A Holiday to Remember

One

Chapter: 1502 words

Pardon the italian, I got it off google translate.

When the seasons go by, do they miss us? In summer, you miss the chilly, crisp air of Whistler, BC. In the winter, you miss the warm, summer days where life feels like you are on cloud nine. But, when you hit November, that cold, dreary month where life feels down in the pits. 

Cali feels like that all the time. When December comes around, you put on a fake smile and say "thank you!" and "Merry Christmas".  Accept gifts that other people give you, and give others gifts.

Cali doesn't know if she can handle another Christmas like this.

She sits on the edge of the bed, wringing out her hands. She got dressed in her usual Christmas party wear, white airforce's, black leggings, and a red Christmas sweater with ornament strings on it. Cali got up and curled her hair and did her make-up, pulling out a dusty bag that hasn't  been used in months. 

She flinches when her phone plays the ringtone from Brooklyn-nine-nine. She picks up her phone and reads the screen that says, "Momma Bear."

Cali checks that time. 6:09. She is nine minutes late. Sighing, she picks up the phone, throwing on a smile for confidence, and gives a cheerful, "Hello?"

"Hey, bella, are you going to be coming?" Cassie's voice is loud, causing Cali to pull the phone away from her ear, and then place it back.

"Momma, you don't have to yell, I can hear you perfectly." I say, still trying to keep my voice cheerful.

"Sorry, bella. Are you coming? Uncle Bryan is waiting for you." Cassie asks.

Uncle Bryan is like Cali's dad. He isn't actually her father, he left when she was five. Devon, his son, was her first crush, her first kiss, her first love. Until, she was sixteen, and he ditched her for some blonde cheerleader, which she found out from his friend that cheated on him four months into the relationship.

"I'm coming, Momma, just tell him to wait. I had a nap and lost track of time." Cali lies. Her mom will be skeptical about it, but won't question her.

"Okay, bella. Love you. Ciao." She says.

"Ciao." Cali responds, and hangs up the phone.

Sighing, She grabs her purse and heads out the door, locking it behind her. On the drive there, she mentally prepares for the questions.

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"Bella, I am so glad you can make it!" Momma says, rushing up to give me a hug. 

"Calibear!" Uncle Bryan says. His nickname for her was from the first time they met each other, Cali was clutching her stuffed bear, Taco. She still has that bear on her shelf today.

"Hey, Uncle Bryan, so good to see you." Cali squeezes him extra tight, which tells him she is okay. When Cali was fourteen, she went through a state of sadness. She thought her father leaving was her fault, and locked herself into her room. She beat herself up for months, until Bryan found out what was wrong. She went to a therapist behind her mom's back, and got better. An extra squeeze in their hug shows that she is okay.

Bryan sighs quietly, and pulls back to study Cali. She gives a smile to Everly, a bubbly four-year-old with no  filter on her mouth. 

"Hello, Auntie Cali!" Everly sings, dancing in a circle around her and Uncle Bryan.

"Hey, Cutie pie! What have you been up to lately?" Cali responds, sounding cheerful with every word. On the inside, she thinks there are too many people. She needs to get out.