Talent Exchange

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 (Christmas day)

Grace's POV:

Christmas day. The only time where I was remotely in a good mood. Well, other than the fact that I got woken up at like 4 am in the morning because my demon siblings wanted me to go with them and open presents. I decided not to be a misery guts since even I was pretty excited to see what I got under the Christmas tree. As I descended the stairs, I saw my mum and dad already in the living room since the door was wide open. I ran down quicker and tackled both of them in a hug.

"Merry Christmas mum, dad." I gave them a squeeze which they returned. I was finally released once Jess and Paul clambered down the stairs and my parents rushed up to them. This was going to be an amazing Christmas.

"You kids go ahead and open your presents. I have to go check on our plans for later." My dad said before grabbing his coat and leaving the house. I looked up at mum inquiringly.

"Do you know about this?" I squinted my eyes at her. She raised her hands up in surrender.

"I can't tell you. You might kill us for what we have planned." Ah, shit. I was now afraid about what they had planned. I don't think it's something horrible per say but it would be pretty bad for me personally. It could be something like petting those evil eight legged creatures everyone called spiders but I called beasts from the darkest depths of hell. They came from the same place my siblings did.

"Hey, Grace?" My head shot up at my brother's call. He was holding a rather large wrapped box.

"Think fast." Paul threw it at me and I barely had enough time to react before I dived for it, catching it in my outstretched arms. 

"You're out!" He yelled before bursting out in laughter along with Jess and my mother. Apparently, I couldn't catch a break around here. I brushes myself off before picking myself off the floor. A small sting emanated from my elbow. Just my luck, of course I'd get carpet burn on Christmas. My muttered a few curses and sat crossed legged on the floor I was lying on just seconds ago.

"Who's this from?" I asked. My mum gave me a small smile.

"You're father and I. It's just a little something to take to America. Go ahead, open it." She nodded her head in the direction of the present. Cautiously, I started peeling away the paper trying not to rip it. It revealed an opaque blue box and as I took off the lid, a gasp escaped my mouth. Lying inside it was a Nikon camera, a photo album and about $500 worth of cash.

"Mum... This wasn't necessary." I tried pushing back my tears of joy. Mum also looked like she was on the edge of bursting out crying.

"We know, but we wanted to. It just made me realize how grown up you're actually becoming." The droplets were now free falling down her face. I engulfed her in another hug. 

"I love you mum. I know I don't say it often but I hope you know that I'll always love you." That was probably the deepest thing I had said in years. All my friends knew I didn't to affection (hugging, holding hands and those x's people put at the end of their messages) but my family or more specifically, my parents were an exception. Other than that, I was a heartless bitch.

"Honey, everything's set for dinner..." My father said before trailing off after noticing all of us still in the living room. His eyes widened like a deer caught in the headlights. Not that you'd find any wild deer in these parts of England.

"I've said too much." And then walked out followed by mum. The rest of the day went by with my siblings and I opening the remainder of our present. In the boxes addressed to me, I received new art supplies, jewellery and more spending money for California. My Christmas was going pretty good so far, I was only dreading whatever “dinner” was going to be.