Chuckie

"Merry Christmas, Chuck!"

"Merry Christmas, Dude!"

I met my plastic cup filed with eggnog towards Tommy's and Phil's, having a customary Christmas toast once the clocked hit midnight. I watched as our parents embraced each other, Phil's mom being more aggressive as usual, as my father and step-mother kissed under the mistletoe. I smiled, watching from afar at our families celebrate the joyous event of Christmas. Every year, my father would throw his annual Christmas party and invite everyone over for drinks, good food, and a jolly time filled with Christmas carols, horrendous sweaters, and spiked eggnog antics towards the closing of the night. I took a small sip of mine, nodding in delight. I wasn't much of a drinker but eggnog with rum was pretty delicious.

"What do you guys think of the eggnog?"

Phil was on his fifth cup and was already feelings a bit too 'good'. "Your dad sure knows how to make a decent drink."

Tommy chuckled, taking the half-empty cup away from Phil. "You are done, my man. No more for you."

I scanned the room, watching my sister and Lil exchange their gifts as Suzie cuddled up to her boyfriend, Adam. Apparently, Kimmy got Lil a charm bracelet and Lil bought Kimmy one of those designer purses she had been eyeing at the mall for awhile. Adam had given Suzie her gift an hour ago, a heart shaped necklace with a personalized inscription inside that remained an inside joke between the two. I thought it was sweet.

I took another sip of my eggnog, watching Charlotte and, surprisingly, Drew remain at bay from one another. The entire evening had been nothing but tension between them two and it was best they distanced themselves further away for the sake of the peace. Over dinner, Charlotte called Drew out for having an affair and leaving her and Angelica for another family, but Stu managed to calm her down and bring everything back together. It was a little awkward after that little fiasco with Tommy's family but it eventually morphed back into the holiday spirit.

My father grabbed one of his vintage records from the garage, a Christmas album from none other than Frank Sinatra himself. A favorite song of both me and my father began to waft through our home, everyone beginning to sing along to a classic. I noticed that the one person I had not seen majority of the night was sitting alone near the Christmas tree, staring at the snow that had just begun to fall. Everyone knew the status of me and Angelica's relationship even though they were not certain why we broke up in the first place. When she and her family came late, a small spell of silence blanketed the room except for Suzie who was the first to speak and embrace Angelica and her family. She avoided eye-contact with me and barely said a word the entire night. On a few occasions she tried to get her mother's keys to drive home but she refused to ride in the same car as her father so her chances of escaping where slim to none.

I inhaled a deep breath, setting my eggnog on the countertop before excusing myself from both Tommy and Phil. Phil was too drunk to notice what was going on but Tommy knew and gave me a 'look'. I assured him it was ok. Our parents may not have known what happened, but the gang was well informed and distanced themselves from Angelica as a result. It was not my intention but I could not control their actions more than I could obviously control hers. I had not seen Angelica since the day I asked her for coffee and she ran out when I told her about me transferring schools. She took the news rather hard but I wanted to be man enough to tell her myself rather than have her find out through her cousin. That was almost two weeks ago and I was scheduled to leave in six days for Connecticut.

"Merry Christmas, Angelica." I spoke softly. She looked up at me, as if she were crying before forcing a small smile.

"Merry Christmas, Finster."

"You mind if I sit next to you?"

"Free country."

I chuckled and took a spot next to her. From the angle of everyone else, we were nestled behind the tree; directly in front of all the lights against the curtains of my living room window. No one could see us but we could see them. "You alright? You have not said anything all evening."

"I don't want to be here." She whispered.

I remained quiet for a moment, trying to figure out the right words to say. "Why not?"

She turned to face me, eyes still pink, puffy, and glossed over with hidden tears. She bit the inside of her bottom lip, choking back an obvious sob before sniffling. "You already know why, Charles. It's just awkward being in your house and around you after three months of us not talking."

I let out a low sigh, beginning to fiddle with the sleeves of my wool sweater. "Angelica, you know why we aren't together. I feel I am justified in wanting some time to clear my head and be alone."

"You are." She shot back. "I'm not upset that you did that. It's just hard is all…taking everything in."

"Angelica…" my voice trailed off. My heart wanted to console the woman I loved and reassure her that everything would be ok. But I could not manage to force myself to go against what I felt. I felt betrayed and hurt by Angelica cheating on me. To know that she gave oral sex to over three hundred men over the course of our relationship and slept with a random guy she met at a bar made me cringe in disgust but coil in hatred. Not only did she put her life in danger but mine as well. Angelica and I rarely used protection and upon finding all this out, I immediately went and got tested for everything. I still loved Angelica and would always love her, I just was not sure if we could ever be together again.

"Please, don't say anything. You don't need to pity me."

I grabbed her hand, grasping it tight as I placed a small kiss against her tender flesh. "I love you, Angelica. Don't forget that."

That summoned a wave of tears I was not prepared for, she immediately hiding it by turning away against the window to continue to watch the snow fall. I reached under the tree and grabbed the small box I had nestled behind my gifts for Kimmy, Kira, and my father. I handed it to Angelica and she looked a bit puzzled. I told her I bought it back in March and had planned to give it to her on New Year's Eve but given the change of events, I thought I just give it to her as a gift. Because I bought it months ago, my receipt for return was invalid and even if had not been…I could not allow myself to return her present.

She slowly tore open the papered covered box to reveal a baby blue Tiffany's ring box wrapped in the signature white ribbon. She immediately stopped, tears flooding down her face again as she opened it to reveal a princess cut diamond ring. I had planned to propose to Angelica on New Year's Eve and despite the fact that we were young, I knew…or so I thought…she was the one I wanted to marry in the end. She removed it from its holder, gazing at the glistening gems that sparkled against the light. There was a small, silver chain wrapped inside the band to be made into a necklace now that it would no longer be on her ring finger. She began to sob uncontrollably into her hands.

Charlotte was the first person to hear her daughter over the timbre of Frank, signaling my father to turn down the music. She came to her aid, cradling Angelica in her arms. She asked repeatedly what was wrong, Drew following suit as he came over to us. Tommy, Phil, Lil, Kimmy, and Suzie all grew concerned at the sudden commotion, asking me what was wrong with Angelica. I remained silent, feeling myself, also, come to tears. I hated seeing the woman I loved like this, but my heart could not allow myself to trust her again. To make matters worse, I don't even know what possessed her to hurt me the way she did and as much as I wanted to know, I didn't know how to ask. So much time had passed and with me leaving in a few days and now this, I didn't think it mattered anymore.

"Chuck, what's going on?" My father called out, removing his Santa hat. By now all the adults were gathered in the living room with the rest of us. "Is Angelica hurt?"

I shook my head, finally standing to walk over to my forgotten eggnog to down the rest of it. I felt the need to suddenly get wasted to numb myself of this bitter, empty feeling. Drew was the one that spotted the box, screeching out a slew of profanities before Charlotte let out a loud gasp.

"What is it?" Tommy asked, genuinely worried.

Drew didn't even have to answer. My father knew exactly what had happened and came to embrace me in an overdue hug. I watched through misty eyes as Angelica broke free from her mother grasp, snatching the box from her father's grasp. She wiped away the trails of mascara from her face before closing the lid. She placed the ring on the sofa next to her, saying not one word. Suzie tried to hug her once she saw but Angelica pushed her away. Instead, she marched right up to me and kissed me. That kiss was nothing like what we had ever shared before. It was filled with more passion, lust, and longing than any other kiss we had given each other. As much as my mind told me to pull away, my heart would not dare allow me to and I only desired to deepen it; wrapping my arms around her waist as she held my face between her manicured hands.

I heard a few words spoken, Betty giving a loud wolf whistle against Kira's "Oh my!" Angelica pulled away, giving me a final hug.

"I'm sorry, Finster. I'm so sorry. I know my apology means nothing but know I love you so damn much that my heart has been broken since we broke up." She breathed. "I know I cheated on you and I know I did some things I am not proud of, but know I am starting therapy for my sex and narcotic addictions and even going to AA for help with my alcoholism."

That was new to me. I had no idea Angelica even had addictions. "W-wait, addicitons?"

She nodded, continuing. "I even am starting therapy to help get over my issues with my father and the anger and resentment I have for his family. I just want you to know that I apologize and…I love you…but I can't accept your ring. You should give it to the woman you marry…not some slut like me."

Before I could say anything, Angelica had raced out the front door. Her mother screamed after her, grabbing her coat, purse, and keys as her father stood there looking ashamed and dumbfounded. Everyone started to talk amongst themselves, Stu even going as far as to blame his brother for raising such a loose daughter. Tommy's mom got in between them to stop a possible fist match. Lil and Kimmy came over to comfort me as my father told me we would have a man to man talk in the morning when everything finally died down. I just brushed them all off and found myself slumping up the stairs to my room, unable to feel much of anything. April was still asleep from earlier after dinner, lying in my bed half-naked waiting on me.

I kicked off my slippers underneath the bed and tugged off my pants and polo, removing my glasses to place them atop my dresser. I guess my moving woke her up, she smiling as she rubbed her eyes in the cutest way she possibly knew. Wordlessly she moved towards the edge of the bed, exposing her chest as she came in for a kiss. I returned the favor, placing her against my down comforter as I moved the fabric of her panties aside. Her skilled hands slinked inside my boxers to remove my stiffened length to nestle inside her hot sex. I closed my eyes as I began to move within her, soft, shallow moans ringing in my ear as my headboard creaked gently against the crisp winter winds. All I could do was envision that dark-skinned goddess beneath me was the woman I wanted more than life itself…Angelica Pickles.