2103 words

Chapter 22 - The Twenty-fifth

I wake up in the plush white sheets, a sun is not in the sky but something is shaking my feet. Then it hits me, it's Christmas.

I spring up and corner myself against the wall only to look down and see Pho sadly looking at me. She thinks she did something wrong, but I'm still getting he hold of the whole not-with-my-dad thing.

Yesterday was my first day here, I spent most of the one with El trying to figure out where everything is, and the other quarter trying to sleep. I probably only fell asleep about an hour ago.

I smile at Pho and shake my head, I won't be beat today. I don't need my crutches anymore, so I barely pick up the four year old Pho in my arms. Her weight is barely forty pounds but I'm weak.

"Let's go." I say and she giggles and points in the direction of the door. When is step Into the hall the house is dark, lights around the staircase being the only light that I can see.

I take a few steps so I'm in front of River's door, his room being right next to mine, Pho jumps up and down in my arms and I slowly push open his door.

The room I haven't seen before, it's bamboo floors and white sheets are similar to my room, but his has all white decorations, a couch and a tv in his room that he barely uses.

He lies in his bed with his chest rising up and down slowly, his curly hair flowing evenly over his forehead. Pho pushes me into the room.

The floors don't creak as we walk in and slowly make our way to his bed, I set Pho down on the ground and smile. "How about we jump on top of him?" I whisper to Pho, and she smirks and nods enthusiastically.

"3..2... 1," I say and I jump onto River's bed and flop on top of his hard chest smiling at him as he peaks his eyes open. He smirks and looks into the dark room, his eyes finding Pho.

"I would say something about you being in my bed, but there is a child present." He says and I hug him, "It's Christmas!" I yell and he smile and chuckles, his chest rumbling under me as I get up.

Pho smiles and kisses River on the cheek, which he does to her on the forehead and he gets up groggily, rubbing his eyes. "I will only get up this early on Christmas for you devils." He says as he walks towards his door.

"But the mornings are the best part of the day!" I argue and he shakes his head, "I mean it sure is the best time to sleep, Love." He says and I shake my head as we walk down the stairs.

The pain with my wound has slowly subsided, leaving only a sting when I walk. Pho rushes in front of me which I laugh to, her eyes as bright and shining as River's.

El is downstairs, the amazing smell of waffles and pine from the tree makes my pace fasten as I want to help with the cooking. Pho gets to the tree first, shaking presents and the one I barbarically wrapped for River.

El smiles at me and waves me over to the kitchen and River chuckles and goes to help Pho cool down her excitement.

El has beautiful dark hair with tanned skin, her eyes are a hazel and she looks barely over twenty beside her age of sixty.

"I got the pumpkin bread this time," she jokes as I help her set the table. "Will you taste this, hun? I feel like it's missing something." She states and I nod and take a small taste of the whipped cream she made for the waffles.

I nod and and smile, "It's delicious but if you add about two fresh vanilla thingys and a teaspoon and a... fourth? of almond extract then it will be even better." She smiles and nods greatly as she turns and grabs the ingredients.

"That's right! I just couldn't put my finger on it." She shakes her head slightly at her forgetfulness but nonetheless adds them.

I smile, it's nice having people to talk to. Something close to the family I used to have.

"I'll make us some coffee." I say as I walk over to the other side of the kitchen. "Hey, Pho!? What's your favorite drink?" I yell to the living room and she rushes in and stands at the doorway and smiles a smile just like River's, "Juice!" She says and I nod.

Well that was a broad answer.

I make the coffee and put Pho's juice at her seat, me and El plate the food. I hope El likes my company, I tend to be annoying. It's not a tend it's just a fact..

Soon River is sat at the table, the sun barely starting to rise in this winter and the food smelling better than ever.

River sits next to me, his hand resting on my thigh making me flinch. He turns to look at me and I stir my food around the plate awkwardly,  it wanting him to know.

But he did give me all of this, a place to stay, food.

My first friendship in a while.

"You seem flinch-y today, love, are you okay?" He whispers into my ear when he leans in, scent washing over me as the familiar pine and... some sort of manly bath and body work scent like Graphite.

"I'm fine, you'll now everything soon." I say pushing my legs together and messing with my hand. He turns my head towards him, making sure not to interrupt El teasing Pho about what presents she got.  

"I am not gonna ask you to tell me everything, but I do eventually want to hear it. So I just want you to know, I am here, and I am listening. I am doing everything to make you sure that i don't hate you anymore, so I am saying it straight to your face, though I know it does not  work.

"Please, if not now then at some point, trust me." He finishes giving me a sad smirk and kissing my forehead. Every time he kisses me I freeze, it feels like his lips burnt themselves into my skin. I can still feel them there.

I move my fork onto my food again, showing food into my mouth like there's no tomorrow.

————————————————————

I set the rest of my coffee on the roofer table and curl up at the side of the round couch in the living room. There fake white tree is huge, lighting up the dark room and making it feel cozy

Pho sits on the ground and looks at her pile of presents. She rips open the packages one by one only a little stop to scream joyfully at what she got and hug El.

Her last present appears quickly, a box perfectly wrapped by El which I stare at her in awe over. Pho slowly opens this one we She read be letters, From: El, on the side.

Inside of a small box lies a picture of El on her first day of preschool, next to a picture of Pho this year on her first day of preschool.

She smiles and runs over to El, the frame is beautifully decorated, making me hunk El made it handmade.

You can tell Pho is happiest with this present, so sentimental besides the other gifts her mom got her as a sorry for not being here today.

I smile and hug Pho, grabbing the two small unevenly wrapped boxes from the tree. The ones I got, planning to have a backup for River but making one for Pho too.

I hand River the box and hand Pho another making her smile.

River opens his first, inside lies a necklace, a normal chain that a necklace would have, a silver shine on it. At the very bottom are two dark green beads, his favorite color, and a bright blue beaded gem.

The necklace I made by myself, a child's work but the only thing I could afford since my work starts in January.

I also made one for Kingston, who I heard is coming later.

He picks it up, inspecting the poor quality chain and the bright blue crystal I got to match his eyes. The ones I for some reason, can't stop looking into.

They remind me of Kingston's.

He looks up at me, possibly the biggest smile I've seen on his face as he pounces on top of me and rest his body over mine like yesterday. He smiles as he basically lands on top of me while he hugs me.

"Thank you, love." He said and I smile and nod as he rests his head on my chest, quietly mumbling, "Words, Summie." Under his breathe as we signal for Pho to open hers.

Hers is a bright pink gem with two white beads on a golden Chain, her face lights up at the sight of it and she smiles at me.

She just squeaks...

A full on bird squak...

"Well ain't She your sibling?" I say and River grumbles tiredly a, "Yes." Before he stops talking.

Pho does the same thing, showering me with affection Until She leaves and plays with her toys in front of me. River rests in between my legs, his head resting in my chest and his breathing slow and calm.

He really is a big bwaby.

Though I said that I wouldn't like his arms around me, or his touch. Anybody's touch really, I guess that this, just this, is okay.

The necklace around his neck as he sleeps, and I slowly fall into one too. Because who doesn't need extra sleep?

—

When I wake up it's from a jostle by my side, the sun is completely up now and when I see sorbet was the one shaking me I wonder how he got up without me noticing.

He smiles, "I forgot to give you your present. I already got you the clothes, but I have this for you." He says and I furrow my eyebrows and go to open the present he put on my lap.

Once I take off the delicately wrapped paper, I open the box. Inside lays the newest iPhone. I look at him in shock, this thing costs like a thousand dollars.

"I already set it up since you have never had one, and I put your favorite songs from my playlists in there." He says and my heart bounces.

He's done so much for me, and though I'd never imagined this friendship, I quite like it.

———

"KING!" I yell, or scream whichever seems more happy, I prefer scream.

He smiles as I jump on him, he grabs me, picking me up by my thighs as I wrap them around his torso.

He holds a box in one hand and holds me up with another. He looks at me, with happiness, surprise, and excitement as I bite my lip.

"Who's that for?" I ask, switching my eyes between him and the present. His smile grows wider as he looks up with a chuckle. "I don't know, who do you think?" He asks, his eyes scanning up and down my body.

River comes up behind us, right before I was going to answer, interrupting me. "Alright, sup Kingston!" He says as I jump off Kingston and they do that weird bro hug thingy.

It involves to much trust.

The other person can pull you in so hard.

It scares me.

"I'm going to go show Kingston my room!" I say, pulling him up the stairs as River stops me. "He's slept in there a bunch, he knows what it looks like." River says, eyebrows furrowed and I realize what this seems like.

I squeak, bird squak level sorta stuff as I drop Kingston's hand, seeing his smile, that look
In his eyes as he winks at me. I push my lips together, instead of biting them like I normally do.

"I just wanted to show him pillows and give him his gift, I promise!" I say and Kingston chuckles, "And what's the gift?" He asks calmly and I let out a frustrated sigh as I look away, slowly walking up the stairs.

"I hate living with teenage boys."