Reckless. [TMNT 2012]

27. Casey Jones' Apology; Evelyn

Song: Fa La La - Justin Bieber

Stretching upwards, I manage to reach another bare spot on the tree. I cover it up with a glittery red ornament and back up to examine it. Forming my fingers into a picture frame, I admire the work I've done on the Christmas tree. It looks good, but not good enough.

   I rummage through a box of Christmas ornaments until I stumble across a little glass teddy bear. It's holding a candy cane and smiling. On its belly there is some handwriting that said, "Evie's first Christmas. Love you!"

   Feeling my cheeks heat up with discomfort, I almost decide to trash the object completely. But I recover quickly, and I hang it on the tree as well. Once it's stable, I pace around the tree and scrutinized it. Before I can find another undecorated spot however, my dad steps into the room sipping coffee.

   "Boy am I glad to have you setting up the tree," he says in his light, happy voice. His face creases with wrinkles as he grins at me and touches my shoulder. "Your mother and I couldn't get it to look this fantastic in a million years."

   I blush a bit, embarrassed by his unnecessary praise. "Thanks, dad," I reply, the words rolling off my tongue like sandpaper. All these years of practice, and I still can't talk to them like a normal daughter.

   Suddenly, I spot another naked spot on the tree. Rushing over to the box, I quickly whip out a golden ornament and cover the place up.

   My dad burst into laughter at my perfectionism. "You are just like your mother. You both have to have everything in perfect order," he chuckles.

   I smile slightly and come to stand beside him again. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to do your best," I say. I like being compared to her. I have her hair, eyes, and structure. The only thing I don't have are her personality and wit.

   "You got me there." My dad leans down and kisses the side of my head, then he whispers, "I'm going to go steal one of Angelina's cookies."

   I laugh softly as he heads for the kitchen. Unfortunately, my laughter is instantly replaced with puzzlement as Angelina peers into the room.

   "Miss Evelyn, you have visitor," she announces in her sketchy English.

   I wrinkle my eyebrows. "Bring them in, please," I invite as I approach the middle of the living room.

   Angelina slips into the next room. To my complete horror, Casey takes her place. He has on his usual dark clothes and his hair is slicked back. He has on a small, red bow tie. Somehow, he made his usual clothes look nice. But why?

   "Hey, Goldilocks," Casey greets me skeptically.

   The nickname makes my heart ache, something that I don't feel too often. I distract myself by going through the ornament box. "What do you want, Casey Jones?" I ask stiffly.

   "I-I wanted to talk to you," Casey stammers, revealing one of his rare moments of no confidence.

   I continue to avoid his gaze by decorating the Christmas tree. "We have nothing to talk about," I reply in monotone. The last thing I want to do is talk about our fight. Especially on Christmas Eve.

   Casey approaches me hesitantly as I fiddle with the Christmas tree. "Just come for a short walk with me. We can work this out," he insists.

   I keep rushing back and forth from the box to the tree, barely sparing him a glance. "I'm afraid that I have a party to decorate for. My family is coming in from out of state and I'd have a duty to make this place look nice."