Opposites Attract - Rhea Ripley

Chapter 19 - Christmas Day, Part 1.

A Few Weeks Later...

I opened my eyes to the sound of Christmas music downstairs. The smell of gingerbread and turkey creeping its way into my nose. The soft glow of the Christmas tree cast a warm light on the walls. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and stretched. It was just like every other Christmas morning.

I heard the chuckles of my family downstairs, my little cousins, my aunties, uncles, grandparents, everyone. It was always like this on Christmas. Everyone together, laughing and sharing stories, traditions passed down through generations. The warmth of the fireplace seeped into my bones, as I slowly made my way down the stairs. The smell of freshly baked bread and homemade apple pie filled the air.

One thing I remembered, today was the day my family met Demi's. After we announced being together, both families came together as one, excited to get to know each other over a cute little group chat. There was an instant connection, like we had all known each other for years.

Demi had been kind enough to fly over her family from Australia to England, and they were staying with us for the day.

Demi didn't have much family, but it was still enough to fill our house. Her grandparents, parents, sister and uncle. This uncle was okay though, nothing like her other uncle. This uncle was Demi's dads brother. She had told me all about him, he was full of life, so happy, so funny. I couldn't wait to meet him.

As I ran downstairs I greeted mum, dad and everyone in my family who had arrived. One hour until Demi and her family would be here. I was so excited, I couldn't keep still. I paced around the living room, thinking about how this was going to be the best Christmas ever. I had never been this excited for anything before.

For Christmas, I wasn't really looking for anything in particular, so everyone gave me money. Dad always felt a little bad for me, as I had no present to open, but I assured him it was fine. I was grateful just to be with my family. The anticipation of meeting Demi's family finally reached its peak, and I could feel my heart racing.

I hugged all my cousins.

Starting with the youngest, 4 year old Emma. Then 10 year old twins, Tia and Tom, and finally, the oldest of the bunch, 14 year old Olivia and 16 year old Max. They were all dressed up, wearing Santa hats and fake beards, their faces lit up with excitement.

Sat down was my Auntie Claire and Uncle Peter, who had Max, Tia and Tom. Then my Auntie Sarah and Uncle Rob, who had Emma and Olivia. I was glad to see all of them, they were like family to me. We exchanged hugs and kisses, talking about how much we missed each other.

The ones already drinking alcohol, were obviously my two grandmas and my grandad. They had a little glass of sherry, their usual Christmas drink. They always made sure to keep it hidden from the younger kids, as they knew they'd ask for some. I couldn't help but smile as I watched them sneak sips out of their glasses.

The doorbell rang, and everyone scrambled to their feet, running towards the door. I was right at the front, my heart pounding with excitement. My hand was shaking as I opened the door, revealing Demi and her family, all dressed in their winter coats. They were standing there, beaming at us, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

There Demi stood, holding a big bouquet of flowers, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Oh my God, hi! They're so cute, thank you!" I pulled Demi into a tight hug and invited everyone inside.

Demi and I exchanged gifts while our families talked and laughed, sharing stories about each other. Her family was just as warm and welcoming as she had described them, and I felt an instant connection with them all. Her uncle, in particular, was the loudest, making everyone laugh with his jokes and stories. He seemed to really like me too, often nudging me and including me in the conversation.

Mine and Demi's parents seemed to get along well, even little Emma, who was usually shy, was talking and laughing with everyone. We had so much in common; our families were both close-knit and supportive in such a short amount of time. It felt like we had known each other for years, not just a few minutes.

It was funny watching the parents speak to the parents, the grandparents speak to the grandparents, and the siblings speak to the siblings. They all seemed to know each other, like they had been friends for years. It made me feel really happy and included.

Demi's sister, who must've been about 13 or 14, played with my cousins, laughing and giggling as they ran around the living room. The food arrived, and the kitchen was soon filled with the aroma of roast turkey, stuffing, and all sorts of delicious sides. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and contentment. I caught Demi looking at me from across the room, a smile playing on her lips, and it made my heart skip a beat.

The day went by in a blur of food, drink, presents, and laughter. We all sat around the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, oohing and aahing over each other's thoughtful choices. I'd got Demi a set of fancy cooking utensils, as she expressed a love for cooking recently. She seemed to like it, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest.

After dinner, Demi's parents told embarrassing stories of Demi when she was little. Everyone laughed, even Demi, who tried to deny most of them. Her sister even added a few of her own, making Demi blush even harder. It was really nice to see how close they all were. Demi also told stories of her sister, which were just as funny, but in a different way. Their parents were proud of both of them, and it showed in the way they smiled and beamed with pride.

I snuck over to my grandma, who was pouring herself another glass of sherry, "Gran, can I have some too? Please? Pretty please?" I begged, batting my eyelashes.

Demi wandered over and my gran chuckled, "Okay, I mean you're old enough now, I guess. Just be careful with it, alright? And only have a little bit at a time. Your parents don't need to know, though, got it?" I grinned and nodded, taking the tiny glass from her.

"Would you like some too, darling?" Gran looked towards Demi, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Demi raised an eyebrow, "Hmmm, sure! Thanks."

Grandma smiled and poured her a tiny bit as well, handing it over with a wink.

The night went on, and I found myself feeling more and more comfortable around Demi and her family. There was something special about them, something that made me feel like I belonged. I couldn't help but wonder if it was because we were so similar, or if there was something deeper than that. As we all sat around the living room, sipping our drinks and laughing at stories, I realized that I didn't care. All that mattered was that I was happy, and so was she.

After a few drinks of alcohol, I was feeling the effects and one of my drunk moods happened to be flirty. I nudged Demi with my elbow and whispered, "Hey, you know what would be really fun? We could sneak upstairs."

Demi looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eye and nodded. She leaned in close, her breath tickling my ear, and whispered, "Sounds good, I'm in."