Teaching Jenny (student/teacher)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20


My eyes shot open as a smile crawled across my face. It was Christmas Day. My hand shot from beneath my covers and was instantly attacked by the cool air. Grabbing my phone I checked to see what time it was. It was already seven thirty so I knew it was time to wake my parents up. Noticing I had one message I couldn't help the happy expression that formed on my face when I saw it was from Ben. 'Merry Christmas. I love you and wish you were here x' it read. Typing out a quick reply I threw my phone onto my unmade bed before darting out the door.

Emerging from my room I was happy to find a classic red and white stocking hanging from my door handle. Neatly wrapped presents exploded from the small space and I grinned as I bundled it in my arms and carried it to my parents room.

"Merry Christmas!" I chirped as I leapt onto their bed where they both slept. Groggily they both replied before switching on their bed side lamps. The soft yellow glow eliminated the room as my parents sat up in their bed to look at me. Too excited I pulled out my first present and ripped it open.

Once all the presents in my stocking were opened we cleared up the mess I had made before heading downstairs. Dad made us all a full English breakfast while mum and me sat at the counter and chatted. The breakfast was utterly mouthwatering as normal and by the time I had finished I was stuffed to the brim. However, I knew by late afternoon I would be ready for the monster of a Christmas meal our family made each year.

By late morning our car was packed up with presents and we were on our way to our cousins house. Sitting in the back I sang along to the Christmas tunes that bellowed out from the radio. My mum and dad both just shook their heads, from the front of the car, at my out of tune singing.

Less than an hour later and we were pulling up at the large house which belonged to my mums sister. The big double fronted brick house had a dark blue door with a golden handle. Before we were even half way up the paved path, decorated with flowers, the door was flung open and my aunt, Shelly, sprinted towards us.

Throwing her arms around all three of us at the same time she welcomed us before leading us into the beautiful house. Tripping up the steps, my arms filled with presents and my over night bag hanging from my shoulder I took in the foyer which never failed to leave me in awe.

The cream painted room was equipped with a large mirror on one wall and an elegant painting on the other. In the middle sat a hexagon dark wood table which the top of could barely be seen beneath the bright pink flowers which spurted from the large flower pot placed in the centre. The back wall of the room was made entirely from glass which looked out onto the large, perfectly lawned, garden.

In the back corner, behind a door which led to the even more magnificent kitchen, was a set of stairs which swirled to the upstairs section of the house. On the other side was a door leading to the living room and another leading to the downstairs toilet.

Our first stop was the living room to put our presents under the tree. Each year it seemed the Christmas tree would become more beautiful. The tree stood tall, the golden star placed on the top just brushing the roof. Red and gold decorations were neatly dotted around the tree as white lights glowed from the branches. Transparent bells hung from the tree, tinkering whenever a branch was moved. As I placed the presents carefully under the tree I stared at the incredible art piece before me. I was yet to see a Christmas tree to beat that of my cousins.

Once the presents were gone we made their way back through the foyer and to the kitchen where the rest of our family gathered. My grandparents stood at one end with my aunts and uncles while my cousins lounged in the other, comparing the presents they had found in their stockings earlier that morning.

Taking a seat next to the oldest cousin, excluding myself, I was soon happily chatting away to Ellie waiting for the next round of presents and Christmas dinner.

Only an hour later all the presents were open and they were sitting round playing monopoly while the parents prepared dinner. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket for the millionth time. It would be Ben again.

Ever since the holiday I had missed him more than I thought I would. It was strange not waking up next to him and spending every day together. I missed the way he would wrap his arms round me whenever he got the chance, like he couldn't bare to keep his hands off of me. I missed the feel of his soft lips on mine, and it hadn't even been a day since I had seen him. I knew going back to school would be even more painful. There I would be able to see him, but I would have to act as if I barely knew him.

Like normal the Christmas games went on late into the night. It was family tradition to play all the old classic board games and I loved it. However, this year I couldn't seem to get Ben from my mind.

After making my excuses I raced upstairs and to the room I would be sharing with Ellie. Diving onto the little camp bed in the corner I grabbed my headphones from my over night back, stuffed them into my ears and plugged them into my phone. Flicking through my apps I clicked on the FaceTime one. Grinning I tapped on Ben's name which had a little green online symbol next to it.

As soon as his face appeared on the small screen my grin grew ten times wider. I recognised that he was at his parents house, sitting at the top of the stairs. His eyes were shinning in the dim lights and I could hear the clattering of glasses and muffled voices from downstairs.

"Hey," I whispered.

"Hey," he replied his voice the same volume as mine. I wasn't sure why we were whispering but it weirdly felt necessary.

"How was your day?" He asked, bitting his lip. I felt myself almost melt on the spot at home adorable he looked. The way his bottom teeth captured his lip in a smooth motion made my heart do flips.

"Great," I said before explaining everything that had happened. My hand found its way to the necklace which hasn't left my neck since Ben had given it to me and my fingers fiddled with the small pendant.

Once I had finished my story Ben told me about his, and I wished I could have seen everyone. I had grown very fond of his family over the past week and honestly felt like part of it. My mind flicked to what it would be like in future if I was to spend Christmas with his family, or maybe he would spend it with mine.

"Did they like the presents I got them?" I asked referring to the presents I had carefully wrapped and given to him before we had gone away.

"They loved them Goofy. They honestly weren't necessary though," he said with a smile.

"It was the least I could do after they basically paid for my whole holiday," I said with a wave of my hand. The holiday had made Ben and I a million times closer so the small gifts I had bought the rest of the family was the least I could do.

"That's where you got to!" I heard Laura's voice cry from behind the camera. Ben's eyes flicked up from the small screen to where Laura was standing. Loud footsteps climbed the stairs before Laura emerged into view, plopping herself down next to her brother.

"Jenny!" She squealed as she ripped the device from Ben's hands so she was the only one in view. All that remained of Ben was his shoulder. "How are you?" She asked, her voice slurring telling me she had been drinking. "How was your day?" She continued not giving me a chance to answer. "We missed you today!" She kept talking, barely giving herself chance to breathe.

I heard Ben's laugh from the background and noticed his shoulders shaking slightly. Laura's arm suddenly came into view as she punched her brother's shoulder which just seemed to make him laugh more.

Ignoring him, she continued. "Next year you have to be here. All this one did," she gestured to her brother "was whine about how much he missed you and text you." Smiling at her words, I giggled as Ben grabbed his phone back and pushed his sister out the way. His cheeks flushed red.

"Ok bye Laura," he said. The stairs squeaked as she gathered herself up and clambered back down them. I heard a faint goodbye as she disappeared to wherever she came from.

"She's right though. Next year I want to wake up with you," Ben said his face turning serious as he ran his hands through his chocolate brown hair.

"So we're still going to be together this time next year?" I asked my stomach feeling like jelly as he talked about our future.

"Of course," Ben grinned. "I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you if you'll have me," Ben said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. My heart actually skipped several beats as I stopped breathing. His words were so sweet I could feel a lump forming in my throat as tears pooled in my eyes. My teeth caught my bottom lip as I gazed into his beautiful blue eyes.

"I love you so much," I whispered unable to say anything else. However, if I could I would tell him how much I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life. How he was the only one who had and ever would make me feel this way. How he had completely changed my life and I would never stop loving him. He was truly the best thing that had ever happened to me and despite everything I never had nor would regret what happened between us.

"Ben!" I now heard Jane's familiar voice call from somewhere in their house.

"He's talking to his girlfriend!" I heard Laura's drunk voice slur from the same direction. A smile crossed my face at Bob's reply.

"Let him be."

"I should probably go," Ben grimaced, clearly wanting to stay longer. "I love you Goofy," he said again as he smiled fondly at me.

"I love you too," I replied as I pressed the end call button, my fingers wrapped tightly around the heart shape pendant.

"Who was that?" Ellie asked as she entered our bedroom out of the blue. My eyes widened slightly wondering how much she had heard. I just hoped I wouldn't have to lie to another member of the family.

"A friend from school," I said. It wasn't exactly a lie. Ben technically did go to the same school he just wasn't a student. Guilt still started to bite away at me though.

With a slight shrug Ellie nodded before grabbing her pyjamas from her bed and retreating back the way she came to go get changed.