Irreplaceable {1}

Chapter 17

The next week and a bit were much of the same. I had a lot of time to apply for jobs and a lot of time to figure out how to help Rowan. We found a school he liked and even went for a tour on day. It was a 30 minute walk away or a 5 minute bus ride. He was getting excited about transferring there.

Roxy and I got our marks back and passed with flying colours so we celebrated one night at the bar. Scott drove us there and Leo was sad about missing out but he had some event to go to. Instead we sent each other drunk pictures all night and silly messages.

Then was Christmas Eve and Leo said his family celebrations started that night so we was coming to pick up Rowan and I and we would stay the next three nights with his family. They lived a couple hours away so we left earlier in the afternoon. Rowan was excited because Leo was telling him all about the turkey his mom was making and telling stories about his siblings.

I knew that Leo has two older sisters and one younger brother, but hearing stories about them made me a little more anxious to meet them.

Leo still had a garage door opener for his families house and was able to get us into the garage before anyone saw. We piled out with our things and then followed Leo into the house and I almost couldn't breathe.

Before I could really see what was around me, I was wrapped into someone's arms, someone shorter and softer than Leo with far more hair.

"Oh Maire! It is so nice to finally meet you!" I hugged back the person because it felt like the right thing to do and her hug was super nice.

"It is nice to meet you too," I added and then she pulled away to look at my face. It was Leo's mother and we smiled at each other.

"Oh I cannot wait to spend Christmas with you and your brother!" She grabbed one of Rowan's bags, "Leo will take you up to his room and I will take Rowan to one of the guest rooms!"

She hugged Rowan too and then we all went upstairs to different areas. Rowan shot me a grin that said he was already having a great time. I was so surprised when I got to see Leo's bedroom. He looked around and groaned the second we got in, "please do not judge me."

I grinned and looked at the posters, "I cannot wait to sleep while Miley Cyrus watches me. And Beyonce. And Pink."

All of the posters were from the 2000's, that was sure. Magazine clippings of music artists were everywhere. He had a shelf full of CD's from so many different talents and there was a radio CD player on a desk. It was like he moved out when he was 13 and never came back, even though he only really moved out 4 years ago.

I turned to smile at him, "who knows that your room looks like this?"

Leo frowned, "just my family and now you. I keep thinking my parents will tear it down and set it up as a guest room but they never do. My mom won't even let me take anything from here or remove the posters at least."

I laughed and pulled him in for a hug, "that's adorable. When I moved out I had to take everything with me because my parents removed everything but the bed."

Leo sighed and rested his face in my shoulder, "I hate that you had to deal with that."

"It's okay, it is all working out in the end."

We stood like that for a while, then his mom started calling so we had to go help with dinner. Only Leo's little brother, who still lived at home, was around and he was too busy playing video games to even come and say hi to us. So Rowan and I happily stepped in. This family was going to feed us and house us over Christmas, which they didn't have to do, so we would help.

As we progressed on dinner, more people showed up and eventually the whole family was either helping with food or mixing drinks or setting up a Christmas movie to watch. Eventually, Leo, Rowan, and I were shooed out of the kitchen and told to relax in the living room with the Christmas movie.