the holiday- mileven

chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: life is too short, kid

mike woke up to the sound of his phone ringing. he reluctantly opened his eyes and looked at the clock, 7:24.

"who the heck" mike mumbled to himself before answering the phone.

"hello?" mike asked groggily.

"mike! hey its lucas!"

"hey man, you okay?" mike asked, confused as to why he would be calling at this time, it would be late in the evening over there.

"all good, just checking in with you. el flew back today right?" lucas questioned.

"uh yeah today for you, yesterday for me." mike said, yawning.

"oh? wait, what time is it there?" lucas asked, after hearing his friend yawn down the phone.

"7:26am." mike said bluntly.

"oh shit sorry dude, merry christmas though!"

mikes eyes widened, he was so annoyed about being woken up he didn't even realise what day it was.

"merry christmas!" mike said.

him and lucas chatted for a few more minutes until mike heard max yell at him for clogging up the phone line— she wanted to call el.

"you have a mobile phone!" lucas shouted back.

"it's charging!" max's voice echoed down the phone.

mike chuckled to himself at his friends antics and then they said their goodbyes. slowly, mike peeled himself out of bed and wandered into the bathroom, throwing some cold water on his face to wake himself up. by the time he made it downstairs he was tackled by a small girl in a green grinch onesie, causing him to almost lose his footing.

"holly? you're here already?" mike chuckled, picking her up and spinning her around.

"yep, she had me up at 6:30."  nancy called from the living room. "nice pyjamas by the way."

mike was wearing the christmas pyjamas that his mom bought him last year. the trousers were pretty standard red tarten but the navy t-shirt had a large reindeer head with baubles hanging from the antlers.

"yours aren't much better." mike laughed. nancy's were the same except instead of a reindeer, it was a large elf.

mikes mom and dad were in the kitchen making tea, much to holly's dismay as she couldn't wait any longer for presents.

soon enough, everyone was finally in the living room, divvying out all the various gifts wrapped in red and green paper. holly wasted no time and immediately started ripping them open.

"an mp3 player! thanks mom and dad!" holly squealed, clutching the small pink device to her chest.

the next hour was spent unwrapping various presents while ted went round with a bin bag trying to collect the leftover paper.

everyone was really happy with their gifts and thanked each other one by one. once ted had cleared away the mess, nancy offered to make pancakes for everyone which an excited holly was very pleased with.