Hayden

Ocean and I had chosen a Christmas tree a couple days ago, now that it was Christmas Eve and all my friends were here, we decorated it. I watched as our tradition began to change slowly. At first it had always been the five of us. Now there were six. This was the third year that my friends and I had celebrated Christmas.

Nick and Colas parents always want wayward during the holidays.. Vira never had anything to do and Jayden "prefers the company of a lovely lady, a gross couple and his 'brother from another mother'."
For the past two years we had all exchanged the gifts and stayed over at my house. With Ocean around this year, I had to help he choose gifts for my friends. I was nervous this year, hoping that mainly Ocean would like her gifts.

"Pass the ornaments." Vira called out from where she worked at the left of me. Ocean did so as she worked on the bottom of the tree. I was currently trying to get the tinsel to stay at the top of the tree. It took us about hour to finish decorating the tree we stepped back admiring our work.

The tree was decorated in a slightly lopsided way, but it was still charming. The glitter from the tinsel had gotten all over the tree and in Oceans hair I noticed. "Well, you're looking sparkly," I commented to her making the others laugh at her confusion.

The girls had headed to the kitchen to start dinner when Nick pulled me and Jayden aside.
"I have a special gift for Vira,". Nick started nervously.
"But I need your guys help for it."
Me and Jayden leaned in, ready to hear the plan.
It only took Nick five minutes to explain. We headed back into the living room, surprised to see both Vira and Nicola there.

"Ocean kicked us out." Vira said in an exasperated voice.

I bit backs laugh. Vira and Nicola weren't the greatest cooks. I mean they were better then Nick so.

"What a killjoy." Nicola said jokingly.
"Kidding, love you Ocean!" Nicola then yelled, almost as though she was drunk.
I rolled m eyes at her and thought to myself, you better Cola.
"SOOO." Jayden started, trying to make conversation.

"SOOO," Nicola mimicked in a higher voice.

Jayden's face flushed bright red. He tried to respond but all we got were aimless stuttering.
"Love you too babe." Nicola ran her hand though his hair.

Nicks face seemed to twist into distain.
"What?" Nicola asked him sweetly.

"Nothing I just don't like were this is going." nick said sourly.

"So, your mad that I'm dating your sister?" Jayden asked

"No, I'm mad at Nicola for liking well," nick gestured to Jayden. "This"

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, hate me because your best friend thinks so." Nicola shot back.

Nick stood speechless, unable to process what she said, as Nicola bent down and pressed a kiss to Jayden's cheek. Nicks hands had become fists and he looked like he was planning murder.

I was thankful when I heard the soft ring of the bell. I turned to see Oceans long sparkly red hair disappearing back into the kitchen. I got up as quickly as I could and hurried to the kitchen, hoping there would be something for me to do.

The feast Ocean had laid out on the table looked like something from the movies. Platters of food filled the table. Everything smelled so good. The array of finger foods had my mouth watering. She had everything from stuffed mushrooms to meatballs to a cheese board. I had bought it all, but I never expected this. It was all displayed with delicate touch. Even the wine glasses stood ready with a bottle of red Nicola had brought along

We snacked on the food for a good hour or so before Vira finally announced, "Hey its time for Christmas PJs and a movie!" Vira grinned at our dead eyes.

I smirked as she disappeared upstairs. She returned with five wrapped gifts. checking the labels, she handed them out to the proper recipients.

She had one with her that was unwrapped, clearly her own. It read 'Dear Santa, Define naughty' with a candy cane. The pants had a candy cane print.

Jayden tore into his revealing a Deadpool themed Christmas pyjama set. "Holy shit, that's so cool!" he grinned at Vira.

Nicola opened her gift and pulled a tee shirt with the words 'Get Lit' in large white lettering with a string of Christmas lights. The pants were covered in a Christmas light pattern. "Sick!"

Nick and I opened ours almost in sync. his had a green top with an elf hat and the saying 'what the elf' his pants had green and white stripes.

Mine were red with a grinch face pattern on the pants and a large grinch face on the shirt with the words 'Stink Stank Stunk' printed next to it.

Ocean was the last to open hers. She was very careful to peel away all the tape as not to rip the wrapping. She lifted the white shirt out of the packaging and examined it before laying it gently on the ground for us to see. It was a soft looking top with a green plaid tree in one corner and 'Merry & Bright' written in cursive. The bottoms were the same plaid as the evergreen tree.

All my friends hurried upstairs to get changed while Ocean headed for the bathroom on the lower floor. I decided to step into my office and locked the door behind me. Throwing on the pyjamas as quickly as possible I headed back out forgetting to unlock the door in the process. I slammed directly into it and rebounded slightly before realizing. I unlocked it and headed out hoping nobody had heard me.

My pleas for ignorance were ignored as Ocean stood in the hallway her clothes culched tight in her hands. Her glasses sat low on her nose and her eyes peered through them at me, the concern clear on her face.

I tried to smile at her and shrugged it off. I glanced her up and down taking in the sight of her pyjamas. The pants hung low on her hips, trailing all the way to the floor and a bit beyond. The shirt collar hung loose around her shoulders, almost teasing at the collarbones. She turned toward the living room and nearly stumbled over the pants. I grinned to myself as I took a couple steps forward and grabbed her waist. Without a second of hesitation, I swept my other arm down hitting the back of her knees. She went down quickly but I was ready. I lifted her bridal style and carried her back to the living room ignoring her wiggling.

I set her down on the couch and collected the clothes from her arms. I stepped away as both Nicola and Vira came hurling down the stairs. both girls hopped onto the couch laughing as I herd the heavy footsteps of Nick and Jayden in the upstairs hallway. I rolled my eyes and laughed as head to the laundry room. Ditching Oceans clothes I returned to the living room to see blankets and pillows being thrown everywhere. Jayden was searching for a movie on the Tv, Nick had Vira pinned, Ocean was sitting still where I had placed her, and Nicola was missing in action.

Once the chaos died down and Nicola was found we settled down with hot chocolate and Jayden started our all-time favorite Christmas movie.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Authors Note:

Hello my lovely readers,

As many of you may have noticed, I was unable to update for a while. I am very glad to say that I am doing a lot better and have adjusted and you can now expect weekly updates on this book. I want to thank everyone who has left me comments and voted as you have all kept this story close to my heart even in hard times.

Lots of love, Past