All I Want for Christmas Is You
Chapter Thirteen: Wake Up
I was awoken by screaming and cheers coming from downstairs. I rolled over in bed and looked at my clock. 7:00. “What the hell?” I turned to the window, the sun rays were barely beginning to fill my room. I groaned. “The sun hasn’t come up yet.”
Veronica rushed into the room shouting my name. “Amanda, you have to come downstairs!”
I looked at my friend. She was already dressed and ready for the day. “For God sakes, Veronica what time do you wake up?! It’s 7:00 in the morning and we don’t have to be at work till this evening.”
“4:00.” I groaned again and turned over in bed, burying my face in my pillows. “Amandaaa,” Veronica said, grabbing my arm and pulling it.
“Leave me alone it’s too early!”
“Amanda Rodriguez, get your butt up out of this bed before I pour cold
water and ice over your head!”
I laughed into my pillow. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me!” She folded her arms over her chest.
I sighed heavily and pushed myself up into a sitting position. “I’m up, I’m up.”
“Good.” Veronica grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Now come on.” She dragged me out of the room and downstairs.
“What’s your hurry? Can I at least take a shower and get dressed first?” She pulled me into the living room and I stopped and froze right in my tracks in place, and as so did JC. I watched his eyes travel down my body and back up. I nervously shifted under his look and looked down at my clothes or lack of clothes. I was wearing a hot pink bra and boxers.
“Amanda, look!” Emily said, running up to me and pulling on my arm, getting my attention. “They brought a tree!”
“They sure did, didn’t THEY?” I shot Veronica a dirty look. She gave me an innocent smile and walked over to Justin.
The school teacher, Mrs. Barbara walked into the living room and clapped her hands once. “Okay girls, let’s get back to class. You can decorate the tree this afternoon.” Groans came from the girls and they reluctantly left the living room across the house to their classroom. Mrs. Barbara looked at me, concerned. “Amanda, you are going to catch a death of a cold. Put a sweater on.” She walked out of the room.
Veronica snorted in laughter and I turned to her. “Shut up! I’m going back to bed.” I turned to leave the room, but Justin rushed over and stopped me.
“Wait you can’t leave.”
I looked at him confused. “Why not?”
“You have to help us.”
“Help you do what?”
“Uh…” Justin turned to Veronica for help. She looked at him and then JC who was fixing the tree.
“Lights,” she said, and turned back to Justin. “Lights. Christmas lights.” She looked at me. “On the house.”
Justin nodded. “We need your help putting Christmas lights on the house.”
“But it’s 7:00 in the morning,” I whined. “Can’t we do it tonight?”
“We’re working tonight.” I rolled my eyes.
JC walked up to us. He gestured back to the tree. “We need to put some water in the tree holder dish.”
“Well you know where the kitchen is,” I said in a grouchy tone, running my hands through my hair.
Veronica chuckled softly. “Don’t mind her, JC. If she doesn’t get her 20 hours of sleep she turns into a grouch, and if she’s not home by midnight she turns into a pumpkin.”
The guys laughed and I said, “Shut up! I do not turn into a pumpkin if I’m not home by midnight.” I slapped Justin and JC both in the arm when they continued to laugh. “Stop laughing at me. It’s not funny.”
“I thought it was.” Veronica smiled at me.
“You would,” I told her. “So do you guys really need my help or not?”
“Help with wha-” JC began to say, but was cut short when Veronica and Justin said yes.
I nodded and gave JC an odd look. “Give me a few minutes to take a shower and get dress.” I turned around and walked out of the living room.
JC leaned over slightly and watched me walk away until I turned the corner. Then he turned to Veronica and Justin who was grinning at him. “What?” he said.
“Nothing,” said Justin.
“Let me go get some water for the tree.” He left the living room heading towards the kitchen.
Justin glanced at Veronica. “Did you see what I saw?”
She smiled. “Your friend checking out my friend? Yeah.” She nodded.