𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 ⟶ Original

thirteen.

AS THE WEEK passed and Christmas neared, Angelica started to feel worse and worse. She was somewhat dreading the holiday, knowing it wouldn't feel the same without her best friend. She tried to pull herself through, though, because she still had a few days of school to survive and she couldn't let her grades slip. Christmas break was only a few days away, and Angelica tried to convinced herself that the break would be quite nice. Surrounding herself with immediate family and friends who cared would give her a break from her internal struggle, and she was looking forward to that.

A couple of days following Mr. Kauch had assigning new Physics partners, there was a half day of school. It was Friday the twenty first, the start of holiday break. After the short day at school, Angelica and Evan walked to Dorothea's Place to see Willow again and to eat lunch together. Quickly after sitting down, milkshakes were placed in front of each of them, and with them Willow took their order, promising that it would be out shortly. She seemed okay, holding up fine after what happened with Keira - kind of like how Angelica was feeling.

Evan and Angelica were chatting about some math homework they had been assigned over break when Willow came up to their table, setting a steaming bowl of tomato soup and grilled cheese in front of Angelica and a grilled sandwich in front of Evan. She gave a curt smile and started to walk away after telling the pair to enjoy their food, but Angelica called out to stop her.

"Willow," She voiced, causing Willow to turn back around, a confused look on her face, "Uh, how are you holding up? After, you know..."

Willow walked closer to the table as Angelica asked her question as if the answer was a secret that only the duo could hear.

"I'm holding up fine," Willow explained, forcing a small smile, "Life has kept me busy. I mean, Christmas already isn't feeling the same without Keira, but life happens."

Angelica and Evan nodded, but Angelica actually spoke, "I get it."

Willow gave a quick nod in return and walked away, leaving Angelica and Evan to their food. Angelica thought for a moment as she started to eat, noticing that Willow was probably feeling pretty rough. She said that 'life happens', but what it really sounded like was that life happens yet it drags you through it with no mercy whatsoever. Angelica wasn't blaming her for feeling that way - she had lost a cousin, a friend.

Evan and Angelica quickly finished their food and payed for it, walking out into the cold winter air after in silence. Angelica knew Willow was right - Christmas wouldn't feel the same without Keira and that life happened, but she wouldn't let that bring her down even more than she already was. Not on her watch, anyway.

<<<<<<<

Later, when Angelica and Evan had returned to their homes, Angelica was sitting on the couch when Monica came down the narrow stairs with a large box. This caught Angelica's attention, making her look up from her spot on the couch with an overwhelming sense of confusion.

"What is that?" Angelica questioned as her mother looked around the box, checking to make sure she wasn't going to fall.

Monica set the box down and dusted her hands on her pants before responding, "Christmas lights. Do you want to help me put them up?"

"Outside?" Angelica asked, brows furrowed.

It was freezing outside, and it was only getting colder as the start of enter came. It was also really close to Christmas, which was part of why Angelica wanted to say no to her mother - they would have to take the lights down as soon as they put them up.

"Where else would we put them?" Monica replied with a short laugh, reaching down to pick the box back up, "Well, are you helping me, or not?"

"Yeah," Angelica sighed as she rose from her spot on the couch and walked over to her mother, "But let me help you with that."