All I Want for Christmas Is You
Chapter Fourteen: Our Story
I watched Veronica and Justin quickly slid into the booth together and I laughed. “Real mature,” I said. They laughed and I slide into the booth across from them and JC sat next to me.
“So what are guys doing this Christmas?” Veronica asked, starting up a conversation after the waitress took our drink and food orders. “Going home to see the family maybe?”
I looked between Justin and JC. I knew what they were doing, but I wondered what they wouldn’t tell us. JC looked at Veronica. “Yeah I’m going home. I spent every Christmas with my family. No need to stop now.”
“Me too and I agree,” said Justin.
“That’s nice.” She smiled. “I love Christmas. I remember every Christmas I spent with my parents. They loved the holidays. They went all out for it, the tree, the lights, the yard decorations and the presents. The tons and tons of presents.” Justin smiled at Veronica and rubbed her back warmly.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” said JC.
She looked at him. “Car accident. I was 10 years old.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Veronica looked at me. She smiled and I smiled back.
Justin looked at me. “How long have you been at the orphanage?”
“Since I was 12,” I replied. “I don’t have a sad story to tell.” I looked at JC and Justin. “My mom just didn’t want to be a mother anymore. It’s not sad, just wrong.”
JC’s cell phone rang and I watched him answer. I then turned my attention to Veronica and Justin who were sharing a sweet kiss. I rolled my eyes. “Get a room.” They laughed.
“All right. Talk to you later.” JC hung up his phone, and I turned back to him.
“May I?” I said and gestured to his phone. “I just want to look at it.” He nodded and gave me his phone. “This is one of those complicated phones like you need a manual just to call someone.” JC laughed. I looked Veronica. “Who had a phone like this one at work?”
She thought for a moment and laughed. “James. He was trying to impress you and he didn’t know how to work it.”
“Oh yeah I remember.” I laughed out loud. “He was so cute. He kept locking himself out of his phone. I miss James.” I looked at the guys. “He moved to New York to go to NYU.”
Veronica chuckled softly. “He was in looove with Amanda. When he was around her he was a nervous wreck. He worked at the restaurant just to pay for all the dishes he’d broken because of Amanda. He dropped them all the time. Why didn’t you ever go out with him?”
“He never asked me.”
“Are you serious?” I nodded. “He probably thought you were way out his league.” Veronica looked at the guys. “Did I mention James was a nerd? But one of those cute nerds.”
“He was cute,” I said smiling. I looked down at JC’s phone. “I want a cell phone.”
Veronica snatched the phone away and looked at it. “Me too, but it’s not going to happen.”
JC and Justin looked at each other, and JC said, “So what are you ladies asking Santa for this Christmas?”
Veronica looked at me. “I don’t know. We haven’t asked for anything for Christmas in a long time.” She turned back to the guys. “Mrs. Cynthia usually buys the girls Christmas presents with money out of her own pocket and we always told her not to worry about us. But last night she told all the girls, including me and Amanda to make a list of what we wanted. I could not stop laughing. I haven’t made a Christmas list in a long time.” She looked at me and pointed. “I made a list last night, but SHE tore it up.”
I laughed. “Trust me you’ll thank me later.”
“I had pretty goods things on that list.”
“No you didn’t.” I continued to laugh. “That list would have embarrassed you.”
“What do you mean? Mrs. Cynthia was the only one who would have seen it.”
I calmed down my laughter and smiled at Veronica. “Are you sure about that?”
“Uh, yeah,” she said in a sarcastic tone.
JC turned to me. “You know don’t you?” I looked at him. A smile crept across my lips. He chuckled softly and shook his head.
“What does she know?” asked Veronica. She looked at me and JC. “Tell me.” She jumped up and down in her seat.
I looked at Veronica. “JC and Justin are planning to be Santa Claus this year.”
Her eyes slowly widen. “Oh my God my list.”
“You can thank me later.” I laughed. Veronica buried her face in hands.
“That would have been embarrassing.”
I turned to the guys. “You don’t need to get us anything. We’re fine.”
“But cell phones would be nice,” said Veronica.
“Shut up, Veronica,” I said laughing.