See You on the Other Side | ✓

16 | The Christmas Miracle

"Maybe I'm not all that you thought." - Dayglow, Hot Rod

~~~

"Now, remember what I said. If you ever feel like smacking any one of them just try to smile," my grandma reached up to touch my loose brunette curls. I hated when she did that.

In response, I touched her gray tresses. "I was just gonna walk away, but that works too."

We rang the doorbell on the bayside house that must've cost a fortune. It was a rather modest size for my uncle's net worth, but its location made things pricier.

The door swung open and I forced a smile without even being spoken to. The person standing in front of me was Katelyn, who was my cousin but also Avery's adversary.

"Come in," she seethed in an uninterested tone. "I'll take your bags." She huffed as she hurled a single suitcase into the foyer.

I turned back around to see what facial expression my grandma was carrying but was disappointed to see no change. We walked in as Katelyn moved aside. I found myself looking back at the aging woman behind me like a child would at his mother if confused.

As we entered the kitchen, we came across my uncle, his slightly younger wife and a boy aged about 11. He looked up from his device for about 2 seconds before he returned his attention.

"I'm hoping the welcome Katelyn gave was warm enough," my uncle said, approaching the two of us.

If warm meant bitchy, then yes.

"Oh yes, she's a wonderful girl," my grandma quickly answered, not giving it much thought.

"I forgot to introduce you to my son, Ben."

Ben said hi and that was really all I heard from him over the course of my stay. It was Christmas Eve, but the rest of the day was kind of just any old day.

The dinner I had that night was good though, I could tell you that much. I didn't have to be near family for too long for the attitudes of the youths within the family mirrored mine. The elder family members were too busy and caught up with reminiscing to force us to interact.

However, I knew that solitude would only last for so long as the next day would definitely bring the exact opposite. Also, I didn't really want anything for Christmas, which meant I was only going to open a small number of gifts.

These "holidays" seemed to grow more somber as I aged, with each event being more underwhelming and disappointing than the last. Their meanings evaporated as I began to be left behind.

As I waited to fall into slumber, I thought about my memories of rushing down the steps on Christmas Day. In my pjs, I'd rip the wrapping paper enveloping my gift and use my short nubby nails to scratch at any tape or plastic.

Now I just opened up my one or two gifts that consisted of money or an Amazon gift card to buy the gifts I actually wanted. The rush and anticipation of childhood had left.

The next day, everyone woke up and sluggishly dragged themselves down to the tree. The youngest one, Ben, grabbed his gifts first. Most were video games with the exception of clothes which was possibly one of the worst gifts in a child's mind.

Next was Katelyn who got mostly clothes and jewelry. She looked at her dad and went over to hug him with her new Off-White shirt in her hand.

I looked at my grandma who rolled her eyes while sipping out of a mug.

After her, it was my turn to open up the gifts my grandma had brought over. I opened the first one, a small rectangular box. When I opened it, I saw the only dollar bill that was blue.

Then I saw 4 other bills just like that one.

"What the..." I trailed as I pulled the money out the box. "Grandma, can I talk to you in the other room?"

"Sure."

We walked over to a room full of nice furniture but devoid of people.

"I can't accept this, ma." The words pained me to even say, but I knew I needed to put my selfish needs aside. My grandma didn't need to give me that much money. Were the social security checks really that good?

"I'm being responsible with the funds. Consider this a late birthday present."

"I don't need 500 dollars."

"You're an adult now. Save this and put it towards clothes or groceries or something. College can be very trying, but 500 dollars could ease things a little." She grabbed my hand and opened my palm before re-placing the money in my hand. "Let me help for once."

I looked at the money now sitting in my palm and felt strange. I slipped out of the room and went upstairs to safely hide my idea of a small fortune.

~~~

The house fell quiet as naps were taken. Even the video game addict himself was asleep in his bed. I too almost found myself knocked out, but the bed was a little off to me. I preferred my bed cooler.

The guest room was decorated with hovering-looking shelves nailed to the wall. They looked like they should've been put in a study. Shelves with literature replaced the presence of a TV.

Lame.

Still, I found myself in front of the shelves and picked out a book. They were filled with the Great Books people used as a source of discussion.

I grabbed one called The Alchemist and lifted up the cover. I thought a couple pages of reading could supplement all the brain cells I lost from talking to people.

"You are so weird," Katelyn commented, entering the room. As she peered in, her long brunette hair flipped and made contact with the doorframe.

"That's your opinion."

"This is probably all you do the whole day."

Only ignorant people could make intelligence an insult.

"Avery was right, you are a bitch," I insulted, putting down the book that hid my face.

"How do you know that she-devil?"

"She's not a she-devil. She's an angel, but I don't know about what you are. All I see is insecurity."

"I'm as secure with myself as I'll ever be."

I grimaced. "That's sad."

"No, you're the one who's sad. I can tell you don't do anything social or fun."

"Okay, but it's whatever."

"If you weren't being so mean to me, I would've invited you to my New Year's Party."

"New Year's party?"

She shushed me by pressing her pointer finger onto her lips. "Don't say it so much. Dad doesn't know I'm throwing one."

"Is he supposed to be in a coma around New Year's because I don't see this going well."

"His company is having their own New Year's thing. I'm just trying to help you, Adrian."

"What am I going to gain from this?"

"A better way of saying it is, what do you have to lose?" She rhetorically questioned. She gave me the time of the function before leaving promptly.

Well, that was smart-sounding.

☠A/N☠

Technically this update is late but it's only MINUTES late. Thanks for 2k reads! I really appreciate it. Also, don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed the update.