The questions going through my head right now; why is Brooklyn mad at me? Why does my father want to take Callie away from her normal, and why now all of a sudden? Am I actually mad at Terra for making a move when I was too scared not to?

I shook my head and look up at the ceiling. All these questions, and emotions ran around my head. Sure I could probably answer some of them, but I choose not to. The Thing is I didn't know if I actually wanted the answers.

"Hey," a head popped into my room.

I looked over at the door, "what are you doing here?"

"Well I haven't heard from you since I dropped you off at dinner yesterday, so I came to check on you. Your mom said you haven't came out your room since you got home yesterday." He came and sat down at my feet, "want to talk about it?"

I shake my head, "not really."

"Well," he trailed off, "your house smells really good."

"Trace is starting to prepare Christmas dinner for tomorrow."

"Oh, tomorrow is Christmas isn't it?"

I nod my head as Tyler slumps against the wall. We sat in a comfortable silence for a moment.

"Where are your parents?" I asked breaking the silence.

Tyler shrugs, "I think they went on a cruise. Who knows, it's not like they tell me."

Sitting up I move and put my head on Tyler's lap, "hey at least your parents aren't MIA junkies."

"But they are MIA."

"True. If they weren't though, you wouldn't be able to spend Christmas with me, and Callie. It could be our last Christmas all together." Tears well at my eyes.

Tyler tangles his fingers in my hair, "what do you mean?"

"My father wants to get full custody of her. He wants her to go live with him."

"Wait for real? I though he was an alcoholic?"

I shake my head, "not anymore. Apparently he got his act together and is an attorney, or something like that."

Tyler whistles, "damn an attorney? How'd he turn his life around like that?"

"I don't even know. Last time I saw him, was when Callie was born."

"What about your mother?"

I blink a few times, "who knows. My father remarried last year, I think it was last year."

"Fuck, he got a whole family, and what? Just dumped y'all aside?"

I nod my head, "basically. Shits fucked up, but it's okay. I got over it a long time ago." I let my eyes fall shut so the tears won't fall out.

"Shit hurts though. I know you wanna cry."

"It's not worth tears." I sigh and open my eyes. Tyler looks down at me while I look up at him, "Your joining us for Christmas tomorrow don't think your not."

He chuckles, "wouldn't have it any other way."

I sit up, "talking about Christmas I still have a few more gifts to buy."

"Of course you do. Luckily it's only lunch, and you have a few hours before the stores close."

"Lucky me," I stand up and go to my closet. I put on some black biker shorts under my big shirt and slipped on some slides. "Lets go looser."

"Oh I'm going with you? I though I'd sit here and catch up on my shows."

Roll my eyes and walk over to grab my phone, "we can take the car since we're going to have a few bags with us."

Tyler sighs, "I guess."

We walk out my room and down stairs and into the kitchen where my mom is covered in flour, "hey guys are y'all off somewhere?" She stops us as I'm grabbing the car keys.

"Yes, I need to grab a few more things for tomorrow."

She brushes her hair to the side with the back of her hand, "oh okay. Could you bring me back some vanilla?"

And just like that all thoughts of my father fall down the drain. She won't dare bring it up, because she doesn't want to upset me. It'll come up sooner or later.

"Yah sure."

"Where's Callie?" Tyler peaks his head around the corner and looks for her in the living room, "now to think about I didn't see her when I walked in."

Trace looked around for a minute as if hoping we would just leave without an answer, "oh she's with John."

I shake my head, "unbelievable!"

"Grace I can't just keep her from her father."

I just shake my head and walk out the garage door. Angrily, I get inside the car. Not even thinking about it I got in the passengers seat and cross my arms.

"I guess I'm driving," Tyler hops in the car and takes the Keyes from me.

I don't say anything the whole car ride.

We end up at the mall. Of course it's packed. Everyone is last minute shopping like we are.

"Where do you want to go first?" Tyler asks and I shrug.

This is too much for my soul.

🛍🛍🎄🎄 🎁🎁

Three hours later we walk through the front door with about a billion bags.

"Sissy!" Callie runs over.

I had her a few bags, "go put these in my room for me, please."

She nods her head grabs a few bags and then all three of start to head up to my room. The bags are all placed on my bed.

As soon as Tyler's hands are free he picks up my sister and spins her around, "where have you been hiding?"

Callie giggles, "I was with my dad!" She giggles.

My face turns red and I walk downstairs, the vanilla Trace asked for in hand. However she's no longer in the kitchen. She is now all cleaned up and sitting on the couch, with none other than my father.

"Hello Grace." He greets me.

I simple ignore him, "here's the vanilla you asked for."

"Thank you honey. I appreciate it." She gives me a small smile.

"Daddy!" Callie and Tyler stand behind me, "this is Tyler! Boys are icky, but he's my favorite! Him and sissy take me out for ice cream!"

Tyler awkwardly stands behind Callie as she has him by the hand and drags him forward. I step out the way.

"Hello, I'm Grace and Callie's dad. You call me John," he gets up and offers Tyler his hand.

Tyler shakes his hand, "I'm Tyler, Grace's friend."

"Nice to meet you."

"Anyway, Tyler and I will upstairs wrapping presents," I butt in. Turning I begin walking away.

Tyler follows me up to my room, "that was intense." He comments when I shut my bed room door.

"I know, let's just get these presents wrapped and put underneath the tree."

It takes us an hour and a half to get everything wrapped. When we're done I yell for Callie and she runs in.

"Help us bring these downstairs," I tell her while picking up scraps of wrapping paper.

She nods and begins taking presents down stairs. Tyler follows after her doing the same while I stay and pick up the mess we made.

"What now?" Tyler asks after all the presents are downstairs under the tree.

"Let's watch a Christmas movie! Like Rudolph! And frosty the snowman!"

"MOVIE MARATHON!" Tyler pumps his fists up in the air.

The two run down stairs to the living and I follow after them. My sister is on her way to stealing my best, and only friend.

"What are y'all up to?" Johns still here!

What the heck.

"Movie marathon! We're watching Rudolph first!" Callie answers his.

Tyler took a seat on the couch opposite of John. The one facing the tv. Callie handed him the remote and he powered on the tv.

I go and sit next to him. I was comfortably leaning against his shoulder when Callie jumped on me.

"I want to sit next to Tyler!" She wedges herself in between us.

"Hey little bug, you don't want to sit next to me? I'm awful lonely over here." John frowns.

Callie looks in between Tyler and him. Getting up she goes and sits with John. I regained my comfortable position as Tyler put on Rudolph.

"I heard movie marathon and made some popcorn. I even drizzled chocolate and caramel on top," Trace walks out with two Bowles of popcorn.

Tyler takes one and Callie takes the other.

"Thank you Mrs. Everheart."

"Tyler how many times have I told you to call me Trace?"

"Force of habit sorry."

Our attention turns to the movie and for once it's peaceful.