Yours Truly | B. Hargrove

16

It was Christmas Eve and Eden was standing in the kitchen, chatting and giggling on the phone. If you hadn't guessed by now, Billy Hargrove sat at the other end, keeping his voice down so Neil couldn't hear. The two had been talking for around 20 minutes and Eddie and Wayne couldn't take much more. They never heard the girl giggle like a school girl, let alone talk to the phone for more than a few minutes. Wayne finally had enough and began to speak. 

"Hey, uh Eden." He cleared his throat as the girl popped her head around the corner.

"Just a sec, Billy. Yeah uncle Wayne?" She smiled at the older man.

"I understand you're excited to talk on the phone but you're driving us nuts over here," he began, chuckling, "how about you invite Billy on over to watch the movie with us."

"Oh um, alright. Im sorry." She blushed before popping back into the kitchen, "hey Billy. Um, it's kind of dumb and if you don't want to you totally don't have to. So, like, we've had this tradition for as long as I could remember to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas every Christmas Eve and Wayne asked if you'd like to come."

"Oh uh, yeah. Um, what time?" Billy asked, eyeing Neil who was doing the same to him.

"They're actually waiting on me, I'm sure. So whenever you could get here." She twirled the phone cord around her finger.

"Yeah, just give me a few to get changed and then I'll head over. I gotta go, I'll see you later, doll." Billy smiled into the phone, after breaking eye contact with his father.

"See you in a few, Billy." Eden bit her lip to try and hold back a smile and with that the phone hung up from Billy's end.

"You talkin to that whore again?" Neil spoke up as billy tried to slip to his room.

"I'd appreciate if you wouldn't call her that. Her names Eden." Billy corrected and Neil just rolled her eyes, "you don't mind if i go over there, do you?"

"No. Just get out of my house." Neil scoffed and Billy clenched his fist as he continued his way to his room.
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After about 20 minutes there was a knock at the trailers door. Billy heard the girl yelling 'I'll get it' repeatedly and let out a small laugh. There was rustling at the front door and finally a loud thud as the door opened to reveal an unexpected Eddie Munson.

"Eddie you douche, I said I'd get it!" Eden yelled from the floor and Billy laughed as he looked at her.

"Hey there, Billy boy. Why don't you come on in?" Eddie smiled big at the boy and Wayne was sat on the couch shaking his head in amusement.

"You look pretty." Billy spoke after he finally got to take in Eden's appearance. She was wearing a red sweater with some black and white plaid pj bottoms and she scoffed.

"Okay you kiss up. You're over dressed." She replied as Billy was wearing his usual leather jacket with a maroon shirt underneath and his signature jeans and boots combo.

"Alright, come sit down it's starting to get late and I've got work in the morning." Wayne spoke up watching the interactions between all three kids.

"Work on Christmas?" Billy furrowed his eyebrows.

"Yep. Unfortunately my job doesn't like me enough to give me a day off." Wayne assured Billy he'd be fine as Eddie took a seat on the couch and Billy and Eden occupied the floor, Billy's arm wrapped around the girl as the movie started.
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"Billy really, I don't want you driving this late especially with the storm rolling in." Wayne told the teen.

"Are you sure, sir? I don't want to push your boundaries." Billy took his hand off the front door handle, looking back to a pouting Eden.

"Yes, I'd rather know a kid that's supposed to be under my care is safe. All I ask is you be safe tonight." He winked at the boy and Eden turned a deep shade of red. Eddie went to bed quickly after the movie finished so it was just the three in the living room.