Chapter Fourty-three:
"You want to have this event a tie?" John clarifies.
"Yes." She agrees. "We both deserve this win."
"Judges, what do you think, your word is final." He leaves it up to his parents.
"We have to discuss this, give us a few minutes." Mr. Cena request.
As John's parents deliberate, AJ and Mr. Orton head back to their teams.
"Hunny, why did you suggest that?" Mrs. Lee curious with this being what she wanted.
"Mom, I am not mad anymore this is all silly."
"They deserve this don't tell me you have let them go." They are all quite shock by AJ's current attitude.
"No, of course not, however I have a plan. If I know John, I might have figured out the tie event." She informs them.
"What is it?"
"Come huddle around."
"I am surprise AJ requested this." Mr. Bliss surprise hearing about AJ from Jack this is unlike her.
"It is, but I do feel like this is just a bigger plan for her." Randy concern about this being a trap.
"What do you mean?"
"Something doesn't feel right." Randy ponders. "AJ knows something we don't."
"You don't her better than us, including me." Mr. Lee acknowledge.
"It is something about the final event or the tied event; she knows the outcome. Damn this is frustrating." He can't quite figure his best friend out.
"What do we do?"
"Just pay attention to detail and the women's body language, that is all of got right now." Randy sighs.
"Will everyone please give us your full attention?" John announce. "So my parents have decided on AJ's request."
"We agree with AJ's requests that it will be a tie, however we suggest having the tie game included in the final event. This still involves only the two participant at first, however the other members get involve afterwards. This event only the participant can win for their team." Mrs. Cena sets her own request.
"Sounds good to me." AJ agrees with the rest of them agreeing as well.
"If the women agree, we agree." Mr. Lee responds not to be left behind.
"Okay, everyone grabs your coats the final event is outside." John informs them.
"Mrs. Orton and Randy, you will be participating, which means you alone will win for your team. First, you two will hang on to a rope like a tug-of-war. You must win to have a member of your team build a part of the gingerbread house and man. When that member is finished they join you two. To clarify, each win signals a member to build a part. So there could be one or more of your teammates building at one time. After all your teammates are finished, you the participant must finish and assemble the house. When you are completed, you join your team for a final win, which secures your victory." John lays down the rules. "Does everyone understand?"
They all nod.
"We also added another twist to this." Mr. Cena grins which gives everyone including John a quizzical look. "We are both competing as well. I will be on the men side while my wife on the other. John will be the only judge." Mr. Cena adds.
"Me?" John wonders.
"Besides us you are the most impartial." Mrs. Cena compliments.
"Okay, Mrs. Orton, Randy take your stance." He shakes off his nerves to start.
They both limber up to prepare for this endurance tug of war.
"I hope you don't take it easy on me, baby boy. You may be a football player, but I have strength too." Mrs. Orton divulges.
"I know mom you are the strongest person I know." He smiles.
"Participants, are you ready?" They both nod. "Pink is the women, blue is the men. Ready set tug a war."
Randy takes a commanding lead having won quite quickly. Jack heads to build the roof of the house. The tug of war continues with Randy winning again. Accompanying Jack is Mr. Lee constructing the front side.
"Come on, Mrs. Orton you can do this." Just as Jack joins Randy, Mrs. Orton wins one. AJ constructs the gingerbread man. Now, it is Randy and Jack versus Mrs. Orton. The win gives her confidence to have both Randy and Jack difficulty to pull her. Eventually, they do send Mr. Orton next with Mr. Lee constructing one of the sides.
"Come on Mrs. Orton lets go." AJ joins Mrs. Orton.
"When is your plan executed?" She inquires.
"Soon, now repeat 1, 2, 3, and then pull."
"1, 2, 3, pull." They both pull gaining some ground. They both repeat this to inquire a win, which have Stacey construct the front side. This dishevels the men a bit with Mr. Lee not on time to save his team. AJ and Mrs. Orton take advantage which is awarded with Mrs. Lee building the roof. The men are determined to win gets Mr. Bliss to create the other side. Stacey joins to give the women an upper hand, however it is not enough, Mr. Cena starts the gingerbread man.
"Ready ladies." AJ asks as they all nod.
They all release the rope which lets the men fall to the amusement of John. Afterwards, they quickly grab the rope to have Mrs. Bliss begin one of the sides. All the men scramble to grab the rope to have them lose with the result of Mrs. Cena proceed to build another side. Mr. Cena finishes to join his team giving them another win so Randy can assembly the house.
This doesn't faze the women being two behind. After a hard fought battle, they have Mrs. Cena constructing the back.
"Again ladies, ready." AJ suggests again. The men aware of this let go to prevent them from another snow bath, although that wasn't the women's intention this time; they hang on to the rope to have Mrs. Orton assembly the house to of course the amusement of John again. Once again the men are distress by this, they can't seem to figure out their tactics. In a smart move, both teams rest until Mrs. Orton or Randy finishes. Randy finishes first so they continue. As they continue, a snowball hits Randy in the face.
"Hey." He wipes it off.
"Sorry." Stacey apologizes.
A couple seconds later, a snowball hits Jack in the chest. "AJ."
"Sorry." AJ apologizes.
Seeing the trend, the men, using one hand, construct snowballs. In this time Mrs. Orton is done.
"1, 2, 3." AJ calls having the women stand up and pull. With the men holding the rope, with only one hand, they lose their grip giving the women the victory.
As the women celebrate, the men grovel in disappointment; they got outsmarted,
"John, they distracted us." Randy complains.
"There are no rules preventing it. The women won by using their minds a long with their muscles." John shrugs giving a smirk.
"Whatever." Randy is in disappointment in himself.
After the celebration, the women join their men for a peck on their cheek.
"Merry Christmas." They all utter.
The men have big smiles on their faces as they repeat. 'Merry Christmas.' as well as 'I love you.'
"There is one more saying you need to utter to your women; I am sorry." John reminds the men.
"I am sorry." The men utter in unison.
The women appreciate as they give their men a kiss on the lips. As the kisses continues, John feels awkward not having Sylva with him. He heads to the living room to call her; no answer. He calls a second time no answer. He just sighs until he gets a text from Sarah.
'Merry Christmas, John. Hope you having a great, fun one with your friends. Tell them Merry Christmas as well. Talk to you later.'
This gives John a smile. When he is down, beside AJ and Randy, Sarah always perks him up.
'Merry Christmas to you too.'
As promise, the men clean up the house as the women observe. Around 1 am, they all leave.
"This is one of the best Christmas ever." Mrs. Orton snuggles into her husband.
"It is the best because you won." Mr. Orton divulges.
"Yah, but we also welcomed new friends too." She acknowledges the Bliss' presence.
"That is always nice."
"Mom. Dad. Here is my Christmas present for you." Randy hands it to them.
"Oh, Randy you didn't have to give us anything." They are touch by the sediment.
"You will like this one."
They open it to have a framed letter. "What is this?"
"Read it."
'Dear Randy, we have seen how you lead a team to victory. Your sportsmanship and leadership as well as your skills impressed us. I know you are still in high school, however we recommend you to come to Notre dame on scholarship after you graduate. Now, if your grades slip or you are uninterested. This will be voided, although if you maintain your grades and of course skill we will be ecstatic to have you join us. Hope to see you when you graduate.
Sincerely, Dylan Everston, head of Academic.'
Mrs. Orton looks up at her son in proud tears of happiness. She hands the letter to her husband to give her son a proud hug.
"Congratulations, son." His father pats him on the shoulder blades.
"Thanks dad."
"This is the best Christmas ever." Mrs. Orton admits.
Jack knocks on AJ's front door. "Hi Mrs. Lee, I know it is really late, but can I speak to AJ." Jack requests.
"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Mrs. Lee hopes rubbing her eyes.
"It can sorry to both you."
"Jack, she loves you and we know how much you won't lose her." She assures him having a hutch that is why he is here.
"Thanks Mrs. Lee."
"You are welcome." Mrs. Lee closes the door.
Jack looks up at AJ who witness everything. She blows a kiss to Jack to have him safe it for later.
Everyone is at the Lee's household for New Year's.
"A new year coming." Jack acknowledge just a few hours from midnight.
"I can't believe how the year is almost done. I thought the latter half would be awful." AJ recalls the year.
"Why would you say that?"
"During the last month of summer, before school, I felt scared, worried."
"Why?" Jack inquires again.
"Every year besides this school year John, Randy, and I were always together. I feared that High School will separated us, we would have a fall out."
"I am assuming they both assure you that it won't."
"Your assumption is right. We came up with plans to keep my anxiety in check."
"So what happen to not have it awful?" Jack questions with a smile.
"I met two wonderful people who make it great." She grins.
"And who are those two people?"
"Stacey and your parents." She answers with a titter.
"Oh." Jack speaks disappointed.
"Of course it is you two. You are the best person to come into my life this year. I don't know if I would have made it this year without you." She snuggles into him.
"You would have Randy and John with you."
"Yes, however, they would be busy with Stacey and Mrs. Silver. Wait, are you saying that-"
"No, if Randy still date Stacey I would have still met you. What I am contemplating is will you still be single?" He fully explains.
"Of course not, I am not very desirable." She pouts recalling her Junior High.
"Who says?" Jack speaks in shock.
"People."
"Well they are wrong you are very desirable." He pecks her neck.
"They leave once they don't witness any secret." She moans.
"They didn't look hard enough." He continues to kiss her neck. "If they did, they would find a very sweet, very desirable woman."
"I guess it is faith that they didn't look hard enough. If they did, I would have lost my chance to be with you." She states.
"That would be a shame." He kisses her on the mouth.
"Hmph." AJ and Jack stop to look at their interruption. "Time to come inside." Randy chuckles.
Randy told everyone about his opportunity earlier that evening. Mrs. Orton announce that they have exciting news. Everyone assume they would have another baby. When Randy announce his pending scholarship, everyone was quiet. This frightened him as AJ leaves the room. A few moments later, Randy joins AJ to comfort her. He assures her that this is predetermine nothing is finalized. AJ assures him that she will be supportive like he is now. When they head back, everyone jumps out to congratulate him. Randy is speechless to this show if congratulation. He looks at AJ who cries happy tears so proud of her best friend to get this scholarship. He hugs her tight as they toast to his scholarship.
"10." They all begin to countdown. "9… 8… 7…" They join their significant others. "6… 5… 4…" They prepare to celebrate the New Year. "3… 2… 1 Happy New Year." They shout as everyone kiss their significant other including John. Sylva apologize for not answering on Christmas Day that she promises to be there on New Year's. Moreover, John's parents warn him about dating an older woman; they don't know that she is a teacher at their school.
After the ordeal, they just enjoy each other's company.
"Come with me." Jack whisper in AJ's ear. AJ willingly follows Jack anywhere he leads her.