Famous Fate

15

"Alright, Estelle, this one's yours!" Paul bellowed as he pulled a perfectly wrapped present out from under the tree and handed it to my little sister.

Estelle grinned as he greedily grabbed the present and tore the wrapping paper to shreds, showing absolutely no mercy.

"Wait, who's it from?" my mom asked as she examined the gift wrapping. Estelle just shrugged and shrieked with glee.

Annabeth groaned. "Oh, it's from us, I just forgot the card in my purse, let me go grab it—"

"Nah, I've got it," I told her as I stood up and walked towards the kitchen as Estelle played with her new present—a lego set Annabeth had picked out.

Annabeth's purse was easy to locate and completely clean and pristine inside, which wasn't shocking.

I pulled out an envelope that was already ripped. Before placing it back, I couldn't help but notice the address on it....California?

Before I could stop myself I pulled the card out and quickly read it. It appeared to be from Annabeth's family, something she rarely spoke of.

'Dear Annabeth,

I know you have long given up attending these family gatherings, but I am once again inviting you to our Christmas and/or New Years celebration. It will be me, your stepmother, Helen, Bobby, and Matthew. We miss you dearly and are rooting you on from California.
I really hope you can make it. I haven't seen you since Christmas four years ago, and I don't want to lose you like I did your mother. Each year you act a little more like her. You didn't even bother to sign your Christmas card last year. You always do, I'm concerned.
I know you're seeing that singer now, so bring him along if you must. I just want to see you.

We miss you,
Fredrick Chase'

After rereading the card my heart sunk. I quickly slipped it back inside the envelope and into her purse as my mom called for me.

With the correct card in hand, I reentered my living room and handed Estelle her card, which she ripped open and admired the princess on the front of.

I was glad she liked it as Annabeth had insisted we spend over an hour in a Target searching for a Princess Belle card as that was Estelle's favorite.

The look on both her and Annabeth's faces was payment enough as they instantly started chatting again.

After eating dessert and playing with Estelle and her new toys for what seemed like hours, we finally left, but not without my mother handing me tons of leftovers.

"Do you think Estelle liked her present? I didn't know if she liked legos, but I loved them when I was her age..." Annabeth said nervously.

I laughed. "Yeah, I think she did. After all, she immediately assembled it. And it's princess themed, which is basically her personality."

Annabeth smiled and nodded. "I guess you're right."

"So...are you going to your families house this year?" I asked, trying not to act suspicious.

Annabeth's eyes widened as she stared ahead at the road. "Oh. No."

"Why not?"

"No reason," she blurted out uncomfortably. "Uh, look, it's snowing!"

My eyes narrowed as I peered out the window. She was right, it was in fact snowing, but her awkward dodging of my questions made me more suspicious. "Annabeth, what's wrong?"

She sighed as she placed her face in her hands. "I'm sorry, I just...I don't have a great relationship with my family. My parents got divorced when I was two. So now, every year, I get an invitation to my father and stepmother's Christmas celebration, but it's super awkward."

"Why's it awkward?" I asked as I took her hands in mine. "I'm sure they're just all scared of how awesome you are."

"Haha right," she said with a hiccup. "It's just, my two half brothers are there, and my stepmother always makes these remarks about my mother being 'mentally unstable' and it's just...to much."

Then she dug around in her purse and miserably handed me the invitation I'd already read, making me feel immensely guilty.

As I pretended to read it for the first time I gasped very unrealistically. There was a reason I wasn't an actor. "Right here it says that they're rooting you on. Annabeth, they miss you!"

She snatched the card back and shrugged. "I don't know, it's just been so long. And I feel like they always gang up on me, and they'd pick you to shreds—"

"You want me to go with you?"

Annabeth's face turned red as she avoided my eyes. "Uh, I mean, no. Well, yes. But it's not like I'm really going. Let's just drop it, okay, it's no big d—"

"I'll do with you."

"Really?" she asked with a grin. As I nodded she pulled me into a huge hug. "I'm sorry in advance. They can be...mean."

I shrugged as the car stopped in front of Annabeth's apartment. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Annabeth kissed me before leaving the car. "I'll have my driver drive you home, alright? I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early. We've got a plane to catch."