I blinked wearily and then snapped awake in surprise. I was in my bunk back in the World. My heart skipped a few beats as I tried to remember what had happened. Everything from last night was pretty vague, but the fact that I could remember the Realm was a good sign.
Chaz. I think Mills and I succeeded, but I wasn’t positive. Neither of us truly knew what we had been doing, but we were determined to try to save our friend. Boyfriend in my case. I sighed and laid my head back on my pillow. Why did my life have to suddenly get so complicated? More importantly, why did I love it so much?
I pulled myself out of bed, unable to sleep anymore, and got ready. According to every calendar and clock I checked, it was December 25th. I even called up the information hotline to double check. To me, that was a very good sign that we were successful. With nothing better to do, I started making breakfast.
Our fates must have been decided, but I wasn’t sure what they were. It was like trying to remember a dream as it was slipping away. I could only speculate what had happened. My guess was that I had gotten banned from the Realm since I was definitely a trouble maker. Mills was probably still going to get jail time and be grounded for life. As for Chaz, I was pretty sure he was still alive, but since he was a Ghost of Lost he was probably stuck somewhere under surveillance.
While the eggs were starting to cook, I quickly checked the living room. Our Christmas tree was decorated with presents ready for the moment my father was able to finish his route and come home. Even the stockings that were hung along the piano bench were lovingly stuffed. I smiled and flipped plugged in the lights, letting the warm glow fill the room.
My family didn’t sleep in for very long. The smell of a warm breakfast even got the twins out of their room. Even though we never celebrated Christmas on Christmas Day, the excitement was still there. The presents were going to be nice, probably clothes and a board game or puzzle, but the best excitement was wondering when our father was going to be home.
“I’ll get it,” I said when the doorbell rang.
It was probably a neighbor wanting to borrow a snow shovel. It had snowed the night before and the blanket of white meant that we would probably spend the day sledding and drinking hot chocolate. The twins were already arguing over who would be stuck with the bad shovel as they dug through the hall closet for snow boots and gloves.
“Can I get some help with these packages?” A deep voice asked as I opened the door.
“Daddy!”
This was the first time in ten years my father had actually been home on Christmas Day. My family piled into the hallway, practically making it impossible for my dad to get inside. The presents were taken by my siblings and my parents kissed, getting comical reactions from the youngest two. As my dad finally got through the front door, I noticed the person standing behind him with a few more packages in hand.
“Chaz.” I couldn’t keep the stupid smile off my face.
“I decided not to go to LA,” Chaz said. “Same with Mills. Mills called up his parents and I think they’re reconciling. He offered me a ride, but I decided not to take it.”
“And what did you decide?” I asked.
“That I wasn’t completely sure where I wanted to go,” he admitted. “Only that I wanted to come back here. Your father was nice enough to give me a lift, and then he said I could spend Christmas with your family, if that’s not a problem. I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not,” several people called out and Chaz found himself pulled into the house.
“I’m glad to see you,” I told him. “I’ll want to know what’s going on, though.”
“Later,” Chaz said. “We have time.”
“That’s good,” I teased. “As my boyfriend I would have been very disappointed in you if you would have refused to meet my family.”
“Did you tell them?”
“Not yet,” I grinned. “But, it’s a good thing that they like you already.”
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