Ghosts of War | CoD - MW

Chapter 37.

Sunday, 19th of December, 2021.

Kimberly stared at her bag, wondering if there was anything she had forgotten to pack. She scratched the back of her head as she opened her closet once more, looking through it. She had packed all her civil clothes in her bag, but they didn't seem fit for Christmas at all. It felt like she was going on a weekend-stay in Vegas, which annoyed her.

She sighed as she shut the closet door once more, grabbing her bag. She hoisted the strap over her shoulder, making her way out of her dorm. Kimberly left the third floor, soon appearing in the main hall. Everyone was gathered around Price, seemingly waiting for Kimberly. She tried to blend in quietly, but everyone stared at her as she walked up to them.

-"We're all here. Good. I want all of you to grab one piece of paper each," John said. Kimberly saw how he held his bucket hat upside down, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Don't show or tell whose name is on the note to anyone. We're going to do secret santa this year. Any complaints?" Everyone opened their mouth to protest. "I don't want to hear it. Suck it up and pick a piece of paper!"

Kimberly walked up to John, grabbing the first piece. She stepped further away from the others as she opened it. Phillip. This might actually be fun, Kimberly thought, aware that she could buy whatever she wanted to him. He would never know who the gift was from.

Everyone picked each their piece of paper, and silence had settled as everyone got to read the name on their note. No one seemed particularly happy about John's whole idea, but no one complained either. No one really dared to complain.
-"No one buys gifts over 30 dollars. One thing each. Understood? Good, let's get going. I'm driving my car, Kate's driving the other," John said, leading way out of the base.

Everyone followed John, and they looked like idiots. Kimberly looked at her team, and she couldn't help but giggle. No one seemed happy, except from Price. They looked like a boy-scout group. The sun had set on the horizon, casting the sky in a beautiful orange color.
-"How long's the ride?" Gaz asked. He still looked sick, but the antibiotics the doctor had given him worked very well.

-"3 hours. That's why you, Kyle, will take the passenger seat. I figured you would need some space, so you don't put too much pressure on your wound," John said, unlocking his car. He opened the trunk, tossing his bag in. "König, Johnny and Phillip, you'll ride with Kate."

No one protested, but obeyed John. Everyone could see that he was more excited about this than anyone else, so they didn't want to ruin it by complaining like children. It had been some time since John had been this passionate and happy about something.

Kimberly got into the back seats, settling down in the middle. Simon settled down behind Price, and Gaz got into the passenger seat. He pushed his seat as far back as it could, rolling it further down. Even Kimberly noticed how she wouldn't fit between the passenger and back seat anymore. Gaz then settled down, testing the position of the seat. As he didn't feel pressure on his wound, he was happy.

John settled into the drivers seat and started the car, looking at the three people in the car.
-"So, what is on all your wishlists for this Christmas?" John asked, driving away from the base. He stared in his mirrors as he saw Kate following him.

-"John, do you think we could drive by the house I grew up in any of the upcoming days?" Kimberly asked, leaning forward. She had not seen it for 7 years, and she was wondering if anyone had moved in there after her father. The house had been in her name after his death, but she had sold it as fast as she could. She never had any intentions of living there. She simply couldn't.
-"Of course. I do have to warn you though. No one has lived there since your father, so it looks pretty bad. The couple that bought it from you died in a car accident weeks after you sold it to them," John said, looking at Kimberly through the rearview mirror.