Triple Dog Dare *A Zayn Malik Love Story*

Chapter 13

The song for the this chapter is Christmas Lights by Coldplay(: Very cute song!

*Camille's POV*

"Rita, you don't understand! This is huge! I could become a part of a television production! My writing would be used in the show!" I grabbed her shoulders and shook them. "MY writing!"

Rita laughed and shrugged my hands off her shoulders, placing them back at my sides. "Yeah, yeah, I heard you! You're going to become a rich, successful woman with Zayn Malik, an international pop star, as your husband."

I pushed her playfully and she giggled when she caught herself on the bed. "Shut up. He only just asked me out. That has absolutely nothing to do with anything."

She gave me a kissy face. "You never know."

Today was Christmas Eve and mine and Rita's families were together, like every year, for a celebration. This year it was hosted at Rita's. Our dad's met through work as they both owned hotel's downtown. They'd become friends from even before the two of us were born. Our parents always exchanged gifts with one another and Rita and I exchanged gifts as well. This year from Rita I received a lovely new bracelet with a locket attached to the chain. Inside the locket was a photo taken of us at our high school graduation a year ago. In return, I bought her a gift certificate to the spa. It sounds lame, I know, but her favorite thing in the world to was get a massage and a manicure and pedicure. Although she didn't look the type to be into that sort of stuff, it was her guilty pleasure.

Rita and I laughed and a knock at the door made us stifle our laughter to giggles. "Come in!" I yelled. The door opened and Rita's mom peeked in.

"Time for dinner girls."

I looked to Rita and gave her an anxious smile. Christmas dinner was always my favorite meal of the year because her dad was such an amazing cook. I hopped off her bed and shimmied past her mom to sprint to the kitchen. I took a seat next to my dad at the table and Rita squeezed into the seat beside mine as her father brought out the last of the food. The sweet smell of baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetables lingered in the air and tickled my taste buds, making my mouth water uncontrollably.

Before we began to eat the delicately cooked meal taunting us with its savory smell, we all gathered hands and said grace. The five of us engaged in a fun-filled conversation of old times from high school, work, and times from even before that. I was thankful that I had my dad and Rita's family. It was really hard growing up without a mum to comfort you through hard times, but that's what Rita's mum, Mrs. Gallagara, was for. She was practically a mum to me when my dad couldn't be. Long story short, my mother left us a long time ago when I was too little to even know her. She struggled a lot with certain things growing up and my dad said things got hard again after I was born. She couldn't properly be there for me like a good mother should be. I still resent that about her for my own reasons, but I know I had to accept that for the time being. I always thought about those kinds of things during the holiday seasons because I couldn't help but think about how things would be different if she hadn't left us.

After dinner, we gathered in the living room and played the Wii as a group. Just Dance was our favorite game and Rita and I were pros at it. Her and I were dancing to Price Tag by Jessie J when I heard my phone ringing in the other room.

"Hey! Does someone want to play for me while I get my phone?" I yelled over my shoulder.

Mr. Gallagara stood up. "I got you. I'm good at this!" I quickly passed him the Wii remote and bolted into Rita's old bedroom that was still set up at her parents' house. My phone was charging on her desk and I quickly pulled it off its plug and answered it, but not before sneaking a glance at the caller ID.