I hate Christmas.
Mom had left, Dad was now depressed and drank too much, Nini had left to live her dream, and Big Red's family was visiting his extended family in Italy.
I swore that if I heard another person walking past me humming "Jingle Bells," I would slap them. Mistletoe hung everywhere right now, and every house in the neighborhood was decorated with red and green. It's No-ho-ho for me this time of year.
Damn, I'm turning into Ebenezer Scrooge this year.
When there was Mom, we were all one big happy family. Dad used to love taking us to Christmas parades in Disneyland. Nini always made me feel better. Big Red could cheer me up with one of his ridiculous rants.
I trudged through the snow, kicking at the pebbles. As I stared at all those houses with their festive decorations, I felt a pang in my heart. This year, our house didn't even bother to put up a wreath.
My house didn't feel like my home anymore. It was like a strange foreign place. It wasn't the home I grew up in, that's for sure. Dad is like a zombie sadly wandering around the house. He isn't abusive, he just looks...sad. His eyes are soulless and he's just fallen into a deep state of depression.
I've kept myself entertained by watching a series of romance movies. You might ask, Why, Ricky Bowen, out of all the movies in the world, why would you choose those sappy love movies?
I don't know. It makes me feel closer to Nini. It also reminds me of when Mom and Dad used to be together.
I grumbled as I opened the door. I didn't see Dad or his car in sight, so I guessed he must have left to go to the bar. I dragged my feet upstairs and went to my room.
It was eerily quiet. It was something I would never get used to entirely, even though I'd been an only child for all of my life. I flipped through my phone and found an unopened voicemail from Mom.
"Hey, Ricky. Sorry to bother you at this hour, and I'm probably the last person you want to hear from. I hope Dad is doing well back there. The truth is, I'm pregnant. You're going to be a big brother! Or a stepbrother. We don't know when the baby is expected, but it's coming. Send my well wishes to Nini's family and Dad!"
I sat there in disbelief. "What?"
Nini's POV
"Brava, brava!" Mr. Fummel said. "You all did an amazing job on the staged production of Aladdin. You'll all come back to school January. For now, ho-ho-ho, have a Merry Christmas!"
I jumped up and down giddily. Finally I was coming home. Denver was great, but it's time to come back to Salt Lake.
I immediately FaceTimed Kourtney. "Hey girl!"
"Neeners! I haven't seen your face in five months!"
"Unfortunately, they don't allow phones here. How's everyone back home?"
"They're good. I sense something going down between EJ and Gina, Seb and Carlos are still going strong, Ashlyn is now promoted from co-captain of the Renaissance Club to the captain, Big Red visited his extended family in Italy, and you-know-who is a mess."
"Hermione Granger?"
"No, idiot, Ricky."
I was worried. "What's up with him?"
"He's having the worst holiday ever. His dad started drinking and is now a living zombie, his mom apparently got pregnant with Todd and he's becoming a big brother, or stepbrother, to be specific. Now he's just lying around sadly watching Titanic. Oh yeah, he's been talking about you nonstop. I'm pretty sure he stored a bunch of love letters in his desk."
"Oh my gosh, that's terrible. What am I supposed to do?"
"I dunno, come home and surprise him? Seriously, he's been moping around and wearing black clothes for the past three weeks."
"He doesn't wear black unless there's a funeral."
"Yep, since Red visited Italy, he's basically lonely and depressed. We've all tried talking to him but he only opens up to you and Red."
"Alright, looks like I'm stress baking Christmas cookies."
I ended the call and hopped into my car to begin the long 7-hour drive home.
Ricky's POV
I groaned as I penned out the hundredth letter to Nini. She never responded even though I searched up the address for the YAC online. I texted, emailed, called, and did everything humanly possible to contact her. I tried throwing paper airplanes at her window, which never worked.
I didn't know what else to do, so I put Romeo and Juliet in the DVR. It was high on my stack of romance movies I really had to watch.
When I was younger, I hated romance. I thought it was icky and gross. When the hormones kicked in, it felt weirder. I began to like-like Nini. We did end up dating by sophomore year.
My phone buzzed with a text.
Elton John Caswell: We've got a surprise for you! Park at 10.
SkaterBowen: Please don't dump a bucket of worms on my head or slap me with a basketball.
Farmer/theater Nerd: Don't worry, it's nothing like that. If you want worms, I can dig some up from the fertilizer.
SkaterBowen: HOLY COW NO
Farmer/theater Nerd: Okay, okay, point taken.
Choreography master: You've been waiting for this person for a loooong time. We've waited for this ship to set sail.
SkaterBowen: Now I'm confused.
Renaissancecaptain: Just trust us, we're not gonna murder you.
SkaterBowen: Whatever you say, matey. AYE-AYE, CAP'N!
I switched off my phone and headed towards the park in the rusty white car. The streets were empty and traffic wasn't holding up, because no one went outside in the dark of night.
I went into the park and saw that the gang was all there. "So who's this special person?"
I was sure I knew, I just wanted to believe it.
They all unfolded their arms from the middle of the circle to reveal...Nini!
Wait, Nini?
Nini's POV
"Surprise!" I yelled.
"Nini?" he asked, still not believing his eyes.
"It's me," I said. I opened my arms wide as he ran over and hugged me tight.
"You're squooshing me," I mumbled.
"Sorry," he replied and pulled away.
"So, I got all your letters," I said, holding up the sack. "My moms said that you stuffed them in our mailbox all the time."
"Right," he muttered awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.
"How are you holding up? Is your dad okay? How is your mom and Todd?"
"It's alright, I guess," he said. "It was just a surprise. I mean, I should've known they'd eventually have kids, but I didn't expect it to be one month after their wedding."
I know that the closest person that Ricky has ever had to a sibling was Big Red. They were like brothers, hanging out all the time and playing video games.
"It's Christmas, Ricky, and I think it's time that you change out of those depressing clothes into something more festive. My moms sewed you an extra ugly sweater and I made you these," I held out a batch of his favorite gingerbread cookies topped with an extra large topping of sprinkles.
"Thanks," he replied, taking the cookies.
"Let's give the lovebirds some privacy," Carlos suggested as he sent a wink to Ricky.
"For what?" Seb asked. Carlos gave him a duh-you-know-what look. "Oh yeah, that!"
They all walked to the other corner of the park, discussing holiday plans as Ricky and I took a seat on the bench.
"You would not believe how many romance movies I watched."
"I always thought you were more into action and adventure."
"I know. But it made me feel closer to you. And my parents."
I put my hand on top of his. "Again, I'm sorry. Really, I am."
"It's just...everyone is always saying I'm sorry these days when they pass me in the hallway. They're not bullying me, but I just feel that all everyone ever does to me these days is sympathize me."
"I think I understand how that feels," I said slowly. "Remember in kindergarten, when everyone knew I had two moms? They kept taunting me and sympathizing me."
A small smile flickered on his lips. "Thanks, Neens."
I put my head on his shoulder as we stared out into the distance.
"Life isn't so bad, 'cause I've got you," Ricky said, playing with my hair.
I pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "And I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have you as my boyfriend."