Holiday Cheer

Holidays. Big deal. Everyone thinks that they're so great. Not me, and definately not if I have to spend them with the relatives. And this year we all gathering. A big family reunion. Christmas is going to suck.11

I opened the door to the hotel where I, and the rest of my family, was staying. There they were. My parents were in the lobby, surroundedby more of the family.22

My mom came running towards me with her arms extended. "Oh Danny! I haven't seen you in so long! Why don't you visit us more often?" I gave her a kiss in reply and prepared myself for hugs and welcomes. My dad was next. He just gave me a rough hand shake.33

The two of us weren't getting along. He's mad that I didn't want to enter the family business.I guess me not ever visiting, before or after the fight, helped either.44

I greeted my older sister Stacey, along with her husband Mike and two kids, Gretta and Beth. Then I greeted my younger brother Joe, and his girlfriend Leita. My younger twin sisters Alexa and Bella. Bella has a husband Alec and three kids Brady, Colin, and Kyle. Alexa has a fiance, Bryce, and one boy on the way, whom they plan to name Brennen. Then there are my cousins Jack, Bryant, Steph, Chloe, Gabby, Sami, John, Jimmy, Danika, and Ethan. All of them are either married or going steady. Jimmy and Ethan have kids. And Chloe's going to have kids...The only person that isn't here is my brother Jackson. We were born in the same year. He's bringing his new girlfriend.55

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm the only person in my family, other than the children, that's single. Hell, Kyle's got a girlfriend.66

I was pulled away from my thoughts when I heard shouts of greeting. I turned towards the door. Jackson walked in. Next to him was the most beautiful girl that I had ever seen. Her soft, pale face was perfectly framed by the waves of her dark brown hair, and there was a twinkle in her hazle eyes.77

I absentmindedly gave Jackson a brotherly hug, never taking my eyes off her.88

"Danny, I'd like you to meet Kate." He turned to Kate. "Kate, this is my brother Danny." She stuck her hand out. I grasped in firmly and shook her fragile hand.99

"Nice to meet you," I said, still absentminded.1010

"And you," she replied politely and followed Jackson to be introduced to the rest of my large family. I stared at her for awhile, but decided to finish cehcking in and go to my room. 1111

I grabbed my bags and walked to the front desk. They gave me a room key, 312, and I began to walk to the elevator.1212

"Where are you going, baby?" My mother asked, jogging torwards me.1313

"To my room," I said and pressed the up button.1414

"But we were all about to go to lunch together!" She said as the elevator door opened. I stepped in and faced her.1515

"I'm sorry mom. You're going to have to miss me." I said. The doors started closing.1616

"Is this about you and your father. You two don't have to sit with each other. I think that whole arguement was silly. You two..." She started.1717

The piece and quiet of the elevator was well appreciated. When it arrived the third floor I quickly walked to my room.1818

It was nice. It had a lounge chair, a queen bed, a TV, and a desk; plus a bathroom. I threw my bags on the floor and plopped onto the bed. I turned the TV on Sports Center and thought about Kate.1919

I didn't want to think about, but I couldn't get her out of my head. It was like having a highschool crush all over again.2020

I fell asleep to Woody Paige talking about why the Colts have a chance at winning the Super Bowl.2121

I was woken up at the sound of knocking on my door. I looked at the clock. It read 11:00. I pulled myself out of bed and hobbled over to the door. I looked out the peephole.2222

My mother was standing at the door, wearing the same clothes as earlier. She must have just gotten back from dinner. I went back to bed without opening the door.2323

"Danny! Danny, open up!" She yelled at the door. "Danny! I know you're awake! I heard you walking. Danny, open the door!"2424

I hobbled back to the door, and opened it. "What?" I said curtly.2525

"I just wanted to talk to you about why you wouldn't come to dinner with us."2626

I slammed the door, and got back in bed. I drowned out her yelling by turning the volume up on the TV as loud as I could. I flipped through the channels looking for something good to watch. I stopped on HBO. It was playing Ocean's Eleven. I'd seen the movie hundred's of times, but I still enjoyed watching it, and it did a good job of drowning out my mom.2727

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One Week Later2929

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Spending one week with family is horrible, let alone a month, which is how long our little get together is. We arrived December first. It is now the eighth. In this seemingly short amount of time, Kate and I have become good friends. 3131

She, like me, doesn't very much like spending time with the family. So, when they go do some activity, we talk. Today teh family went bowling. Everyone but you guessed it. Kate and I.3232

I couldn't help but ask her, "Do you love him?" I didn't want to ask. I knew it was an intrusion of her privacy, and rude. It just kind of blurted out before I could stop it.3333

"I'm sorry. Dont answer that." I said. She looked down at either her feet or the green grass we were sitting on, I couldn't tell. We sat in silence for awhile after. I was surprised that she didn't get up and leave. 3434

After a few minutes silence, she said, "No."3535

I looked up questioningly. "What?"3636

"You asked if I loved him. No." She explained with her head down.3737

"Then why..."3838

"I like him. I care about him immensely. And I don't want to hurt him." 3939

I pushed myself up off the ground and stuck out my hand. She grabbed it and pulled herself up.4040

"Please don't tell him." She pleaded.4141

"Wouldn't dream of it." She smiled. Then she hugged me. I kept my arms at my side at first. But, it was hard not to hug back.4242

"Thank you," she said. I pulled out of the hug reluctantly. I liked her; could I love her. I had only known her for a week but my feelings were overwhelming.4343

We walked to the elevator together. Both of our rooms were on the third floor. In the elevator another question popped into my head. 4444

"Do you love anyone?" I asked.4545

"I...don't know," she replied and bit her bottom lip in thought. I grabbed her shoulder and made the most rash descision of my life. I kissed her. I expected her to pull away, but she didn't. She kissed back. We only stopped because of the ding of the bell letting us know we had reached the third floor.4646

"Sorry," I said.4747

"It's okay," she said and walked away. I walked to my room thinking about what had just happened. I just kissed my brother's girlfriend. And, I think she liked it.4848

I collapsed onto my bed in thought. What the hell did I just do. I didn't understand the overwhelming feeling I felt for her. Could I actually be falling in love...in a week? With my brother's girlfriend?4949

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THREE NIGHTS LATER5151

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The family actually got me to go to dinner with them. My mother said that it was mandatory. I just shook my head and insisted that I didn't have to go.5353

But in the end I went. And what an eventful dinner it was. At the beginning of the meal Jackson stood up to announce something.5454

"I have an announcement to make," he started. "Kate and I are getting married." The commotion started right when he said the last word. I sat there stunned. I glanced at Kate. She had the same look on her face than I did.5555

I walked up to my mother. "Mom, I came to dinner, I heard the big announcement, and now I'm leaving." Her face looked hurt, but she didn't argue.5656

Kate must have seen me leaving because she was waiting for me in the parking lot.5757

"Do you have any idea how much you're going to hurt him if you marry him. You said it yourself, you don't love him!" I started.5858

"Danny, it isn't what-"5959

"No, okay! I don't care what you're going to say. If you marry him, your love isn't going to grow and you will crush him."6060

"Danny, listen-"6161

"I can't believe you. How could you do this?"6262

"DANNY LISTEN TO ME!!" She shouted. I stopped ranting. "I didn't know. He didn't ask me. I wouldn't have said yes. I promise you that," she explained.6363

"You should go back in there. I'm guessing that they turned it into an engagement party."6464

"Come with me," she asked earnestly.6565

I tried to step around her but she put her hands on my chest to stop me. "I don't know how," she started," but in only ten days I managed to fall in love with you. And I want, no, I need your support if I am going to break up with him."6666

I shook my head and turned around her. i wlaked briskly to my car, got in and slammed the door. She tapped on the window, but I didn't bother rolling it down. I started the car, but she was right next to it and I didn't want to hurt her, despite my bitterness. 6767

I rolled down the window. "Move." She tried to say something but I said,"move", over her voice. "Gosh dammit Kate. MOVE!" She opened her mouth to say something, but didn't. I could see a tear rolling down her cheek as she took a step back.6868

I stepped on the gas and drove away. She just stared. I felt bad, but I couldn't betray Jackson.6969

I did love Kate. I do. But, I will not be the one to ruin it for him, although maybe I already am.7070

A few hours later I heard a knock on my door. I didn't even go to see it was. They knocked again. I stayed in bed. They knocked for what had to be at least ten minutes. Finally I dragged myself out of bed and to the door, mumbling curses to myself. I sung open the door.7171

Kate was standing in front of me, holding a to-go box. "You didn't eat. I just thought you might be hungry," she said and handed me the box. I shook my head and pushed it away.7272

"I don't want it."7373

"Please."7474

"No."7575

"What happened. Why are you so mad at me?" She asked.7676

"I'm not..."7777

"Then why are you acting this way. Everything was fine until Jackson announced the engagement, and I explained that. So why are you mad at me?" She questioned again.7878

I looked at her confused hazel eyes. "It isn't you." 7979

"Then why?"8080

"I can't be the one to ruin his relationship," I said.8181

"Well, you already are. So, please. Stop being mad."8282

"I can't believe we have three more weeks of this. It's going to be hell." I said. Then I added, "And no one can know."8383

"Why don't we just leave now. Just, go check out. They aren't going to miss an ex-girlfriend and an un-enthusiastic family member." She said.8484

"You don't think," I teased. She shook her head. I bent down and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around my neck. I pulled my head back. "Fine. Go get your stuff. She pointed to the hallway.8585

"Already did." I grinned. I was thankful that I had never bothered to unpack. It took me only a few minutes to gather everything and rush to the elevator. We hurridly checked out and, luckily, didn't run into anyone.8686

I threw all our bags into the trunk of my car, and then opened the passenger seat for her. Then I climbed in.8787

"Where do you want to go?" I asked as I started the ignition.8888

"Well...I hear that Florida's nice this time of year," she said grinning. I smiled and drove out of the parking lot.