Aurora Book 1: Soitera

4. Christmas Box

"She was a sweet person. Always happy. She worked as a secretary for my boss for a few years. Once she got married, she left to help your dad with his shop. I saw her a few times over the years after that. Last time I saw her, she was pregnant." He glances at his wife.

"She was about five months along. She told us all about you. She was so excited to be having a girl. She held Everett that day. He was barely a couple of months old. Somehow she knew you two would be friends someday."

"Ok, stop." Everett turns me in the chair.

It breaks my trance. I wipe my face off. I had no idea tears were falling out of my eyes. "Sorry. I don't hear much about my mom."

"What happened?" An innocent voice asks.

I can't bring myself to say anything.

"She didn't make it, sweetie. Let's focus on eating." His mom stands up and dishes out food. Everett has two younger brothers.

"GOOD EVENING PARTY PEOPLE."

His dad groans and his mom rolls her eyes. "Good evening, Brock. Come on in."

Everett leans towards me. "I did warn you."

"I should go."

He looks at me like he is about to snap. "Just stop and eat, woman."

Brock sits by one of the other boys. "What are you lovely people doing for Christmas break?"

The dad smiles. "Going to the islands this year. It'll be a nice break for all of us. We're going to visit some family there. What about you two?"

It suddenly dawns on me, I don't know if I have enough soap to get through the break. It's only two weeks, but that's a long time to go without body wash.

"It's my dad's year for Christmas. We're going to the mountains with some of his family."

"That'll be nice."

The younger boy smiles. "What about you, Aurora?"

"Oh, I'll be around."

"Around?" He's confused.

The mom jumps up. "Oh my, I forgot the rolls. Give me one second."

Brock nods. "So, what happened to you? We got kicked out of study hall when you passed out."

"We should take her to the islands with us." Everett is looking at his dad.

He freezes.

I'm glad it's not me this time. "No. Are you crazy? I'm not going on your family Christmas holiday. What are you even thinking?"

"What?" His mom grabs the wall and balances her tray of rolls.

Brock jumps up. "I got them. Find a seat to fall in." He's trying to change the subject. "What happened at study hall, people? We got our college lists back today."

"How did that go, Brock?" His mom drinks half a glass of wine in one gulp.

"How I figured. I actually got a few more scholarships. My parents were happy. But Aurora passed out. What did yours say?"

I cross my arms. "Let's not make this about me. I was lightheaded."

"How did you do, Everett?"

"70% to Maple."

"Nicely done. Way to save me money, boy." Everett and his dad laugh. Must be an inside joke or something.

"Spill, Aurora. I'm interested in what you got. That was a huge envelope."

"It..."

Everett cuts me off and bumps me with his shoulder. "100% to Maple, Seal, Clearwater, Heritage, and BlackRock."

"Damn. BlackRock? What program?"

I shove food in my mouth and Everett answers. "Astro physics. She's stubborn."

The dad smiles. "My brother went to BlackRock. Think about that offer very seriously. It will change your life."

His mom nods. "And it's 10 hours away."

I can't help but laugh. "I offered to leave now so I could walk there in time."

She finally relaxes and laughs. "Don't do that. I'll buy you a plane ticket if I have to."

Everett gives her a dirty look. "The contracts aren't being signed until next week. She still has to make up her mind."

Brock shakes his head. "That's BlackRock. She hit the damn lottery."

"It wasn't a lottery. I worked hard for this. And each of the schools that gave me an offer are really good. It would be a miracle for a person like me to go to any of them. And yea, BlackRock is crazy hard to get into, but they're not giving me any options for a major."

He rolls his eyes. "Maple is mainly for business. You hate business. Even I know that."

"That's just one."

"Heritage is a medical college. Do you want to be a doctor or surgeon?"

His mom nods. "They do make a lot of money."

"I... Well, I... No. Not that either. Medical isn't for me. I don't like blood."

"Seal is computer science. Do you like computers?"

"Arg." I give him a dirty look. "I'm going to look at the majors tomorrow. And yea, I despise computers. I can't even get them to turn on half the time."

"You're down to Clearwater and BlackRock. You're welcome."

"Thanks, Brock." Everett hits him on the head with a green bean.

"Enough, boys."

"Maybe we should take you to the islands with us." His dad is sitting back staring at me with a weird look on his face.

A spoon flies at his head. "KNOCK IT OFF. BOTH OF YOU." The mom is pissed.

"I'm Andy since nobody can introduce me. I'm Everett's younger and better-looking brother."

"We'll talk about it later." His dad goes back to his dinner.

"It's nice to meet you, Andy. What grade are you in?" I'll talk about anything to get out of this uncomfortable situation.

"9th. Jarod is 3. He's not in school yet."

"And I'm Brock. The best-looking man here."

"She already knows you, weirdo."

"No name-calling, Andy."

"Sorry."

"It's alright, as long as I'm the best-looking weirdo." Brock drags his hands through his hair and shakes it out.

Everette shakes his head. "I'm the best looking. You're just full of yourself."

"Aurora can settle it." Brock smirks at me.

"Don't drag me into your weirdo argument. I'm trying to eat this casserole. It's the best thing I've ever tasted."

"Oh." His mom starts to laugh, then she freezes. She seems to be lost for a minute. "It's an old family recipe. Thank you. It's not the boys' favorite, but I enjoy it now and then."

Andy cracks up laughing. "She called you both weirdos."

Everett nods. "And she got away with it."

Brock growls. "Pick one of us. Whose best looking?"

I shake my head. "I would have to say, Jarod. He's rocking a solid ten on the cuteness scale."

Brock looks at him. "Yea, it is kind of hard to compete with that."

"He has better hair too."

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK." Brock jumps up.

Everyone bursts out laughing.

After dinner, I walk home. Everett tried to drive me, but I need some time to think. Plus, it's only seven. Dad and John will probably be there somewhere. I sneak into the garden and clean through it.

I can't believe I got five offers. I was praying for one, to anywhere. I actually have options. I never thought this would happen.

I pull some weeds by the strawberry plant. Why did he kiss me though? But he said he meant to kiss my cheek. It was just an accident. I touch my lips and try to remember. He was going to kiss me again. But why?

This must be a joke. I bet someone dared him to do this. It's just a nasty joke.

Either that or he thinks of me as a project. Someone for him to fix. Ever since he dropped me off that day, he's been weird. Making sure I'm ok and checking on me.

My dad also told him if I get pregnant, he wouldn't pay for the abortion. Maybe Everett thinks I'm going to be easy because of that. He thinks I'm just some easy girl he can take advantage of before college.

"What the hell? What is this?"

"How did you?" I watch Everett spin in a circle.

"I saw you come out of the woods that day, I took you to school. You weren't at home or the cemetery. I thought it was worth checking here."

"Is my dad still up?"

"Yea. That wasn't fun. What is this place?"

"When I was eleven, I did a school project with seeds. Then I planted everything I could get my hands on here."

"Why here?"

"It's close to the house but far enough away that it's hidden. I always have food this way. It's my secret place. It's better than being home. I didn't think anyone would ever find it. Why were you searching for me?"

"I wanted to make sure you got home alright. Oh, your dad said you got a package from your aunt. He put it on your bed."

I jump straight up then sit down. "I'll wait until they pass out or leave."

"What is it?"

"I have two cousins that are older than me by a year. Zoey and Zuri. Twice a year, my aunt goes through their old clothes and sends them to me." His eyebrows are stuck up. "For someone like you, it probably sounds stupid, but those are the only clothes I get. They make me feel somewhat normal."

"Why don't you get a job?"

"Where? I can't drive. The gas station won't hire me. It's too far to walk anywhere else."

"Have you ever been anywhere else?"

I focus on cleaning a tomato plant. "After I was born, my dad's sister took me for five years. She lives in the city. She knew my dad wouldn't be able to handle a baby. Once it was time for school, she gave me back. I don't remember much about being with them. Maybe I don't remember anything anymore."

"Tell me about your Christmas's."

I laugh and roll my eyes. "The Christmas before I came to live with my dad, my aunt had me stay with him. That way I could meet him. I had never seen him before that. She dropped me off Christmas Eve and I went straight to bed. It was late. Christmas morning, he made me the biggest bowl of plain oatmeal. Then he shut me in my room with it so him and his friends could talk. I came out hours later because I had to pee. He was passed out in the center of the living room. I was too bored in my room. So, I turned some cartoons on. That's how I spent Christmas."

"Did you tell your aunt?"

"No. I couldn't. She always told me that I had to cut him some slack. 'Don't expect him to be perfect. He lost his wife, and it broke him. He was trying his best'." I shrug my shoulders. "At least he remembered to feed me that day. I told her we watched cartoons." I move to the next plant. "Honestly, he blames me for her death. He's hated me since I was born. He wanted me to die and her to live. But he got stuck with me instead. It's not like I had any choice in the matter. I wasn't even born yet."

Tires go squealing by.

"One asshole is gone. I can probably sneak in now." I pull him out onto the road. "Where did you park?"

"This is a two-lane road. I can't park on it. What happened to your mom?"

"I don't know. Nobody talks about her with me. All I know is an emergency happened when she went into labor. She didn't make it, and I did. Why did you park in my driveway?"

"I can't park on the road and that's the closest place to your secret garden."

"Fine. Just don't tell my dad about it. He would probably steal my food." I see a shadow move through the window and pull him to the side of the house. "I need to go in my window. I made it home safely. Thanks for checking on me."

"I want to see these clothes."

"Why? This isn't even your business. Why are you always in my business?"

"I want to make sure you're alright." He walks around to the back of the house.

I follow him. "That doesn't answer why." Then I pop the screen out of my window and climb in with a box I have hidden behind a bush.

He climbs in behind me while I tip toe to the door and shut it quietly.

"What is this?" He picks up my box of soaps.

"I steal from the pool and bathroom at school. They're free. It's fine." I plop down in the center of my bed and open the big box. I shove a pack of underwear under the blanket. He watches me with an eyebrow up. "She sends me packs of underwear and socks too." I pull out a pair of fancy jeans. I can tell they were expensive.

"Those aren't going to fit you. They're too big."

"I've gotten really good at sewing over the years. I can take them in. They'll be decent. And they're not that big."

"Yes, they are."

I roll my eyes and pull out a sweater.

"Everything is bigger than you are."

"They're a few sizes bigger than me, but it doesn't matter. I can wear everything. If they were smaller than me, it would really suck."

"That's true." He pulls out a tee shirt with a frog on it.

"EEEE. Mine. I love that."

Dad knocks the door open and falls into it. "I didn't see you come in."

"We said hi."

"Oh. Have a good night." He nearly falls out and slams the door in his own face somehow.

I pull out another pair of fancy jeans. "Just shut your eyes. I have to try them on. These are amazing." I put on the jeans and frog tee after he shuts his eyes. "TA DA" I spin in a circle.

"You are so happy."

"These boxes are like Christmas for me." I reach in and pull out another tee-shirt. "She sent a lot this time."

There's a loud crash from the living room. We stare at the door for a minute then go back to the box.

"Do you celebrate your birthday at all?"

"Nobody wants to celebrate that."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think before I asked."

"You do that a lot. I'm getting used to it." I pull out a skirt. "I don't think it's a weird question though. A lot of people celebrate birthdays."

We go through the rest of the rest of the box, and I try on some of it. He's right, it's all big. But it's mine and I can fix it.

"Come on. I'll walk you out. I need to make sure he's not dead. You can use the door this time."