Our Secret

Our Secret Christmas Part 4

Sucking in a breath she slowly lifted the charm bracelet out of the box, "JJ," she breathed out running her fingers over the charms he'd attached. The first charm was simply the letter C for her name. The second charm was a tiny surfboard and the last one was shaped into the form of coral.

Not giving two shits about her brother Coralina jumped up and tackled JJ in a hug, "Thank you, thank you, thank you," she laughed, kissing his cheek as they laid sprawled on the living room floor together. Wrapping his arms around her he sat them back up, "You're quite welcome," he told her, laughing.

Turning to find her brother glaring at them Coral climbed from JJ's lap, "Look at the bracelet JJ got me. I can get charms to add to it," she explained to her brother. "Wow, dude. This is pretty nice," John B commented looking at the bracelet before narrowing his eyes at JJ. "It's Christmas," he said simply, shrugging.

Snatching the bracelet from her brother Coralina turned to JJ, "Can you put it on?" she asked. "Sure," he told her taking the bracelet from her, "Thanks for my necklace by the way," he told her fastening the bracelet around her wrist. Looking at the shark tooth necklace he'd already placed around his neck Coralina frowned, "It's nothing compared to this," she responded, quietly. "Still love it," he whispered running his finger down the palm of her hand.

Pope was only able to stay for two hours before he had to get back to his aunt's house, "Thank you for coming by and my new book," Coralina told him as she hugged him goodbye. "No problem. Thanks for my tie. I'm going to wear on the first college visit I go on," he assured her. "A Harry Potter tie is sure to be a conversation starter," she declared. "I'm sure it will. Merry Christmas, Coral," the boy laughed.

"Merry Christmas, guys," Pope called once again before heading out the door. "Merry Christmas," John B and JJ called from the couch.

Hands on her hips Coralina looked at the two lazy boys laying on the pull out couch together, "Ummm.....I do believe you two have a kitchen to clean up," she reminded them. Groaning John B rolled his eyes, "Coral, it's Christmas," he whined. "I don't care. You made me get up to make the damn breakfast you can at least clean it up," she huffed.

After moaning and groaning for ten minutes the two boys finally got up and went to clean the kitchen. Smiling Coralina crawled onto the pullout and stretched out. Playing with her new bracelet she let the sounds of the boys clanging around in the kitchen lull her to sleep.

Once the boys had cleaned up they headed back to the living room to find Coral asleep on the pull out. "Oh good I can do this now," John B said before punching JJ in the shoulder. "Dude what the fuck," JJ exclaimed clutching his arm.

"Yeah dude what the fuck giving my sister a bracelet like that?" John B questioned. Narrowing his eyes JJ folded his arms across his chest, "I thought maybe with everything going on around here she deserved something nice. Excuse me for wanting to make one of my best friends happy," JJ replied, sarcastically.

Glancing at his sleeping sister John B sighed, "Yeah ok, sorry. It just looks like something you'd give to your like girlfriend or something," he apologized, sitting on the edge of the pull out. Sighing JJ shrugged as he sat on the recliner, "Or maybe my best friend," he told him simply, "Look man she's dealing with this shit with your dad. Trying to make sure there's money for bills so she's working all the fucking time plus the shit with having to see Kie all the fucking time now too I know it's getting to her. I just wanted to give her something nice."

"What are you talking about the shit with Kie. What's that about?" John B questioned. Scoffing JJ shook his head, "Your fucking blind dude. You think it doesn't bother her every time Kie bails on us?" "No, I know it does. She was upset on Thanksgiving but didn't want to talk about it," John B interrupted.

"Right and now she has to work with her after basically being dropped for a bunch of Kooks. That wouldn't piss you off?" JJ questioned. "Well yeah but Coral's not like that. She doesn't hold grudges and she's literally nice to everyone even when they don't deserve it," John B said.

Laughing JJ shook his head, "Dude, she may not let it show but your sister gets upset and pissed off just like the rest of us. She's really good at putting on a show of being happy and carefree, but believe me she's not," JJ told him. "Why do you know so much about how my sister's feeling?" John B questioned.

"Cause I'm the only fucking one paying attention," JJ exclaimed, "Look, I know you're just as worried about things around here as she is so you already have your own shit to deal with. You guys are my family. When my dad starts in on me you guys are the first ones I come to so I'm just trying to be there for you guys now."