Arrangement

The next few days passed in a rush. I closed and opened my eyes and realized Christmas was less than a month away.

We have like four more days before we go on our Christmas break.

Although I'm not sure if I'm supposed to, I couldn't be more relieved that I was finally going to get some rest from school.

I think I speak for most people when I say school can be really overwhelming sometimes.

"Hey girllllllll." Chelsea rushes to me on my way to lunch.

"Hello to you too." I smile at her and she gives me her sweetest smile. 

"What's got you all in good mood?" I ask her as we enter the lunch room.

"Well," She begins. "Christmas break is in four days." She squeals.

I pick up a tray and join the line. "Aren't you anxious about your test results?" I ask her.

We had a mini test last week and rumors has it that the results are going to be out on the day we are going on a break.

"Yeah yeah yeah, if I don't pass, at least I know I won't fail." She smiles. "So I'm good."

"I wish I could be like you." I sigh as we get our lunch.

"We all can't be perfect like me." She flips her hair.

"I'm starting to think you always let your hair down so you can flip it."

She gasps and looks at me in shock. "It took you this long to realize?!" 

I roll my eyes. "Don't be dramatic." 

"I have every right to. And besides, it's my signature look." She flips her hair again.

"Anything you say missy." 

We settle down and after some minutes, the boys join us and Jaxon sits beside me.

"Hey you." He smiles at me and rests his chin on his palm as he stares at me.

"How you doing?" I ask.

"Not okay at all." 

"Why?" I ask worriedly.

"Well," He takes my hand in his. "I haven't seen you all day." I use my other hand to push him a little and he chuckles. "And I can't drive you home after school." He finishes.

"Why?" I ask.

"Well," Austin begins and we turn to him. "Coach wants us to practice since have an early January game and we can't practice during the holiday."

"So we have to practice extra hard before the break." Jaxon finishes.

"That's too bad." Chelsea says.

"It's hard on all of us." Jaxon says. "But if we want to be the best, we have to practice hard."

"Well I'm here." I smile.

"That's all I need." He smiles.

"I think I'm going to leave before I get sick." Austin speaks up as he stands up to leave.

"Oh shut up." I say to him.

"Don't leave me behind!" Chelsea shouts behind him.

"So," Jaxon begins when they had left. 

"So?" 

"Here's my key." He puts his car keys on my palm. "Do not crash my car." He says playfully.

"Oh the temptation." I say back.

"Anyway," He continues. "I was thinking if I could take you out on a date sometime."

"Well," I drawl. "You can if you ask." 

"But-" I give him a sweet smile and stand up to leave.

"Summer!" He calls behind me but I just wave at him without looking back.

.....

I pull the car up in the driveway and sigh. I was tired and hungry, and to top it all off, my mom's car was parked right in front of me.

I just want to get upstairs and sleep, but now I have to make small talk before I can do that.

I get down from the car and walk inside the house. 

When I enter, I see her on the phone in the living room.

"I'm home!" I call out to her and she turns to me with a smile and gives me a wave.

Maybe I won't have to do the small talk today.

Yes!

"Uh-huh." I hear her say to the person on the other line. 

I turn around and walk up to my room.

"That's alright." She continues and I smile.

I enter my room, have a quick shower, wear a comfy overall and socks and by the time I was comfortably settled on my bed, a knock came through the door.

Or maybe not.

"It's open!" I shout and the door opens, showing my mom's frame.

"Hey there." She smiles.

"Hi."

"I see you've made yourself comfy already." She states as she's sits on my bed.

So she's staying for a while.

Great.

"Yeah."

"Aren't you going to eat?" She asks.

"Not hungry." I state.

"Well I'm making mac and cheese for dinner."

"Beep me when it's done?" I ask.

"You do the dishes afterwards?" 

What?

"Mom!" 

"It's just the two of us." She waves her hand around. "Your dad's working late tonight." 

"But still." 

I hate doing the dishes.

"Fine. We do it together."

"Deal."

"But you're getting the next groceries."

"Mom!"

"You already said deal. Can't turn back now." She smiles.

"That's was sneaky."

"I know. Anyway, your uncle said he's coming here for Christmas."

"You mean uncle Charles?" I ask and she nods.

"Yeah."

"Why?" 

"Well he said he doesn't want to spend Christmas alone-"

"Doesn't he have a girlfriend?" I interrupt her.

"No, he doesn't." 

"Well he should. He's old already."

"He doesn't know what that means." She says.

"You're right."

"And he said it has been a while since he last saw you."

Well, he's not wrong.

I haven't seen him since after we moved. 

Although we've spoken over the phone a few times after I moved here, it didn't feel like how it was when we lived a few streets apart.

"Well it would be really nice to see him." 

"And we could have a little dinner party on Christmas Eve. You can invite Chelsea and Jaxon and other friends if you have."

"Mom!!"

I shout and she laughs.

"I'm sorry." She says when she calms down. "But you get my point."

I nod. "It's sounds fun." 

"You can also invite Jaxon's parents. It'd be nice to meet his parents." 

"I'd put it in thoughts." 

"Okay!" She stands. "Since we have an arrangement, I better go get started on dinner." 

"Byeeee." I say as she walks away.

She turns to me."I know you're happy I'm leaving."

I give her a smile. "And that's why you're my mom." 

She shakes her head and walks out while I make myself more comfortable so I can rest for while before she calls me out for dinner.