CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
LONELY CHRISTMAS

Aaron Harrington loved Christmas. He always had, even when he was little. However in recent years his parents weren't really present all too much, so for the past few years it had just been Aaron and Steve.

Aaron actually didn't mind that his parents hadn't been there with them the past few years, at least then Steve wouldn't act so differently towards him simply because he was in the presence of his parents.

Aaron liked the Christmas traditions that he and his brother had mistakenly made. Obviously the Christmas days weren't perfect, but Aaron loved them all the same.

Aaron's parents had ended up leaving the morning after his late night venture out with Kimmy, they hadn't bothered to say goodbye - not to Aaron at least. The youngest Harrington brother believed that Steve had most likely received a goodbye from the pair, although he couldn't have been sure.

That was a first, no matter how much the two parents obviously favoured Steve, they'd never left without saying goodbye to Aaron.

Aaron couldn't help but admit that he felt saddened by the fact his parents hadn't even woken him to say goodbye when they always made a point of doing so. Aaron began worrying about his behaviour from the previous night, suddenly afraid he'd pushed them too far.

Aaron found himself dreading his parents next visit, despite the fact they'd only just left.

On Christmas Eve night, Aaron was downstairs by the family Christmas tree and dressed in his pyjamas, trying to find all of his presents he'd received so he could put them into a neat pile, planning on doing the same to Steve's presents so it was easier for the two in the morning.

The Harrington's mad money - lots of money. That was no secret. The pair received mountains of gifts every Christmas Day, from both extended family and friends.

Well, not so much friends. The party didn't exchange Christmas gifts with one another, it just wasn't something they did. Most likely because none of them had jobs. But to be fair, they were only twelve.

No matter how poor the two brothers relationship may be at times, they'd always spent Christmas together, making up for the fact that their parents wouldn't.

Just as Aaron went to move on to arrange his brothers pile, the older boy walked into the room, causing Aaron's head to snap up at the sound, watching Steve with a cautious expression as he lingered in the door way.

Since that day a few weeks ago, the two hadn't really been speaking, only doing so when necessary.

"I need to ask you something," Steve mumbled nervously, not moving from his spot near the doorway.

Aaron instantly began to internally panic, fearing something was wrong but he did his best not to show it.

He shifted from his spot on the floor slightly so he could see his brother more clearly. "Alright."

"Would you mind if I went to Nancy's for Christmas?" Steve blurted, looking to his brother as if he already knew the answer.

Aaron was taken aback by the question, freezing on the spot as he felt his face drop. "What, for the entire day?"

Steve shrugged, "yeah,"

Aaron couldn't believe what his brother was asking of him, he was more hurt by the fact he'd done it so last minute. Steve must have known he was going to Nancy's at least a week ago, but he'd told Aaron on Christmas Eve so he couldn't back out of it.

"And what, leave me here myself? On Christmas Day?" Aaron questioned harshly, sounding more angry than upset.

"Don't be like that, Aaron," Steve scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I've got to go, okay? Me and Nance have hit a bit of... a rough patch, alright? And we're trying to make it work. You wouldn't get it-"

"Why have you waited until Christmas Eve night to tell me?" Aaron asked now sounding furious as he rose to stand on his feet. "You've probably had these plans for weeks-"

"Because I knew you'd freak out!" Steve retorted, sounding very much annoyed.

"Obviously I'd freak out, Steve!" Aaron snapped, beyond angry that the older boy just couldn't see his point at all. "It's Christmas, and you've just told me I'll be spending it all by myself. Can you not stay away from your girlfriend for one day? Or even until dinner? At least stay here while we do presents-"

"I can't." Steve dismissed, shaking his head. "I already told Nancy I'd do them with her family-"

"Fine then!" Aaron yelled, storming past the older boy, nudging his shoulder with his as he did so. "But I hope you know you're a fucking asshole for it, as much as Nancy and Mike don't get along, she'd never ditch her family to come here for Christmas. Especially if they were going to be the only two home!"

"It's not my fault mom and dad aren't home!" Steve yelled after him. "You can't blame me because you don't have plans-"

"I'm twelve! What would make you think I'd have plans on Christmas Day?" Aaron yelled back at him as he climbed the stairs, feeling himself grow angry past a point of belief.

"Stop trying to guilt me into bailing on Nance!" Aaron heard Steve yell once more.

"I'm not!" Aaron practically screamed in response from the top of the stairs. "I'm trying to guilt you into seeing how much of a prick you are for bailing on your younger brother for a relationship that won't last the school year!"

"Fuck you!" Steve shouted from the living room, sounding extremely pissed off.

Aaron didn't care if his brother was pissed off. If Steve was angry then Aaron didn't know what he was, he was practically shaking from anger as he entered his room.

Aaron didn't respond to his older brother, instead slamming his bedroom door as loudly as possible to make a point.

It took a while for Aaron's anger to fizzle away to the point he could actually fall asleep.

Aaron fell asleep that night now unsure if christmas was his favourite holiday after all.

...

Surprisingly, Kimmy was having the best Christmas she could ever recall having. One where her parents had left her to have some time away from her to celebrate the holidays. One where she could stay in her pyjamas for as long as she wished.

One where she was alone.

Despite having no presents to open, no Christmas tree, or no Christmas dinner to eat around a table with family, Kimmy was having a good time. 

She had always liked the Christmas holidays, the snow, the festives, the songs. Kimmy loved Christmas.

In fact, the night prior she had cut up pieces of paper and stuck them up around the house in a pathetic attempt to decorate in a cheerful way. It was quite sad, but she had the time of her life.

Kimmy was sat in her old pyjamas on the sofa in the living room, eating a bowl of cereal in silence. Her legs were stretched out and she had tied her hair loosely into two braids in hope to keep her hair out of her cereal. 

For once in a long while, Kimmy felt content while in her childhood home.

However, this feeling of content soon washed away and was replaced with a feeling of unease as a knock at the frontdoor could be heard.

Kimmy jumped up from her spot on the couch, carefully placing her bowl on the ground. Swiftly, she tiptoed over to the door, nervously pulling on her pyjamas before opening the door a crack. Making sure she could hide behind the door and close it quickly if it were someone she didn't know.

Much to her surprise, Aaron Harrington was stood at the opposite side of the door with a shy smile on his face. His backpack resting on his back and his hockey stick tightly in his left hand.

Kimmy felt her eyes widen and instantly shut the door in his face on instinct. Resulting in her scrunching up her face and placing her hands on her face as she groaned in silence.

Quickly, she whipped around and opened the door once more. Ignoring the way her cheeks were heating up in embarrassment.

"Hi." She said far too loudly, pulling her arm up to awkwardly and unnecessarily wave.

"Hi." He also mumbled in response, his cheeks growing pink as he also waved back.

Kimmy nodded, scratching the back of her neck as she opened the door a little more. "Uh- what are you doing here? It's Christmas."

"Yeah, I know I hope I'm not bothering you." He rushed out rapidly, dropping his stick to the ground as he took the bag of his back and began rummaging through it, only stopping when there were two neatly wrapped presents in his hold. "But I forgot to give you your presents when I last saw you."

Kimmy's eyes widened once more as she took the two presents from his grasp, her heart dropping at the entire situation.

"Sorry," Kimmy blurted instantly, a surge of appreciation rising in her chest as she looked to the boy. "I didn't get you anything. I didn't realise the party got eachother gifts-"

"We don't." Aaron replied simply, cutting off her rambles as he zipped his bag up and placed it back on his back. "So it's maybe best you don't mention this to them, I only got ones for you."

Once again, Kimmy's face went bright red. Whether the boy had meant it in a friendship way or something else, it didn't matter. No one had ever done something like that for her before.

No one.

Kimmy didn't reply straight away, she didn't know what to say. All she knew was her mind was failing her and blanking. She didn't know what to do, racking her brain as she scrambled for an answer, all while looking at him blankly.

"Uh- thank you, thank you." She eventually replied, stumbling over her words nervously. "Do you want to come in? You don't have to, obviously."

She watched as Aaron's brows raised slightly in surprise before he crouched down and picked back up his hockey stick from the ground. "Sure, thanks."

Aaron had a sheepish look on his face as he did so, and Kimmy could have sworn she saw his cheeks tint pink.

Kimmy suddenly wished she hadn't asked him, realising too late that this meant he would be inside her house. That he would see everything wrong with it. It didn't help that Aaron came from a rich background, his house was huge.

"Uh-" Kimmy began unsurely, walking backwards slowly as she thought over what to say before they entered the rundown house. "Just as a warning, it's a little messy and small, but-"

"It's fine," Aaron surprised her by saying, shrugging his shoulders calmly. "I don't care about your house, why would I?"

Quickly, Kimmy nodded rapidly, letting out a shaky breath and she sent him a wobbly smile.

However she soon shook her head at a rapid pace, reaching one of her arms out as the other held onto the two presents and waved in Aaron's direction. "You don't have to take your shoes off, Aaron. Don't be ridiculous."

The boy froze, his head snapping up from where his gaze had once been on the floor, he furrowed his brows, tilting his head in confusion as he slipped his sneakers off. "It's fine, I've been walking through mud and everything, I'd make a mess."

Kimmy went to retort that the house was a mess anyway, but she stopped herself. The girl did her best to clean around the house but had soon given up. Whenever she would get the house looking half nice, either her mother or father would ruin it and she'd have to start from scratch again, it wasn't worth the bother.

"Okay, well I have to get changed," she shrugged, motioning to her pyjamas before quickly pointing to the hockey stick he held. "Then we can do whatever. We can go to the lake if you want? I'm assuming you were going there anyway?"

She watched as Aaron's face lit up with excitement, even though he tried not to make it show. "Yeah, that would be fun." He replied in a happy string of mumbles, as if his mood had just done a one-eighty on him.

Kimmy simply nodded, a small smile tugging on her lips as she turned around again and began trailing up the stairs, motioning for Aaron to follow.

"So," she began as the two entered her small bedroom, reaching down to place the two presents on her bed while also reaching over and picking up some clothes to wear that day. "I'll go get changed in the bathroom then we can go. You can just- uh, wait in here."

Aaron nodded, scratching the back of his neck as he looked around the small room. Kimmy quickly left, rushing to get dressed so the pair didn't have to spend any longer in her house than necessary.

She soon returned, only to find Aaron looking around from the same spot near the door where he had been when she left. The boy jumped when she walked by him, her presence taking him by surprise. Kimmy ignored him, walking over to her bed and placing her pyjamas under her pillow.

The two stood in silence for a moment, neither particularly sure of what to say.

"Uh- we should go to the lake?" Kimmy asked, somehow nervous as she pulled her coat on.

Aaron nodded furiously, waiting for the girl to leave the room so he could follow.

...

Kimmy and Aaron soon learned that they couldn't go to the lake so Aaron could play hockey.

She didn't know why the two hadn't thought of it earlier but while Aaron wanted to go to the lake to play hockey, it only seemed to click in the twos minds upon arriving at the lake when they realised Kimmy didn't have skates.

Aaron had offered to buy her some from the sports store in town, Kimmy was absolutely horrified at the idea. He'd already bought her two presents that day she didn't need another.

Aaron carefully put his skates back into his bag, still holding onto the hockey stick as the two walked side by side.

"I don't really know what we could do." Aaron sighed, kicking a rock with his shoe as he walked. "There's not much places open on Christmas Day."

"I know," Kimmy mumbled, sticking her hands in her pockets and bit the inside of her cheek in thought. "If you want to go to the lake, Aaron you can. I don't want to interrupt your Christmas plans-"

"No, it's fine." He quickly dismissed, turning to face her as he spoke with wide eyes. "I don't have any plans."

Kimmy turned to him with furrowed brows, unsure on what he had meant by the fact he had no Christmas plans.

She didn't question it though, assuming that if it was something Aaron wanted to share, he would do it without her forcing it out of him.

"Okay," she nodded awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. "I don't have any plans either."

She didn't know why she added the last part, it was unnecessary, she supposed she wanted to offer him some sort of comfort without prying into his business.

The two decided to sit side by side on the top of a grassy hill, the grass slightly frosty as the sat down.

"So..." Kimmy trailed off, messing around with the bottom of one of her braids. "Did you get everything you asked for for Christmas?"

Aaron stilled, looking quite uncomfortable at the question asked. "I'm not sure," he admitted quietly. "I haven't opened any of them yet, I'm waiting for Steve to get home."

"Why, where is he?" Kimmy blurted thoughtfully, quickly shaking her head and snapping her wide eyed gaze over to him. "I'm so sorry, you don't have to tell me-"

"It's fine," Aaron shrugged stiffly, although by the tone of his voice it was anything but fine. "He had other plans."

Kimmy nodded, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the wave of awkwardness which washed over her.

"What about you?" Aaron asked quickly, doing his best to divert the attention off of him. "Did you get the presents you asked for?"

"No," Kimmy replied simply, doing her best not to look frustrated. To be honest she wasn't really all that frustrated, she was used to it. "I haven't opened mine yet either."

Despite the smooth lie, Kimmy suspected Aaron knew she hadn't received any presents, seeing as he had been in her house and found no evidence of even one gift.

The two sat and talked together on the top of that hill for hours, before darkness began to fall and yeh pair decided it was maybe time to part ways.

That night Kimmy went home with a smile on her face, delighted as she opened the presents he had got her. He own walkie in one bundle as well as a stack of Elvis tapes and a Walkman in the other.

Kimmy was surprised he'd remembered her telling him about the only Elvis tape she had being taken by Eleven, but obviously he had.

Kimmy didn't even want to think about how much money he'd spent on her, simply deciding to enjoy the only presents she'd gotten that year.

Meanwhile, Aaron was sat in front of his own tree, debating on whether or not he should open his own presents. Ultimately he decided against it, he just didn't have the same excitement as he had previous years when opening his presents. It just wasn't the same.

Steve ended up staying at Nancy's that night, leaving Aaron home alone that night. Aaron had known he'd be alone for the day part of Christmas, but he didn't know he wouldn't get a chance to spend time with his brother at night.

What bothered Aaron the most was that Steve didn't even see an issue with the situation.

Aaron went to sleep that night truly not knowing how much of an impact his presence had on the girl he had spent the day with, just the same as she wouldn't know the impact she'd had on him that day.

It seemed they'd helped each other out more than the other would most likely ever know.

...

I actually really like this chapter lol happy early Christmas I guess???

I was going to post a Christmas chapter closer to Christmas but I have written the last few chapters faster than I thought I would

have a good day/night!!!!

-AJ :)