An Anthem Lights Christmas (Completed)

Chapter 8

*Nicole POV*
Today's New Year's Eve. I wake up at nine and go downstairs.
"Hey Nicole" Chad says
"Hey" I say
"Fallon is making breakfast the rest are coming over soon for a Disney movie marathon" he says
"Ok" I say
"Breakfast is ready" Fallon calls
We go to the dining room and sit down. Chad prays and we start eating.
"Chad, you know when my family called and Joey answered how did he know my full name" I ask
"Well you see on the papers you sent us you out Allison down in the spot for your first name so when Megan introduced you as Nicole we sort of put two and two together" he says
"That Makes more sense." I say
"You and Megan go by your middle names and Casey goes by her first" he says
"Wait Megan is her middle name" I say
"You never knew that" he asks
"No" I say
"Oh then maybe I shouldn't tell you her first name" he says
"But I want to know" I whine
"Well do you think that maybe there's a reason she doesn't want people to know her first name" he says
"Fine I see your point" I say
"Good" he says
"The pancakes are good Fallon thank you" I say
"Your welcome. At least someone appreciates my cooking" she says
"Chadwick how dare you not appreciate your wife's cooking" I say
"I appreciate her cooking" he says
"Well you never say you do" I say
"How would you know. You've only been here two weeks" he says
"Yeah and I've noticed a lot in those two weeks. Actually all of us girls have and we tell each other" I say
"We're here" I hear Joey say
"Ooh Jason's here" I say
I get up and go to the door to see Joey standing there with Jason asleep in his arms.
"Where's Tyler" I ask
"He slept over at Caleb's. He wanted to hang out with Luke" Joey says
"Ok" I say
"Nicole" Casey shouts
I look behind Joey and see Casey. I run out the door and go to her.
"Hey" I say
"Hey hey" she says
"Wow what about me" Alan asks
"Eh" we say
"What's up chickadees" Megan asks
We turn around and see Megan standing there.
"Megan you're too tall" Casey whines
"Fine then should I shrink" Megan asks
"No. Just make me grow" Casey says
"Sorry I don't have any growth seeds on me. I left them in PA" Megan says
"Are you girls going to stand in the driveway the whole time or come inside" Luke asks
"Oh Lucas you know you love us" Megan says
"I told you not to call me that. What if I called you by your first name" Luke asks
"Don't you dare" Megan says
"What's wrong Calisia you a little mad there" Luke asks
She runs and tackles him to the ground. She's about to punch him when Chad runs out and grabs her.
"Woah Megan you ok" Chad asks
"Let me go" she says
"No. You're not going to hurt anyone" Chad says
"Ok girls lets go watch the movie" Joey says
Everyone goes inside but Chad stays outside with Megan.
"What movie first" Alan asks
"Aladdin" we say
He puts the movie in and we start watching.
*Chad POV*
I'm standing at the doorway watching what's going on when Megan tackles Luke. She brings her fist back about to punch him but I run out there and grab her off of him.
"Why did you pull me off" she asks
"Because. We don't need any fighting going on" I say
"Ugh" she whines
"Why did you tackle him in the first place" I ask
"Well I called him Lucas, his actual first name, then he called me Calisia which is my first name" she says
"What's wrong with the name Calisia. I like that name" I say
"It was the name of my dad's mom. He wanted to name me after her. I loved her. Then she died when I was little and I never really wanted to go by that name because it has so much meaning to me" she says
"Oh ok. Well what was your grandma like" I ask
"She was special to me. I would sleep over at her house a lot. I would bake with her. She would tell me stories and take me places. My mom didn't like the fact that I hung out with my grandma on my dad's side more than my grandma on her side. Now my grandma and mom don't even talk about me. They forget me. They usually talk about my brothers. That's why you never knew that that was my grandma because she never talked about me and never will" she says
"Hey it will be okay. Now come on. Nicole is leaving tomorrow so lets go spend time with her" I say
"We should have a sleepover" Megan says
"Sure why not but we'll have to talk to Alan" I say
We go inside to see Aladdin just ending.
"Hey you watched Aladdin without me" I complain
"Sorry but the girls wanted to watch it" Alan says
"Oh Alan can we all have a sleepover tonight since its New Year's Eve" Megan asks
"Sure I don't see why not. We're hanging out here the whole day." Alan says
"Fallon is it ok if we all sleepover here" Caleb asks
"Sure why not" she says
"Thanks. You're the best" Joey says
"Alright well I'm going to the mall. Anyone want to join me" she asks
"Ooh I do" Casey says
"I'll come" Nicole and Megan say
"It looks like you boys are alone. Don't burn the house down" Fallon says
"We won't" I say
They leave and pull out.
"Ok now that it's just us what do you two want to do" Caleb asks Luke and Tyler
"Don't care. I'm actually suppose to be working on scholarship applications since I'm going to college this year" Luke says
"Where are you going" Alan asks
"Well I either want to go to Cedarville or Liberty" Luke says
"That's cool. What do you want to go to college for" Caleb asks
"I want to go for a math degree then a teaching degree so I can be a teacher" Luke says
"Ok then you'll be a senior next year" I ask Tyler
"Yep. Luke an Brian are going to college this year then I go in two years." He says
"What are you thinking about going for" Joey asks
"I'm not fully sure. I like the idea of being an engineer but I would also like to be a special education teacher. At my old school I helped with students with disabilities" Tyler says
"That's really cool" Alan says
*Joey POV*
As we talk with the boys Jason starts whimpering in his sleep. I shake him gently an he rubs his eyes. He looks at me and smiles.
"Hi daddy" he says
"Hey Jason" I say
"Tyler, Luke" he cheers
I set him down and he runs over to them.
"Hey J" Luke says
"Hey buddy" Tyler says
"Where sissies" Jason asks
"They went to the store" Luke says
"Are they going to get me something" he asks
"I don't know" Tyler says
"Daddy who are other people" Jason asks
"Well they're my friends. There's Mr. Alan, Mr. Caleb, and Mr. Chad" I say
"Hi. My name Jason. I two. I like to talk" Jason says
*Tyler POV*
I pick my little brother up and set him on my lap.
"Tyty let me go. I want play" he says
"Nope." I say
"But tomorrows birthday" he says
"So" I say
"I be three. Me be big boy" he says
"Wait tomorrows his birthday" Joey asks
"Yeah. He was born right as the ball dropped" I say
"Tyty said I'm special" Jason says
"That's because you are baby bro" I say
"I'm no baby" he says
"But you're still my baby brother. You're younger than me. Same as Owen and Nick. Then Casey, Megan, Nicole, and Jessica are my baby sisters" I say
"You kids from all three families must be close" Caleb says
"We are. We all have our troubled pasts so we help each other through them. The only thing is some people are more open then others. That's why Casey and Nicole probably haven't told you anything" Luke says
"I mean Megan's past is worse but the other two still have bad ones" I say
"Wow. What about your parents? Do they know about any of this" Chad asks
"Well because of some of the things that happened they know a little but not as much as the others. We're like a big group of siblings that got separated and split into three families." Luke says
"Do you think we could get the girls to talk about it" Alan asks
"It never hurts to try. But I would do it with all three of them because they might be more willing if they were together" I say
"Ok" Caleb says
"We should play Mario kart" Luke says
"Ok" I agree
"I have to put Jason down for a nap. Is there somewhere he can be" Joey asks
"Take him up to the spare room" Chad says
Joey goes upstairs and Caleb sets up the game. We all grab a controller and start playing.
*Casey POV*
"I'm glad you girls could accompany me to the mall" Fallon says
"Of course. It gives the boys a chance to hang. The boys have been stuck doing what we want so now they can hang with the guys" I say
"What do you think they're doing" Nicole asks
"Probably Mario Kart" Megan says
"They play that to much" I say
"Oh trust me Caleb does to. Kelsey complains to me about it" Fallon says
We walk around a little bit longer then head to the food court. Megan's phone rings so she walks away from the table to answer it.
*Megan POV*
I walk away from the table and answer my phone.
M-hey Luke what's up
L-sis I just got a call from an officer in Iraq
M-can you come pick me up from the mall and tell me what it was about
L-yeah I'll be there soon
I hang up and go back to the table.
"You okay Megan" Fallon asks
"Yeah. Luke called and said he has to tell me something so he's coming to pick me up" I say
"Ok" she says
"I'm going to wait outside" I say
"We'll see you later Megs" Nicole says
"Bye fruit cake" Casey says
I say bye then go outside. Luke pulls up ten minutes later and I get in.
"Who's car is this" I ask
"It's Caleb's" he says
He drives back to Chad's and we go inside.
"Lets go talk upstairs" he says
I follow him upstairs and we go into a bedroom. I sit on the bed and he sits next to me.
"What was the call about" I ask
"John and Kyle were killed in action" he says
"W-what" I stutter
"They were in the front line and they got shot" he says
I start crying and bury my face into Luke's chest. He starts singing just fall quietly. I stop crying and sing with him. We finish singing an I look up at him.
"It will be okay sis. We're all here for you" he says
"Have you decided where you're going for college" I ask
"No I'm still deciding between Liberty and Cedarville" he says
"Ok. Do you know where Brian is going" I ask
"He's going to Delaware" he says
"Alright. I'm going to miss you two" I say
"We'll miss all of you too" he says
We just sit there for a while in silence until Luke talks.
"What's wrong sis" he asks
"Nothing" I say
"C'mon Megan I know it's something" he says
"Gosh Luke if I say it's nothing then it's nothing. Leave me alone" I snap
I leave the room and go downstairs. I go outside and start running down the sidewalk.
*Chad POV*
Us guys are talking with Tyler when Megan comes downstairs and runs outside. Luke comes downstairs but Tyler stops him from going outside.
"What happened" Tyler asks
"She seemed upset so I asked what's wrong. She said it was nothing but I didn't believe her so I asked again but then she snapped and went outside." Luke says
"Ok lets give her sometime then I'll go look for her" I say
"Ok" Luke says
"Ok so you two told us that everyone has had some trouble. Why don't you tell us yours and everyone's besides the girls" Alan says
"Ok well we'll start with the oldest. Kyle and John's is really stupid but it bothered them and it affected them a lot. They're really sensitive and people would always get them mixed up. They had anger meant issues so they would get mad and people would make fun of that. They would then get in trouble because they were ruin something for letting their anger out." Luke says
"Brian has dyslexia and has trouble reading. He would have to concentrate hard and he'd have to stay after school and study. He could've been held back but didn't want to be so he just worked extra hard. Sometimes he would concentrate to hard and would get massive head aches." Tyler says
"Owen and Nick. They're growing up with Megan basically acting like their mom" Luke says
"Jessica has autism but it's not high functioning. She doesn't have many friends but is really smart. She really only likes to hang out with family so that means us. The whole reason why she found out about you guys is because she went with the girls to a conference thing where you guys were playing. It was this thing called unveiled and you guys played there. Apparently all night Friday than for worship Saturday morning." Tyler says
"Oh I remember that. It was fun. I don't think your sister came to the meet n greet though" Caleb says
"No they didn't. The noise level got too much for Jessica so they left. They really wanted to though" Luke says
"Ok you said about everyone besides you two and Jason but Jason it's probably the fact of growing up without parents" Joey says
"Ok so for me I would always get compared to Kyle and John. They were smarter than me in most subjects. All except math. A lot of people knew my brothers too so they would make fun of me for not being as good as my brothers." Luke says
"I played basketball and I'm short. My whole family is short. When I played my coach always put me up against the tallest player and they would make fun of me and underestimate me. I would get around them and at some point in the game they would foul me and push me. I would get angry and retaliate. I wouldn't listen to anyone telling me to stop and I would hurt more people. I would always get suspended. My parents had enough of it so homeschooled me" Tyler says
"Ok. Wow so you all have been through a lot" I say
I'm about to say something when the door opens and the girls walk through.
"How was shopping" Luke asks
"Good where's Megan" Casey asks
"Oh right I'll be back" I say
I go outside and start running. I go to a park and walk over to a tree. I look up and see Megan. I start climbing and sit on a branch near her.
"It took you long enough" she mumbles
"I was giving you a chance to think about what you would want to say" I say
"Ok" she says
"What's wrong and I want the truth" I say
"You guys know my past and I bet my brother told you about everyone's but Casey and Nicole's. this weekend was suppose to be fun and I wasn't suppose to worry about anything that has happened before. But one after another everything has turned bad. My mom keeps leaving my brothers alone. I should've stayed and not come." She says
"Megan you do realize that if you didn't come we wouldn't be where we are now. You would've never know that I live near your grandma. You never would've gotten the chance to still learn. We're glad you came" I say
"Yeah but because of my past you were all busy making sure I was okay and didn't pay attention to the other two. Then my brother came so ruined our time as us three spending it with you guys." She says
"Megan, you didn't ruin the trip. We payed attention to them. They wanted us to help you. And honestly your brother coming and then Casey's siblings coming just made it funner. The more the merrier" I say
"Thanks Chad" she says
"Your welcome. Now how are you holding up with your brothers death" I ask
"Ok I guess. I mean I was really close to them. They were like fathers to me. My parents usually forgot about me. I'm the forgotten child in my family. A lot of people at school knew that so try called me the forgotten one." She says
"It will be okay" I say
We get out of the tree and she gives me a hug.
"Come on let's go back. The girls are wondering where you are" I say
"Thanks Chad" she says
"No problem" I say
I wrap my arm over her shoulder and me walk back to my house. We go inside and the girls instantly come over to her.
*Casey POV*
Chad and Megan walk in and we instantly go over to her. Chad walks away and Nicole and I wrap her in a hug.
"What's wrong" I ask
"John and Kyle died" she says
"Our big bubbies died" Nicole asks
Megan just nods and we hug her. Tyler and Luke join in our group hug. We all pull away laughing. We wipe our tears away and join the guys in the couches.
"Ok us guys want to talk to you three girls" Alan says
"Ok" I say
"Tyler, Luke can you watch Jason" Joey asks
"Yep" they say
"Fallon we're going to the studio with the girls. Luke, Tyler, and Jason are staying here" Chad says
"Ok" she says
We go outside and get in Alan's van. The guys get up front and us three get in the way back. Alan starts the van and drives to the studio. We get there and go inside. We all sit down on the couches until they're full.
"Where am I suppose to sit" Chad asks
"Yeah what about me" Joey asks
"Sit on the floor" Alan says
"But I don't want to sit next to Chad" Joey whines
"Here Joe sit on the couch" Megan says
"No" I say
"Casey jut let him sit here" Megan says
"Fine" I say
Megan sits on the ground and Joey sits next to me.
"Ok Megan has told us about her pass would you girls mind telling us yours" Alan asks
"Um" I say
"Casey, Nicole tell them" Megan says
We look at her and she looks back at us. She give us the 'you better tell or I will' look.
"So I have a bit of ADD so I have trouble concentrating. That's why I play sports. Hopeful that I get calm through them. I would get in trouble for being jittery in class. The only way I wouldn't get in trouble is if Megan or Casey is there. But the only classes we had together were two of them so I got trouble a lot. So then I also had trouble with class work and homework because I couldn't concentrate so I would fail classes and kids would see my grades and make fun of me. But I learned how to control my ADD some and get better grades" Nicole says
"That makes more sense" Chad says
"What does" Nicole asks
"Why you always get distracted and always want to do something active" Chad says
"Yeah" Nicole says
"What about you Casey" Joey asks
"My story isn't interesting or anything" I say
"Casey if you don't want me to tell them you tell them now" Megan says
"She'll tell them when you tell us your first name" Nicole says
"Ok which one of you said that Megan was my middle name" Megan asks
"I might've let it slip this morning at breakfast. But I didn't tell her what it is" Chad says
"Ok it's Calisia"Megan says
"I like that name" I say
"Can you just call me Megan still" Megan asks
"Of course" Nicole says
"Ok Casey your turn" Alan says
"Ok so in sixth grade I got really sick and was sick for two whole months. It then took me about a month to recover from it. Ever since then I get sick easily and when I do it's usually really bad" I say
"Ok I'll keep that in mind" Joey says
"That was important to know. It was just as important as everyone's else's Caleb says
"Alright we should get going. It's almost 11:30. We were talking for a while" Alan says
"30 minutes till Jason is 3" I say
"He's probably asleep" Chad says
"Neh. He's excited about his birthday. Also he expects that we have something for him" Nicole says
"Which we do" Megan says
"Ok lets go" Caleb says
We go out and get in the van. Chad drives this time and heads to his house. We get there and go inside.
"What took you seven so long" Kelsey asks
"We were talking. Chilax" Joey says
"Joey have the guys taught you nothing? You don't tell us ladies to chilax" Kelsey says
"Kels relax. Chad will discipline him" Caleb says
"Guys do you mind we're trying to watch tv" I say
"You guys have been arguing about random things for a whole 15 minutes. The ball is about to drop" Megan says
Everyone joins us in the living room and we count down.
"Happy Birthday Jason!" we cheer
He opens his few gifts then we send the little ones off to bed.
"Ok girls time for bed" Chad says
"Really" I ask
"Yes" Alan says
"Fine" We say
We all find somewhere to lay. I'm between Tyler and Megan. Everyone gets settled and Chad turns the lights off. I slowly drift off to sleep reviewing all that has gone on this trip.