Gravity | Embry. Call. |

Chapter Thirty Four

Gravity

Chapter Thirty Four   

___________________________________

It felt unreal how fast the year has gone. With the weather only growing colder and the holiday decorations still appearing more now than ever since Christmas was around the corner. It didn't bring the sense of nostalgia like it once did in years prior. Eli no longer wanted to participate in the festive activities at all. More so now than ever before.

And no amount of bribing worked. She hated putting decorations up only to take them down in a couple of weeks. This year was much different— As were all the holidays that kept speeding by her much too quickly now that she lived in La Push. The fast change of holiday routines made her want to hide away from everyone and wait until it was over.

But as she spent her spare time at Sam and Emily's, Eli still lent a hand as Emily hoisted the boxes down from the small attic space. She wanted to get everything down before Sam got back from Forks and her nieces arrived for their visit.

Eli didn't care as long as she didn't have to help put them up.

Carefully walking down the stairs with the storage container, Eli had zero thoughts running through her head as Emily continued to ramble about where she wanted to put the Christmas tree this year– Or if she wanted a real tree or fake tree this time.

"What do you think?" Emily asked.

"What?" Eli responded, her attention falling onto Emily as she set the box down onto the kitchen table.

"Real or fake tree this year?" Emily repeated herself, her smile never wavering from her face.

"Well..." Eli thought on it for a moment. Fake trees were bad for the environment but so was cutting down real trees. Though real trees did bring a nice sent into the house but they tended to shed sharp pines. And then the fake trees just took up unnecessary storage space and got dusty. "Can I vote for no tree? Why not just put lights up on your house plants instead?"

"Hell yeah! Save the trees!" A voice suddenly boomed throughout the kitchen, taking the two woman by surprise. They both turned to find Jared and Paul making their way into the house- fully dressed for once.

"Fake tree it is." Emily rolled her eyes and went back to unboxing the decorations.

"What's the occasion?" Eli questioned, her eyes squinting up at the two males. "Jeans and a jacket? Fancy."

"We're heading to Forks for some Christmas shopping." Jared informed her with a wide grin. "We finally got paid for working! I don't care how tired I am, I'll sling all the lumber if it means I don't have to leech off of my parents anymore."

"It's not the best but it's better than nothing." Paul agreed, his demeanor tired but just as happy as Jared was on the inside.

"I'm sorry you guys have to do both. I wish I could help still." Eli frowned, the guilt eating away at her again.

"Don't worry about it, El." Paul shook his head and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You're also coming shopping with us." He suddenly informed her.

"But I'm helping Emily–"

"I got it." Emily waved her off. "Go help these guys with their gifts. I'm sure they could use it."

"Kim's on her way here to help, anyway." Jared grinned down at Eli.

"And dad wanted me to give you this..." Paul pulled some cash from his pocket and held it up in front of Eli's face.