"Well I'll see you in two weeks," I smiled to Tris and Brad at the train station. All the boys were going home for Christmas for two weeks to spend it with their families. Connor left for Aberdeen 2 days ago and James left for Bournemouth yesterday. Tris was going back to Devon today and Brad was going back to Birmingham today.
"Will you be alright?" Tris said.
"I can live on my own for a week!" I laughed, "I did it for a month, I'm sure I'll manage a week."
"You sure?" Brad asked.
"My brothers coming next week with his daughter," I said.
"I'll be fine," I whispered.
Truth is, I didn't want them to go. Selfish I know! But last year I went and stayed with my parents for a few days. This year they're going to Australia and I really wanted to stay home. Last year I didn't depend on the boys as much. When Christmas rolled around I'd only known them around 4 months. Now I've known them nearly a year and a half. They were my best friends.
The boys gave me a hug before hugging each other and going their separate ways to their platforms.
"Have fun!" I shouted after them. They both turned around and waved one last time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was in the taxi on my way to pick up my brother, Andrew, and my niece, Ellie. I was so excited as I haven't seen them in ages. The past week hasn't been so bad. I tried to keep myself busy. I posted Ashley's presents to her in America and I gave the boys theirs before they left.
I jumped out the taxi asking for it to stay for about 15 minutes for the journey home throwing some money at him. I ran into the train station and waited impatiently.
I suddenly saw a small child running towards me.
"MADDIE!!" My 4 year old niece shouted.
"ELLIE!!" I shouted back bending down and pick her up giving her a big hug.
"Did you forget me?" I heard my brother say as he approached us. I ran over balancing Ellie on my hip and gave Andrew a hug.
"How could I forget my big, old brother," I laughed.
"Old?!" Andrew said stepping back, "I'm only 24!"
"And I'm only 18 so you're old to me," I said back.
"Are we camping in the train station or are we actually going back to yours?" Andrew said sarcastically.
"Come on then," I smiled, "then we can put up the Christmas tree,"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There we go," I said as I lifted Ellie up for her to place the star on the tree. We had decorated the entire house and put up the tree together. Ellie loved it! We had the radio on as they were playing lots of Christmas music which, of course, my excitable niece was dancing to.
"Up next we have 'Hoping for Snow' by The Vamps," the radio host started before the song filled the room.
"I've made mistakes but so have you,
It's been a year of nothing new
And now I'm waiting for this to unfold.
There is a class but I'm outside
I keep away my spirits high
It's you I'm hoping to meet in the cold.
And no, you're not the only reason I came home,
Maybe it's the seasons I don't know
Maybe it's because I'm on my own-"
"Andrew!" I interrupted over the song while picking up some rubbish from the decorations, "Turn that off will you."
"But aren't they your friends?" My brother called back.
"I bought 'Frozen' the other day. It should be on the cabinet. Stick that on and I'll make some hot chocolates for us," I shouted back at him.
"Okay," he said. The music stopped almost instantly
I went into the kitchen and stuffed the rubbish from the decorating into the bin and got out 3 mugs. I made 2 hot chocolates for Andrew and I and a chocolate milk for Ellie. I carried in the drinks to the living room where 'Do you wanna build a snowman?' was being blasted from the TV. I placed Ellie's chocolate milk on the coffee table and handed Andrew his drink.
"Why'd you want to turn it off?" He said motioning towards the radio.
"I just did," I mumbled.
"But why?" He pressed.
I sighed looking at my brother, "Because-"
"Shushh!" Ellie scolded as we were apparently being to loud for the movie.
"Sorry, Els," I said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After singing and dancing to 'Frozen' and going through many hot chocolates, Ellie was tucked away in bed leaving Andrew and I to have a catch up. We were sprawled out on the sofa him sitting on an angle and me almost lying down resting my legs over him.
"She's been excited to see you," Andrew said.
"Els?" I asked.
"Yeah, she's missed you,"
"I've missed her too. I've missed you," I smiled
"Aw, have you missed me?" Andrew said putting on a stupid voice.
"Shut up," I said pushing his shoulder.
"Watch it!!" Andrew said, "Nearly spilled the good stuff!"
"The Bailey's?" I laughed.
"Yes, it's a special drink for Christmas time only," he replied.
We sat in silence for a bit due to being tired as it was about half past midnight.
"You never answered my question earlier?" Andrew said as I took a mouthful of yet another hot chocolate. I looked at my brother and gave him the 'what do you mean' look.
"Why did you want the radio off?" He stated. Andrew knew how close I was to the boys and he'd met them once or twice before so he knew who they were and how close we all were so it probably did confuse him as to why I wanted the radio turned off rather than dancing around and singing along.
"It's nothing, seriously, I'm just missing them and the song was a slower song and slow songs make me think and it would have just made me miss them more. It's pathetic, I know,"
"It's not pathetic, you just miss your friends," Andrew said sympathetically, "there's nothing wrong with that."
I smiled at my brother before throwing the rest of my drink back.
"Right, I'm knackered, I'm off to bed. I'll see you in the morning!" I said hugging my brother before trudging up the stairs to my room.
"Night, Maddie," my brother called after me.
"Night, Andrew," I said as I entered my room.
-----------------------
Hi Guys, so I know Christmas has sort of passed and I haven't even got to Christmas Day yet so I'm going to post it in Part 1 and Part 2. Part 2 will probably end up shorter than Part 1 so I might edit them and put them together. I know this chapter is quite jumpy in time too so apologies for that too. I hope you all had a good Christmas and if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a good day nonetheless xxx
