Christmas Tree Wishes

Chapter 7

The snow hadn't stopped in three days. They were calling it snowmageddon. Sam had never hated the snow so much in his life. There were no flights, no buses, no trains. Not a thing that could get him to upstate New York for Christmas this year.

He hadn't missed a Christmas since he moved to the city. Well, really ever and he wasn't looking forward to the call he would have to place to his mother, giving her the news. She would understand of course and that would be hard as well.

Sam decided he was in need of coffee and someone to talk to. Lexi, unfortunately, had left yesterday on her way to visit her family in Kansas. So he found himself bundling up and headed to the cafe, hoping that Jackson was working. They had become good friends in the last few days, they had even exchanged numbers and texted during the day.

Sam hurried through the door of the cafe in a burst of snow and wind to find it was surprisingly empty. He couldn't be the only one braving the wild weather for caffeine.

"Sam! What on earth are you doing out in this?" Jackson called from behind the counter, where he was leaning, flipping through a magazine.

"Coffee?" Sam laughed, brushing snow from his hat and coat.

"None at the apartment?" Jackson teased as he turned to start making Sam's favorite drink.

"Yeah, but I needed out. And to top it all off I just found out that I have no way to get home for the holidays because of this crazy weather. So, yeah. I hate snow." Sam sunk down in a chair at the counter, dropping his head into his hands with a thud.

"What?! You love the snow!" Jackson gasped in surprise. "Is there really no way to get home?" he asked gently as he sat Sam's coffee down in front of him.

"No," Sam grumbled against the counter, picking his head up slightly to take a sip before dropping his head with another thud. "If I only had a car of some sort. Ugh! I have never needed one until now! Why did I never think to buy a car?!"

"Cause you live in the city and walk everywhere?" Jackson supplied.

"Don't be logical, Jackson! Help me figure out how I'm going to break it to my mother that I can't make it," Sam whined.

"Don't."

"Don't what?" Sam questioned, bringing his head up to stare at Jackson. "Don't tell her I can't find a way to get there, so she can just wait for me to arrive all week and be heartbroken! Great plan, Jacks," Sam ranted, shaking his head.

"No, geez, Sam, I would never say that," Jackson replied quickly. "What I am saying is that I have a car and I will drive you up there for the holidays."

"You will what?" Sam couldn't believe his ears. Jackson was going to drive him to his parents' place for the holidays? Then what? Will he stay there? Or drive back in this crazy weather?

"I'll drive you." Jackson smiled.

"You're going to spend your holiday driving me upstate and hanging out with my family for the holidays?" Sam felt like he needed to make sure that Jackson knew what he was getting into.

"Yeah, that is what I am saying." Jackson laughed. "So, when do we leave?"

"You're serious?"

"As a heart attack," Jackson teased. "So?"

"But you haven't driven in the snow before have you?" Sam hated himself for sounding like he wasn't grateful, but he wanted to make sure Jackson knew what he was in for.

"Yes, I have. I used to stay with my grandparents in Wisconsin when I was younger."

"You're going to drive your car with you and me through a snowmageddon upstate for the holidays?"