Only One Cup of Coffee

Chapter 15

I bounced on the heels of my feel as I waited for Adelaide to open the door. I hadn't spoken to her in a while so it seemed like a pleasant idea to hang out.

The door flew open and Adelaide stood there in her designer boots and sweater with her jeans.

"Hey!" She laughed.

"Come in. I really do get what you mean when you say family problems. How long do you plan to stay?"

"Oh... Just for today actually. We have a holiday tomorrow cause it's the weekend but I have to go shopping with Alex for a Christmas tree. I'd say it's tradition for us to go together for shopping every year." I replied.

"I get that. That's cool. Kay, you wanna come in? Mom's making Pasta for dinner, I hope that's okay with you." She said, dragging me into her decorated house.

"Of course that's okay!" I replied cheerfully as we walked in.

"Hi!" Came a call from the kitchen and I saw a carbon copy of Adelaide standing over the stove. Only a little older of course.

"I'm Adelaide's mum, and you must be Caroun! Adelaide has spoken well of you dear! She says the two of you are good friends." Mrs. Rise gushed.

"Della, go call your dad from the study to tell him dinner's ready. Caroun, would you please do me a favour and set the table? I apologise for asking you since you are a guest, but we are running a little late."

"Sure Mrs. Rise! I would love to." I said with a genuine smile as I went to set the table.

--

Overall I must say I had a great time at the Rise household. Their facilities were only in the best condition and their house was absolutely gorgeous.

I woke up the next morning at 8 and we all ate pancakes together. By 10 I was out of the house and heading down to my own.

Luckily, both my parents and Alex were still asleep so I quietly snuck into my room, listened to music and did my homework until the evening when it was time for me and Alex to go to buy the Christmas tree.

--

I slid on my thick faux leather long coat and my thick woollen scarf and I put on my jeans. After lacing up my ankle length boots, I was officially ready to go.

Alex was waiting for me in the kitchen so I grabbed a granola bar and we hopped and skipped away.

The shop was a little walk away but we made it there in 5 minutes. The line was pretty long even though there was still 2 weeks until Christmas.

"So..." He began not so casually.

"There's a rush here... Huh..." He said.

"Look I think I found the perfect tree!" I gasped as I grabbed his gloved hand and dragged him to a small, adorable bottle green Christmas tree.

We had offered our old Christmas tree to my aunt that year because she didn't have one and there was no store nearby to buy one of herself so along with our gifts and decorations we also had to buy a tree which explains why we were there.

"Okay... This one looks cute. I'll double check the price and buy it so you go look for some decorations. I think mom said to buy the shiny round stuff, candy canes and... Oh! Don't forget the star for the top!" He grinned like a madman as he walked off in search of the cash counter, the tree tucked safely under his arm.

--

I glided through three sections worth decorations. I had picked out most of the stuff I wanted; the candy canes and even a bunch of fairy lights but I just couldn't find the right star for the very top of our adorable tree!

This tree was a big change for us actually because we always had a really large and elegant tree. The thing is, we had given our decorations off as well and though I am sad that we no longer have the old tree, I find this one to be a lot more pleasant.

It's smaller and more compact so it's easier to put into the attic when not in use. And besides, I never really liked my mom's taste in decorations anyways.

After another ten minutes of scavenger hunting, I set my eyes on a cute shiny purple star. I really liked it and it was well proportioned to the height of the tree.

Putting it in my basket full of decorations, I rushed off to the counter where I found Alex busy paying for the tree.

"Here!" I nodded at him as I set the basket on the cash counter next to him and bobbed my auburn head proudly.

It felt like an achievement to actually shop for the decorations because our old ones were with us since before I could remember so I doubt I had any say in how they appeared.

The kind lady at the cash counter billed our items and and we set the decorations in my handy dandy cloth bag while Alex carried the small tree.

We set out on the road, realising that it had gotten dark already even though it was still pretty early.

Our neighbourhood was mostly considered a friendly one but I still found it a tad frightening at times, only because it was quite deserted.

After 7 in the evening, not a soul could be found on this little street adjoining my area and the shop area (that's a weird thing to call it but I like that name. Shop area. Haha).

We were going to take the turn out of the small alley into the wide roads in front of our street when I heard a sharp grunt/gasp.

I spun around quickly and dropped my bag on the snow soaked ground.

I saw these three guys holding onto Alex by the scruff of his neck. He was coughing slightly and they were grinning madly.

The tree lay on the sodden ground safely a couple of feet away.

I stared in horror, frightened at the idea of what they were going to do to my brother.

Alex wasn't much of a fighter. He always had a bad immunity and didn't do much fighting in his younger years when the other boys of his age brawled happily.

"Caroun... These are some-" Alex stopped mid sentence as he had a sudden coughing fit.

He lightly cleared his throat and continued. "My friends... From school."

The guys started to kick him and laugh, making fun of him.

I stepped forward and shoved one of the guys in the shoulder. "How the hell can you call them your friends if they're kicking you like this?!" I shouted in rage. Probably a bad idea cause they were clearly the ones with the upper hand in the given situation.

The guy stepped back towards me and threw me against the garbage bin at the far side of the dark alleyway.

I lifted my fingers gingerly to the back of my head which had connected with the bins and felt some blood oozing out of a very thin wound. Well, at least it wasn't bad.

I shakily got to my feet and pulled out my phone, dialling the number for the cops and holding it up to my ear.

"This is the police station what's your emergency?" A woman's voice asked when she picked up the phone.

"I am in xxx xxx road in a small alleyway. Some guys who my brother claims to be his friends are beating him up and they shoved me against the wall. I think my brother is bleeding." I whispered as softly as I could while pressing my back flat against the dumpsters.

"I understand ma'am. We'll send someone shortly, please try to stay out of harm's way." She replied curtly.

I switched off my phone after I cut it and then turned to my brother. He was now coughing violently.

Despite what the officer had said I stumbled forward and grabbed a guy by the collar of his shirt, shoving him aside. He was momentarily shocked so I took the time to grab Alex quickly and pull him up behind me.

"So the little girl is going to save her brother?" One of the guys taunted.

Alex started to cough really bad then so I turned for a second to offer him my shawl.

I blanched in horror when I looked at the palm of his hand that he had coughed into.

It was red with blood.