[C] Lightyears

✈twenty-three✈

The team were all packing their things for their trip to Rachel's hometown, New Jersey. They were gonna spend Christmas there, and eventually be going back the day after Christmas.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Rachel's aunt said. "Anyway, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Claire Adams, Rach's aunt. Nice to meet you."

"Claire! How've you been?" greeted Victoria. "Oh, Vicky! How's life now?"

"Uhm, for the rest of you, please feel free to look around and...oh, I forgot! Frida, please guide them to their rooms," Claire added.

"Yes, maam," the maid answered. And so, they went to the large guest room. Rachel and Anderson will be sleeping on the leftmost bed, while Jamie and Candice will be sleeping beside them. Jessica and Michael will be sleeping on the third bed, while Sara, Chloe and Lynn will sleep on the rightmost bed beside the window. Victoria, meanwhile, will sleep in another room.

Meanwhile, inside the headquarters, the people welcomed KDES' former chief political correspondent Elysse Smith into the New York headquarters. She had made her debut already two months ago, contributing to The News Today while still at KDES. She resigned after she had an argument with the president.

"Welcome to WLAC, Elysse! I hope you have a good time here," said Wolf.

"Where is my room, sir? And when will I see my colleagues?" she asked.

"Uhm, Rachel's squad is on vacation right now, but you'll meet them in a few days," he answered.

She nods and goes to her office.

"I wonder what kind of people are they," she said to herself.

On the other hand, they were partying at Rachel's mom's garage a few blocks away from their home. Jamie, as we all know, likes to host parties at his house. So, he organized the party.

"Are you ready to party?" he shouted. And so, he played the music loud and they all joined in the fun.

"You know what, Anderson? This was the best party I ever had! Thank you all!" Rachel exclaims. Her mom was there, cooking food for their Christmas dinner. Victoria was also there, helping her.

"Aren't you going to join the party?" Claire asked.

"I'm not a partygoer, unlike them," Vicky answers, tossing the pan up.

"You're a great chef, huh?" commended Claire. "Looks like you have a great knowledge about food."

"No, I...I just learned how to cook from my chef brother," she said.

The conversation became serious when Claire started talking about Jamie.

"Oh wait. How about Jamie? And the two sisters?"

"I'll reveal all of it in due time," Victoria replied. "I don't know, but I think it's much better to, you know, say it to him in the future, when he's ready. I don't think he's prepared today."

"I guess so. If you say it all to him today, Jamie would be so angry at you. He would be so frustrated at you. What if he commits suicide because you were hiding this all your life? But if you do say it all to him, I think his baggage in his heart would be lighter like a feather," Claire stated.

"I'm scared of him dying. I don't want him to die just yet," Vicky said, clenching her right fist while cooking soup.

Meanwhile, they were all exhausted after 3 hours of partying.

"Are you ready to eat?" Claire shouted.

"YEEEEEEEEEESSSSS!!!" they chorused and flocked over the table.

"Go eat all you can. I made more at the kitchen," she happily said and joined them.

"This soup is so freaking delicious!" Jamie blurted.

"I agree with Jamie. It's delicious, Mom! Thank you for this soup," Rachel responded.

"Thank you, dear. And please sleep carefully!" Claire said.