Unexpected (Avi Kaplan)

Ref

Avi's POV

December 18. Christmas was just around the corner, or in my case, a mixture of Christmas and Hanukkah, which meant we were all spending time with our families.. It wasn't ever about what we got, but just spending time with family when I could. It was usually myself and Esther jamming out to song after song, but she was bringing Darien to see our parents, so she was riding with him. That didn't mean I was alone though. It took hours of begging and negotiating, but I managed to talk Ivy in meeting them.

It was understandable why she was hesitant though. She told me she always spent Christmas with her dad. She didn't say much about her mom, just that she wasn't in the picture. I wanted to know more, but I knew better than to push it. So we came to a conclusion that we'd spend a week with my parents and a week with her dad. By the time we got to the cabin, it was snowing. Darien's car was already in the driveway, telling me that him and Esther were already there.

I got out and jogged around the 1969 Barracuda, opening the passenger door before Ivy could object, something she seemed to do just because. It was adorable really. "I told you I can open my own door," she said as she stepped out of the car. It seemed all her worrying about what she was going to wear did her well. It was nothing more than a black dress, white leather jacket and white ankle boots, but it all seemed to compliment her well. Coming from someone who thought everything that wasn't tears complimented her.

"Maybe, but you act like that's gonna stop me," I said with a chuckle, wrapping my arms around her waist. I was halfway expecting an argument, but when I got nothing, I leaned down just enough to kiss her cheek. It was only then when I heard an all too familiar voice that I hadn't realized I missed as much as I did.

"Avriel Kaplan get your butt in here and quit holding that girl up in the cold." I smiled slightly and pulled back, looking over at my mother.

"Yes ma'am," I called and jogged to the trunk of the car. I pulled out all of our bags, using my body to block Ivy as I grabbed most of them. I laughed  as she pouted and grabbed the only two left before reaching over to grab one from me.

I took several steps back and shook my head as I turned and half-jogged half-stumbled to the front door. Stopping once I was inside, I turned and watched as she climbed the few steps onto the porch, a playful glare contorting her features. She came in and I closed the door behind her, brushing off the little bit of snow on my shoulders.

"Mom, dad, this is Ivy," I said with a small smile. I would have called her my girlfriend, but I also didn't want to get my hopes up. Even though we pretty much were a couple, we were going through our own Scomiche phase. We just didn't want to admit it. Or so I thought.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kaplan. I'm the girlfriend," Ivy said as she politely shook my mother's hand. I stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend exactly what just happened as she did the same to my father. "Nice to meet you too," she added, her smile lighting up her face. The only thing that brought me out of my trans was Esther's hand coming down on my shoulder.

"Stare on your own time," she said with a laugh. I realized my parents, Ivy, and Darien had their eyes trained on me while mine were trained on Ivy.

"Did you ever plan on introducing her to me, little brother?"

I jumped at the nearly unfamiliar voice that came out of the kitchen, but when a guy not much taller than me came out, my entire face lit up. "Joshua? What are you doing here?" I asked as I rushed over to my older brother and hugged him tightly.

"Do you really think I was going to miss meeting my brother's girlfriend?" he asked, causing me to shrug slightly as I glanced over at Ivy.

"Joshua, this is Ivy. Ivy, my older brother Joshua," I said, somehow feeling a thousand times better than I did before. He approached Ivy cautiously, taking in her appearance fully.