An Unexpected Christmas Eve

It was Christmas Eve, and early in the morning, the three of us—Sack, Olivia, and I—decided to spend the day enjoying a marathon of classic Christmas movies. It was our way of relaxing before the big family dinner my parents had planned. We settled into the living room with blankets, pillows, and a giant bowl of popcorn. Outside, snow fell softly, covering the garden like a Christmas postcard. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and cozy, filled with laughter and jokes as we chose the movies.

"First up, Miracle on 34th Street ," Olivia announced enthusiastically. "It's an absolute classic. No arguments."

"Alright," Sack said, smiling. "But after that, it has to be Home Alone . That's my favorite."

"Deal," I replied, raising my mug of hot chocolate as if sealing an official agreement. "And then we can finish with It's a Wonderful Life ."

Olivia clapped excitedly.

"Perfect. This is going to be the best Christmas movie marathon of all time."

We dove into the stories, letting ourselves get carried away by each scene. During Miracle on 34th Street , Olivia couldn't help but make comments about how Kris Kringle was the real Santa Claus.

"He's so adorable when he says he works at Macy's just because he wanted to be close to the children," Olivia said, hugging a pillow. "Can you imagine having that much faith in something?"

"I think it's more than faith," Sack responded thoughtfully. "It's like he knows that what he's doing really matters. Not just for the kids, but for everyone around him."

I nodded, feeling how the movie touched something deep inside me.

"It's amazing how it reminds us that believing in something can change things. Sometimes I wonder if we could do something like that too… something that inspires others."

"Oh, absolutely," Olivia interjected with her usual energy. "We already are. Look at everything we've been through together this year. We're like a modern version of this movie. Just without courts or trials."

We laughed, but there was some truth in her words.

When it was time for Home Alone , the laughter didn't take long to start.

"Kevin is a genius," Sack said between laughs as we watched the young protagonist set traps for the burglars. "I love how he uses everyday things to defend his house. He's like a child MacGyver."

"And those two burglars are pathetic," Olivia added, pointing at the screen. "How can they be so bad at their job? It's like they're trying to lose."

"But seriously, Kevin is incredibly brave," I reflected. "Imagine being alone in that situation. He was so scared at first, but he managed to face everything."

"Maybe that's what makes this movie special," Sack said. "It's not just about the traps or the jokes. It's about how someone small can face big challenges when they believe in themselves."

Olivia nodded, pretending to wipe away a tear.

"Touché, Sack. Now I'm going to need more hot chocolate to process all this wisdom."

Finally, we started It's a Wonderful Life . From the very first moment, the mood shifted. George Bailey's story completely captivated us.

"This movie always breaks my heart," I admitted quietly as we watched George struggle with his problems. "It's like it reminds you that even in the darkest moments, there's something good in your life worth holding onto."

"It's true," Sack said, looking at the screen with a thoughtful expression. "Sometimes we forget how much we impact others. George didn't realize how many people depended on him until Clarence showed him his life from another perspective."

Olivia stayed quiet for a moment, which was rare for her.

"It's like this movie is telling us that our actions matter, even if we don't see it right away. I think we all need a Clarence in our lives. Someone who reminds us who we are when we start to get lost."

I looked at Olivia and Sack, feeling how those words resonated deeply. In that moment, I realized they were my Clarence.

When we were halfway through It's a Wonderful Life , my mother rushed into the living room with a worried expression. My father was right behind her, holding the car keys.

"Guys, I'm so sorry, but we have to go to the hospital," my mother said quickly. "There's been an emergency, and they need us there."

"Emergency?" I asked, standing up. "What happened?"

"A car accident near the hospital. Several people were injured," my father explained. "We can't leave this to others. We'll be back as soon as we can."

My mother approached Olivia, who had gone to the kitchen to grab more drinks.

"Olivia, dear, please make sure the turkey doesn't burn. It's in the oven and should be ready in about two hours. If you see it browning too much, lower the temperature."

"Of course, Mrs. Grove," Olivia responded with a confident smile. "Leave it to me. I'll be the guardian of the turkey."

My parents left in a hurry, leaving us alone in the house. We returned to the living room to continue watching the movie, though now with a slight sense of responsibility hanging in the air.

An hour later, the unmistakable smell of something burning began to fill the house.

"Do you smell that?" Sack asked, frowning.

I jumped up and ran to the kitchen, with them following close behind. When I opened the oven, my heart sank. The turkey was completely charred, unrecognizable under a layer of black smoke.

"Olivia!" I exclaimed, trying not to sound too frustrated. "Didn't you say you'd take care of the turkey?"

"I know!" Olivia replied, covering her face with her hands. "I'm so sorry. I got distracted with the drinks and… I completely forgot!"

Sack looked at the disaster with a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"Well, this is new. I don't think we've ever ruined a Christmas Eve dinner before."

"What do we do now?" I asked, feeling stress start to take over.

"Easy," Olivia said, regaining her usual energy. "We go out and find another turkey. Some supermarket must still be open."

We quickly put on our coats and went outside, walking through the falling snow. The cold air woke us up completely, and as we walked, we began talking about things we usually avoided.

"You know," Olivia said, breaking the silence, "I wonder what would've happened if we'd never met."

The question caught us off guard. I looked at Sack, who seemed equally intrigued.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Think about it," Olivia continued, wrapping herself tighter in her scarf. "Without you two, I'd probably still be that weird girl no one understands. The one who's always trying to impress others because she's afraid of being rejected if she shows who she really is."

"Olivia…" I murmured, feeling a lump in my throat.

"And you, Sack," she continued, pointing at him with an accusing but affectionate finger, "you'd probably still be that cold, indifferent guy who doesn't let anyone get close. You'd be stuck in your own world, not allowing yourself to experience what it means to have real friends."

Sack lowered his gaze, thoughtful.

"Maybe you're right. Before meeting you guys, I didn't care much about connecting with people. But you two… you changed me."

Finally, Olivia looked at me.

"And you, Lindsay. Without us, you'd probably still be obsessed with living up to the Grove name. Studying, working, pressuring yourself to the point of forgetting to enjoy life."

I swallowed hard, unable to deny it.

"It's true," I admitted quietly. "Sometimes I feel like without you guys, I'd still be stuck in that routine. You reminded me that it's okay to be vulnerable, that it's okay to ask for help when I need it."

There was a moment of silence as we processed what we'd just said. Finally, Olivia broke the mood with a small smile.

"So, I guess this burnt turkey was a blessing in disguise. It made us realize how important we are to each other."

Sack nodded, smiling too.

"And here we are, walking through the snow on Christmas Eve to save dinner. If that's not friendship, I don't know what is."

We laughed, feeling how the weight of the conversation transformed into something warm and comforting.

After searching several supermarkets, we finally found a small turkey that would work for dinner. We returned home, tired but happy, and worked together to prepare it. It wasn't perfect, but it didn't matter. When my parents came back, exhausted but relieved, we all sat down at the table to share the meal. My grandparents, who arrived late, joined us, along with some aunts and uncles.

As we ate, I couldn't help but feel grateful. It had been a Christmas Eve full of unexpected events, but also full of moments I would never forget. Because, at the end of the day, it wasn't the turkey or the decorations that made this Christmas special. It was the people by my side.