Song for this chapter is 'Santa's coming for us' by sia.

"Barbara!." My step mother called from downstairs.

"Yes mother!." I screamed back.

I'd thought they'd have gone out before I even wake up. Reluctantly, I walked down to see what she called me for. I was sure it was just to show off something .
And I was right .

They'd all dressed in their best like they were going to see the queen of England.
Hailey even looked funny with her hair in a pony tail and white gloves that reached her elbows.

"Mother,you called. " I said.

"Yes. We'll be leaving now. Remember what I said yesterday?."

"Yes mother.". I replied quickly, wanting with all my heart for them to just go away and leave me alone.

"Isn't she coming with us?." Hailey asked.

"Family only. " Laney replied rolling her eyes.

"Oh right. I forgot" she said like Laney had reminded her of something important. She knew what she was doing and I wasn't going to fall for it.

I'd passed the stage where stuff like that used to hurt me. I knew my position in this house.
Dad didn't say anything. Maybe he didn't hear, maybe he did. He just waited for them to get into the car and then he drove off.

Immediately his green car was out of sight, I ran back to my room and called Dory.

"Where are they?" Dory asked once she got to my house. I'm sure she was shocked she didn't see my step mother waiting at the door for her like she did the last time she came over. Instead, I was the one dressed up and waiting for her.

"Gone. " I flatly replied as I look at my face one more time in the mirror. I'm sure it's nowhere near perfect as Dory's. She probably grew up with M.A.C as her best friend whereas I rejected every offer aunt Marie made to teach me how to do a perfect make up. I took one more look at my face. To hell with perfect. It's beautiful and that's all that matters

"Great. Let's go. By the way, you look like a celebrity". She commented on my dress.

"A celebrity?" Well, I wasn't expecting that. " You look like a princess." She really did.

"Oh! Then you look like the queen. "

"And you look like a goddess." It had turned into a game.

"And you look like.. I don't know what else to say."

Seeing that she'd lost the game, Dory decided we take selfies.  We ended up taking  both nice and funny ones.

We laughed and got into the car.
There was a man at the driver's seat. Dory explained that he was their emergency driver. He only drove her when her mum was too busy. I didn't want to think much about meeting her mum. I just hoped she was as nice as Dory.

Christmas lights illuminated the streets and Christmas songs were heard in all the houses on the street as we drove past. At one corner,a group of children dressed in pretty green robes were singing 'jolly old st nick'. The whole atmosphere just screamed Christmas.

"Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say" Dory started singing along with the children.

"Christmas Eve is coming soon now you dear old man. " I caught myself as I realised it was already Christmas day.

"Why did you stop?" Dory wanted to know. We'd already driven past the children.

"It's nothing serious. I only realised the song was a few days late. It's Christmas already."

"Oh"

"Oh" I repeated. But not because I was mimicking her. It was because the car had finally stopped. In front of the large building that screamed money.

"Are you sure there are no cameras?" I asked as Dory opened the front door. Her house looked like those mansions in reality shows.

"Hello. We are the Lances not the kardashians. And why are you so worried about cameras?"

"I just don't want another reason for my family to hate me. "

"So you're saying you'll give up an opportunity just because you don't want them to hate you?".

I didn't have the chance to reply because just then,her mother came out to give her a bone crushing hug.

Then she turned to me."Aurora dear. You brought that beautiful girl I saw the other day". She said hugging me too. "Merry Christmas Darling".

"Merry Christmas. " I replied. Wiping a tear from my cheek.

I've missed that. Its been a long time since someone hugged me.
Well, apart from Aunt Marie.
Even her father welcomed me with a warm smile.

"You're just in time for dinner. " he said pulling out a chair for me.

"Thank you dad." I said and covered my mouth realizing my mistake. " I'm sorry ".

"For?. Calling me dad?. I actually like it. A close friend of our daughter is a daughter to us." He smiled again.

Lord bless this family. So rich yet so nice. I didn't want to even imagine what would have been the situation if they switched places with my parents.

"What are you thinking about dear." Dory's mother asked.

"Its nothing. " I replied,picking up my knife to start digging into the large piece of chicken on my plate.

"She likes to think a lot." Dory said.

After dinner we'd watched a Christmas themed movie and it was towards the end of the movie I turned my head to the golden clock hanging right beside the television.

"Oh no!". It was 9:30pm. An hour and thirty minutes past my curfew.

"What's the matter now?" Dory asked .

"I was supposed to be home by 8pm." I told her.

"Oh well, you just have to spend the night here. I have a lot of pretty pyjamas I haven't worn yet. You can choose any one you like. "

"Didn't you hear me?. I'm late and mother is surely going to punish me when I get home and you're talking about pyjamas. "

"I know what I'm saying. That's why I asked you to just spend the night here. Going back now won't change anything so why don't you just stay. "

I thought for a while. She was right. No matter what time I got home now, I was already late.
"Let me see the PJs. "

"One minute. " she picked up her phone. "Its Eric".

I frowned. I didn't like him one bit.
"Are you guys dating or something?". I asked just to know if I could freely express the way I felt about him.

"Not yet. " she blushed as she typed on her phone.

"OK". That meant I had to keep my feelings to myself.

"Hey! I know he didn't make the best first impression when you guys met but I promise he's nice". She defended.

She liked him so why wouldn't she?. That's none of my business though. I can't control who she likes and doesn't.

"Barbie,have you ever had a boyfriend?" She asked, all of a sudden.

"Nope. I don't have time for that." Liar.

"Just say no one's ever asked you out. Its easier that way." She laughed.

"They have. I think". I couldn't remember anyone ever asking me out. "Wait! Is he asking you out?. "

"No. Just asking." She blushed again.

He's definitely asking her out.

Merry Christmas sweeties.

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