Black and White ✘ Black Butler

Chapter 35

~A Few days later... Christmas Eve~

I glance up at the clock and check the time. Only a few minutes left before my friends would arrive. This would be the first Christmas Eve that I would be spending with my friends and family. I never would've thought that I would be making such a big deal out of this holiday. Well, it wasn't exactly my choice, but I couldn't bear to disappoint the people I care about the most. Guess turning eighteen meant I would have to try new things; things I would never expect to face.

Just before I run out of my room, I check myself in the mirror once more just to make sure everything was in place. I fidget with the same outfit that was suppose to be my birthday outfit. At the last second, I opted out of wearing the clothes Bell got for me for my birthday; I thought it was best just to wear something I was more comfortable with. Plus, the outfit wasn't exactly my style. But, I couldn't bear to let a good outfit go to waste as well as disappoint my best friend; I didn't need to be hearing her whines for the next year. So, for Christmas Eve, I chose to wear the plain brown, long-sleeve dress, which stops just above the knees; taupe leggings and brown over-the-knee socks; and brown leather boots.

As I finish smoothing over my outfit, I grab the necklace from my bedside table and wrap it around my neck. The necklace itself was a silver chain with my mother's silver heart-shape locket and father's blue-stone ring hanging at the end. I've would've worn the ring in its appropriate place, which was my finger, but my hands were just too small for it to stay in place. The only place it could ever fit was on my thumb, but I was never comfortable with it there. In the end, it would've just fallen off my dainty fingers and I might end up losing it forever My hands were much smaller than my fathers, and I never had the time to have the ring fit to my liking. Plus, I just couldn't bear tamper with something belonging to my father. So, my safest bet was to just leave it latched onto the silver chain, next to my mother's locket.

I sigh, realizing to myself that there was nothing else that needed to be fixed. With that, I rush through the doorway and make my way towards the dining room. I wanted to make sure that everything was ship shape. I didn't want anything to ruin my perfectly good Christmas, especially with the two thorns at my side. If the time had ever come (which, I pray will never come), I want to have some good memories to remember in the end.

After I rush through the hallways, I, first, walk to the kitchen. After crashing through the door, I notice Aunt Rose taking out her famous pies from the oven. During the holidays, Aunt Rose always made her three signature pies; apple, cherry, and blueberry. Unless I begged very hard, she would only make these treats during the holidays. I could almost taste the sweet pastries and I couldn't bear to wait another second to devour them. It wasn't every day that I could eat the best pies I've ever had in my life.

I take in the whiff of the scent as I walk through the room. "Aunt Rose, why do you have torture me for entire year just to wait for your famous pies?" I grasp onto her waist as she carries the desserts to the dining room.

She giggles. "Oh, quit messing around. I would teach you how to make them if you ever had the time."

"But... making the pies is sooo hard. I would rather just eat them."

"Then, you'll just have to wait an entire year to eat them."

I groan then slowly slide to the floor, acting like I had just walk through the Amazon Jungle just to get a taste of these pies. Then, I feel a tap on my back. I bring myself off the floor and look at Grell, who was also holding another batch of the pies.

"If you ever want any, C.L., just make sure to ask me," he states.

"You know how to make them?! I thought Aunt Rose was the only one?!"