Problems Under the Mistletoe

Chapter 10

*Dec 21*

No one liked her. Harley's girlfriend was one of those preppy girls that annoyed everyone. She acted as if she knew nothing and needed everyone to do things for her. Olive didn't get along with any one of us cousins, disregarded the adults in everything they said, and thought the kids were a bunch of noisy rats. The last of those three came straight from her mouth.

Harley had been completely stunned with her arrival and had almost seemed apologetic the entire rest of the night. He had looked annoyed and really upset; whether it was with himself or her was unknown.

This morning, I looked out my window as I woke up and saw many fat, white snowflakes falling to the ground. The Key's roof was covered in a thick blanket of snow.

I looked around for a moment, gathering in my surroundings. Both the twins were gone and I could hear kids screaming from downstairs. I sighed and looked back out my window. There was a figure sitting on the pillows and staring out at the world. I smiled and got up, walking towards her.

"Good morning, Naomi," I greeted, sitting across from her.

She shot me a small smile before returning to her stare out the window.

"Are you okay?" I asked, frowning. "I mean, I haven't known you long but you seem really upset about something."

She smiled and laughed a little bit, replying, "Sorry. Yes I am upset." When I asked what was wrong, she answered, "It's Harley's girlfriend, Olive."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, nodding and agreeing. "I don't think anyone is too fond of her. She doesn't even respect our family at all."

"And... well," Naomi began. When I nodded and urged her on, she continued, "There's more. Harley and I found a place to talk last night after everyone went to bed. We were the only two up and... it was actually really nice." She smiled and paused for a moment, probably playing the night through her head again. "Anyways, Olive obviously came up and Harley told me that he wasn't expecting her to come. He hadn't even told her that he was leaving for Christmas until she texted and somehow got the address.

"I asked him if he liked being with her since we had all noticed his attitude the rest of the night, I'm sure. He told me that he was only dating her because he felt pressured to. Apparently, she asked him out because she had a crush on him and nearly his entire school was watching so he couldn't turn down the most popular girl in school." Naomi rolled her eyes and continued, "Harley said that she guilt trips him into a lot of things. She's gotten him to go to crazy parties where theres lots of drinking and you know Harley never want's to drink. Olive doesn't care that his mom is important to him and like she does with all the adults here, she completely disregards Aunt Aby. I told him that he should break up with her but he knows that she will make a huge scene out of it and gossip. He would probably get bullied if he broke it off because she has all the jocks at her beckon call. The whole thing is just ridiculous."

She sighed as she brushed a brown strand of hair out of her face. I nodded thoughtfully at her and smiled at the same time. Girls are notorious for remembering everything but she was really paying attention to everything Harley told her last night and it made me happy to know someone cared for him just as much as I did; or maybe even more.

"You really like him don't you?" I asked her, giving her a side glance.

Naomi looked at me with wide eyes and shook her head, "I would not want your family upset with me."

I looked back her and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"I just know how much you guys all care about Harley. He's told me about his father's death, and why you all take him under your wing. I love how you two protect each other if someone is hitting on you and making you really uncomfortable. It's super cute!" I giggled as she finished her point. "It just makes me nervous because I don't want your family to hate me like they hate Olive."