Miss Arden {wlw-professorxstudent}

Chapter 9

KALINA'S POV:
I wanted to throw up.

Two months had passed and it was already November. Dad had informed us that he could not make it home for Christmas and though I hate to say it, that had not been all that surprising. He seemed less and less dependable. And in her fury, mum had just told us that we would spend Christmas break in Egypt.

Listen, I was not ungrateful but spending Christmas in Egypt was breaking every tradition. Though, my family was not big on tradition, I was because Keelin had been.

And my tradition was staying in cold England, drinking hot chocolates until my stomach hurt and having snowball fights with Anthony and Samet and walking through the markets with way too many clothes on and freezing off your ears anyway because you had thought you did not need a hat.

It was not staying in a hotel that we could barely afford and it was certainly not wearing a swimming suit in 40 degree weather.

"Mum, please! That's ridiculous. We've never spent Christmas abroad! Why now?", I was stood in front of my grumpy mother and an equally disappointed little brother.

"It's just to get away, Kalina! Will you stop being so complicated! We're going, end of discussion!", she matched my volume and put her hands on her hips.

"Why don't just the two of you go? You don't care about family traditions anyway! Why is this such a big deal?", I was getting frustrated. Why could she not just leave me here? It would profit all of us.

I didn't want to leave and Arin would probably never have been happier if he got his own bed. And mom simply did not care about Christmas at all. I guess a few years back she had cared but now without dad around everything was weird and not very festive.

"I can't leave you home alone for a whole two weeks, Kalina!", she argued.

„Mum! I'm an adult! If you like it or not you can't force me to go!", this was stupid. I had never wanted to go to Egypt. We had never been to Egypt. Mum hated Egypt.

"Say you stay here, you want to spend Christmas all alone?", she was trying to get me to cave in but I had already had plans actually.

I was going to spend Christmas with Anthony and his family in their family home. With a tree that was 20 meters tall and with so many decorations that they would fill our living room up to the brim.

I wanted Arin there with me but there was no way mum was going to leave him in my care. And the sad look in his eyes told me that he was very well aware.

"Mum, c'mon. I have spent Christmas with Anthony before and I'll do it again. I'm sure his parents would be more than happy to have me around and Samet is staying in town as well. There'll be plenty of people to keep me company", I stated. She was not comfortable with making this concession.

"I don't know, Kalina. Will you be okay? I don't want you to be alone", she seemed more worried than anything in that moment and I decided to give her the benefit of doubt.

"Mum, I won't be alone. Not even for a second. You know Anthony. That boy never leaves you alone", I implied.

"Alright, fine, spend Christmas break with that boy but please just be careful", I had to roll my eyes at that.

"Mum...we won't start a fire, thank you", Arin giggled with me but mum gave him a stern look and he quickly shut up.

"Don't get smart with me and go to bed before I change my mind! You have to get back to uni tomorrow", I had urgently needed that weekend as the exams the week prior had really cost me my last nerves.

So, I dreaded heading back to campus the following day.

-

Samet had gotten me a latte that following Monday and I adored him for it.