pieces | ethma

Back To December Part 1

Emma

Cameron and I sat down at her kitchen island. It was around eleven o'clock at night, and the rest of the house was quiet. Even her twin brother Grayson was sleeping for the night. He was my other best friend.

Cam's older brother Ethan had been away at college, and I hadn't seen him in almost a year due to his college baseball. He was three years older than Cam, Grayson and I, making him a third year college student as we were high school seniors.

I guess it completely slipped my mind that he'd be back for Christmas break until the front door opened, and soon enough there he was, scrolling on his phone as he came into the kitchen.

"Hey, E. We made some hot chocolate. You want some?" Cameron asked. Ethan put his phone away.

"Sure. Thanks, Cam."

I slipped on my own hot chocolate, feeling the warmth run down to my stomach, giving me that cozy feeling I loved every December. Hot chocolate was my favorite around Christmas time.

Cam handed Ethan a fresh mug of hot chocolate before she excused herself for a quick bathroom run.

As soon as she was gone, Ethan's eyes met mine, and I was taken back years ago when I had a huge crush on him. I mean, he was a senior my freshman year of high school, and if that doesn't tell you how big my heart eyes were for him, I don't know what does. Anyway, my heartbeat started to pick up, and I sipped another long sip of my hot cocoa.

"Hey, Emma." He said. His voice was soft, like he knew everybody besides him, Cameron and I were sleeping. God, it was December, and he was still fucking tan! Nobody can compete with that.

"Hey. How've you been?"

"Good. Busy with school and baseball. I'm glad to have a break. How about you?"

"Good. I've just been filling out college applications and doing other senior year stuff."

"Staying out of trouble?" He asked, pointing at me with his pinky as he brought his cocoa mug to his mouth.

"Not exactly." I said. "You know. Just the normal high school partying phase and senior year stuff."

"Ah. The ole high school parties. Do you think you could get me into one of those? I wanna feel nostalgic."

I laughed. "Or you could get me into a college party."

"You'll be in college next year. Don't rush growing up." He said, walking over to the cabinet and taking out the whipped cream vodka. Ethan had just turned 21, but I knew he was a partier in high school. He looked to see if Cam was coming back yet, and then he glanced back at me. "Want some?"

I smiled, sliding my mug towards him before he poured some into it. "Thanks." I said, grabbing my glass and sipping some of it.

"You seem different since the last time I saw you. More grown up."

"I feel exactly the same." I said.

"You look different. A good different." He said before walking over to the cabinet and grabbing a yeti cup, then pouring his mug of hot chocolate mixed with vodka into it. "I should go to sleep. It was nice seeing you again."

I smiled. "Have a good night, Ethan."

He walked off, leaving me to my newly spiked hot cocoa. Finally, Cameron came back, sitting next to me. "So..."

"What do you mean, so?"

"How'd it go?" She said, nudging me.

"How'd what go?"

"Your talk with Ethan."

"It was normal?"

"Are you ever gonna tell him how you feel?"

"I'd need a lot of liquid courage for that."

Cameron laughed. "I think he likes you back, you know."

"No way."

"Totally."

I blushed. "If that's true, I'm calling it now. A Christmas miracle."

Cam and I busted out with laughter before we realized that everyone else was sleeping, and we needed to be quiet.

I always loved staying in the Dolan's house. It was cozy, and it was my second home growing up. If I wasn't at my own house, this was where I felt the safest. The most comfortable.

Cameron and I have been best friends since kindergarten, and sometimes I think she's the sister I never had. Just like Grayson is the brother I never had. But Ethan? I don't think I ever saw him as a brother. I saw him as someone to look up to. I saw him as the boy who made my heart beat faster.

Cam and I finished our hot chocolates before we headed upstairs to brush our teeth and go to sleep. One thing I loved about her house was that they had a guest bedroom with the comfiest mattress ever, and I always got a great night's rest.

I went home after breakfast the next morning, and it wasn't until Christmas Day when my wish came true.

"Emma, honey, someone's at the door for you." My mom called. I made my way through the living room full of relatives before I went into the hallway and into the foyer.

"Ethan? Hey." I said, walking over to the door way.

"Hey. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas. What's up?"

"Can we talk for a minute?"

"Yeah." I said. It was cold and snowy outside, but I didn't care. I led him outside to the bench on the front yard. "What's up?"

Ethan smiled. "I scored two tickets to the Bruins' game on Saturday. Do you by any chance wanna come with?"

My heart leaned out of my chest. This was the day I've waited for since I was a small child. I think I had a crush on Ethan before I was even old enough to know what the word crush meant.

But, I played it cool.

"Yeah. Sounds great."

"Okay. I'll pick you up around noon, and we can get lunch on the way."

My smile grew bigger. "I can't wait." I said. "I haven't been to a hockey game in a long time."

"It's a date." He said, getting up. "See you then." He added, smiling at me before he walked towards his car.

Little did I know that was the first of many memories to be made. Little did I know that my best friend's older brother was the guy that would impact my life in so many amazing ways. This was just the start.