Amnesiac swimmer

Chapter 14: Liam Smith

-False Confidence- 

 01:43 ━━━━●───── 03:50

I'm excited! It's seven in the morning and I jump out of my bed. We're on the 24 of December and after many negotiations with my parents and organizations with the groups, I can celebrate Christmas with my friends. For the first time, my parents let me miss a family event for my friend. I mean not totally because I will still celebrate Christmas with my family the next day but it's still the best thing at the end of the year. 

I bought a gift for everyone, no exception. But for now, I have to prepare so that I am ready when Rebecca comes to pick me up. I'm surprised her mother accepted. 

"Liam! Can you keep the volume down?  Scream my mother. You are going to wake everyone up."

"Sorry Mom."

I forgot not everyone shares the excitement, especially my mother. I mean she's happy I spend time with my friends but she is going to take every blame from my family for me. Because that is what always happens, I talk back, my mom gets blamed, my father didn't answer his phone, it's her fault. I feel bad for leaving her with them tonight but my father was already pissed we celebrate Christmas here so I'm sure he won't let any remark pass. 

I join the living room and I'm surprised because my father's sister is up. She's talking to my mother. I walk by them and grab something to eat. They notice me and immediately my aunt has something to say. 

"Where are you going?"

"See my friend."

"On a Christmas day?"

"I'm spending Christmas with them. You know James, Reb-"

She turns to my mother.

"I would never let my kids celebrate Christmas with their friends."

"My cousins are four and six years old. I'll be worried if you did. Plus they still believe Santa Claus is real."

"Cecilia, my son is old enough to spend time with his friends. He's in the best years of his life."

"What a pitiful mother you are. I can't believe my brother married you."

My father- who's sitting on the couch- throws a pillow at my aunt. We look at him as he walks next to Mom. 

"Cecilia, we didn't invite you so you can critisize my family. Continue like this and I throw you outside in the cold with your pyjamas. Did I make myself clear?" 

"Cameron! You know family comes first!"

"Who said that? You? The one who's always late because she was in a bar with her friends or the one who missed Grandpa's funeral?" I ask, pissed. 

She looks at my mother. She's about to accuse her of not raising me well and insult me of being a delinquent. But her eyes cross my father's eyes and she runs back to her room. Tonight promises to be lively. My mother kisses my father before she comes to kiss me. 

"Alright darling, do you have everything?"

"Yes I am just waiting for Rebecca. Are you sure you're gonna be okay with them?"

They laugh.

" Of course, we're gonna be okay. But you call us if anything happens. And I say a-ny-thing, alright?"

"Alright."

We talk until Rebecca knocks at the front door. My parents greet her more gently than they greet the rest of the family. They exchange some banality before letting us leave. We sit in Reb's car and leave waving at my parents. Once we are far enough, sigh and let my body sink into the seat. My friend laughs.