Christmas Crush

Chap 1: The List

"RORAAA YOU HAVE A PACKAGE" screams Mom up the stairs.

I turn myself right side up, and a little too fast might I add. For all the baddies with anemia, say hell YEAAAAAA

Anyway, My name is Aurora, but everyone calls me Rora for short. I never really cared what people referenced me as, the fact that I'm noticed is good enough.

I run to the stairs and I see the packages I've been waiting for on the table. I leap down the railing of the stairs with my butt in the air clinching the rail.

"Damn it Rora, didn't I tell you not to do that, you're going to break the railing".

"Sorry Mom" not sorry, doing that actually brings excitement to me in the morning beside my Starbucks white hot chocolate.

I snatch the package off the dining room table and I run back up to my room.

"Breakfast will be ready shortly hun and please, where something that doesn't scream 'I hate life and nothing matters'...slightly insulted by that statement but hey, if the shoe fits.

I jump on my bed in my fuzzy Christmas socks and my plushies fall off my bed. "It's finally here!!!'

I rip the package open and see the vibrator that's been going viral on TikTok. I was wondering how big it was but, it's actually a nice travel size. I'm glad my mom didn't open this because...

" EWWWW MOMMMM RORA HAS A" I throw my taco plushie at my brother's face before he can finish the sentence. Why is he so damn noisy and why the fuck does he keep barging in my room like he pays rent.

"Next time you think about snitching don't forget I have a video of you making out to your pillow pretending it's Carla.

"HUHHH" he says in disbelief

"Yup, it's already in the Twitter drafts and one click away from social destruction."

"You wouldn't"

"Try me"

Max runs back to his room and slams the door.

I jump back on my bed and see a brown envelope fall off. I didn't think much of it, probably one of those cheesy Christmas cards from Grandma and Grandpa. One time he sent a family Christmas card of him wearing a speedo skiing with grandma on his back...Hence I postponed opening letters.

I slide it into my satchel and decide to pick out my clothes for the day.

Dreading my messy closet, I open the doors and see nothing but re-worn clothes from freshman year. I need to do some shopping. I grab some maroon thigh-high socks and a plaid skirt. I forgot I got the really cute white collar shirt from this local thrift shop, I tried it on and it's a bit small but I can work with it, I pull out a tie but its hard to remember how my dad showed me.

It's been a year since my parents separated. He was a great dad, I guess sometimes things just don't work out. He moved to a house in a small snowy town with his new wife 'VeRoNiCa'.

You can already tell what she's like...

I let my hair down in a giant fro. Can't keep eye contact if you can see my eyes *wink*

I manage the tie and grab my black pumps. I love to wear heels, it's like I'm fashionably running from all my problems.

I come downstairs and my mom places chocolate pancakes and diced fruit on the table.

"Now you look very nice hun, Now eat up. Do you have gas money for your car? I don't want your car breaking down in the snow, it's a mess out there. "

"Yesss momm, I put gas in last night but the maintenance light is on I think it may be something small"

My brother comes down the stairs

"You need some maintenance on that hair cuz Dayum"

He walks up to me " OMG MOMM, I think theres something in Roras' hair"

I panic, "What, what is it???"

My mom looks concerned in the loud silence.

"Oh, it's just....half the student body in there"

I throw a pancake at his face, it slaps him and smacks the ground.

"This isn't the first time I had cakes in my face"

"MAX ALEX SMITH... WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY"

Nothing Mom, Im just enjoying this wonderful breakfast you've cooked for us. AAAMENNN

I give him a disgusted look and he mocks me

"I know that's right...now Rora, I need you to take Max with you today, I have a very important meeting at my job and I can not be late, this promotion will change our lives, and make sure you call your grandmother too, she wants you to come down to Jamaica before Christmas and spend some time with your family"

If you are wondering, yes I'm Jamaican and Indian. Funny combination, My parents met at a bar when my father got white girl wasted and my mother had to make sure he didn't drive home. And you can guess what happened after.

I finish eating my last piece of fruit and down my freshly brewed Starbucks white hot chocolate and head out the door.

Max screams shotgun when we go out to the car even tho it's a only 2 of us...Sometimes I wonder if we are related because no way is he really this dumb.

I get in my black G wagon...I know you probably thinking "This girl has a G wagon in high school???"

Yes, but it's not what you think. My father is an engineer for Mercedes and because he makes more than my mom, he has to compensate in some way. Instead of paying thousands every month he bought and financed this G wagon for me until it is paid off. That way I can get from home, to school to work, and back. The court agreed with his proposal and that's how I got it. My brother on the other is having his college tuition paid for. I thought about college but, I think I'll take a gap year and a G wagon.

We arrive at Eastern Vally Tech Private School. My brother jumped out of the car and joined his group of friends, I decided to stay back.... anything to miss 1st period.

I pull out my bag from the back seat and I see the brown envelope slide out of my bag. It's not from my grandparents' address but I decided to rip the bandaid off. I open the letter

"Eastern Vally Tech Christmas Program" are the first words I read.

I completely forgot I signed up for this. It's basically a free trip to a Christmas ski resort in the mountains with 15 selected students. It's a reward for the top-performing students in the school for getting a 3.7 GPA or Higher. Of course, I had a 4.0, but not out of fun. Do you know what will happen if I come home to a Jamaican mother with anything less than a 3.5?

Havoc...

I pull the letter open fully and I see the list of names of who else is going. My best friend Elena thank goddess, I can't go on a trip like this alone.

I skim through the page and see... Chris Walker.

A lump developed in my throat.

"No way, I haven't talked to him in a month, not after that humiliating moment of my walking into the guys' locker room on the first day of school. I didn't see much, but I saw enough.

I folded the letter back and stuffed it in my bag, turned off my car, and began walking into the school.

"Goddess be with me..."