Extraordinarily Ordinary

Jingle Bells

Whoa, would you look at that? Another creative and enticing chapter title from singing_penguin! Not. I really am sorry, but i'm hoping the title doesn't matter so much as the actual story itself. I'm just really busy right now, and I'm trying to get out chapters at least once a month so that I don't keep you guys waiting for too long. So I'm not really focusing on the title chapter. I promise they will get better when I get some more free time, Anyways, now that I got that out of the way, here's the next chapter! Hope you like it!

"So I got a phone call during my date last night."

"Noah, it wasn't me. I would never sell cigarettes. I was set up. Julia, she-"

"I believe you." He said.

"What?"

"I believe you, Beth. I know you. You would never do anything that would risk you getting into a good college. "

"Oh, wow. You have no idea what a relief that is!" I exclaimed.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know." I said as I buried my face in my hands. I was so ridiculously stressed. I felt like there was a ball and chain attached to me, dragging me down.

"I can't believe someone would do something like that."

"Yeah, well, that's Julia for ya."

"You know what, it's Christmas Eve. Let's go out. Just you and me. Get your mind off everything. At least for now."

As much as I wanted to curl into my bed and just feel sorry for myself, I nodded.

After all, it was the 'most wonderful time of the year.' I got a head start on some of my homework that I had gotten over break. I didn't even know why I was doing it, considering that I probably wasn't going to be going to school for a while. Then Noah and me headed out to the beach. It was a little chilly so we just brought a picnic basket and sat on the beach, talking.

It was absolutely amazing To just forget about my problems. Even if it was for a little while.

"So how was your date?"

"Good." He replied as a smile crept up his face.

"Oh my gosh! You are totally smitten!" I teased him.

"Smitten? Come one now, Beth. This is 2015. No need for the fancy shmancy words," He returned.

"Whatever," I said as I playfully rolled my eyes.

After a couple moments of silence, I asked him,"Do you remember we used to come here all the time with Mom?"

"How could I forget?"

"Inspite of all the crap that was going on, she made sure to remind us that we were still a family." He smiled as we watched the slowly dying sunset.

"I miss her." I admitted.

He put his arm around me. "Me too, kiddo. Me too."

*****

"Merry Christmas, Bethany!" Kat yelled from her side of the phone.

"Katrina! Lower your voice!" her mother scolded her.

"Sorry mom," She mumbled in reply.

"Merry Christmas to you to Kat."

"I'm so sorry but I've got to go. The beach awaits! But as soon as I get back, I'm gonna beat the crap out of Julia until she admits what she did."