Blue Christmas

Chapter 2- "because I love you, Ally."

I lay in my bed on Sunday night, facing my dad's picture, holding back tears. I feel somebody sit down on the edge of my bed, they put their hand on my shoulder and rub it in a circular motion, "hey Ally, Zeke's here." I mumble in response, knowing that if I talk, I'll burst into tears, "I'm going to tell him he can come up, okay?" I still say nothing, I feel the springs on my bed loosen as my mom gets off my bed.

A few seconds later, I feel somebody sit right next to my head. I roll over and see Zeke towering over me, "Ally..."

I sit up and lean on him. I start to cry, I let everything pour out of my system and I feel Zeke's hand comb through my hair, "he's okay Ally."

"You don't know that," I scream through my tears. "I watched the news, there was a bomb dropped right where he was stationed. There were 300 dead and 400 injured, my dad could be one of them!"

"Or, he could be helping save the ones that were injured," Zeke says to me calmly. I push my head into his shoulder and continue to cry, he doesn't push me away, he brings me closer to him. "I'm here for you, I don't know how many times I need to tell you that, but I won't stop."

I continue to cry, "thank you, even if I don't talk about everything, you always stay with me. Why?"

Zeke cups my head in his hands and comes closer to me, "because I love you, Ally." I feel another tear roll down my cheek and he takes his thumb and wipes it away, "I know we've only known each other for a year, but I love you."

I smile and take a big breath, "even though I'm a sophomore?"

Zeke nods his head, "even though you're a sophomore. I've never met anybody like you before," he looks down at his shirt where my tears had soaked in and smiles. "It's okay," he brushes a strand of my hair away from my face and behind my ear. "I know you're worried about your dad, but I'm sure he's okay, he'll be home before you know it."

I smile and look down at my pink, cupcake pajamas. I turn around and look at my clock, "it's getting late, plus, it's a school night."

He smiles at me and gets up from my bed, "you're welcome at my apartment any time, and if you ever need anything, just give me a call. Okay?" I nod my head, "good night."

I watch him leave my room and I lay back down, I look at the picture of my mom, dad, and I. My eyes wander and land on my dad's smiling face in his shrubs, holding me in his arms. My mom leaning her head on my dad's shoulder, one of her hands on me. I frown as I re-imagine the picture, I'm in Zeke's arms, he's in a tuxedo and I'm in a wedding dress. My mom is next to Zeke, smiling, but my dad is nowhere.

I bite my lip, trying not to cry, and close my eyes, trying my absolute best to get the picture out of my head.