My High School Life [Rewritten - Ongoing]

28. [Isabella]

"Bell."

I groaned, and rolled towards the darker side of my room. Pulling the covers over my head, I blocked out the artificial yellow glow that illuminated my room. Someone should really turn that off.

"Go away," I grumbled out, the sleep still evident in my tone.

"Wow, nice to know I was missed, Bell."

    I jerked awake with a start, seeing my brother sitting inches from me. "John?"

    His eyes alight, a smile upon his face. "The one and only."

    The corners of my lips tugged up into a smile as I tackled him with a hug. Knocking his body over, I laid my head on his hard shoulder. "You're home!"

    "Of course." He chuckled, glancing down at me. "I wouldn't miss winter break for the world." He gave me a light squeeze and sat cross-legged on the bed. "Plus, Christmas is only a few days away."

    The moment John mentioned Christmas, my grin went as wide as my cheeks would allow. To me, Christmas was special. In our family, Christmas was always filled with joy and laughter. I wasn't sure who started it in our family, but on the first of every December, our house would slowly transform and be adorned with glistening ornaments and Christmas lights. By Christmas day, our house would be freshly scented with gingerbread candles, roasted golden brown chestnuts, delicious hot chocolate, and peppermint candies. 

    "Did Mom put out the gingerbread scented candles yet?"

    "I definitely caught a whiff of it on my way up here."

I shot up from my seat. "Really?"

    "No." I felt my face crumpled. "But since you're up, hurry and get dressed."

I crossed my arms, and looked away before the slick smile of his spread. Ugh. He did that on purpose.

"Come on Bell, everyone's downstairs already."

My eyes flicked back hearing the slight change of tone in his voice. "Everyone?"

"Everyone."

    "Even Alex?" Mom did said he was visiting soon, but I didn't think it was that soon. When she said soon, I thought she meant after the New Years or something.

    He smiled back. "Even Alex."

    "Give me twenty minutes," I said and raced towards the bathroom.

When the bathroom door swung closed, I caught a peek of John patting Sweets as she buried her head in his sweater. A big smile appeared on my face seeing my brother like that. Why couldn't he be that carefree all the time? Instead, I have to deal with an overly emotional, unstable overprotective brother, and yet, I wouldn't trade him for the world.

I sprinted down the stairs the moment I finished getting ready. My eyes stopped moving when I saw the familiar blonde haired boy slumped against our living room couch. I couldn't help but notice the full-beard that clung to his face. I hadn't seen him in nearly a month and I was struck by how good the beard made him looked. It added to his attractiveness and made him all the more handsome.

    Walking forward, I raised a hand to wave at him and called his name.

    "Isabella!" He smiled with ease when our eyes met. Wasting no time, he came over in fast, easy strides and pulled me into a hug.

    I embraced him back. "I missed you."

    "I missed you too," he said. "How's it going?"