The day that comes every year

[Thursday, Christmas day]

As always, this day comes every year. A day just like the last but never gets boring. Maybe to some, it does but to most I assume it is at least a day that they look forward to. Just the time off work and a time to relax is more than enough. Unless you have to cook for the family, then it isn't as easy.

"EERRRGGGG!" Owen screamed out the top of his lungs in frustration. "OF ALL THE YEARS YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO WORK ON CHRISTMAS DAY! YOU CHOSE TO MAKE ME COOK! LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO RELAX AND ALL BUT CAN YOU AT LEAST HELP CHOP UP THE INGREDIENTS!?"

For once, Owen was spending Christmas with his family. His parents who usually worked almost 24/7 were home and were spending time with him. For someone that didn't know how to react around his family, today was a very awkward day for him. Needless to say, it was more than enjoyable for someone who usually spends this time alone.

Out at Sean's house, he was having fun on his own waiting for dinner to be cooked. His brother and mother worked away in the kitchen whilst he came back in to help with little things. It was only the three of them this year. They talked and talked and talked and even had a bit to drink. Sean's mother was a huge gin drinker, so it wasn't long before the party began at his house.

Ruby was stuck in her routine. Wake up and practise for a performance that she had to perform. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't awful. Even if tension was high in her house most of the time, they could all put their differences aside for this one day. They would be lucky to have no arguments this year.

Lily, spent it with her mother. The mother who once hated her. Despite the events that happened in both their lives, the two have moved on, and act like mother and daughter. They didn't enjoy large celebrations. As it was just them they didn't get a large turkey or fancy meal prepared. They spent the day exchanging presents, watching Christmas movies, eating tasty snacks and listen to each other's stories and fall asleep together.

Charley decided to spend the day with her friends. After attempting to make up with her, she was invited to a small dinner. She was reluctant to go but was forced by her sister who locked her outside in the pouring snow. No matter how much she banged on the door to be let back in, Charley's parents wouldn't let her back in until she went to meet her friends.

At the dinner, they all ate in silence but eventually bonded over typical things like boys. From this, we can only assume that history will repeat itself at some point down the line. Regardless, that would be Charley's problem to solve.

Simon spent today with his family and distant relatives. It was common for his family to meet up somewhere and party for the day. So that's what they did. They partied till the final snow dropped that night.

Outside, in the snow, two people were sitting under a tree that wore the snow like a hat. They sat next to each other on a coat that didn't even have enough space for one of them.

"Sorry about this," Ethan said as he gave up most of his space to Kaylee.

"It's fine." She said with a slight smile.

The two watched the snow but couldn't bring themselves to talk. Ethan began playing around with his bag and struggled to initiate conversation, despite inviting Kaylee out in the first place.

"I GOT THIS FOR YOU!" He screamed as he held out a badly wrapped gift in front of him.

"Oh!" Kaylee said to not sound disappointed. "Thanks."

Kaylee accepted the gift and was unsure of what to do next. Would you open it? Should you wait till you go home to open it? She looked at Ethan's eager eyes that were visibly hinting at her to open the present, to which she did.

"A scarf?" Kaylee said holding what appeared to be an ugly coloured fabric in her hand.

"Yes yes," Ethan said bobbing his head up and down, stuck on a loop. "I didn't have any other fabric so I had to use green… sorry if it's ugly. Owen said it was kinda ugly."

"N-no," Kaylee said holding it against her face, covering her nose. "It's warm. Thank you."

By the end of the night, the two of them had said fewer words than a haiku. It was expected that Ethan would mess up tonight. Owen and Sean even placed bets on what would happen. It wasn't until the snow started to slow down, that Kaylee broke the silence.

"Ethan." She said looking at him with an honest expression.

"Ye-yeah?" Ethan replied.

"I want to talk about prom, I want to explain something."

Despite Ethan's constant anxiety he had throughout the whole of the day, this moment he exceeded the maximum amount he could ever have. If he was average at around 99% anxiety up till this point, he was now at 999% anxiety.

"I spoke to Owen about this," Kaylee said. "I understand your feelings… I do… but, I can't accept them. You are a great person and it means a lot to me that you feel that way. It's not a problem with you. This is all my fault. I'm just lonely and lead you on. I'm sorry. I understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore. I think It's best if I give you some space."

Kaylee said all that she came here for, she didn't need to stay and ran into the snow.

"W-Wait!" Ethan called out. "Can I change your mind?"

Kaylee stopped to face the ground, she looked to the falling snow and quietly said to herself, "you really are stubborn."

"Sure!" She said spinning around with the scarf around her neck. "But I won't promise anything! So don't hate me if I still say no!"

Kaylee ran off into what seemed like an oncoming blizzard. It would be more romantic but the colour of the scarf stood out amongst the snow.

Once Kaylee had left Ethan couldn't return home, he was too excited at what he had heard and was running around building snowmen. A chance was all he needed. The odds were around 0.1%, but that wasn't 0.