Holiday Chaos & Mistletoe Rules

To the resort

My bags were all packed and loaded in the car trunk for a ten-days vacation. All my excuses fell on deaf ears for both Lisa, and her boyfriend, Matt. They insisted that I go on the trip, and promised that I’d feel so much better once I’m back, but I sincerely doubt that.

I squeezed my phone in my land, then last minute, just as I was about to leave my room, I gave in and dialed Derrick’s number. It was silly, but I felt a hopeful glint in my heart when the phone actually rang, and on the third ring, he picked.

There was nothing I had to say to him, so when he picked, my whole system seemed to shut down. Should I say I just wanted to hear John-John’s voice, or tell him the truth that despite how horrible he presented everything, I missed him… terribly, and just wished everything would go back to normal?

“Who’s there? Are you going to speak or not? Derrick is…”

I didn’t let the girl finish and I immediately ended the call. My heart was in my stomach as I stared at my phone with Derrick’s name still saved as “Huband” with lots of emojis, and I was just a second away from throwing up my guts.

The world grew unsteady before my eyes and underneath my feet, before I knew it, I had rolled to the floor and I couldn’t seem to draw a breath in. Two weeks ago my world suddenly flipped, today it crumbled to the ground.

I have no idea how long I stayed on the floor, trying to regulate my breathing and trying to get myself to stop the tears rolling down my cheeks, but I know it was for a long time because when I opened my eyes, Lisa and Matt were both seated beside me, and I didn’t even hear them come in.

“You good now?” Matt asked with that sympathetic smile that made my stomach churn. I hate being pitied.

I opened my mouth and did some breathing exercises, and when I could finally breathe properly, I wiped my eyes and nodded at them.

“Perfect. Shall we?”

Lisa looked like she wanted to say something, but Matt held her back, so she smiled and got off the floor with him then stretched her hand towards me.

I smiled and took it, allowing her not just pull me up, but also pull me close to her as we walked out of the room to the car.

“You sure you can drive there?”

“Of course, driving me there and back after arranging all this is too much.”

“We are not complaining though.”

I smiled and hugged her, then got into the car. “Yes, but I am. I can handle this.”

Her eyes darted over me like a mother hen, then she patted my hair gently through the window.

“That’s fine. Can I have your phone? I need to check something.”

“Sure.”

Immediately I handed her my phone, she gave it to Matt, who ran into the house with it.

“What’s going on?”

She brought out a brand new phone and shoved it into my hand. “Only I and Matt’s numbers are in there. It would allow you call emergency services in case, but asides that, you can only call Matt and I.”

“But…”

“I want you to enjoy your holidays, Stace… you shouldn’t spend it calling that asshole. Enjoy yourself, okay?”

When she says it like that, I lose all the fight in me. I looked at the phone in my hand, sighed and reluctantly nodded.

“Thank you for all you do.”

“Anything for you. I still owe you for college days.”

“Oh please…”

We both laughed and she stepped back, “now go.”

I turned on the car, and waved at her. “I’ll text or call once I’m there.”

“I’ll hold my phone tight.”

I waved and watched her wave through the side mirror till she disappeared from my line of sight. The thought of being alone in a cabin for ten days without my phone to at least look at pictures of John-John, Derrick too as stupid as it sounds- was enough to make my stomach churn. But the further I drove, the more I seemed open to the idea of escaping my problems, even if it was for a couple of days, I’m coming back to it at the end of the day, so I might as well enjoy my illusion of everything being okay.

Easier said than done, but I was at least positive now.

After two hours of driving, I finally pulled up to the resort; Holiday Chaos. It was a funny name, but I liked it. A porter helped me take my bag to the reception office.

I received the sweetest customer service there and after the process, I was given the key to my chalet. Lisa and Matt booked one just for me. It must have been really expensive, and it made my heart warm knowing I still had people, who would go the extra mile for me.

“Enjoy your stay at Holiday Chaos!” She handed me a pamphlet of activities and I smiled as I took it.

“Thank you!”

The porter once again helped me carry my bags to the Cabin, it was the furthest one, but I didn’t mind, if anything, I preferred it and I couldn’t wait to go up and get into a hot tub.

“Thank you,” I handed him a tip and he smiled as he took it and walked away.

I looked around, and everywhere seemed cozy, John-John and Derrick would love to come here. My smile turned sad, and I felt tears brimming in my eyes. Why am I crying so much?

Wiping it away, I opened the door and walked in, ready to cozy up alone and probably cry, but I walked into a man.

A gorgeous, sexy as hell, half-naked man, but a man regardless and it made me scream.