So… hello! Long time no see, everyone! I am SO sorry I haven't updated in a VERY long time here. I was just going through burn out with this fanfic again and wanted to make sure I was properly inspired again before I put out another chapter. SO, without further delay, here you go and I hope I don't disappoint after the painfully long wait. Again… sorry about that. :( Anyway, this chapter picks up with Noah at Emma's parents' house for Christmas day with Emma and her family. Enjoy! :D
(Noah's POV)
Well… that could've been worse.
Since I spent Christmas morning at Emma's parents' house with her and even though her parents were ignoring me the entire time… this was actually the best Christmas I ever had.
Hey, for me the bar is set very low for this kinda thing.
When you grow up in an absolute zoo with no space to think or be annoyed by a bunch of obnoxious siblings and relatives, I appreciate being anywhere else. Again, while no one except Kitty or their Nana wanted to talk to me, I'm not gonna complain.
If I'm able to spend Christmas without being bothered and can just sit back as I sip on a cup of coffee AND I get to be here with Emma who has almost zero family compared to mine… I'm good! And if all I have to endure is Kitty trying to pull me, Emma, or both of us into pictures and her dad giving me weirdass looks... then hey, I'll cheers to that.
My brother Ben farted on my head once to wake me up one Christmas, so pictures and glares?... Totally fine by comparison.
We just finished having Christmas dinner and we were about to sit down for drinks and chilling out in the living room when the doorbell rang.
Emma and I both looked at each other since we were right next to each other by the with quirked up eyebrows in absolute and total confusion.
Eventually Emma opened the door and my eyes immediately went wide in regret as Owen just burst in and immediately grabbed me before suffocating me into a crushing hug as he called out, "Merry Christmas Buddy! Come Mere! Did you get anything you wanted?"
He kept crushing me in the hug as I strained out in annoyed desperation for oxygen, "All I want for Christmas is my lungs to breathe. Let… go…" Finally he let go free as he called out in excitement, "Sorry! I'm just so excited!"
I couldn't even hold it in as I straightened out my clothes and said, "Dude, just for the record, when are you not excited about something?"
He just smacked me on the back as he just laughed like usual, making me wince.
Well so much for hoping to avoid 'bro-time' on a holiday anywhere I go.
Then Kitty ran out of the living room and called out with more energy than I can ever physically be capable of having, "Owen! Hey! Why didn't you tell me you were coming over?! Merry Christmas!"
They both hugged as Emma and I were trying to figure out why Owen was even here? But considering he's hugging Kitty right now… Yeah, that's gonna be on hold for a second.
But, fortunately and unexpectedly in my opinion, Owen actually answered her before I could verbally get that out as he started with a laugh, "Hey Kitty! Merry Christmas! And I didn't even know I was coming over either! Ha, ha. But, hey, check out what I got outside! Remember how I've been driving my dad's old truck? Well, get a load-ah this!"
He stepped out of the way and motioned to this very large and brand new Sevy S2-60…. What can I say? When you grow up in a family of meatheads, you learn a lot about trucks… and professional wrestling.
I don't want to talk about it since I was usually at the butt of my brothers' living room smackdowns with being put into head locks and nogies galore.
"Check it out! Now that I have my license, my dad and my grandpa got me my own truck! Isn't it awesome?! Four door and enough space to haul anything." Owen pretty much gushed in excitement.
Right then Emma leaned over to me as Kitty immediately ran out with Owen to look at the truck as she said, "Am I the only one still concerned or disturbed that Owen's legally allowed to drive now?"
I quirked up an eyebrow as I responded, "Considering the 'gator incident' from a couple months ago in Yellow Knife and the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump incident… yeah, I'm not getting in a car with him driving any time soon if I can help it."
"Totally agree there." She conceded immediately.
We were about to try and go back in when all of a sudden Owen just picked up and threw both Emma and I over his shoulders as he said, "C'mon guys! Kitty's getting her toboggan. Let's hit up the sled hill!"
Right then Kitty came around the corner and mounted her toboggan in the snow as she said, "Yeah guys, c'mon! It'll be fun! Besides you two skipped out way too many times on this so far. So, let's go hit the hill!"
Well, guess we're not getting a choice if we can help it.
Why am I not surprised at this point?
30 minutes later at the local sled hill
({No POV})
After successfully dragging a very reluctant Emma and Noah out to the sled hill after letting them go back in to get their coats, the group eventually settled in with Emma and Noah deciding to just drink coffee together from thermoses they brought with them on a nearby bench.
And fully knowing there was no way they were going to get more out of Noah and Emma than this, Owen and Kitty decided just to see how many times they could go down the hill and climb back up before they were beaten from exhaustion.
They went down and made the climb about four times before they wiped out at the bottom at one point and laughed it off as they got up and brushed off the snow from themselves.
Kitty kept smiling as she went to try to grab her toboggan to carry it back up until Owen beat her to it and threw the toboggan under his arm with a smile like it was nothing before she could get it, making Kitty give him a slightly playful smirk before they laughed together.
Well until Kitty walked ahead of him and waved him on to go back up with her and Owen took the opportunity of thinking knowing no one was watching (mainly Kitty) to smile at her almost adoringly with a sigh before following kitty back up to the top.
Noah; however, noticed all that immediately and rolled his eyes slightly at Owen's in-action with his very 'obvious crush' on Kitty.
Or at least it was really obvious to Noah anyway.
Noah was about to take a sip from his thermos again until he looked over and saw he wasn't the 'only one' who noticed as he saw Emma looking at Owen and Kitty with an almost inquisitive look on her face, making him purse his lips to keep his mouth shut.
After all, as much as it was obvious to him that Owen was really into Kitty and was crushing on her HARD at this point, he did promise he wasn't going to tell anyone about it… despite his annoyance with keeping his best friend's secret.
Although, even beyond Emma and Noah… it seemed they weren't the only ones watching the situation as a figure stood off behind a large mature tree just off to the side of the sled hill, clearly keeping their eyes peeled on the 'situation' too.
Izzy.
Dun, dun, dun! The drama continues! I know it was another short one, but I just wanted to build the dramatic set up for the Owen and Kitty arc. So, and as you all saw, it seems Izzy has been secretly keeping tabs on Owen and Kitty ever since she found out that Owen had moved on from her and seemed to be taking an interest in a 'new flame', even if Kitty has no idea yet. What does Izzy want though? And why is she REALLY following Owen and Kitty around? Stay tuned! ;) As always, thank you all so SO much for your patience and I hope to give you all more chapters in the future when my time and inspiration allows for it. Thank you so much for reading and constructive feedback is always VERY much appreciated if you can spare the time. :)
Stay classy and safe everyone!
Dexter1995