Heavy Heart

Chapter 39

I decided to host a small gathering at my house the week before Christmas for all our friends. It was a Saturday afternoon and my kitchen was a bustle of activity. Zack had insisted on cooking a turkey, but neither of us had never made one so we were kind of winging it. He had left the lid off of the bird too early so the outside was brown but the inside wasn't fully cooked. Zack was frustrated, "The damn thing will be black by the time the inside is cooked."

"Cover it up with this. It will be alright. Dull side out I think." I told him, handing the roll of tinfoil. He nodded and wrapped up his precious bird. I smiled to myself. I stirred the boiling potatoes, they were almost ready for mashing. Zack pushed the roaster back into the oven and turned to get another pot from my cupboard, "Stove Top!" I smiled and passed him the two boxes.

A knock hit my door and Zack shooed me out of the kitchen. I chuckled as I turned the knob to see Brock and Jackie. They had arrived together, his arm around her shoulders. I smiled, "Come in guys. Get a drink. Zack is trying to save his bird." I heard a loud grunt from the kitchen, followed by my boyfriend's voice, "I have saved it! You will see!"

"He's cooking? Really? Does he know how to cook?" Brock asked as they walked in. I shrugged, "I guess we will see." Jackie giggled. She produced a small package which made me smile wide. I turned to my small tree and grabbed the package with her name on it. Jackie and I opened up our gifts at the same time while Brock went to the kitchen to get them some drinks.

Jackie had given me two pairs of socks. One was white with rainbow unicorns on them. The other was navy blue with green alien spaceships. I shrieked with excitement. She did the same and we hugged each other. She whispered in my ear, "I love them." I nodded and told her thank you. Jackie and I sat down on the couch, she leaned in to whisper, "Are Lisa and Hannah coming?" I nodded.

Her body went rigid, "Oh, Layla this might be bad." I frowned, "Why?" Jackie looked back toward the kitchen before she whispered, "Lisa told me she has been seeing Sarah for a little while. What if she brings her here?"

I shrugged, "Hannah was the one who didn't want to be official. Lisa gave her the option for them to be together and Hannah refused. So she has no recourse for it." Jackie shot me a look, "It's not that simple. Hannah cares about Lisa, she's just not ready."

"I know but she can't expect Lisa to wait around for her. Especially when they want different things right now. Hannah can do what she likes, but so can Lisa." I reminded her. Jackie rolled her eyes, "You know how Hannah feels about Sarah." I nodded, "I know. You feel the same way. Sarah owns herself, I like that about her." Jackie frowned but didn't say anything.

"Besides, I invited Sarah on her own anyway because she is my friend. So she might be here anyway." I told her. Jackie's eyes went wide, "Oh shit." I laughed out loud.

Brock came back with three beers, one for each of us. He smiled softly at Jackie, "Are you girls talking about me?" Jackie shook her head, "No, actually. Not a thing about you." He pouted, "Oh, well I'll have to try harder then I guess." I chuckled and held my bottle of beer out to him, "Here's to you, making my best friend happy."

He froze for a moment before he clinked the necks of our bottles together. Jackie kissed his cheek while Brock tried to find words to say. Luckily for him a knock hit my door so I stood up to answer it.

Hannah arrived with a bottle of Jack Daniels for me. I handed her the bottle bag I'd gotten for her. She smiled and gave me a quick hug, "Merry Christmas everyone!" She joined Jackie and Brock on the couch while I went to the kitchen to get her a beer. Zack smiled when I walked up behind him and patted his butt.