Lost in Love

Chapter 16 - The Controller

"Ryan, would you come give me a hand really quick?" Mrs. Jeffery hollers from upstairs.
"I'll be right back," he slides his arm from behind me and heads up to the kitchen.
I sit, staring at the floor. It's strange to be here at Christmas, and being upset. And I'm not even upset about my parents—I mean, I'm pretty much always upset with them in general, but I don't let those thoughts come around unless something has happened.
————————————————————————————————————
We peak around the corner, "see anything?"
"Nope. I don't think we'll ever catch him," he looks so disappointed.
"Come on, let's go back to your room before your mom finds out we're up."
We lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling. My vision eventually fades to black.
"Luna! Luna! Get up."
"What's going on, Ryan?"
"Merry Christmas!"
I let out a sigh, "are you crazy? What time is it?"
"Seven."
"Yup, you're crazy," I turn over and try to go back to sleep.
"Come on!"
"You really won't give up, will you?"
"Nope."
I bury my face in my hands, "fine."
We go to the kitchen, and Mrs. Jeffery is setting up the table for breakfast.
"Good morning, kids."
"Good morning."
"Morning, mom."
"Will you go get your dad?"
"Yeah," Ryan heads to the living room and I help to finish setting the table.
After breakfast, we all go to the living room.
I sit smiling, watching them all so happy.
While handing the gifts to each other, Mrs. Jeffery hands two to Ryan. He comes over and, passes them to me.
"What-"
He cuts me off, "ones from me, ones from mom and dad."
I look between the three of them, still slightly confused, "thank you."
When I open the one from his parents, I find a sweater that matches the ones they all got. More specifically, an ugly Christmas sweater.
Ryan starts laughing, "you're not going to get out of wearing that."
"I don't want to get out of it," I take off my hoodie and put the sweater on, "I really like it, thank you."
I open Ryan's and find my own controller for the game system in his room, "thank you," I hug him and without a second thought, and a hug smile on my face.
We finish with all the gifts, and start filling the garbage bags with the wrapping.
————————————————————————————————————
Those were the days. They really have become the best family I could have ever asked for.
While I don't wear the sweaters anymore, I still have the one from them.
"My aunt and uncle are here."
"Oh, I suppose I should come say 'hello,' huh?"
"You don't have to."
"No, it's fine." I stop and look at my phone, "actually, will you take this for me until you take me home?"
"What?"
I hold out my phone to him, "I don't want to keep tempting myself into calling Bella."
"Okay," he takes my phone, "I'll go put it in my room."
"Thank you."
We head upstairs, where his aunt and uncle are in the kitchen with his dad.
"Hello, Luna."
"Hi," I notice that Ryan has gone to his room.
I stand there awkwardly until I hear Ryan, "Luna, can you come help me out, please?"
"Excuse me," I leave the room, sighing in relief of being able to walk away from them.
I poke my head into his doorway, "what's up, Ry?"
"Do you mind giving me a hand getting these gifts to the tree?"
"Sure," I grab a few of them and we go out to the living room.
"Thanks, I really should have done that earlier."
"You think?"
He nudges me and we walk to the couch.
"I take it you said 'hi' then?"
"Yup, and then stood in there awkwardly with them and your dad."
I can see him stifling a laugh, "sorry about that. I meant to just drop your phone and come back, until I realized I hadn't brought the presents out."
"It's fine, I'm just glad you got me out of it."
Eventually everyone joins us in the room, and Mrs. Jeffery gets some music going. We watch as all the Jeffery adults dance around to Christmas music. Ryan and I look at each other a few times, trying not to laugh.
Ryan holds his hand out to me like he's asking me to dance, with a grin on his face. I push his hand away and smile back. He then proceeds to reach into his stocking, and grabs some of the candy he got in it and hands me some.
"I definitely prefer candy over dancing."
"Me too, I'm pretty happy you didn't take me up on my offer to dance."
"Absolutely, this is way better than your dancing."
He attempts to make a face looking offended, but it fails miserably, "fine, don't be surprised if up I prove you wrong later."
"I'll be waiting."
We both laugh. I guess I can see where people may mistake us as a couple, based on conversations like this.
The rest of the day is pretty normal, presents were opened, we had a ridiculously large dinner (tradition at the Jeffery household).
"Do you want to stay tonight, or am I taking you home?"
"I think I'll stay for the night," I glance to the window, "it's already pretty late."
"Okay, you want to go game in my room then?"
"Of course."
I get lost in my thoughts throughout the night, not getting much sleep in the end.