First Light

29 christmas

Friday 24th of December 2021 (the following week)

Faye:

I am hiding in my room with my cat Willow until dinner is ready. My mum won't want me to help with any of the food because she always complains that I get in the way, but then she complains that I've done nothing to help out. My dad won't even let me help set the table or bring any food over, as he claims that I'll drop them or break something.

The whole point of réveillon is that you stay up late, until Christmas day itself, but that never really happens with my family, since it's just us three. Both their families are still in France, and no one's house is big enough to host, so Christmas day itself is spent calling and Face-Timing them. The only person I actually like and look forward to speaking to is my Grandma, my mum's mum. It's funny how different they are.

But that isn't until tomorrow.

I have been hiding in my room nearly the entire time I've been here, which is only since Monday. I went to see the Christmas lights on Tuesday with Marlo, and he took me to one of those fancy cafés. The hot-chocolate was nowhere near as good as how Bastien makes it, and it was double the price.

Jonah texted earlier saying that he'll be doing a New Year's party - by party he specified that it'll only be the group, as otherwise his mums will kill him. He has enough space in his house for people to stay over if they want to, but I know my parents won't let me. I haven't even asked them yet, I'm still waiting for them to be in a good mood. Which might take a while.

Gia can't go because she's at her grand-parents' house, and Mikel doesn't want to go because Gia won't be there. So it'd just be Marlo, Emily, Becca and Jonah of course. And me. If my parents let me.

I don't want to stay in this house anymore.

"When are you getting your grades back?" This is the first thing that my dad asks me as we're all sat around the table.

"I'm not sure." I reply.

"Well, make sure to tell me when you do."

I nod, then look back down at my plate.

He points his fork in my direction. "I'm expecting all As here, Faye. From something as silly as the course you chose, you shouldn't be getting anything lower."

My mum hums in agreement. "Look at your father when he's speaking to you."

I tilt my head up slightly, and this makes him continue. "Are you listening to me? They should all be As. As for the rest of the year, too. Anything below that is unacceptable."

I nod again. "I know. First-year grades don't count towards the end grade you get for the degree, though, Dad."

"That's irrelevant. You shouldn't be using that as an excuse to slack off."

"You should be studying during this holiday, as well." My mum adds.

"I can't." I answer.

She raises her voice. "Why not? We're not raising you to be lazy."

"I can't study right now because they're giving us all new modules in January. I don't know what they're about yet."