G.U.A.R.D. Book #1: Clandestine

-8-

    It was cold outside when Winter and I stepped out of the limo, clothed in our normal attire: jeans and T-shirts. Jerry drove the vehicle away. Winter sighed, looking to me.

"So what are we gonna do about Anthony?"

"I don't know," I sighed. "It's been a long night. I'm tired. I just want to sleep."

She made a face. "Okaaaay. Fine. See you later?"

"Well... we're doing our Christmas Eve thing, right?" It had long been a tradition of ours to get together in my basement to exchange gifts.

"Uh, duh."

"Okay. Could we talk there? It'd just feel more... private."

"Yeah. 'Course. See you tomorrow."

I nodded. "'Kay."

Our mini convertible (fondly dubbed "Mini") drove up and parked. Winter gave a wave to my parents as they got out.

"What are you kids doing out here in the cold?" She slammed the passenger door shut. "You'll get runny noses.

"Hi, guys!" Dad grinned at us, shutting his own side.

I rolled my eyes. Typical of my parents.

"I was just leaving," Winter told them. "See you, guys!"

"Bye, Winter!" Dad called.

She left. With my parents on either side of me, we went inside the warm house.

----

The next day was Christmas Eve. The moment I woke up, excitement squeezed my heart. In just twenty-four hours, Christmas would be here! But then my mind flipped to the day before. I felt troubled over what happened with Anthony. I really wanted to talk to Winter. Unfortunately, it was Sunday, so I wouldn't be able to talk to her until after church.

Checking the alarm clock next to my bed, I saw it was just a little past eight. It would be another two hours until we left, but I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, so I went ahead and got up. I quickly changed into some skinny jeans and a T-shirt, draping a large, grey cardigan over. Then I went to the living room. It appeared empty on first glance, but then I spotted Mom on the couch—sleeping? Had she been there all night?

"Mom?" I asked tentatively. As I gazed at her, I realized she was in the fetal position, without a blanket or pillow. Her hair messily framed her face, which bore a concerned frown. "Mom?"
She jerked awake, eyes flying wide open. When she saw it was just me, my mom relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hi, Ally."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just... had a nightmare. Thought I could sleep better down here."

My muscles loosened a bit, but I still felt wary. "Okay. I mean... this doesn't have to do with you and Dad or anything?"

Her eyebrows puckered in concern. "Alex, your father and I are fine. And, besides, I think we both know if we were having trouble, he'd be the one down here."

I tried to cover my sigh of relief with a laugh.

Mom pushed herself up and patted the seat in front of her. "Why would you think we're having trouble? Did something happen?"

I grimaced, sitting next to her. Pulling my feet up to rest on the cushions, I wrapped my arms around my legs. "It's just been a weird week, I guess."