The morning of Christmas Eve, Ally woke up with an expected headache and excruciating pain in her hands. She squinted to examine her hands. Her fingers felt too tight to move and her knuckles were bruised. She grazed the dried blood with one of her hands and flinched at the sharp pain. She gradually opened and closed her palms to ease into its movement.
The events of the night before raced into her mind. She pushed aside the image of Jake and got off the bed. After cleaning herself up she went downstairs for breakfast. "You could at least get up early on Christmas Eve, Ally."She was greeted by her mother's words.
When Ally didn't reply her mother simply pushed a plate of pancakes towards her. Her father too emerged from his bedroom with a sleepy look on his face.
"Like father like daughter." Her mother taunted again. Taunts were the last thing she needed today. So she chose to ignore all of them and took out her phone. She saw a text message from Cameron. It was strange but a simple
'Hey'.
"Keep that thing away." Her mother yelled.
Ally sighed and shoved the phone inside her pocket. Her mom didn't like them using phones on the breakfast table. After breakfast she was lying down on the couch watching some reality shows when she remembered about Cameron's text.
'Hi'. She had replied. He didn't reply for an hour so she had to consume her
time watching television. When he did reply it was slightly surprising.
How are you feeling? -C
How was she feeling? She read those words a few times pondering over his
question. She didn't know how she was feeling anymore. Sad or hurt weren't the right words to describe it. There was an indescribable emptiness within her.Nevertheless she replied the opposite.
Good. -A
Really? -C
Yes. -A
Do you remember what happened last night? -C
She did but she didn't want to rethink it. She even remembered the part where Cameron had come looking for her and they had a talk about something. She didn't know about what but she wished it wasn't something she would regret.
Some of it. -A
Well do you remember our talk? -C
"Shit." She cursed aloud. She had definitely told him something she
would never tell anyone if she was sober.
I told you something stupid. Didn't I? -A
It wasn't stupid. Everyone has a past.
It's good you finally talked about it. -C
Then it dawned on her. She must've told him about one of her worst secrets. She felt embarrassed even thinking about her freshmen year. She had been sheer stupid and would never share that incident with anyone. But apparently she had
shared it. And with Cameron.
I'm sorry you had to handle me last night. -A
It's cool. You really talked. Finally. -C
Yeah... -A
Merry Christmas Eve, Parker. -A
She smiled at the screen. He was the first person to wish her that day.
Merry Christmas Eve to you too. So any plans? -A
My parents are flying here tonight. So just with family I guess. -C
Great. I'm sure you'll have a good time. -A
Yep. I love it when they're here during the holidays. -C
Time flew as they conversed over text for almost two hours. He was telling her about his last Christmas when he got electrocuted while setting up the lights. She could feel his perkiness even just by reading his virtual words.
Hey what do you say we all gang up at
Ryan's house and hang out? - C
I don't know... -A
She wasn't sure if she was ready to deal with her friends constantly bombing her with questions.
Oh come on. Everyone's coming. I'll pick you at 5. Be ready :-) See you. -C
Fine. Bye. -A
She agreed only because she didn't want to drive today. Her fingers were
really hurting whenever she moved them. She lazily got up at around four thirty to change into presentable clothes.
"Where are you going, sweetie?" Her father asked when he noticed her
reaching towards the door.
"Friends house."
"Okay. But be back soon. The whole family's gonna be here." She
thought for a split second about how that was the reason she should
specifically be late. She nodded at him and went out to see Cameron's car
parked on the side of the road.
"Hi." He greeted her as she sat inside. She greeted him back. She
didn't sound depressed and she was proud of it. She focused her sight on the houses passing by because a part of her knew he was going to bring up the talk about last night. A subject she wasn't ready to discuss on yet.
"So... how are you?" He asked confirming her apprehensions.
"Great." She instantly replied with a smile. She noted his unconvinced look but didn't feel a need to elaborate.
"Ah..." He shook his head. "I don't know how you do this."
"Do what?"
"Be strong about it. I mean I can understand... How hard it is
sometimes." He answered looking at her for awhile. His eyes were an
evidence of his sincere understanding.
"Well... It was my fault anyways. I shouldn't have blindly trusted him." She told thinking about Jake. She unknowingly gazed at the road in
front with her thoughts filled with him.
"Stop blaming yourself. It's not your fault he can't control his mouth." She didn't pay attention as her mind reverted back to the feel of his soft lips. Even vodka couldn't wipe away that amazing part of his memory.
"And for god's sake Parker..." He started with a frustrating look,
"It's okay to trust the right people." He looked dead serious. She
never knew he was capable of that since he was always the jolly one. The kind of guy who always had what he wanted. What would he know about unrequited love?
She didn't voice her thoughts and remained silent. The rest of the drive was quiet but her brain was a whirlwind of thoughts. She thought hard about whether Cameron's allegation was right or not. Did she always trust the wrong people? She
didn't know who or what to trust anymore. Lately, people's words and actions made no sense to her. They were all speaking the same things but none spoke to her.
"Leave it..." He said snapping her out of her thoughts. "What are you getting yourself for Christmas?" He asked to break the tension around them.
"More sleep." She joked causing a laugh to temper out of his rigid body. It was cent percent true though. If anything she only wished to sleep through the Christmas week. An unknown smile came upon her face seeing his laugh. "What are you going to get?"
"Uh... I don't know. My dad's giving me a watch I guess." He said parking the car on Ryan's driveway. At the sound of his car the front door opened and Ryan peeped outside to look at them.
"Guys. Let's go. They're here." He shouted and their three friends came sprinting towards the car. Soon Becky, Luke and Ryan jumped on the back seat.
Surprised by their action, Cameron turned around to see them, "I thought we were hanging at your house."
"Oh no. We're going to this really old court." Luke excitedly said.
"What? You said we were going for ice skating." Becky asked. It was clear by the smirk on Ryan's face that she had been deceived. But when she realized that she was stuck between two guys she sat down queitly crossing her arms.
"What do you say, Parker?" Cameron asked for her opinion.
"The court. Wait do we have balls?" She answered causing a laugh to emerge out from the back seat.
"I don't think you have." Ryan chuckled.
"Wh..Why do you always have to make it double meaning?" She slapped a hand on her forehead.
**
When they reached the old basketball court the excitement of three boys was on the brim. It was off the road in between the dried grassland. The vegetation surrounding the concrete boundaries displayed the age of the court. "Wow. I love this."
Cameron exclaimed as he took out a ball from the trunk which he claimed he always had in case of emergency of finding a court nowhere.
"Now what am I supposed to do?" Becky sarcastically commented sitting on the side hood of his car.
"Play." Luke said throwing the ball at her which she caught. "Girls versus boys." He added smugly. The two of them got into an epic stare off at the end of which Becky muttered grinding her teeth, "Let's do this shit."
Ally didn't want to confess her reckless act to her friends because of which she was in no position to dribble the ball. "No. I don't think I can play. I... Uh... This painting fell on my hand in the morning." She said showing off her hand momentarily. She noticed Cameron's suspicious eye but she stuck to her lie.
"Oh. That's okay I think we can play two against two then. Ryan and Becky. Me and Cam." Luke said.
"Hey are you saying that I play like a girl?" Ryan interjected. He showcased his hurt by placin a hand on his chest.
"Come on. Let's show them Ryan who is the real man." Becky took a threatening step towards Luke. She could get really competitive with the battle of sexes thing.
They marched towards the centre of the court and begun the game. Ally was peacefully sitting beside the boundary of the court watching the game. It had been half an hour since the four of them were running up and down the court. The score was clearly in favour of Luke's team. But Becky was in no mood to quit even though they were losing by a shameful margin. Ryan was out of breath and tired of Becky commanding him.
"Ahh... " Ryan said collapsing on the ground on his knees. "That's it. I give up." He continued crawling on his knees to sit beside Ally. Becky seemed really angry at her teammate quitting. She cursed at him while the two other boys laughed.
"Get your lazy ass here, Ry." She yelled at him suddenly throwing the ball in his direction. She wanted to hit right on that knucklehead but unfortunately it launched onto Ally's direction. Ally didn't see it coming and it hit right where Ally had bruises from last night.
She screamed when she felt as if her fingers had broke. Everyone came rushing towards her. She could look from the slits of her eyes Ryan trying to see her hand.
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry, Al." She heard Becky say. Her right hand was clasped between her left hand trying to ease the pain. Slowly she opened her eyes to see everyone around her looking worried.
"I.. It's okay. I'm fine." She let out in a rush.
"Show us your hands." Cameron demanded extending his hand to help her. She recoiled her arms further into herself. He was well aware of injuries and she didn't want him to expose the real cause behind her pain.
"No. No I'm really okay." She got up stunning everyone. "So the loser has to pay for the food." She said diverting the attention of her friends.
"Oh yes. Ryan and Becky will pay today." Luke proudly said getting up on his feet. The rest of the group followed after that. Ryan and Becky were bickering over the cause of their defeat while Luke was shining with pride. However Cameron's lips were sealed and he seemed to be in a stupor. She was sure he didn't believe her lies the easy way others did.
"Come on, Cam. Let's celebrate our victory." Luke patted his shoulder. He snapped out of his deep thoughts and smiled. She instantly knew he was trying to fake it.
They loaded up in his car and drove to the nearest restaurant. It was an 80s old fashioned diner filled with middle aged people. They took a booth in the corner and talked and ate. Her friends constant jokes and banter made her feel much lighter than before. Not once in the evening had she thought about Jake. She was secretly grateful to her friends for not asking about the night before. They had helped a lot to forget about his memories even if it was a for a few hours.
Cameron was driving everyone home and Ally's house was the last stop. The time they had been alone in the car he didn't talk much. He still seemed lost in contemplation. He stopped the car abruptly two blocks away from Ally's house. Taking it as a cue to leave she reached for the door.
"Thanks for the ride, Miller. " She said feeling strange about his actions. She turned to open the door but she heard him say,"Wait..."
"What?" She turned to see his stern stance and his gaze fixed on the windshield.
"Will you please tell me what happened to your hand?" He asked finally turning to look at her. In the whole evening Cameron's vibe gave her the signal that he wasn't entirely convinced by her words. But she never thought he would actually bring it up.
"I told you. A painting fell on my hand."
"Did he do something to you?" He asked stunning her for a moment.
"No."
"Then what, Parker?" He said throwing his hands in frustration. "Look I know... You're heart. And you don't have to do this alone. We're all there to help."
"It's none of your business really." She shrugged her shoulders giving him a blank stare. She reached for the door again. But before she could open it, he locked all the doors with the key.
"Seriously, Miller. Stop being a kid." She said anger boiling within her.
"I will. If you stop acting like one." He said in the same tone she had used.
"Open the damn door."
"Show me your hands." He ordered but when she refused he leaped towards her. "What the fuck are you doing?" She backed up against the window to dodge his arms reaching towards her. He grabbed her wrists and pulled. That was the end of her patience.
She screamed and shook off her wrists in one quick motion. But he held them again; this time with a stronger force. She tried to wriggle out of his hold but he didn't loosen his grip. "Enough." He said in a tone she had never heard from him. She looked up at his face hovering right above her. The intensity she was feeling was real. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the anger in his eyes.
She breathed out and ceased her fight. Something about Cameron was so convincing that she allowed her shell to break. She inverted her palms to expose her red knuckles.
"I... was angry last night." She chose her words carefully.
"So what? Did you punch a wall?" He asked his eyes widening as he examined her knuckles.
"No. I have a punching bag for that."
He gradually moved his fingers on her hand. Althought it pained she liked the feel of his slow touch. "Why do you hurt yourself?"
"I guess... It kinda just happens."
"Do me a favour. Put an ice pack on it." He advised moving back to sit comfortably on his seat.
"I will." He started the car and drove the small distance to her house.
"I'm sorry if I was rude." She confessed. He had been really helpful since the incident and she forgot to appreciate his presence.
"It's okay. I'm used to... You." He stopped the car and she nodded him a goodbye. When she was inside the house her phone buzzed in her pocket.
I'm always here to listen. -C
--
A/n: Hey! I'm sorry for the delay. No excuses made. So what do you think of this chapter? Please let me know. And I will fix any writing errors as soon as I can. Thanks for your support!