It's here! It's really here! The long awaited Christmas Chapter is here! I hope you all enjoy! Merry Christmas!
"It's Christmas!" Is the first thing that pops into my head. I open my eyes excitedly to be welcome by the bleak sight of my hospital room. Reality hits me like a brick as I realize this Christmas is not going to be like all the others. With one last glimmer of hope I look to the side of my bed praying to be greeted by Claire's awful snoring or by my Dad with his video camera. But there was no one. I really don't want to do anything today, just sleep in my room until this horrible holiday is over. It's hard to think this was once my favorite time of year, probably why it hurts so much now. The emptiness of my room is too depressing so I drag myself up out of bed and into the bathroom.
I take a hot shower, Christmas songs wanting to force themselves out of my mouth. I keep it shut though. I haven't sang at all since the accident. I quickly finish and get out. I decide on a maroon skater skirt with black hose and a black crop top. Sure its a little dressy but Claire always loved when I wore it. She had the same outfit just with a black skirt and a maroon top, it was one of the very few times she'd willingly dress like me. I let out a slow breath as I look at myself in the mirror. It's going to be a long day.
I don't wait for anyone to swing by my room to invite me to breakfast, instead I just slide on some black flats and sulk down there myself. The hospital is decorated with tinsel and paper chains. There is even Christmas music playing softly. I would be in Christmas Heaven if I weren't in such a sour mood. I pass rooms where families have gathered, talking happily or tearing open gifts.
I finally just get down to the cafeteria where there are a few groups gathered at large tables, most of them families. A mixture of jealousy and sadness take hold of me as I pour myself some coffee. I sit down at a table close to the window and sip at my drink absently.
"Bee," Claire whispers from her side of the bed. "Get up! Santa's been here." She jumps on top of me and I groan.
"Claire go back to bed, it's like seven." I mumble tossing her off of me.
"Bee, it's nine thirty. Now get up, get up, get up!" She rolls me sideways off the bed.
"Claire!" I giggle tackling her. We play fight for a few minutes before we hear the familiar click of Daddy's video camera. We both groan and look at him exasperatedly.
"Dad," Claire starts but my dad gestures to her.
"No, no keep doing what you guys were doing, pretend I'm not here." Claire and I give each other a look before tackling my Dad and tickling him.
"I'll race you downstairs Claire!" I shout taking off out of the room. She stumbles getting up and chases after me. We run down the stairs and into the living room where the floor is completely full of presents. We both give out a 'woah' as my Dad tramples down after us and my mom comes in from the kitchen.
I remember that year as one of my favorite Christmas's. I was nine, back when the Christmas magic was still so real. Claire had convinced me she heard sleigh bells and we would try so hard to catch any evidence of Santa. I miss that magic, I miss everything.
"Hey Phoebe." I look up to see Kara. "Do you mind if I sit?" I'm taken aback but nevertheless I nod to the seat across from me. She sits down. "Do you really think you should be drinking that.?You're only like 5'2 and everybody knows cafenine stunts your growth." I roll my eyes.
"I stopped growing in 8th grade." I mumble taking a defiant sip from my coffee.
"Lucky you." Kara retorts. We sit there silently a moment. Oh man I want to tell her off so bad! But a part of me is convinced there is at least something nice and friendly inside Kara. Then again it could've died. "So, do you have any plans for today?" She asks.
"No, why would I? My family's either dead or completely disowned me." I reply bitterly. I don't mean to be harsh but that's just how it came out. Kara nods slowly.
"I'm sorry." She says quietly. I'm shocked to hear the words come out of her mouth. "For everything." She adds after a pause.
"Thank you." I reply. We both just sit there quietly for a little while until I see Leo, Dash, Jordi, and Emma walk into the room. I lower my head hoping they don't come over.
"You're up early today bumble-bee." Dash yawns dragging up a chair. I give him a tight smile before taking another swig from my coffee. I feel arms wrap around me from behind.
"Merry Christmas Bee!" Emma trills hugging me. I smile.
"You too Em." Everybody gets their breakfast and my little two person table extends to fit all of us. Hunter is the only one missing.
"Where's Hunter, Kara?" I ask. She takes a bit of a green sprinkle doughnut.
"He had something with his family today." She answers through a mouth full of pastry. I nod in response. "What are you guys' plans today." Dash is trying to hook up with the cute girl on the fourth floor by carrying around some mistletoe, hoping to get lucky. Leo is having family visit and Emma, of course is sticking around. Most likely after Hunter is done meeting with his family Kara will give him her Christmas gift, if you know what I mean. The only one left is Jordi.
"I'm thinking about going to the senior floor and play some songs for them." He says when the discussion turns toward him. "Other than that I don't really have anything else planned." We all continue with our breakfast talking about our favorite Christmas memories, I don't say much. Soon everyone parts their own separate ways leaving me and Jordi. I give him a small smile.
"So Miss Bee." He begins. "I was kind of wondering if I could have the pleasure of dragging you along to play for the senior citizens. They have a piano up there and I could teach you how to play Feliz Navidad."
"Oh, Jordi, I'd love to. It's just I haven't really sung or played much since the whole incident." I answer quietly. Jordi gives me a small nod.
"You don't have to play if you don't want to, I would just love it if you would come." He's basically begging now. "Besides, I could use a muse." He jokes. Is he flirting with me? I can't turn this down, I don't want to hurt his feelings. I mean its not like I'm doing anything today anyway.
"Alright fine." I give in. "I'll be your muse." We both laugh and go to his room to get ready.
Time Skip
Jordi's setting up in the lobby of the senior center on a small raised platform. He was right, there is a piano right beside him on the makeshift stage. A small crowd of cute little old people have assembled taking seats around the stage. Jordi pulls me up beside him.
"What are you doing?" I ask with a giggle.
"I'm setting up." He replies tuning his guitar.
"And you need me because?" He gives me a sly smile.
"You're my muse. I need to keep you in close proximity so I can see you clearly." I shake my head laughing. He walks me over to a seat over to the side of the stage and makes a scene of helping me sit. I laugh and take a seat. He returns to center stage strumming a chord.
"Merry Christmas everyone." He greets the small crowd. They all smile at him. "I hope you don't mind me playing a few songs." He plays beautifully, his voice is gorgeous, but so is his face. He's been sneaking glances at me between songs causing me to always blush. After he finishes a song he speaks into the mic again.
"Now I only have one last song to play, I was kind of hoping that my special friend Bee would join me." He says looking at me with puppy eyes. I lull my head to the side and give him a look. He smiles giving me his hand. "Please Phebs." He begs. I look out at the group who've gathered, people begin to stop what they are doing to look up at us and a few are smiling.
"Could I really say no?" I finally say under the pressure of all the watching eyes. I take his hand. There are a few claps that grow into an applause as Jordi leads me over to the piano.
"Feliz Navidad?" He asks quietly.
"Already know it." I reply confidently. He smiles at me. I begin to play and he jumps in with his guitar. After the first chorus I begin to sing harmonies while Jordi sings the melody. This earns me an impressed grin from my partner.
"From the bottom of my heart." We finish together. The small room erupts into applause and I notice that many more people have gathered to listen. Jordi steps aside and gestures toward me.
"The incredible Phoebe Johnson everybody!" He says above the claps. I get up beside him and do a small curtsey before taking his hand and forcing him to bow with me.
It is after the show, most people have cleared out and Jordi is packing up his stuff.
"You were absolutely amazing Bee." He tells me while zipping up his case.
"Thanks Jordi, you know I wouldn't have been able to-" I'm cut off by a shout. I turn around to find myself face to face with my aunt. She throws her arms around me.
"Joyeux Noël Phoebe!" She cries as she embraces me. I tense up. "Oh Phoebe," she exclaims. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend!"
"Tante Tess, que faites-vous ici?" I ask pushing her away.
"I'm visiting my niece!" She answers as if she's hurt by my comment. "I didn't know that would be a problem."
"Well you seem to not know a lot of things lately." I scoff. She looks at me like a math problem she's trying to solve.
"Phoebe, what's gotten into you? This is not the same sweet girl I remember." She says this as if she cares. The nerve she must have to show up here.
"I don't know, you must've taken her with you when you dumped me here." I glare at her.
"Oh chérie, you were sick." She continues, reaching out to place her palm on my cheek gently. "I did what was best for your health."
"No," I argue slapping her hand away. "You did what was best for you." I storm off the stage and march toward the elevator. The door is just about to slide closed before Jordi hops in. I'm so consumed by anger that all I can manage to do is shake my head and glare straight ahead of me.
"That's my aunt for you." I remark through gritted teeth.
"That was kind of harsh Bee." Jordi admits softly. I turn to face him.
"And you think ditching me here for her own personal gain isn't?" I rant.
"I understand why you would feel like that but she made an effort to come see you. She wouldn't have done that if she didn't still care about you."
"No," I sneer sarcastically. "It's not like she has a guilty conscious already. You don't know my aunt Jordi, she acts like the sweetest thing on earth but that doesn't mean she's not selfish and a complete bitch." I'm out of line saying that, I know but I hate her so much right now I can't stop my mouth from running.
"She does care about you Bee, you just need to give her a chance."
"She would never understand what I'm going through." I argue.
"They say to really understand someone you have to walk a mile in their shoes. However what they often leave out is that some shoes are harder to walk in than others. Maybe that's because some people don't want to let you in." We are both silent for a moment, he's right but my ties are so severed with my aunt I can't even think about giving her a second chance. The elevator dings and the door creaks open.
"You know what Jordi?" I utter. "Maybe if you really think that you should give her a fucking band and make it official." I take off down the hallway, hatred burning hot inside of me. Does nobody see where I'm coming from? No body is ever on my side, it's always my fault, I'm always the one ruining things don't you know?
I wish my room had a door so I could slam it. I grab a pillow off my bed and scream into it. The tears begin to flow so I lock myself in to avoid the intruding eyes of any doctors or nurses. I sob into pillow, this is totally the worst Christmas ever! I just wish Claire was here, I wish my dad was here, God I just want everything to be back to the way it was before.
"Bee?" There's a knock on my door.
"Go away Jordi!" I shout over my sobs.
"I'm sorry Bee, please come out." He pleads from behind the door.
"I said go away Jordi!" I yell and all is quiet again. My sobs have stopped. I'm now just sitting on the edge of my sink, a guest of honor for my own pity party. Suddenly I hear a sound come from outside of the door. It's Jordi playing his guitar.
"Go away Jordi." I moan but he keeps playing. After a while my frazzled nerves seem to mend. I slowly open my door to be greeted by Jordi sitting in a chair in the corner of my room. He seems sucked into his own music because he doesn't even notice me come out. I slowly creep out of the bathroom and sit on the edge of my bed watching Jordi play. He looks up and strums an ending cord before putting his guitar aside.
"Hey." He offers me a small smile.
"Hey." I reply.
"I'm really sorry about earlier, I didnt mean to hurt your feelings. I should've been more empathetic. I guess I've just been so used to having Christmas alone I forgot what it was like at first."
"At least you've had your Abuela. I have no one." I reply sadly.
"You know that's not true." Jordi says getting up and coming over to sit by me. He pulls out a little box and hands it to me.
"What's this?" I turn the box in my hands a few times before taking off the top. I look down at a silver necklace adorned with a locket.
"It's from your aunt." He answers. I click it open to see on one side a picture of my mom pecking a kiss on my dad's cheek. On the other side is a picture of Claire and I laughing. I put my hand to my mouth stifling the oncoming tears. Jordi puts his arm around me.
"She asked me to give it to you." He continues softly. "She felt really bad for causing you to run off, she told me it would just be easier if she left." I close the locket and feel something under my thumb. I turn the locket over to see an engraving that says "la vie continue" or "life goes on" in English. I explain this to Jordi.
This little glittering trinket sitting in my hands, it may not seem like much but to me it's the world. It's everyone who's ever loved me in one place, including my aunt. We're all together again. I give Jordi a hug.
"Thank you." I declare as I pull away from the hug with a smile on my face.
"I've got one more surprise for you." Jordi grins.
"I don't think I can't handle any more surprises." I declare. Jordi just laughs and pulls out a mistletoe, holding it above our head. My jaw drops. "Where did you get that?" I tease.
"I might've borrowed some from Dash." He laughs. "You're not going to break Christmas tradition are you?" He asks flirtatiously. I give him a small smile before softly kissing him on his lips. We are interrupted by whistling and applause.
"Get it J man." Kara snickers. I quickly pull away blushing. Leo, Emma, Dash, and Kara have been watching us.
"Damn glass windows." I mumble and everyone laughs. They all come in taking seats at various places around my room. They begin talking about their days while Jordi clasps the locket around my neck.
"So how was your Christmas Bee?" Emma asks.
"I guess this holiday wasn't too awful." I conclude leaning my head on Jordi's shoulder.
Sorry for such a long chapter but I hope you all liked it! Lots of Love -Britt