Love Aint Always Pretty

Christmas

- a holiday that is celebrated on December 25 in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ or the period of time that comes before and after this holiday

62

The entire breakfast was quiet and awkward. Nick was sitting down right next to me as we sit down right across mom and Cameron while dad was on Nick's left and Ingrid was on my right. We were all eating very silently. Dad didn't say anything about what he saw last night and what Nick told him. As for Cameron, he didn't say anything about what he saw a while ago too. Everything was so weird on the table but then I liked how they didn't bother to talk about it. I liked it that neither of them wanted to start so I ignored the way that they're trying to act now.

Dad didn't even talk to me about last night so I guess he is insanely mad at Nick and also at me. I mean, he caught his eighteen year old daughter frolicking a twenty-four year old man inside his own kitchen in the middle of the night. But then dad told me he would talk to me today but he's not even opening the topic about it so I just played along with acting as if nothing happened.

When we were done eating, all of us started grabbing our stuff that we need for today. I grabbed the new set of bikini that Tracy gave to me before she left for her Christmas break with Clyde. When all of us were ready, I told dad that I was riding with Nick and then Ingrid volunteered to join with us. Nick was kind enough to let her join us. She sits at the backseat alone while Nick and I were in front. Nick gazed at her over the rear view mirror as he drives close by Cameron's car right before us.

"Nick?" Ingrid calls out.

"Yes Ingrid?" Nick answers.

"My dad doesn't like you." Ingrid blurted.

I turned around to face her and gave her an eye as my brows were creasing. "Ingrid."

"What? Let me finish Annie." She says.

Nick holds my hand. "Let her speak."

I sigh.

"As I was saying Nick, my dad doesn't like you. Cameron doesn't like you for Savannah too. And mom doesn't trust you but she didn't really say she doesn't like you for Annie but I think you're good for my sister so you have my vote. One out of..." she trails as she counts on her finger.

"One out of four." She says.

"Two out of five. I'm included Ingrid." I snapped.

"Oh right. At least you have two Nick."

I smiled and Nick did too.

"I think you're a great person Nick. My parents are really really really hard to please." Ingrid adds.

I faced her. "Thanks Ingrid."

She smiles at me. "I like you more than Channing. I don't like him for Annie. He's--"

"Okay that's enough Ingrid." I joked as I cut her off.

Nick was just laughing om his seat while he kissed my knuckles.

After thirty minutes or so, we finally entered the tall gates of our rest house while Mr. Cal opens it for us. Our car parks on the gravel lot covered by white thick and fluffy snow, right beside Cameron's. Ingrid was the first one to get off the car since she's always so excited when we come here. Nick opened the door for me as he tries to grab the bag from my hand while my parents were looking at us.

"Welcome back home Mr. & Mrs. Canterbury." Mr. Cal, our butler in this house, greeted us.

"Cal, get our bags at the trunk and place it inside the rooms." Mom says.

"Yes Mrs. Canterbury." Mr. Cal answered.

"I'll put my own bag inside my room Mr. Cal, don't worry about it." I say with a smile while he stares at Nick.

"Separate rooms." Dad warns me.

"I know dad. Don't worry." I say.

I grabbed Nick's hand as we walk towards the front door and I lead him inside the house. "Annie! Nickie! Wait for me!" Ingrid calls out.

"Nickie?" Nick asked.

mouthed to Nick and

say you don't like it when I call you Nickie cos I'll take

laughs. "Okay boss."

already leave so we left her and headed to Nick's room. I chose the one across mine. Both of us headed inside as I watch him place

a rad house baby."

smile as I walk to him. "My room is just right

He laughs. "Easy access."

between his legs. His hand

my folks and Cameron is treating

head. "Don't worry. They have the right to be

am safe. I'm

"Of course you

I hurriedly

wanna build a snowman?" Ingrid sings like Anna in

in unison. I put my bag down then the three of us headed out of the room. We stumbled our way downstairs and headed to the backyard where there was a pack of beautiful thick snows on the grass. Everything was covered with wonderful snow. It always feels like this place was a winter wonderland and now I'm even happier cos Nick is here to

know how to build a snowman?" Ingrid

competition. Wait, where's your mittens?"

it inside. It's

was just looking at them and I didn't know Nick was good with kids. If only

You're good."

about you?" Ingrid

snowman together since you

widened. "What? I can't make a snowman

and Nick laughs as they gave each

it on!"

also called it. We made bunch of little snowmen too and then the snowman ice sculpting suddenly turned into a snowball fight. You can never stop the urge to throw a snowball once you have one in your hand. Nick started it and they were throwing lots at me. I was alone at first, it was like fighting for my survival but then later on we battled with Ingrid. It was fun.

that afternoon, mom was at the kitchen while Ingrid was

then?" I say to Nick while both of us entered the kitchen to

Anything you

pissed at what she made. Nick stood right behind me while

mom?"

tried my hardest and I followed the instructions well but it's no use." Mom

gazed at Nick. "Nick

"What?" Nick blurted.

pulled his arm and pushed him towards my mom. "He's amazing

"Trust me mom. He's a great

at me saying get me out of

his head to mom. "Yes Mrs. Canterbury. Have

"Yes. There must be something wrong with that

the problem Mrs. Canterbury. What temperature

"60 degrees."

our problem then. Yeast grows best around the

at me with amazement in her eyes and I just smiled at her cos even I myself didn't know about it too. We watch Nick

I didn't know that." Mom

Nick smiled.

me here Nick? I think I need you around."

love to

can help in chopping. Nick taught me how to

at least you're now helping unlike before. We need to make dinner fast, you know how your father hates it

of us can definitely do it.

•••••

7:00PM

mom made a while ago. All of us were already sitting down on our chair until we started eating. There was two kinds of pasta, creme brûlée, chicken with white sauce, the pie that

this chicken with white sauce is amazing."