Tapout

Christmas Part 1.

Chapter 33

Josh and I made it back home at 11 o'clock. No sign of vandalism, and no sign of anyone following us. So that's great news. I had to be at Sparky's at 12:30, and I was thankful that I wasn't covered in bruises that'd be hard to explain.

'Oh hello Lucas' father and family, don't worry I'm not abused. My parents died in a car crash and I just fight illegally to cover the bills'. I can see it now, the judgements and the befuddled glances. Powder would even out my skin tone and even if it doesn't bronzer would do the trick, I'll just make myself look darker.

Josh and I have an unspoken rule to not get each other anything for Christmas. Saves money, and quite frankly we don't really celebrate it anymore. When my mom and dad died, I didn't just lose my parents, Josh lost the last person that kept him grounded.

My father.

His brother.

Josh would stay at our place more often than not to escape the loneliness that rattled the windows at his home. When we found out my parents died, it just about crushed us both. We spent days in the same house, acknowledging each other with occasional head nods and the word 'food' as a question. Everything became difficult, even the most natural thing, sleeping. We'd both have nightmares and eventually he just moved into my room with me. So we could wake each other up before the nightmares got too bad.

Their death just about crushed us.

But we're fighters.

We tend to always come back stronger from the flames that attempted to burn us to the ground. Josh and I have a weird relationship. We hate each other sometimes, a good portion of the time we want to rip the other's head off and then other times I feel like he's the only person I have-besides Lucas. There's a reason I can't leave him behind once I retire.

He didn't leave me alone once my parents died. He took care of me and helped me come back to life. Josh deserves to rid himself of this life as much as I do. I just finished sliding on my oversized sweater and leggings that Maya let me borrow. Because apparently I couldn't meet his father in a leather jacket. I don't really get why, but I've never met someone's parents before. I guess if a leather jacket is bad, then I need to keep my mouth in check.

"Riley." There was a small knock on the door before it opened, Josh. "Hey. Merry Christmas niece."

"Thank Uncle Josh. You too. I'll be back in a couple of hours and we'll get drunk, deal?"

He laughs lightly, "I will. Luke might. You won't. I love you."

"Love you too." I wrap my arms around his neck and sit there for a moment. There was a time where I'd sit in his arms for hours crying. I always get more sentimental and shit during holidays and I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders this Christmas.

My parents are constantly on my mind. Would they like Lucas? Would they argue with me on going to his house for a few hours on this important holiday? Would he come to my house? Would I be wearing my own clothes because my mother took me shopping? Hell, would I even be allowed to date if my dad were still here? "I miss them too Riles." However I can't ignore the small and completely terrible notion that if my parents were alive I would never have met Lucas. I wouldn't have moved to Katy and I would definitely not be fighting.

I feel the tears threatening to expose themselves and with one solid blink they fall. "Do you think we'll ever celebrate holidays again?"

"Yeah. When we have our own families."