When We're Alone

Chapter 26

*Hayden*

It was a minute past seven in the morning, and it was completely silent. But I was wide awake, and I know everyone else in the house was awake too, but no one wanted to be the first one out their room, or they'll look too eager for their present.

It was finally Christmas morning, the time everyone has been waiting for. Our first Christmas after forever with our whole family, and the excitement was taking over. A Christmas tradition for us was, whoever made it downstairs first by seven in the morning didn't have to do any cleaning after Christmas dinner and lunch.

It wasn't even about not cleaning that day, but about how fun it was, and how much I've missed doing this with my dad.

I sneakily get out of my bed trying not to make a sound, but I stop immediately when I hear a creak outside. The only person coming down the stairs from upstairs was Matty, that meant he was awake and he was going down.

I tip toe to my door and open it softly to see if Matty was there, I stick my head out the door and search the area. There was no one there. My arms fall to my sides, and I step outside my door leaving it still almost closed.

I tip toe near the staircase that led us up to Matty's room, he wasn't there. So I turn back around and walk past my dads room which was just outside the staircase quietly, I accidently step to harshly on one of the steps which lets out a creaky noise.

Crap.

I freeze, looking around if anyone got out their room, they didn't. I wanted to make a run for it and get there before everyone, but it wasn't fun unless everyone else were awake, and we all fought our way downstairs.

I'm hoping no one forgot about this tradition, because it seems like everyone is still asleep.

"HAYDEN'S OUT."

At the sound of my dad's voice yelling, I shriek from the sudden loud noise. Instantly I see Matty, and everything inside me wants to run but laughter fills my stomach and slows me down.

My dad, grandparents and aunt Kate were all outside their rooms, finding different ways of trying to come down. While I run down the stairs, Matty doesn't wait but jumps from the middle floor to the bottom floor, and runs into the living room.

I run in a few seconds after him, followed by the rest of the family. Matty cheers and howls, pointing at my glum face, he laughs.

"YOU ALWAY'S DO THAT MATTY! It's cheating." I hiss, angrily.

Matty laughs and shows me the middle finger. "Oi, Matty stop." My dad says to Matty. "And Hayden, it's okay." He says soothingly with laughter in his tone.

"No." I say with a frown. "I got out first." I roll my eyes stubbornly, with my arms crossed against my chest.

"Don't you want to see what I got you?" He talks as though I'm still fourteen and not seventeen.

"You got me something?" I say surprised, with a light hearted smile.

My dad looks slightly taken back, he raises his brows. "Of course I did, why wouldn't I?" He says with an awkward tone.

I smile at him warmly. I wasn't too sure why I was really surprised, but for some reason I was, but I was even more excited. I walk over to the small Christmas tree that my grandparents use every year, and sit down on the floor, by now Matty had opened all of his presents.

"Oh my god, you got  meall the new games?" He exclaims with excitement in his face.

I laugh, "Yeah, you like it?" I reply. I got Carlos the other set of new games, because we live together and I didn't think it was practical getting both of them the same things.