I yawned as I walked downstairs in a hoodie, booty shorts, and socks; I wasn’t planning on seeing anyone today, as I was sure the house was already empty, and my thoughts were correct. I walked into the kitchen and saw a note in my mom’s neat handwriting taped to the refrigerator.
Went shopping with Layla to get ready for tonight’s Christmas party. Chase is at Abby’s house and Jasey is spending the day with Cody’s family. Sorry I couldn’t be home with you but I’ve already made commitments to this party. Merry Christmas, Kaylie. –Love mom.
I made a frustrated noise before crumbling the note up and throwing it away without any hesitation. “Sorry my ass,” I muttered while pulling my hair up with a hair band I had on my wrist; I then opened the fridge and got out the orange juice and poured me a glass before sitting down at the counter and taking in the silence of my house.
Christmas was the time of year that is meant to be spent with your family, but it seems like my family has forgotten that. A real Christmas hasn’t been celebrated in my household since I was thirteen, the year before the move to New York took place. Ever since living in New York, my parents seemed to stop caring about family and start caring more about work.
I put my glass in the dish washer before trudging into the front room to see the tree Jack, Alex, Rian, Zack, Kara, and I decorated yesterday and smiled at the sight of it when I noticed the presents I got for Chase and Jasey no longer there, meaning they must’ve opened them before leaving, and I smiled, hoping they liked what I bought them. I sat down in front of the tree and glanced at the names written on each of the perfectly wrapped boxes.
Alex… Jack…Rian… Zack…Kara…Kaylie. I quickly looked back when I noticed my name written a couple boxes. Excitedly, I started tearing away the wrapping paper and smiled at Good Charlotte, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, and the newest Green Day CD and then noticed Jasey’s nearly perfect handwriting on a small sheet of paper.
Chase didn’t know what to get you, so we decided to combine presents. Merry Christmas, Kay-Kay, we love you –Jasey & Chase
I smiled then grabbed the box that was from my mom and quickly tore away the paper to see a pair of converse that I’ve wanted for awhile but never asked my parents for the money. I only showed my mom the shoes once when she walked into my room while I was on a website that sold the shoes and she just shrugged and said she might get them for me later, I never thought she’d actually remember. I quickly picked up the shoebox and CDs before making my way up to my room to set them down on my bed so I could start the Christmas tradition I established when I was eleven.
I was still smiling when I walked back downstairs, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Nightmare Before Christmas, and a blanket in my hands. I sat everything down onto the couch before walking into the kitchen and putting a bag of popcorn into the microwave then jumped onto the counter while waiting for the popcorn.
Once microwave’s timer went off, I poured the buttery popcorn into a bowl and walked back into the living room and started the movie while curling up into the side of the couch and started my Christmas tradition of watching movies all day in my pajamas while everyone else in my family did who knows what.
The credits were rolling for Nightmare Before Christmas when I heard the doorbell ring but I made no attempt to answer. Who the hell would be here anyways? The person on the other side of the door rang the bell several more times in an impatient manner before I groaned and got up from the couch.
“I’m coming, just stop ringing the bell!” I yelled in an annoyed voice before swinging the front door open to see all of my friends standing on the other side jumping from foot to foot in an attempt to keep warm in Maryland’s below freezing weather.
“Merry Christmas!” Jack yelled happily and I smiled and was about to reply to him when Kara interrupted me with annoyance in her voice.
“Let us in, it’s fucking cold out here!” she whined and I stepped out of the doorway before she, along with everyone else, practically ran inside causing me to chuckle, and Jack instantly ran into the living room where we put the tree up yesterday.
“Presents!” Jack yelled happily from the front room before Rian, Kara, and Zack all made their way in there happily while Alex and I rolled our eyes from our spot in the foyer.
“We should probably get in there, before Jack starts opening everything,” Alex joked and I smiled and nodded before we both started walking into my living room side by side while our hands occasionally bumped into each other but I tried to brush it off even though I felt butterflies in my stomach each time his hand brushed against mine.

After opening all the presents, we sat around my living room watching Home Alone and laughing each time Jack would perfectly recite the lines. I leaned my head onto Alex’s shoulder and he chuckled before wrapping his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him.
Kara, who wasn’t even paying attention to the TV anymore, let out an ‘aw,’ making everyone, even Jack who was intently watching the movie, turn in our direction and I blushed. “I don’t know why you guys don’t just go out already!” Kara exclaimed and my eyes narrowed at her.
“Kara!” I exclaimed while throwing a nearby pillow at her and she laughed.
“Well it’s true,” she muttered and Jack, Zack, and Rian hesitantly nodded their heads and I blushed while scooting away from Alex slightly then buried my head in my hands in embarrassment. I don’t know why they have to continuously talk about mine and Alex’s complicated relationship; neither Alex nor I have talked about the kiss or our feelings for each other at all, and at this point, it seemed like we never would.