by Lisa Graves
Nicholas raised his eyebrows suggestively at me. “Yes. I do want.”
“And maybe we should watch them at your house.” I thwarted his plans. “Your dad is going to feel neglected.” He couldn’t argue with facts.
He shrugged, half defeated. “Fine.” Nicholas knew there would be a whole lot more supervision at his house. I counted on it.
Louis got up and looked over at Nicholas and me. “Hey, Nic. It’s getting late. We better head home.” He looked back to Meredith, “Thanks again for having us over.”
“No problem, Louis. Visiting is what the holidays are for,” Meredith replied.
I got up with Nicholas and we all made our way towards the door. Nicholas gave me another hug, claiming it as in the spirit of the holiday, and I had temporarily forgotten he was packing mistletoe. He gave me another peck on the cheek.
I gave him a dirty look.
“See you tomorrow, Lilly.”
“Bye. Merry Christmas.”
Louis and Nicholas left for the night.
Meredith barely had the door locked when she started in, “That was nice, wasn’t it, Lilly?”
“Sure. Yep.” I yawned. “Can I go to bed now?”
She didn’t look happy, and tried to ignore the fact that it really was late. “So, I saw you two exchange gifts.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Lilly.”
“What?”
“What did he give you?”
“Oh,” I lifted up the opal that dangled around my neck. “This.”
Meredith inspected it. “That is beautiful, Lilly.”
“It is, isn’t it.”
She frowned at me. Obviously she was hoping for a much more gushy reaction. Too bad for her.
“He must really like you,” she pressed. “To get you jewelry.”
I yelled, “Night Soph. Merry Christmas,” and started walking up the stairs.
Meredith wasn’t finished. “What did you get him again?” she asked as I kept walking towards my room.
“Some movies.” I’d reached the top of the landing when I decided to add, “Nicholas actually wants me to go over there tomorrow and watch them, if that’s okay.” Like there was some way she’d say no.
She smiled up at me. “That sounds great, Lil. Just spend the morning with me and Sophie, then you can do whatever you want.”
I closed the door, encapsulating myself in my room and wishing I’d get what I really wanted for Christmas, which was to see Elliott. I lay on my bed and tried to project, but the sadness was there. It was always on my soul and wouldn’t allow it. And ironically, the same thing that was stopping me, was making it worse. It was a catch twenty-two. I couldn’t project because I was sad, and was increasingly sad because I couldn’t project.
I couldn’t project! I felt like screaming. I didn’t feel like sleeping. I looked over at the clock. It was a few minutes past eleven. It was a little late for a bath, but I decided to have one anyway.
After spending a good hour soaking in the warm vanilla scented suds, I went back to my room, pajama clad and ready for bed. To my surprise, when I opened my door, I was startled to see someone was there, waiting for me.
Chapter 13. Christmas
Elliott sat on my bed. Instantly, I was the happiest person in the universe.
I quickly closed my door behind me as I rushed into his arms. “Elliott!”
He smiled as he let me snuggle into his open arms. “Merry Christmas, mia amore.”
My heart immediately sunk. I hadn’t gotten Elliott anything for Christmas. He picked up on my mood shift. “What’s the matter, Miele?”
“I didn’t get you anything,” I sulked. Maybe it was the depression, but it hadn’t even occurred to me.
Elliott wasn’t even phased. “Well, lucky for you I don’t want any thing for Christmas. However, I wouldn’t mind some time with you, if you don’t mind? I’ve really missed you, Lilly.”
He never called me Lilly. I looked up into his sparkling green eyes. “That’s what I want for Christmas too.”
Elliott kissed my nose. “Buon Natale.”
“Buon Natale (Merry Christmas),” I replied. We sat down on the bed. It felt so good having him near me. Alive. I breathed a deep sigh of relief.
“Where would you like to go tonight, Miele?”
“I don’t think I can, Elliott.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve tried to project. But I can’t.” I tried to fight back the tears as I hugged him close, letting his arms wrap around me. Protecting me.
“Yes you can. You do it all the time.”
“But I can’t. Ever since I started having that flashback, something is wrong with me.”
“That’s why you haven’t been to see me?”
“Why else wouldn’t I come?”
“I thought…” he trailed off.
“You thought what?”
It was weird, but Elliott’s eyes wouldn’t look at mine. “I thought you might have decided your other option was better.”
Huh? What other option? What was he talking about?
“Nicholas,” he whispered.
“No way!” I held his beautiful face in my hands and pressed my lips to his. “You are my only option.” I nuzzled my nose into his ear. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The beating of my heart felt as though it hadn’t beat in months. It pounded in my chest. We lay back on my bed, our energies mixing, and his heart beat next to mine.
“If you can’t project, we can just be with each other here,” he said.
I pried myself off of him. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I needed to lock my door and I wanted to turn off the light. With my blinds open, the snow and moonlight lit up outside and streamed the now romantic snow scene into my bedroom.
I snuggled back into his arms. “Here is good.”
Elliott played with my hair and I lay listening to the sound of his beating heart. Just enjoying each other and talking, we lay there for hours. The soft sounds of our breathing was the most beautiful sound. Peaceful, and happy.
“So,” I broke the lovely silence.
“What is it, mia amore?”
“Do you know how to make the flashbacks go away? I really miss you. I’ve missed this.”
There was a long stretch of silence. “I don’t. Not yet.” His hand felt down my back, sending the intoxicating sensations of energy down my spine. “I’m sorry. I miss you too.”
“Did you ask your friends about it?”
“Yes.”
“And did they know what is happening to me?”
I could feel him shake his head no. “No. But they do think that whatever it is, HAS started because of me bringing you to Atlantis.” I could hear him choke back words. “I’m sorry, Lilly. I think it’s my fault.”
Huh? It did start after the best night of my life. Was it some messed up sort of cosmic trade off? Had I been too happy? No. The flashback had to mean something. There had to be something I was missing. Some secret message that I wasn’t seeing in it. But what was it? And why?
I looked up and stroked a tear from his cheek. “It’s not your fault Elliott.”
“What if it is? What if I’m the reason we can’t be together?”
“I’m not mad at you.”
“I’m mad at me,” he pressed.
“How about you, Max, Claire and Oliver help me figure out what the flashbacks mean, so I can come be with you again?”
Elliott kissed my forehead. “Sounds good to me.” I could feel his energy starting to wain.
“But since I can’t project, how will I talk to you?” I asked.
“You still have the camera, right?”
How had I forgotten about that! I could have been talking to Elliott this whole time, and it had completely slipped my mind. “Yep,” I said feeling totally stupid.
“Well, promise me you’ll write to me. I’m sure the five of us can figure this out.”
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nbsp; I could feel he was weak. It would be mere moments now before he would have to go. I tried to breath in the rain and gardenia smell of his skin, and trap it somehow in my memory. I missed it most of all when we were apart.
“Amo tua,” he whispered in my ear.
I pulled my body on top of his, kissing up his neck, along his chin, until I found his mouth. “Buon Natale, mio amore.” And I kissed him until he disappeared beneath me. Until it was just me, my pillow, and the soft falling snow outside my window.
It was late morning when he left, but I was so happy to have seen Elliott, that I fell into a deep, and restful sleep for the first time in weeks. I woke to Sophie knocking on my door.
“It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas, Lilly!” she kept banging on my locked door. “Wake up, fishy! Santa came!”
I opened my eyes, and actually felt happy. Last nights sleep rejuvenated me. I was awake, happy, and actually had a hopeful outlook on my situation. The five of us would figure these flashbacks out, make them stop, and Elliott and I would live happily ever after. I wrapped myself in a blanket and made my way to the living room and the christmas tree before Sophie came back after me with a cold bucket of water. One thing I’d learned having a little sister is, you don’t mess with them when it comes to presents.
Meredith handed me a hot cup of cocoa as I sat down on the sofa. “Merry Christmas, Lilly Bug.”
“Thanks, mom. Merry Christmas.”
“Can I pleeeease open presents now?”
“Let me first get a picture, Soph.”
“Moooom! I already had to wait for Lilly,” she whined.
“Sophie, it takes a whopping thirty seconds. You’ll survive.” Meredith shook her head as she positioned the camera on a stool, making sure to get everyone in the picture. “Alright, girls. Smile.”
As soon as Sophie heard the camera click, it was like a shotgun starting a race. She tore through wrapping paper like it was an olympic event. Meredith and I took a more lax approach to our gift opening. Though my mother did seem to be in a bit more in a hurry than usual.
I wasn’t. I slowly sipped my hot chocolate.
“Lilly.” Her tone was weird.
“Mom.”
“It’s nearly ten.”
I shrugged. “Yep.”
“Looks like all the presents are open.”
Why was she stating the obvious. “Yep,” I repeated. “Sophie didn’t miss one.”
She looked at me like I was missing something. I sipped on my drink.
“Didn’t you want to start getting ready?”
“For what?”
Now, she kind of looked pissed. “For Nicholas. Weren’t you two hanging out later?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It hurt. I snorted and hot chocolate came out my nose. “Mom!”
“What?” she said with complete sincerity.
“It’s Nicholas.”
She looked pissed again. “Please get ready,” she practically begged.
“Pajamas are in fashion mom. It’s Christmas.”
“Lillian Black!” she started, and I could see a huge lecture coming. Thankfully, I was saved by the bell. The doorbell.
Nicholas let himself in. “Knock knock.”
“We’re in here,” I yelled.
Nicholas walked into the living room. “Merry Christmas.”
All three of us looked over. “Merry Christmas.”
“I’m not interrupting, am I, Mrs. Black?”
“Not at all,” I interjected. “I was just on my way over.”
I saw Meredith give me a dirty look.
“Jammies. Nice, Lil. Very movie appropriate,” he said.
I smiled at my mother, as I got up to put on my shoes.
“Are you sure you want to watch the movies at my house?” he asked as we were just about to leave. “Wouldn’t you rather watch them here?”
“Nope. You need to see your dad.” And I needed a chaperon.
“I guess. Don’t you want to put on a coat Lil?”
“Nah.” I closed the door behind us and started walking to his house down the street. “My blankie is really warm.” And it doubled as a protective barrier against unwanted advances. Mwa! ha! ha!
We walked into Nicholas’s house. There was a fire burning and Nicholas had us an assortment of snacks already out on the coffee table. Mainly popcorn, chocolate and gummy bears. He also had six movies sitting out.
“Got a few flicks for Christmas, huh?”
“Yep, hoe. I did.”
Louis poked his head out from the kitchen. “I’m making you kids some hot chocolate,” he smiled.
“Thanks, Mr. Romero.”
“No problem, Lilly. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I smiled.
Nicholas didn’t look happy. He obviously didn’t want us to have a chaperon.
My plan was working.
I sat down on the couch, blankie and all, and grabbed a handful of popcorn.
“So which would you like to watch first?” Nicholas asked holding up the movies I’d given him the night before.
“How about the action flick.” I wasn’t awake enough yet for the comedy.
As Nicholas was sitting down with the remote, Louis walked in with our drinks.
“So what movie are we watching?” Louis asked.
“Dad,” Nicholas gave him a get-out-of-here look.
“Alright. Alright,” Louis said setting the cups of hot cocoa on the table. “But just remember, I’ll be right in the kitchen,” he warned.
Nicholas sighed as his dad left the room. “Sure you don’t want to go back to your house?”
“Yep.”
Me, wrapped in my protective barrier, and Nicholas, sitting as close as he could get away with without his dad throwing a fit, sat and watched movies and ate junk food until it was dinner time. Sometime around five, I could hear Louis working in the kitchen. Whatever he was making smelled good.
When Louis heard the movie end, and Nicholas and I got up and stretched, he poked his head in again. “How does stir fry sound for dinner, you two?”
I was right to have us hang out here. I could see Mr. Romero really liked having our company.
“Sounds good,” I replied. “It smells really good. Are you sure you want me to stay for dinner?”
“Of course. And after dinner maybe the three of us can watch a movie together?” Louis went back in the kitchen to stir dinner.
“That sounds good too.”
Nicholas shook his head at me. “Lil, don’t you think your mom will want us to spend some time over there today?” His eyes were saying so many things. “It is Christmas.”
“Actually, she said I could stay here as late as I wanted.”
“Great!” Louis yelled from the kitchen. “You two can come dish up and we can watch a movie while we eat.”
Nicholas sighed as we walked into the kitchen.
Over the next week, Nicholas did everything in his power to make sure we hung out at my house, and I did everything in my power to make sure we were at his. It began to be a contest of sorts to see who could get up earlier and get to the other’s house first. Finally, it was New Year’s Eve morning, and the second to last day of this little game.
I’d showered before bed last night in hopes that it would give me the advantage this morning. I was finishing getting dressed and searching my drawer for some socks when Nicholas came through my bedroom door, carrying coffee.
“Morning, Lil,” he smiled, handing me my carmel macchiato.
I shook my head. It was barely seven. “Morning, Nitch-o-las.”
“I thought some coffee goodness would be a good way to start this beautiful day.”
“Beautiful day?”
“Yeah. It’s New Year’s Eve,” he winked.
I was definitely screwed. I could see him planning his midnight moves in his big brown eyes. He probably had been planning them all week. Great! I would just have to do my best to plant us at his house tonight.
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��So, my dad actually has a date tonight.”
I was watching his face. “Are you okay with that? Isn’t it a little soon?” I asked.
He seemed oddly alright that his dad was already dating. He shrugged his shoulders. “Eh. I can’t really change it. He did call your mom this morning to make sure I could sleep here tonight.” He looked way too happy. “You know my dad. He’s worried I’ll throw a wild party or something.”
“Or something,” I muttered.
“Drink your coffee, hoe. You’ll need your energy for today.”
What the hell did he have planned? I took a timid sip and stared at him. “Why?”
“Well, I fly home tomorrow, so we have to cram lots into today.”
“Like what?”
“Since my dad won’t let me have a party at his house, your mom is letting us have one here.”
“What?” She totally would. Meredith probably even offered.
“Yep. She even said she’d buy food and stuff if we cleaned the house.”
Still sock-less, I marched out of my room and down the stairs. Meredith was in the kitchen making a shopping list. “Oh, good Lil. You’re up.”
“What is this I hear about a party?”
Nicholas came in after me, grinning.
“Nicholas is only here one more day, and he hasn’t seen any of his friends, besides you, since he’s been in town.”
Not my fault.
“Here,” she handed me her list. “Add anything you kids want.”
I sat the list on the table. “We probably shouldn’t have a party with Sophie here, mom. Some of Nicholas’s friends might be a bad influence on her.”
“She’s actually staying at Alena’s house tonight. Problem solved.”
So that’s how she was going to play.
“I’m not really the partying type you guys.”
They both smiled.
“It’s for me, Lilly.” I saw him wink at Meredith. “Thanks again, Mrs. B.”
“It’s no trouble, Nic. I haven’t thrown a party in forever.” She looked at me, disappointed. “All I need is for you two to clean up a bit.”
“On it.” He looked under the kitchen sink. “Where do you keep all your cleaning stuff?”
“Oh, Lilly can help you.”
I put my hand on my forehead. “I think I might be getting sick. Mom, feel my head. I feel hot.”