I hummed in satisfaction as I began to awaken from my good night's rest. I took a few blinks to adjust to the morning light seeping in through the almost sheer, yellow curtains. Still laying flat down, I extended my arms above my head, trying to somewhat stretch my arms and lower back. Feeling the left side of my bed vibrating softly, I looked down to grab my phone. Just as I was about to check the new DM, something-- or shall I say, someone else caught my eye.

And just in case you haven't been paying attention to the story of my life so far, I'm being forced to share a room with clumsy Natalie. So, of course, it was her who caught my attention. Usually, she's up bright eyed and bushy tailed by this hour of the day. 

It was eleven o'clock already. I was half expecting to be awoken two hours ago by her loudly belching out Broadway musical tunes in the shower. But no, there she was. Still laying down, facing the wall, with the sheets covering up her entire form.

I externally sighed as I sat up from my bed. Placing my feet inside of my pink, unicorn shaped slippers, I made my way over to her side of the room. It's been almost one week now, and Natalie was still not back to her usual self. At first, she was still angry. Which was understandable. Later, that turned into just a mere frustration. But now, it has transformed into a rather pathetic sulk.

"Hey," I said flatly as I tapped her right shoulder.

It was like poking a dead body. Why? Well because the dummy didn't even move half an inch!

"Hey, Natalie," I tried again. "Come on, get up." I tried shaking her shoulder again this time. 

"Hmphm," she groaned under her fortress of blankets. I rolled my eyes at her childlike behavior. Did she, like, not get the memo? I'm the only one in this family who gets to be dramatic, capiche? I placed my hand on her shoulder once more, this time using a bit more momentum.

"OW!" She yelled as her forehead collided directly against the hard, white wall  against the other side of her bed. Oops, I guess I may have put a bit too much into that last push.

"Argh," she winced, rubbing her forehead as she slowly sat up. "Are you crazy?"

"Are you?" I countered, folding my arms under my chest as I shifted my weight to my right side. "Why have you been acting so down and weird lately?" 

Her face hardened as she scoffed at my words. "I know it may be hard to believe-- you know, considering how perfect your life has always been. But some of us regular, old peasant folk sometimes fall into this thing called 'depression'.

"Depression?" I pondered out loud. Oh yeah. Now I remember! "Oh please, Natalie," I brushed off as I recalled the short moment in my life. "I've heard all about depression. In fact, I even fell into deep depression once. As a matter of fact, it was the day I had to move in here."

"Oh spare me," Natalie rolled her eyes. "You didn't fall into 'dEEp dEPrEssiON'. That's why it lasted only one day! You were just feeling sorry about having to leave your superficial life behind!"

"And what about you, huh!? How are you not feeling sorry for yourself right now?" I shot back.

She huffed out a deep breath before going back to laying down. "You wouldn't understand anyway."

I let out a frustrated sigh as I sat down on her bed. Ugh. Bear with me people, I'm going to have to be empathetic for a few moments. "Look, I can see that you're feeling-- and quite frankly, looking like crap right now." I then decided to switch up the convo a little when I saw her give me a death stare as her eyes peeked from underneath the blankets.

"Ahem," I uneasily cleared my throat. "But do you honestly think you're the only one who's being affected by this?" I watched as she shifted some under the blankets. Hopefully my words are making an impact already. But if not, oh well. I'm trying here. 

"I get that Aunt Hana has used up every last penny you guys had saved up, but, hey, my mom is doing the same. She could get into serious debt if she can't pay back this large loan from the bank." I sighed as my dark orbs gazed down at the floor. "We've already lost everything. How would we possibly survive if she gets us into any more financial trouble?"

"Daisy," Natalie spoke. Although it came out more as a sad, soft whisper.

Not about to let any sappy emotions get the best of me, I took a deep breath in. "But! That's not for us to worry about. They're the adults in the situation. Hopefully they'll find a way to make their business a success, despite the odds."

With that, I got up from her bed and made my way to the doorway. As I grabbed the knob, her voice stopped me.

"You're wrong," she spoke.

I rolled my eyes as my back was facing her. Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I turned back on the heels of my feet. "About what? May I ask."

Slowly, she sat back up and reached over to her small, white, bedside table. She pulled on the gold handle, opening up the drawer. Gently, she took out a medium sized wooden frame. Her eyes softened immensely while her mouth turned down into a sad frown. She stared down at the rectangular frame with such sincerity that I just had to find out what was keeping her attention so much.

However, when I walked over to her and saw the picture that she was holding, I knew. I knew she was feeling grief. Underneath the glass was a picture of her when she was little. About ten years old. With a large, toothless grin on her face, and two brunette pigtails. She was being held by a familiar man. His gleaming orbs were almost identical to hers as they sat before the camera. It was her late father.

I don't remember uncle Nate all that much, but from what I do remember, he was a funny and cheery guy. Always making jokes, and surprising Natalie and I by somehow pulling quarters out of our ears.

I took a seat next to her. The dark brown hair of hers was let down, hiding the majority of her face as she held her head down. "I made a promise," I heard her whisper. "Before he died--" she took a shaky breath before continuing, "he asked me to be there for her," her voice then got even more raspy as she was holding back a cry. "That the two of us; mom and I, needed to take care of each other more than ever. He knew that his heart-related problems, since birth, would soon be too much to bear one day."

My face softened immensely as I suddenly saw small water droplets hit the glass' frame. "I-I promised him that I would take care of everything. But look at how I'm failing him!"

I placed my hand on her back, pulling the weeping girl in for a hug. I didn't know what else to do. But I knew this is what I would want from someone else if I was in her position. Her cries intensified more as she rested her chin on my right shoulder. Her torso weakly hugged mine as if the strength was fleeting her body. I wasn't going to give her false sympathy by pretending to understand how she felt. Because I couldn't. Even though I haven't seen daddy since the night before we lost our fortune, I at least knew that he was well and still alive. 

After a few more sobs, she lifted her head up. Tears stained her face as she took a tissue from the box on her bed stand table. Her dark chocolate eyes were bland and hollow. It was as if no life was emitting from them. There was a blank expression resting upon her face as the soft tissue smoothed across her cheeks. 

"Look, Natalie," I spoke to her. "Just because he said that you and aunt Hana needed to be there for each other, doesn't also imply for you to be the one who acts like the adult. I'm pretty sure he meant for you two to be there emotionally for each other. To help one another bear with his passing.

There was not much expression going on her face as she listened to my words. Her head was still down as she stared at the portrait of him. I could tell she was deep in thought. After a moment, she took a deep breath of air, trying to somewhat compose herself. "Maybe you're right," she finally spoke up. Her eyes then turned bleak as a pout made its way to her lips, "I still can't shake the feeling that I'm disappointing him somehow though." 

"How could you possibly be disappointing him, Natalie?" I asked seriously. "I mean just look at you," I motioned toward her. "You're responsible, nice, a great friend to Alex and Kaitlyn, you help your mom out around the house, and you've even helped me out numerous times since I've got here!"

"Really?" She asked as a bit her old self started to shine through her eyes.

"Totally," I half smiled at her. "Plus, you're kind of smart too. I mean, not as much of a genius as I am, but you're pretty decent," I smirked.

"Of course you'd find a way to compliment yourself along the way," she folded her arms.

"It's what I do best," I flipped my hair as I got up, making my way towards the door. I knew that my mission was accomplished. That small slither of her old self had come back, now the rest was up to her to believe in herself or not. 

"Hey, Daisy," she called out just as my hand gripped the cold door knob.

"Yeah?" I turned back around to face her.

"Thank you, really," she happily smiled.

There was a proud feeling that then spread throughout me. I was happy that Natalie was feeling better, yes. But this was different. I was genuinely impressed  with myself for doing something for someone else without my own personal gain being benefited from it. This must have been what The Grinch felt like when his heart grew two sizes! 

"No problem," I smirked back to her. "Now get dressed for the mall. We're going shopping, loser."

••

I inhaled the fresh, crisp, December air as we walked down the parking lot. Once we entered inside the ginormous building, my eyes lit up in wonder.

Small decorated Christmas trees were sat upon merchandise tables. Giant plastic candy canes and fake snow were placed all throughout. Glistening lights and tensils were hung up almost everywhere. Oh, and to top it off, Mariah Carey's Christmas album was playing through the ceiling speakers. 

"Don't you just love the first day of December?" I smiled as I twirled once across the polished, white floor.

"Kind of," Natalie giggled. "I can tell it's your favorite month of the year though."

"Well of course it is. It's the month in which a queen was born," I said with a confident smirk.

"Oh, that's right!" Natalie gasped. "You'll be eighteen on the fourth!"

"That's right, little cousin," I responded as we headed up the escalators.

"Awe man! That must be so exciting!" She grinned. "Hey, what do you want to do for it?"

"Hmm?" I hummed aloud. I really hadn't given much thought to it, really. Shocker, I know. But considering how I'm not rich anymore, there wasn't much I could think of doing. Last year, I threw a huge yacht party that lasted until the wee hours of the next day. Even my seven layer gourmet cake itself cost roughly $2 million dollars. Nothing I can think of now could top that. "I don't have a clue."

"Oh, well, don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll think of something," Natalie assured.

"Yeah," I replied. I didn't want to be too pessimistic, but I had to be realistic as well. There honestly was not much of a possibility that I would have a spectacular eighteenth birthday party. 

"Hey, Daisy?" Natalie questioned. "I don't want to sound rude or anything, but why are we, you know, here?"

I giggled at her question. "It's alright, Natalie. I recently just collaborated with a new, popular makeup brand and got payed 3k."

"Seriously?!" She asked, quite shocked.

"Mhm," I nodded. "I was a bit surprised at first too. Usually, I'm almost always payed in the product of the brand that I endorse. It was a nice change this time. It's hardly anything at all compared to the money I used to get from daddy though, but it's more than enough for a little Christmas shopping."

"That's sweet of you to spend that money on others," Natalie complimented.

"Well I always shop for Christmas gifts on the first of December," I replied. "Let's see; I have to get mother's, aunt Hana's, yours some time later, of course, when you're not around-- Ryan!"

"Ryan?" Natalie gasped. "Gee, I thought you guys were getting kind of close but not that close," she finished with a snarky undertone.

"No, dummie," I rolled my eyes at her. I pointed a few feet ahead of us, so that she could spot Ryan who was walking down our way. He was wearing a quarter sleeve, form fitting, black tee shirt and jeans. The end of his silver necklace was tucked under his shirt, framing around his defined collar bone.

"Ryan! Hey!" Natalie waved, calling out to him.

"What are you doing?!" I whispered to her.

"Awe, what?" She giggled. "Don't tell me the big, bad, Ryan Lombardi makes Daisy freakin' Nickels shy does he?"

I narrowed my eyes menacingly at her. 'Oh no she didn't!' 

"You better wipe that smirk off your face before I--"

"Wassup?" I heard in front of me. I strained my neck up to the hovering Ryan Lombardi himself standing in front of us. The look in his eyes showed that he was slightly amused with our presence. I looked down to see two, green striped shopping bags in his hand. 

"Doing a little shopping?" I questioned him. Trying to spark up a good conversation. I then instantly regretted it. 

'Of course he's shopping! It's a mall!'

"Yeah," he replied normally, as if my question wasn't silly at all. "I like to get my Christmas list done as soon as possible. 

"Well!" Natalie beamed. "Seems you two have a lot in common. Daisy here was just about to get started on her list as well."

I looked over at her boredly. I knew what she was trying to do. How much do you wanna bet she's going to find an excuse to leave, so that Ryan and I can be alone together?

"I, on the other hand, am just famished!" She started. "I'm just going to head down to the food court and get a pretzel."

Told you so.

"See you guys," she winked before heading in the opposite direction. 

"You better at least bring me back one with cheese, and a raspberry lemonade!" I hollered back to her as she transcended down the open aisle.

"Ugh," I groaned as I placed my hand on my forehead.

"I thought you didn't eat carbs?" Ryan pondered out loud. 

"It's cheat day, sweetie," I flipped my hair over my shoulder. "I can indulge."

"I get it," Ryan chuckled. "So, need any help picking out gifts for everyone?"

I felt slightly giddy at his question. Either he was trying to spend time with me, or he was genuinely just trying to offer me his help and advice. "Yeah, sure," I nodded. He gave me a small smirk as we then walked side by side with each other, passing by the dozens of brightly lit up stores. 

"So what's first?" Ryan asked.

"Well I already know what I'm getting my mother, aunt and Natalie," I told him. "I'm a little stumped on what to get my dad though."

"Well what did you get him last year?"

"Same as what any kid would get their father, really. A two-piece, dark grey Giorgio Armani suit and matching tie," I told him.

He stopped for a moment with a slightly shocked expression on his face. Hm? Was it something I said? Maybe he thinks I should have gifted daddy the off white colored one instead? 

"So I'm guessing he's the business man type, eh?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah, I guess you could say so," I replied.

"How about a nice briefcase then?" Ryan suggested. "That's what I just got my dad." He then held up one of the large shopping bags in his hand. The briefcase must be inside.

"That's a pretty good idea actually," I smiled. I knew that it was an extremely slim chance of me seeing daddy by Christmas, but it didn't matter. I've always gotten a gift for him, every year. And one day when I do see him again, I'll hand him the briefcase to let him know that I never forgot about him.

Fruity scents soon filled my nostrils as we were nearing my favorite scented candles, body lotions and sprays shop. "Oh, Ryan!" I yelped excitedly. "We have to go in there first!"

"Ugh, do we have to?" He asked.

"Yes," I said, folding my arms. "Besides, I'd be knocking my aunt Hana off the list also. She's, like, obsessed with candles."

"Alright. Let's make it quick," he said as if literally stepping inside the shop would physically drain the life out of his body. 

"Fine, no more than twenty minutes," I agreed before taking his arm, dragging him inside.

"Woah, you spend at least twenty minutes in this place?!" He asked, horrified.

"Oh, shut up," I rolled my eyes as we approached a vast array of Christmas themed candles. Joy filled inside me as I sniffed a graham cracker with whipped cream scented one. "Please smell this!" I squealed at Ryan, holding the candle in both hands out towards him.

"Hm?" He questioned, looking down at me and then at the candle. "No, thanks," he said simply.

"Come on. Just tell me if you think this would make a nice addition to her gift set," I tried to persuade him.

He clicked his tongue at me in slight annoyance. "You can't tell if it's good enough or not on your own?"

I strained my neck up towards him, his eyes meeting my killer glare. "Stop being moody and just sniff the damn candle."

"I'm not being moody," he rolled his eyes down at me.

"Then do it!' I demanded him as I shoved the candle up near his face.

"Damn it, Daisy! You're literally smashing it into my nose!" He yelped, struggling to get away.

"Just answer me, do you like it or not?!" I asked him, getting impatient.

"Would you look at that," a girlish figure giggled in my peripheral vision.

"Well when have you ever known her to take 'no' for an answer?" another voiced.

I then retracted the candle from Ryan as I turned to the right, facing the two most dramatic girls I know...