Alyssa was having trouble falling asleep. She spent the last two hours laying in bed, wide awake, with her mind roaming anywhere and everywhere it could.
Of course she didn't like being alone on Christmas. The last time she had ever spent time with her family was before she moved out of her parents' house to attend school and live with Kassi in LA about two years ago.
At the time, she was defiant and actually enjoyed the sense of independence she felt now that she didn't have her mom and dad to rely on. And the fact that she had such an amazing friend like Kassi along for the ride, it couldn't get any better than that. However, it was times like tonight where it really hit her; that she really could be alone. And she felt like she was missing something important.
But when she was with Calum, it was an entirely different story. He helped her realize that she didn't want to be alone anymore. She liked having to care for someone else other than herself. From now on, things were going to be different.
Although, she worried that since she made it clear to Calum that being alone this holiday wasn't anything new to her, the idea of him actually bringing her out to Australia wouldn't have crossed his mind anymore. He would meet someone new, and forget all about her.
Rubbing her eyes to adjust them to the darkness, Alyssa reached for her phone on the side table beside her bed, staring at the lock screen.
It was a picture of her and Calum laying in her bed; the covers pulled up just under their eyes, looking at each other rather than the camera. It always made her smile because Calum was the one who had set it.
. . .
"You're going to pick us up or are we just gonna meet there?" Kassi asked Luke on the phone while Alyssa was still in the shower.
"Well, since Calum is surprising her, it would be best if we did just meet up there," Luke explained. "Stall her while the boys and I get ready, and I'll contact you as soon as we reach the venue okay?"
"Sounds like a plan," Kassi smiled, sighing to herself. "Lys and I were planning on a girls' day out anyway, she'll never see it coming!"
Luke chuckled at her excitement before Kassi heard some commotion going on in the background of his line.
"I gotta go," Luke finally said, pulling his mouth away from the speaker. "Ash, you can't bring that in here, you fuck! Kas, I'll see you tomorrow okay? I love you."
Kassi giggled. "Love you too, bye."
She heard the shower head go off right as she hung up.
"You're in for something great, Lys," she mumbled, grinning to herself.
. . .
"Here!" Kassi exclaimed, shoving an outfit into Alyssa's arms before she could even get herself out of bed.
Alyssa grunted, toppling back onto the mattress with a thump.
"Kassi, what the fuck," she whined, glaring up at her much-too-cheery friend.
"Sorry!" Kassi clipped before yanking her up so that she was standing again. "Hurry up, sunshine! We have a big day ahead of us, so we need to get moving."
"What's the rush?" Alyssa grumbled while being guided into the bathroom.
"No rush, just excited is all," Kassi fumbled out before shutting the door after her. "You have thirty minutes!"
Kassi let out a deep breath, swiping a hand across her forehead before hustling back to her room to finish getting ready as well. A little more than thirty minutes later, Kassi was in the living room, tapping her foot rather impatiently against the hardwood floor.
