All that glitters, ain't gold.

Chapter 19 (pt II)

"Megan!" I heard Conner say and then I heard footsteps coming closer. I took a deep breath and held back my tears. "I'm fine!" I shouted back, not turning around to face them. "I just dropped the tray. It was a little heavy." I laughed nervously. I could feel stares on my back but I chose to ignore them as I picked up the broken pieces of glass. "Shit." I cut my finger on a piece of glass and it started to bleed. "Let me help you." I heard someone say. "I said I'm fine." I shot back. Not turning my back to see who said it, nor did I care. I forced a pleasant laugh out and smiled reluctantly, "I have everything under control. Just play the movie. I didn't plan this night for it to flop because I cracked some cups." I place the final piece of glass on the tray before carrying it into the kitchen. From the hallway I could hear Ashely pushing everyone back into the living area," you heard her. Show's over people, she's fine." I silently thank Ashely for understanding, but I knew she would have questions for me later.

I dumped the glass into the trash bin and headed towards the bathroom. Once inside, I shut the door and looked into the mirror. I didn't look happy like I usually do hours before my favorite day of the year. I looked like a child whose puppy just got ran over. I could feel my body literally loosing energy and my eyes start to drupe, the curls in my hair weren't there anymore. The tears that were in my eyes shed as I splashed my face with water. I cleaned my finger and wrapped a bandaid around it before drying my face and leaving the bathroom. Right before I walked back into the living room, I put a small smile on my face to prepare myself.

When I sat back down, I could feel Jake looking at me but I ignored him and looked at the movie. Of course I couldn't pay attention to it, my anxiety was at an all time high and I felt like I wanted to have a panic attack. Annabel walked over to me and curled up in my lap, hugging onto me. "This is my favorite part." She said trying to whisper again. It made me genuinely smile as I hugged onto her tighter.

Once the movie was over it was around 11:30 and everyone was retreating back to their rooms. "Merry almost Christmas everyone." I faked a smile as everyone walked out the door. "This was like the best Christmas party ever! I can't wait until next year! Oh- I have SO much to tell you." Celia said, squeezing me. "Oh my gosh, alright!" I say. I can feel tears so I fake a yawn and wipe the tears away. "Goodnight guys, see you tomorrow." Nate said, walking with Ashely out of the door. "I'll go get my things. I'll be back down in 10 minutes." Ashely said and I shook my head. I had to ride her to the airport.

Jake was next to hug me and to be honest, for the first time, I didn't feel like hugging him. "Megs, look I'm-" he began but I cut him short. "Don't." I shot back. I hugged him quickly and moved towards Annabel. "Mommy has to hurry and get you into to bed so Santa can deliver your gifts, little girl." I say pinching her cheeks and kissing the top of her head. I quickly hug Tiff as Anna pulls her towards the elevator. Once the door was shut, I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding. "Want to talk about it?" Conner says from in front of me. "About what?-"

"Megan, come on. I know you heard the news. That's why you dropped the-"

"I told you. I dropped the tray because it was heavy. Just leave it alone, I'm fine. Just a few broken glasses and a bleeding finger." I snap. I walk into my closet in our room and grab my ankle length coat with my cream colored hat, scarf, and glove set. "Do you want me to ride with you?" Conner asks, sitting on the bed. "No, I'm fine." I say grabbing my phone off of the nightstand and heading towards the front door. "It's cold and dangerous at night, please call if you need any help. Be safe and I love you."

"Love you, too." I call back before opening the door.

I meet Ashely in the lobby as the concierge was loading Ashely's bags into the rental car I'd be driving to drop her off. I give her a small smile, "are you ready?" She shakes her head and returns my smile, though I can see the concern written over her face.

---

"I know you heard what Celia said." Ashely said once outside the airport. "I did." I say shortly. "How do you feel about that?"

"I'm fine Ashely, I'll be fine. Christmas is tomorrow, I spent this fabulous holiday with my family, I'm in this great place. I am alright."

"You aren't. You can tell those lies to anyone else and they might believe your shit but I know you and I know you aren't fine!" Ashely says angrily, she cheeks getting red. "And if I'm not fine what could I do? Huh, Ashely? Go and tell Jake that I love him when he's in a relationship and I am, too?! I think that would work out marvelous. Don't you agree?" I shout back finally letting it all out. "I can't do anything about it, Ashely." I whisper with my head buried in my mittens. She rubs my back and I sob, hardly. "You need to tell him. It's not just some best friend love. I've seen it way before we all went our separate ways, I saw it last night on the balcony -you two were going to kiss, weren't you?" She asks quietly. I just shake my head and continue sobbing. I felt like my heart was spilt into two and I was aching. Who knew I cared so much for him that I would be breaking down at an airport in Aspen. "Talk to him once you get back." I hear Ashely say, and I shake my head once more.

I sit up, take a deep breath, and wipe away my tears. "Okay, let's get you inside and ready to fly. I glanced at the clock and it was 12:47 and if she wanted to catch her flight, we hadn't a minute to waste. When we unloaded all of her luggage and it was time for us to go our separate ways, Ashely attacked me in one of her famous bear hugs. "I'll miss you so much, Meg!"

"I'll miss you just as much, Ashy!" I say, this time the tears streaming down my face were tears for Ashely. "I love you. Call me as soon as you land!" I say to her. She wipes her tears before answering me, "I will. I love you, too and merry Christmas, Megan."

---

10 minutes later I was one the road again when the gages on my dashboard started acting weird and lighting up. The "check engine" light came on just before the tachometer started jerking. Before I knew anything, my car shut off completely. I was on a dark road, twenty minutes away from the resort. "Flipping elves!" I swear before reaching into my purse to retrieve my cell phone. I press the unlock button and when it doesn't light up, my stomach drops. This could not be happening to me. "God, what did I do to deserve this?" I place my head in my hands again and cry for the third time today. I was terrified of the dark, it was 10 degrees outside, and about a 30-40 minute walk home. I began to shiver as I sat in the car, I had to do something or I'd freeze to death by morning.

I mustered up all of my courage and got out of the car. I placed my phone and the car keys in my purse and clutched the pepper spray my dad gave to me a while back in my hand, tightly. I could see anything only light far ahead of me, from the resort I'm guessing.

30 minutes into walking, I was so cold my eyes and nose began running and the air stung my cheeks, my legs were sore and I was ready to give up and sit on the side of the road until the morning. The resort lights were much closer and if I could just walk for five more minutes I'd be on the grounds and I could get help. I saw headlights of a car coming my way and I tried waving my hands and shouting. It hurt like hell to move any part of my body, but I didn't want to be out here any longer. "Help!" I said the loudest I could. My voice reminded me of Rose's from titanic when she was trying to grab the people's attention. "Help!" I said again waving my arms.

The car stopped abruptly and I saw two people climbing out and running towards me. "My god!" Conner! One of the people were Conner! My throat felt raw and closed up so I didn't say anything. "That's her!" I heard the other voice say and I knew it was Jake. I felt Jake pick me up and place me in the back of the truck and Jake wrapped Conner's jacket around me. "Blast the heat! Her lips are blue." Conner said. I was relieved but I couldn't find it in me to express my thankful feelings. So I just sat there, numbly. "Are you okay?" Conner asked and I remained sitting there not saying anything. "Conner, drive back to the resort. We need to warm her body back up, she's literally freezing." The car jerked forward and we were on our way to warmness.

What a wonderful way to begin Christmas.