Christmas Party

AN: so it's Christmas and I thought I'd post this here as well because I posted on my tumblr. I am just getting back into writing so hopefully within the next week or so I can have an update for my fic. It's been a long time since I've updated :( but hopefully you'll like this story. Again thanks lacylaurmani!

"Lauren... Lauren are you here?" I hear Camila yelling as she makes her way to my room.
"Ugh, not today." I grumble under my breath as I pull my covers over my head hoping that if I am quiet enough she won't come in. No such luck because moments later she's sitting on the edge of my bed poking me in the back. "Lauren I know you're in there, just talk to me." I move my body further away from her incessant poking. "I know you are upset but can't we talk about it?"
"Hmm," I mumble, letting her know that I'm not up for talking right now. She lies down cuddling up next to me, I feel her arm move to drape over my waist. "I'm not leaving until you talk to me. I've got all day you know."
But not ten minutes after she lies down I hear her stomach growl. Chuckling to myself as I roll over pulling the covers down as I face her, she smiles softly. "I can't believe you lasted this long, go eat I can't take hearing your stomach growl."
"I'm not leaving. I know I shouldn't have invited so many people given the fact that you hate Christmas parties but I couldn't help myself. Dinah got so excited her eyes started to sparkle and I couldn't say no." She slaps my arm as I roll my eyes.
"It's just that I'm not a Christmas person I haven't been for a while and you know that, you've been my best friend for what? Ten years now!" Now it's her turn to roll her eyes.
"I know Lauren but Christmas can be magical again if you let it." I can't help but feel emotional she's been saying this to me since the Christmas after my grandma died. But it just doesn't feel the same without her here. "It use to be your favorite holiday, you could have given Ally a run for her money."
"It feels weird my grandma was the reason I loved the holiday so much. And why couldn't you have had the Christmas party at yours, why do I have to host it? I would have gone but, to have me host it?"
I pull my covers back over my head.
"We both know you would have found some way to get out of it. Plus, your place is the most logical you have everything here. It's the best location and your neighbors aren't annoying about noise." Camila exasperately says, "Come on Lauren, you can do this. Ally even said she'd help us."
"Help us? Who said I was doing anything? You already asked to use my place and now I have to help with this?" I pull my covers down and stare at her like she has two heads. Camila knows I hate Christmas. In fact, everyone knows I hate Christmas. It's my least favorite holiday.
"Aw come on, Lo. All our friends are coming." She sits up on her knees while putting her hands together begging me to help. "Please, please, please."
I look up at her pouting face and relent. "Fine, if it will get you to stop and go away."
"Oh, thank you, thank you." Camila bounces around on the bed for a bit.
"Yeah." I pull the covers up and roll over away from her, but not before Camila gives me a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
Right as I'm about to succumb to sleep, Camila's voice loudly states, "Yeah, Ally. She's in." I can only imagine Ally's shrill of delight over the phone. And then I hear it, my front door close. I really need to get those locks changed.
Hours later I finally drag myself out of bed and head for the kitchen. I make myself some toast and a bit of eggs as I think about how this couldn't possibly get any worse. Turning my head while grabbing my cup of coffee I catch a glimpse of my calendar. I see that Camila has circled Saturday the 20th and wrote Christmas Party in giant letters. Ugh.
-
I hear the doorbell ring; I lift my head up from my book and look down at my watch, "Who could that be?" Another ring and I get up from the couch but not before bookmarking my page.
I peep through the peephole just to be sure, when all I see are a pair of antlers attached to a tiny person's head. Of course, it's Ally.
When I open the door, Ally's standing there grinning widely. I look down to see that she has many bags hanging from each of her arms and a few items in her hands.
Cheerily Ally says, "Merry Early Christmas, Lauren." She's bouncing on her toes like she's had too much sugar and if this was anyone else I'd think they had.
I barely register what she says though because she's wearing this ugly Christmas sweater that has lights that twinkle. Somehow I manage to reach out and try and grab whatever I can from her hands. "Ally, what is all of this?"
Ally walks pass me towards the kitchen and sets everything in her arms on the counter. She chuckles, "It's for the Christmas party silly." I sit on one of my stools at the counter and look at some of the items she has.
"Why do we need all of this stuff?" I ask as I pick up something that could only be described as a weird looking knife.
"It's a peeler for the lemon drop cookies." The short woman says as if it's the most obvious thing.
"Why?"
"Because we're making cookies today for the party tonight. Then we have to decorate the house so that it's festive."
Holding up my hand, "Ally wait, wait, wait. Who's making cookies? Just you and me?" I ask pointing between the two of us. Of course the girls would try to skip out on all the work. They will probably just show up later at the party.
"No, the girls are coming over in a bit to help. Oh, and would you help me get the rest of the things from my car?"
My eyes widen. "Ally how much more do you have?" Although I'm not so sure I want to know the answer.
"Not to much more." Ally states as we head back out to her car. Looking at the small car it can't be much more, right?
Wrong, very wrong. She brought everything except a tree. As we made the few trips from her car to my house, I couldn't help wondering if she had a never-ending trunk. It was like just when I thought we had everything something else would appear.
After our last trip to the car I place the things on the counter and take up my seat at the island. Ally begins to busy herself organizing everything that she brought. I watch with my head resting in my hand.
I hear the door open and laughter spill into the hall. Of course Mila uses her keys. "I really need to get those locks changed." I yell as Normani, Dinah, and Camila walking in the hall.
"You say that every time, Lo, and every time my keys work." I look up to see Camila standing in the doorway with a huge grin on her face wearing the most ugly of ugly Christmas sweaters.
I go to hug Dinah and Normani and they too are wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, and I playfully hit Camila's arm, "Well one day soon, when I get around to it. You'll be surprised. Oh and I must have missed the memo." I say as I pull on Camila's sweater.
"Yeah sure whatever you say Lo, not gonna happen." The other girls nod in agreement, "See, they know. And you definitely got the memo you just stopped read my texts about the party tonight. And really would you have worn it anyway?" She's got me there.
Ally starts rummaging through one of the many bags she's brought with her. I turn to see Dinah walking over to turn on my speakers; I barely make it a step when I hear the sounds of Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas. "Dinah, No." I whine, but my voice is drowned out by the sounds of Normani and Dinah singing along.
Camila comes over to me, "Lighten up Lo, its almost Christmas."
"Everyone grab an apron," Ally orders while handing out her many aprons. There were some with winter wonderland scenes and ones with puns. I somehow ended up with an apron that says pole dancer with a candy cane and a reindeer on it. Everyone tries to stifle a laugh as I go to put it on, looking down I begin to laugh and they join in with me. With the room feeling lighter Ally excitedly says, "It's time to bake!" Dinah looks at Ally with this look in her eyes. It was so quick I barely saw it but if I didn't know any better I'd say she was in love. But she couldn't be could she, right?
I turn to my wine fridge. "It's going to be a long day girls, I need wine for this."
Mani glances up and nods to me to grab a glass for her while I'm at it. I nod back. "Any one else?"
Ally cocks her head, "Might as well pour me one too, Lo."
I hand her her drink, smirking. Ally drinking is the best.
We eventually get down to baking, as Ally would say. Well she did say and then laughed for five minutes straight about it. I love that little munchkin.
I am in charge of measuring the ingredients while Ally mixes across the island from me. They gave me this job because I was doing a bit more drinking than working. And because Dinah wouldn't stop throwing flour at everyone when they said Christmas. It was surprising how many times Ally said it, hopefully she's not to traumatized.
Camila is standing next to me decorating cookies while Dinah is sitting next to Ally decorating as well.
Ally has started to mix again so my services are rendered unneeded until she's ready to start the process all over again.
In the meantime, I walk over to Normani, who is over in the corner by the stove putting the cookies on the sheets. She's using cookie cutters in the shape of trees and angels. "Those are cool," I state while stealing a little of her cookie dough. She opens up her hand, inviting me to take the bit within it. When I do she looks at me and says, "It's good isn't it, I can't seem to stop eating the dough myself, just don't tell Ally." She moves her hand up to her mouth, "Shh."
"I won't." I try to think of something to say. But no matter how much I prepare myself to say something anything to Normani, when I see her everything goes out the window and my heart begins to pound incessantly and my stomach becomes overcome with butterflies. Why is it so hard? It wasn't always this hard talking to her. We use to be so close, now I can barely hold a conversation with her.
Before my brain can think of something, anything she speaks.
"How have you been? It's been a few weeks since I've seen you."
"Yeah, I'm so busy with work. I haven't had much time for socializing." Well part of that is true but really I just haven't made time because more and more lately Mani has been all I think about and my fear of saying something stupid or worst how I feel has me a little more than scared to be around her. And I haven't been sure how to deal with it. Or in the very least how to get my feelings under control.
I remember having Mila over one night, sharing a bottle of wine. When we got to talking and somehow the subject of Normani came up and I told Mila about how much I liked Mani. She was shocked but not as shocked as I was. I tried to take it back but she called no take backs and I've never been more stumped and stupefied in my life. What grown woman says no take backs?
But somehow she got me to tell her everything and boy I mean everything. The next day was mortifying I couldn't even look at Camila. It was as if my mouth had a mind of it's own and it's soul thought being to force me to confront my feelings about Normani. After that I started avoiding Mani just incase my mouth decided to take over again. I avoided Mila too for good measure after I told her to promise not to say anything. We haven't spoken of that night since.
"Yeah I know but you have to make time for your friends, Lo." She says this, bringing me out of my reverie. I look up into her eyes, and only now realizing how close we are. I take a step back, clearing my throat.
"Normani, you okay over there?"
"Yeah, Ally." Normani jumps a bit, I'm guessing because she thinks Ally might have saw her eating the cookie dough. She walks over to Ally and wraps her arms around her.
Mila giggles to herself as I walk back over to my post next to her. She nudges my arm and chuckles a bit more. "Shut up Mila." I say under my breath. I look up and see Ally and Mani still embracing.
"I love you Ally, my little sunshine." The song changes to This Christmas and Ally and Normani begin to sway to the song.
Ally melts into her embrace. "I love you too Manibear." I glance over at Dinah and notice that she's pouting slightly. We lock eyes and in that moment we both just know. She smiles sadly at me and then it hits me I must be wearing the same look on my face. I break eye contact by grabbing for my glass of wine.
"So are we almost done with these cookies?" I say trying to alleviate this awkwardness I suddenly feel.
"Almost done." Ally confirms, looking up at me. I sip on my wine as I try and mask the emotions that are bubbling to the surface. Get a grip Lauren.
I see Dinah go back to working intently on decorating the cookies that she has left in front of her. Then I nudge Camila because besides the giggling at me for my obvious feelings for Normani, she has been awfully quiet and that's just not like her.
"Everything okay?" She takes a huge sigh and I look over to her and see the pained expression etched all over her face. Grabbing her hand, I take her to my room. "Guys we will be right back. I have to show Camila something."
As we exit the kitchen I see Mani rest her head on Ally's shoulder and hear her sigh heavily.
Once safely inside my bedroom, Camila sits on the edge of my bed and starts to cry. "Camz, talk to me."
She puts her head in her hands. She takes several deep breaths before looking up at me with the most painful expression I've ever seen. I move to sit down beside her. She looks down at her hands. She takes a deep breath and opens her mouth then shuts it. I grab one of her hands and urge her to speak. Finally after a few minutes she collects herself and says, "I can't believe I let myself believe Dinah wanted me. I see the way she looks at Ally. I just thought that maybe, just maybe she could look at me that way." I could barely make our what she said because her voice was so low and she looked so small while saying it. Sighing I move closer to wrap her up in my arms. I begin to rock her as another wave of tears over take her small frame.
"It's going to be okay honey, it's all going to work out, you watch." I want to believe this more than I can say.
"Easy for you to say, Mani wants you so badly." I snort at the comment because was I the only one who saw Ally and Normani in a loving embrace? Mila sniffs as she tries to control her emotions. I look down at her. We continue our embrace for a while until she finally feels like she can compose herself. "Thanks for just being here with me, Lo."
"Always, Camz."
Heading back into the kitchen, the girls are nowhere to be found. "Mani... Ally... Dinah?"
"In here." Ally yells, and I can hear the other two girls giggle. Oh boy what are they doing now?
I stop at the entryway of my living room, with wide eyes and an open mouth. I sputter, "A-Al-Ally? What is this?"
"We had to make it more festive in here, Halloween was two months ago Lo."
"That was not Halloween décor Ally that's just my style."
"Oh well, it can go back after tonight." Trying to hide my groan I look to Mani, Camila, and Dinah for some help. But they just smile and shrug their shoulders.
"I see you all finished everything, so I am going to go and get ready for the party tonight. Mani you ready to go?" Mani pauses and looks from me to Mila.
"Yeah Mila we can go. See you all tonight," she says with a confused expression.
"See you all tonight," Mila repeats as she hightails it to the door with Mani following slowly behind her.
"Ally... we need to put up the mistletoe." Dinah says to break up the awkward exit that just took place.
Ally clasps her hands together and rests them under her chin. "Oh Dinah I almost forgot." They walk around looking for the best places to hang the mistletoe as I lounge on the couch.
Eventually they find the best spot and come back towards the living room. "Lauren you will never guess where we decided to hang the mistletoe." Dinah squeals. "It's just perfect, Lauren."
"Yeah, yeah, I am going to get ready for the party. See you all tonight." Rushing them out I lie back down on the couch and pick on my book.
-
At the party or lack thereof. No one is here yet and I am starting to get nervous where could they all be. Just when I am getting ready to work myself into a sweat, the doorbell rings. Finally.
Ally bursts in the door with Normani trailing not so far behind her. "Sorry we are late I wanted to get here before everyone started to arrive but Mani was taking all evening deciding on what to wear." Mani looks sheepishly over at me.
"Not to worry, you're the first one's here." I indicate by waving my hand around.
"Thank heavens, I wanted to be the one to welcome everyone in I know how much of a chore it is to you." I sigh in relieve, Ally is here and can now take over as host.
Ally begins to walk around as if inspecting, "I'm just making sure in the few hours we have been gone that you haven't taken anything down."
Mani and I chuckle. "I wouldn't waste my time."
It's like as if once Ally arrived everyone else started to too. And by the time Mila arrives the party is in full swing.
I plop down on the couch next to Normani, and I began to relax, taking in the soft sounds of Christmas music filling the room accompanied by chatter. As I look around I see so many of our friends gathered to celebrate and for a moment I can't help but get swept up in the emotions and vibes flowing through the space. The feeling is almost electric. I close my eyes wanting to hold onto the moment a little longer. Mani nudges my arm and I lean my head onto her shoulder. She lays her head on top of mine while I wrap my arm around hers and I feel her warmth seep down from my head all the way to my toes. I could stay like this forever.
"Lauren, how are you feeling tonight?"
Besides Mila, Mani is the only one who listens and understands that I just don't like the holidays. So I speak from my heart, "In this moment I feel great." As if getting my meaning she moves her head to plant a kiss on mine.
"I'm glad."
We sit like that for a while longer. She suddenly becomes hesitate, "Mani what's wrong?"
She turns her head to watch Dinah and Ally come walking through the entryway to the living room; they stand over in the corner continuing what looks to be a deep conversation.
"Nothing, it's just that I thought you and Mila were a thing-"
I quickly lift my head to look into her eyes. "Mila and I? A thing? That's preposterous!" I exclaim. "Where ever did you get that idea?"
With a bemused expression Mani states, "Well it's just that you both are together all the time and you have so many inside jokes and well she has keys to your house."
I can't help but giggle, "Mila made herself a copy of my keys five years ago when I was going through a rough patch and I wouldn't take anyone's calls or answer my door. She went down to my locksmith and said I had lost my keys and I needed a third pair. To this day I still don't know how she managed to get him to copy them for her with that sad excuse of a story. And well she's had them ever since. I just like to give her a hard time but I secretly love that she cares that much about me."
"Oh wow I didn't know that." Mani giggles as if she's picturing Mila at my locksmiths trying to say anything to make him copy my keys for her. I giggle too at the image.
"And to answer your other worries, we are like we are because we've been friends for so long and she knows basically everything about me."
"Oh yeah well I told her the same thing and she said I was being dumb and that maybe I should voice my concerns and I might find out something that I needed to know."
"Wait, What does that mean?"
And with that mysterious statement she all of a sudden, Mani shouts, "Someone's under the mistletoe, Ally."
Ally looks over towards Mani with excitement to see who has been caught under the mistletoe, when she sees Mani pointing to her and Dinah. With a look of confusion Ally utters, "How is that possible we put up the mistletoe."
With a huge grin plastered on her face Mani says, "I put up some mistletoe of my own."
Ally looks over to Dinah with a giddy expression and then looks above them. When Ally looks back to Dinah, she's leaning in.
I immediately search the crowd for Mila; I can't seem to find her. Just when I am going to get up and find Mila, Mani pulls my arm. I look to see her bright smile and darken eyes staring back at me with such love she leans in. The last thought I have before her lips meet mine is I hope Mila is okay.
When our lips meet I feel an explosion of colors begin behind my eyelids, the taste of her overwhelms me to the point I feel like I am on fire, I feel her everywhere with one hand resting on my thigh and the other on my cheek. I don't think I've ever known such happiness. Every kiss I've had seems to pale into comparison to this one. I feel as if my lips were made to kiss her. Not wanting to let go just yet but needing to breath I pull back slightly resting my head on hers.
"Now that was a kiss." I hear Dinah shouting in the background. Not yet ready to come back to the real world I keep my eyes closed for a time.
"Hey, look at me, please." Mani whispers breathlessly. Once I open my eyes hers are looking into mine searching, for what I am unsure but I know that whatever she hopes to find are there, because for the first time in a long while I am unguarded, an open book ready to be read by only her. As if she realizes this fact her eyes soften and her seemingly worried expression fades away. I lean in to give her another peck as she smiles.
-
Present Day:
"And so that's the story of how your mom made me believe in the joy of Christmas again."
I look up to see Normani leaning on the doorway, with her arms crossed smiling at me. I blush slightly embarrassed that she caught me telling this story to our little one for the up tenth time.
"Now get to bed or Santa won't be able to deliver your toys."
Gracie hurriedly yells, "Good night!" As I lean down to plant a kiss on her forehead. Mani walks over and does the same.
"Good night squirt." I speak as I walk over to turn out the light only to leave Gracie's night-light illuminating the room.
Mani whispers near Gracie's ear. "Night sweetheart."
Normani closes the door behind her as I wait for her in the hall. I'm so excited I can hardly say, "Time to finish wrapping those presents."
"Yeah and eating those cookies." Mani hums.
We end of wrapping til the morning then scurrying to our bed before Gracie comes in to wake us.
After getting comfortable Normani turns towards me while slinging her arm over my waist and snuggling in close.
"I really like it when you tell that story, you know?"
"Hmm." I hum while lifting my head to place a kiss on her forehead. "You do, now?"
I end up falling asleep sometime between us laughing about that faithful night and her lightly running her fingers over my arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake.
"Mom and Mamma wake up its Christmas!" Gracie shouts loudly as she jumps on our bed.
Then Mani joins in grabbing Gracie. She carries her out of the bedroom, their laughed filling the hall.
I watch them leave, grinning to myself these two will be the death of me. "Don't open any presents without me." I yell hopping out of bed and running to join them.