Love at first sight
Mai eventually walked inside her house to find her mom arranging
the details of her flight on the phone.Mai sighed and went up to her room.She
dropped on her bed while practically floating on air.She didn't have to
spend this christmas alone!And with him,of all the people she might have
ended up spending christmas she got to spend it with him!She couldn't describe
her feeling,exept for the fact she could have possibly been the happiest
person in the world!She was thinking about,presents,she couldn't show up
empty handed!She desided she'd go shopping tomorrow.But what could she
get for them?She didn't no Joey's parents at all,and she barely knew Serenity....to
think of it,she didn't even know what to get him!
"What do you get for somone you love?"she said aloud,the one question
she somehow knew wouldn't be answered.Her heart fell heavy again,whenever
something looked good for her someway it would get bad soon after.Then
another thought came up,maybe Joey just invited her out of pity,maybe he
didn't like her at all!She started to tear again.This time many tears were
flowing down her cheeks,she didn't feel like whiping them away,maybe crying
would help sooth her conflicted emotions.
Joey was almost skipping home,that felt REALLY good!He hurried
home,this year was going to be perfect!His mom and sister were coming,and
Mai would be there too!He thought he had died and gone to heaven!He reached
home and once inside he sat down on the couch and started working on the
lights again.There was something bothering him,he remembered an emotional
talk with his father a while back....
FLASH BACK
Lately Joet's dad had been dealing with some of the leftover feelings
in the divorce,it was 9 years ago but he neer really let go.But this time
he wasn't drunk so there was no physical danger for Joey,but there was
loads of emotional.Joey didn't want to see his dad this way so he decided
to talk to him instead.Joey asked about his father's relationship with
his mother.His dad told him about how they met,the marrige and the divorse.The
last thing he toled Joey was,
"If it's to good to be true,it probly is."After that his father got
up and left.This,left Joey a bit more understanding of what to think,and
watch out for.
END FLASH BACK
Joey was sadened at this,what if this whole spending christmas
with her was to good to be true?But she exepted the invitation,maybe his
father was wrong......maybe he'd win her over?
Mai was getting drowsy and her crying had stopped.She'd just try to deny this feeling and go through with this happy she'd be with him.Evevtually Mai fell asleep it hopefully it would be better in the morning.
Joey managed to get the lights up and on the tree.He went into the kitchen
and his dad was actually baking gingerbread cookies for christnas day!Joey
thoght he'd walked into a different dimension or something!But with his
father in a calm mood it was the perfect time to ask!
"Uh....dad I was wondering if a friend of mine could join us for christmas?"
"What kind of a friend?"his dad asked with a sly smile on his face.
"A friend."Joey said starting to sweat.
"A girl or a guy?"
"A girl."Joey said in a sorta high voice turning bright red!
"Oh,so will she be staying 'overnight'?"He asked starting to lagh a
little.
"Yes.No.Yes.No.I DON"T KNOW?!"Joey said confused and VERY embarrased!
"Well then,will I need to prepare the guest room for three,or will
you two just 'sleep together'?"He said nearly bursting out in laughter.Joey
just left in a hurry.He was in his room thinking,in just 4 days it would
be christmas.
"That's it.On christmas I'm gonna tell her.She desreves to know."He
whispered to himself with a focused confident voice.It was getting late
so he decided to call it a night.
The next morning Mai woke up,streched and got dressed in jeans,a
red sweater and tied her hair back into a pony tail.She went out into the
kitchen to find her mother had fallen asleep at the table.Mai covered her
with a blanket and started on breakfast.Her mother woke at the smell of
cooking eggs.
"Oh,honey you didn't have to cook."she said rubbing her eyes.
"Well you were asleep and you have to leave tomorrow so you shouldn't
have to cook."Mai said not so glum.
"Now your pretty cheery for christmas time,you know I wouldn't leave
but I have to for my job.I really don't like leaving you alone without
anyone not even-"
"Not even dad...."
"Yeah."
"Mom I'm not a kid,I know you and dad are finished,but that doesn't
mean he can't come here anymore."
"Listen,I never told him to go off ,leave and never come back!"
"Well you might as well have!You two never got along,but you guys never
did anything about it!"Mai screemed tearing up.
"We did fight but I never wanted him to just go and exclute us!"
"But you could never do anything to help!"Mai walked around her mom,grabed
her jacket and walked out the door.Her mom sat down in her chair and thought
for a while,just empty thoughts.
Joey got up and got dresed in the usual.He grabed one of the
ginger bread men his dad baked and headed out the door,he needed to go
christmas shopping.On his way down the street he saw Mai stomping her way
down the road.She didn't notice him,but he saw she was mad and spoke up,
"Mai,what's wrong?"She was startled to hear his voice.But it calmed
her,she turned around and faced him.She didn't reply.He took her hand and
lead her to a bench were it was quiet.She just sat there.
"Mai,really tell me what's wrong?"
"My mom and dad.I haven't seen my dad since I was 14 and my mom seems
like she wants it tht way."
"Mai,I'm sorry,I know how it feels to have divorced parents."
"They aren't divorced,my dad just up and left one day,didn't say goodbye,where
he was going or if he'd ever come back.My mom didn't know where he was
going so she couldn't even send divorce papers to sign."
"Oh,I didn't know."
"For a while I didn't think I did either."
"Well if he just left you guys without warning then it must have been
hard."
"Not really,I just repressed my feelings so it was like nothing changed.But
my dad leaving like that was why at the duilest kingdom I didn't seem to
fond of any guys,because my own father had left my mother and I,what was
going to be any different with friends?"
"That explaines quite a bit.But not everybody is like that,Mai.Maybe
your father didn't care that much,but you'll find somone who cares about
you more than anything else."Mai looked at Joey and it was as if she fell
in love with him all over again.It was things like this he said that could
make everything all better.She put her hand on his cheek and smiled.
"Thank you,Joey."She leaned towards him and kissed him lightly on the
lips,but quite long.Joey was VERY surprised at what she was doing!But he
loved it!He loved her,and he knew this was a kiss of love for him,hopefully
for her too.
Mai pulled away and got up,before she left she said,
"Thanks Joey,you really helped."she smiled and left walking back home.When
she was out of ear shot Joey lightly whispered,
"I love you Mai Valentine."
