H.O.P.E.F.U.L

Christmassss

A few weeks later, it was already Christmas season and there was a noticeable change within the household, and it wasn't just the excessive decoration. Noah and I's relationship had steadily improved since he told me his secret and I told him mine, it seemed like we had come to a bit of understanding with the empathy between us or whatever. I think he was doing a bit better with it, but I didn't speak to him that often, so I really had no clue.

Our father had been in a good mood for the past few days, which was because our extended family was coming over in two days. The others also seemed really excited that they were coming, and had been talking about it for ages.

It was the 24th of December, Christmas Eve, and the day that everyone was arriving, and I was wondering about what I was gonna wear when I officially met the rest of my family. I had never had a big family, on my mum's side there were my grandparents, who died when I was young, and Uncle Jim who wasn't even blood-related. She never told me about any of her other family, though I knew from my grandparents that I had some cousins and great aunts and uncles, though I had never met them. Now I would never meet them.

Finally deciding on a white turtleneck sweater, with black pants and a pair of bright red socks, with my hair down. It was way colder here in New York than it ever was in Australia, but there were tons of radiators that heated the entire house, including one in my bedroom, that I regularly sat at to warm up. Going upstairs to the main living room, Xander, Xavier, Noah, and Leo were lounging around, some were eating a late breakfast.

"Sup Lils?" Xavier said, spotting me first. The nickname was new Xavier had insisted that I have one. "Nice fit," he smiled

"Thanks," I smiled back, pulling out my phone.

"Flynn says everyone will be here soon," Xander told us, not looking away from where he was watching the TV.

Ever since my family had found out about my dyslexia, they were all helping me to read and write things, Matteo even said that he'd have a talk with the school and put me in a specialised program with extra reading help. It was really nice of him. Speaking of nice, yesterday our father sent some of us to the shops to get some groceries, so we stopped for hot chocolate and coffee at this super cute little cafe and then we'd gone home laughing joking, it was a fun time and we all got along really well, which I admittedly found a bit unexpected.

The doorbell rang loudly, and everyone jumped up to rush downstairs to the door. Xavier was first down, which made sense because he practically threw himself down the stairs and ran to the door, feet stomping on the wooden floor.

"Nonno! Nonna!" Xavier shouted excitedly, throwing his arms around whoever was at the door. Xander quickly followed suit, and together they greeted everyone, the mass of people walking through the door, out of the cold, and into the hallway. Gosh, there were a lot of them. I estimated at least 16-18 people standing there, and most of them were males.

"Son, where are you?" Someone in the crowd said, their loud and deep voice almost echoing across the room. I involuntarily jumped and hid behind Noah who smirked at me.

"Don't yell Antonio," an older woman scolded, slapping the owner of the previous voice lightly on the shoulder.

Our father, Matteo, Flynn and Leo all pushed past me to join the others. Noah hesitated, but then he went down and enthusiastically greeted a group of boys.

She caught sight of our father, who was coming down the stairs. "Oh Dante, mio figlio (my son), I haven't seen you in so long," she said in a strong Italian accent, giving him a massive hug.

Excited chatter filled the room as my brothers greeted their cousins and grandparents while I just stood by the stairs awkwardly. I didn't know what to do with myself, I really didn't know these people, nor did I particularly want to be here right now.