrived.
I decide to keep on my current outfit - skinny black jeans and a white long-sleeved blouse, before slipping on the grey trench coat I hung up closest to the front door and slide on my Chelsea boots. As much as I like what I'm wearing, I hate the fact that it makes me seem like a stuck-up rich girl.
Just before I go to close over the front door, I'm reminded that I won't have enough gas to make it to the store and back. Fuck.
"Pol," I turn back inside and go back into the living area where Sam is now pouring everyone a new glass of wine.
"My car doesn't have enough gas," I state despite knowing neither of the women are in fit states to give off greatly logical answers.
"Take mine," she replies, turning her head backwards so she doesn't have to turn her body to face me. "The keys are…" she pauses in thought.
"Are…" I prompt, knowing it's unlikely this will lead to anything.
"Why don't you just ask Alex, anyway?" Polly says nonchalantly, turning her head back to the front to grab her glass of wine.
"Alex?" I ask, unsure if it's Polly again drunkenly saying things or if she's not giving enough context.
"The landlord," she explains through a sip of her drink. "Number's on the fridge. Said to call if we needed anything."
"Alright, okay," I nod, not entirely optimistic that the house's landlord will be able to help.
It's an option I'm willing to take, however - anything seems better than the others in the living room.
The number is pinned onto the fridge with a magnet that advertises a restaurant which must be one situated nearby. The handwriting seems somewhat rushed, but it's clear enough to establish an Alex followed by a mobile number.
On my journey back to the car, I drop Alex a quick message, asking if there's a nearby gas station anywhere apart from the ones that seem out of radius on the map of the area. Within moments, my phone chimes. This Alex is a prompt replier.
Hey Piper, just give me a few moments and I'll be there to help. Alex.
It's more progress than I would have expected from this stranger, and I make a mental note to ask Polly if this Alex person said anything else to her before I arrived.
It's cold enough outside that my breath creates a smoke-like vapour in the air. I'm luckily not left waiting for long as I see a figure walking along the pavement and towards the hedged front-garden.
"Piper, right?" a deep, yet still feminine voice says as they turn into the path to the house.
The streetlights provide some light on the woman's face, and from the way she's straightening her right shoulder, it's clear she's holding something in her hand.
"I'm Piper, yes," I respond, having to stop myself from rolling my eyes at how stupid that just sounded. "Alex, right?" I repeat.
"Yeah," the other woman voices, stopping just in front of where I'm standing by my car. "Nice to meet you," she extends her right hand after placing down the item she had in her hand.
"You too," I smile, appreciating how firm her handshake is. I notice how well-trimmed her nails are but look away and up into her green eyes that are protected by glasses as she proceeds to talk.
"I met the others earlier, but I should have really waited until everyone arrived," she pulls her hand back, instead placing it on her hip.
"Oh, don't worry about it," I throw my hand into the air as though brushing off her brief amount of concern. "I was late getting here anyway. Is this your house?" I ask, not wanting to come across as rude.
"It is," she nods. "Well, I don't live here myself, but I rent it out throughout the year."
"It's a lovely place," I turn to the house as though to emphasise my point, when in reality it's to give myself a breather from her relentless eye contact.
"Thank you. I mean, I would love to live here, but there's no real point considering it has 6 bedrooms and there's only one of me," she voices, leaning down to pick up the item on the floor that I now note is a jerry can.
My immediate thought is to question about that 6th bedroom and why I haven't seen it, but I hold back - Alex clearly isn't here to talk to me in the freezing cold, especially when she's only wearing a white t-shirt on her torso.
"This should do the trick," she lifts the can higher up to highlight her point, but my vision fixes up to her flexed bicep. She's strong - very strong, but I don't allow myself to dwell on that thought when she soon lowers her arm back down and fixes me a smirk that I'm not quite sure of.
"Thank you so much," I respond, following her as she moves around to the side of the car holding the petrol cap.
"Don't mention it," she says while she stands back and lets me twist open the cap for her to pour in the liquid. "Although I didn't think you ladies would be in need of help this early into the week," she again smirks, her eyebrows ticking upwards.
I'm thankful for the fact that it's mostly dark outside as I feel my cheeks flush a light shade of pink. If Alex does notice, she'll probably think it's from the cold.
"I wasn't expecting Polly to pick a place so far out from anything."
"Another one of the reasons why I don't live here," Alex responds, her voice straining slightly as she adjusts the can in her arms.
Although it's only been a few minutes, I'm intrigued by Alex. Where does she live if she doesn't live here? Surely it must be nearby if she arrived so quickly on foot.
"You now have liftoff," Alex voices as she lowers the now empty can and smiles - something I infectiously return.
She twists her neck to the side slightly, causing her long, dark hair to change positions from where it was resting over her shoulder, while using her free hand to push up her glasses.
"I really appreciate you helping me out, Alex," I again thank the other woman, not wanting her to think we're going to be asking for her help all the time.
"It was my pleasure. And really, it's nothing. You aren't to know where things are around this place if you've never been," she takes a step back. "Do let me know if there's anything else you need, Piper."
"I will, thank you, Alex."
"Don't mention it," the brunette concludes, delivering a wink before turning and walking back down the path where she turns left.
I watch as she leaves the garden, hoping to catch where she's heading next, before her head turns. I know I've been caught following her moves so don't look away. In all fairness, I don't want to.
One last time, she lifts her arm, as though waving with the empty jerry can and walks into the garden of the house next door.
By the time I find myself seated in my car, my interaction with Alex plays on my mind. I don't know what it was about her exactly, but she's already caught my interest.