Growing Up - Jenna Ortega x Fem Reader

47.

December 24th

The drive to the Ortega house was familiar, yet it felt different this time. As you navigated the winding streets, memories of past holidays spent there flooded your mind—Christmas lights twinkling, laughter filling the rooms, and Jenna with you. But now, everything felt uncertain, like the holiday cheer couldn't quite reach the parts of you still mending from the hurt.

When Natalie invited you to spend yet another Christmas Eve with them, you hesitated at first. Your parents were on another trip around the globe, and spending such a family-centered holiday alone didn't make much sense to you, even if it meant spending with your ex-girlfriend. The Ortegas had always been your second family, and despite everything, that hadn't changed. So, you accepted, hoping that being around them might bring some semblance of normalcy back into your life.

When you pulled up to the house, you took a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. You knew Jenna would be there—she was family, after all. But how were you supposed to act around her and her family after everything that happened?

You grabbed the gifts from the backseat, their festive wrapping a stark contrast to the turmoil inside you. As you walked up to the front door, you mentally prepared yourself to play the role of the friend, the ex who was "fine" with how things were now.

The door opened almost immediately, and Aliyah greeted you with a bright smile, pulling you into a hug before you could even step inside. "You made it! Everyone's been waiting for you."

You smiled back, letting her warmth ease some of your tension. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Stepping into the house, you were hit by the comforting smell of pine and cinnamon. The tree in the living room was decorated to perfection, ornaments you remembered from past years hanging alongside new ones. The familiar warmth of the Ortega home settled around you, but it didn't quite reach the cold, guarded place you'd built inside.

"Come on, everyone's in the kitchen," Aliyah said, leading the way.

As you followed her, you couldn't help but notice the photos on the wall, snapshots of moments from the past years. There was one of for each child. Another showed the whole family at a summer barbecue, everyone laughing, including you—back when things were simpler.

You entered the kitchen, where Natalie and Edward were busy with last-minute preparations for dinner. They looked up as you walked in, and their faces lit up with genuine joy.

"Y/N! It's so good to see you!" Natalie exclaimed, pulling you into a tight embrace. "How have you been?"

"I'm good, thank you. Merry Christmas," you replied, your voice steady even as your heart raced.

Ed hugged you next, his grip just as tight. "We've missed having you around."

"I've missed you guys too," you said, and you meant it. Being here with Jenna's family had always felt like being home.

Then, you felt a shift in the atmosphere. It was subtle, like a slight drop in temperature, but you noticed it. You turned, and there she was—Jenna, standing in the doorway, her eyes locked on yours.

She was wearing an oversized red T-shirt with the word "Naughty" printed across the front, matching Aliyah's shirt exactly. The playful choice of attire brought a smile to your face despite yourself. It wasn't unexpected, but seeing her again still made your heart skip a beat. She looked almost the same, yet something was different. Maybe it was the way she hesitated before stepping into the room, or the way her smile didn't quite reach her eyes like months back.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice carrying a mixture of warmth and uncertainty.

"Hey," you replied, managing a small smile. You couldn't help but glance at her shirt, then back at her, a teasing glint in your eyes. "Naughty, huh? Still living up to that?"