A Different Christmas Vacation

Chapter Fifteen

In the morning, I woke up with teary, puffy eyes and a pounding headache. I’d also been deprived of my sleep and the purple bags under my eyes had developed even worst. 

After cursing myself silently, I stripped my clothes and soaked myself in a long, hot shower. I turned on the water-proof speaker and connected my phone, but didn’t sing a ong like I usually would’ve.

I wished I could’ve forgotten last night, wishing it was just something drunk Reina pushed to do, but it wasn’t. It was completely sober Reina living in the stupidest moments of her life, to be honest.

I turned off the shower and toweled off. In the walk-in closet, I changed into a pair of jeans, a light-weight mint green sweater, and Ugg boots. I blow dried my hair and put it up in a messy bun.

Walking downstairs, Janice and Chloe sat downstairs at the breakfast table munching on cinnamon rolls. Cinnamon rolls were my favorite.

I sat down by Janice and a minute later, Joshua came and handed me a plate with one cinnamon roll and asked me what I wanted to drink.

“Just milk, please. Two percent,” I said.

“I’ll be right on it.”

“Good morning dear,” Chloe greeted as Joshua disappeared back into the kitchen to get my drink.

“Good morning,” I said as happily as I could fake.

“Sleep well?”

“I had a lot on my mind,” I answered. She could probably see it right on my face the sadness and huge purple bags under my eyes.

“Well, I hope you can get it off your mind. Going dress shopping with us today?” she asked.

“Dress shopping for what?”

“The New Year’s Eve party we’re hosting tomorrow night. It won’t just be us, I’ve invited some of our friends and their families to come, too,” Chloe said, “But today just me, Janice, and your mother are going dress shopping so we can look our sharpest.”

“Can’t I just wear the dress I wore Christmas Eve. I really like that one.”
“Why not another one?” she asked. “It’d be best to change things up.”

“Sure, I’ll come,” I said.

Chloe nodded and went back to her conversation with Janice. I accepted my milk from Joshua and finished my cinnamon roll.

“When will we be leaving?” I asked Chloe.

“Around ten thirty. We’ll eat lunch in town and come back to join the boys for dinner,” Chloe answered.

“Sounds good,” I said.

I asked to be excused and then escaped to the upstairs. I changed into some nicer clothes. Wouldn’t want to look depressing to the media even if that was all I felt on the inside. 

I put on some brighter clothes - I teal blouse that looked somewhat Western and changed out my Uggs for my riding boots, keeping the same comfortable jeans on. Just that made me look a little happier, but the look on my face gave it all away.

I went into the bathroom and curled my hair into a casual hair do. It’d be all the fancier I got. I found a purse in the closet to match and waited for ten thirty to roll around.

While waiting, I began to watch Rocky. Sylvester Stallone, I had to admit, was somewhat of a hot guy if he wasn’t so cocky like he was in Rocky.

But that made me think of where I stood with Jordan. Were we still together? What did he think? I wanted to know, but didn’t have time as Janice came knocking at my door.