latch // luke h (on hold)

twenty

(wOW OMG TWENTY CHAPTERS WHAT A MILESTONE)

Zara.

I spent my Christmas Eve that year watching Elf in my pyjamas while drinking hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. Usually, during the Christmas period I would avoid doing stereotypical thing like this, but I really wasn't bothered to change the channel and hot chocolate is really good.

My mam was in the kitchen, making various stuffings for tomorrow. She got the Christmas and New Year's off and all she's talked about since then is Christmas Dinner. Mam is an exceptional cook and honestly, I missed her being around the house so it was nice to have her there.

I huffed tiredly. Honestly, I felt really sad. I didn't talk to Luke since that night and I missed him a lot. He was the only person I counted on to always be there to talk to and I fucked it all up.

"Zara?" Mam called from the kitchen. "Imogen's on the phone for you."

"I'm coming," I said, groaning as I got up from my cosy spot on the couch. I took the phone when I walked into the kitchen and brought it up to my ear. "Hey, Immy."

"Zara, I fucked up," she said immediately. "I really fucked up."

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked her worriedly.

"I may or may not have not gotten Michael's Christmas present yet."

"Immy are you serious? It's Christmas Eve!"

"I know, I know," she sighed. "I'm the worst girlfriend ever, but will you please come shopping with me to get him something?"

"I would, but I'm like, really busy at the moment," I lied. Christmas shopping was not my thing, especially on Christmas Eve and especially in New York. The city is always jam-packed on a normal day, I could only imagine what it would be like on one of the most busiest days for shopping.

"Really? Yeah I'm sure you're super busy sitting on your couch watching TV." I could almost hear her roll her eyes.

"What makes you think that?"

"Oh, please, Zara. I know you too well."

"Ugh," I groaned. "Fine. I'll be ready in fifteen minutes, come to my house and we can walk from there."

"Yesss," Immy hissed. "Thank you so much, Zar. You're a freaking life-saver.

"I know, I know, I'm the best. I'll see you later."

"Bye!" With that I hung up and got up from the couch to go and get dressed.

* * *

Imogen arrived not long after I was ready and we began walking down the house-adorned street into the city. The houses consisted of colourful Christmas lights and signs saying "Come Here, Santa!" Back in Ireland, there was a church up the hill from my house, so I would've been able to hear the choir singing carols in front of it. Here, it was quieter. During the whole walk she was babbling about ideas for things to get him, but I wasn't really paying attention.

"-but I'm still not sure. What do you think,Zara?" Immy's mentioning of my name brought my attention back to her.

"Um," I began, not knowing what to say.

"We're you listening to me at all?" she chuckled as she pressed the button on the traffic light.

"Um, well I suppose it depends on how you define listening."

"Are you okay?" she asked me, concern showing on her petite features.

"Yes, I'm fine," I lied to her, pushing my fringe out of my eyes.