I stayed in my room with Olivia until she decided it was late, and she needed to get home. I wanted to go with her. My parents had already gone to bed when I walked her out, and saying goodnight at the door to her was uninterrupted.<\/p>\n
She begged me to make peace with my father, and asked me to call her in the morning. I knew that the next day would be Christmas eve, and Olivia would be coming to the house for dinner. And Christmas morning the day after that.<\/p>\n
Olivia was my source of sanity when it came to my family. I knew without her being there, the urge to drink would drive me absolutely mad. But knowing she would be there, it made me feel like I could withstand anything.<\/p>\n
I heard my parents get up early in the morning. I knew my mom was in the kitchen starting on dinner already, and my dad was corralling the kids and getting everyone bathed, showered and getting them to clean the entire house from top to bottom.<\/p>\n
I stayed in my room, not wanting to face anyone or to even get out of my bed. I did some reading, but when I heard my mom\u2019s soft footsteps on the basement stairs, I tucked my book under my pillow and pretended to be asleep when she came in to check on me.<\/p>\n
She moved into the room and I stayed perfectly still, keeping my eyes shut tightly. I could feel her watching me for a few moments before she left the room, deciding to leave me alone.<\/p>\n
Once she was gone, I sighed and reached for my book again.<\/p>\n
I knew eventually, I would have to get up. I would need to figure out how I was going to shower and shave with only one hand and a busted face. I knew eventually I would have to go upstairs and face my parents, but I figured that if I waited until some of the other guests arrived, I wouldn\u2019t have to be alone with either of my parents to talk to.<\/p>\n
Eventually I trudged into across the basement to the shower. I awkwardly shaved and showered, having to remove the bandage the nurses at the hospital had bound to my hand.<\/p>\n
My face looked even worse than it had the day before. I looked like I\u2019d been hit by a Mack truck, instead of been roughed up by a lousy cop.<\/p>\n
Shaving hurt more than anything else. The second the shaving cream touched my cheek bone, I just about screamed in pain.<\/p>\n
I put on a pair of dress pants, that my mom had thankfully ironed for me. I found the white dress shirt she\u2019d bought for me. They were both hanging in the closet where I\u2019d left them.<\/p>\n
I hated the idea of letting my mom pick out my clothes, but I knew that if I picked out my own clothes for tonight, my mom would hate anyway. Sometimes it was easier to give in than put up a fight.<\/p>\n
Especially where my mom was concerned. She had an uncanny ability to make a person feel unbearably guilty without even saying a word.<\/p>\n
I found a pair of black socks balled up in the back of my drawer. I pulled them on my feet, and for lack of anything better to do, I straightened up my bed and threw my discarded clothes into the hamper. I figured that if everyone else in the house was cleaning like madmen, I might as well make my room look somewhat presentable.<\/p>\n
I pulled down my tie and draped it around my shoulders. There was absolutely no way I could knot my own tie with only one hand.<\/p>\n
I sighed and sat down on the edge of my bed.<\/p>\n
I stared down at my swollen and pulverized hand.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, picking a fight with a brick wall was not the smartest idea I\u2019d ever had. But at the time I was mad and I needed to hit something.<\/p>\n
Yesterday it had hurt, but today it absolutely killed. All the ice that I put on it the day before had done nothing. My fingers looked like tenderized sausages.<\/p>\n
I was interrupted by a soft knock at my door.<\/p>\n
I looked up, prepared to throw whoever it was out of my room. Instead, I came face to face with Olivia.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d I said eagerly, standing. I crossed the room and wrapped my good arm tightly around her. My wounded hand I laid gently on her back.<\/p>\n
She looked and smelled amazing. She had a faint flowery perfume on and her hair smelled like lilacs. She was wearing the dress she\u2019d bought the day before, looking even more beautiful than she did the day before. Her perfect, silky curls were framing her face beautifully. Her perfect, pale skin even looked as soft as it actually was.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly, a sweet musical sound. \u201cHi,\u201d She breathed. \u201cI\u2019m early, I know.\u201d She mused. \u201cBut I gave your parents my phone number last night in case they needed to call me about\u2026 whatever.\u201d She shrugged lightly. \u201cYour mom called me today in a panic and said you haven\u2019t come out of your room all day.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
I sighed, resting my chin on her shoulder gently. \u201cOh, great.\u201d I mumbled. \u201cBecause that\u2019s not embarrassing at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cActually, I believe what she said to me was \u2018can you please come over and fix my baby?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
I slowly released her. \u201cShit, you\u2019re kidding.\u201d I groaned. \u201cOh that\u2019s insanely embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly, \u201cI think it\u2019s sweet.\u201d She mused. \u201cBesides, I was so excited to get here for the festivities, I was already ready and everything. I was almost glad she asked me to come over early. I even brought food, even though your mom told me I didn\u2019t need to.\u201d She shrugged. \u201cAnd you look like you could use some help\u2026 how\u2019s your hand? And your face?\u201d She reached up and turned my chin to the side to see my face.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine.\u201d I insisted, even though most of the left side of my face hurt, right down to my teeth.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not.\u201d She sighed. \u201cDo you need some help with your tie?\u201d She offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, that would be awesome. Thanks.\u201d I sighed. \u201cI can\u2019t do it with one hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d She smiled. She stood on her toes and adjusted my collar, and lined up the tie. \u201cI have plenty of practice with this. My dad used to let me do this before his court proceedings back when he was a regular old lawyer. It was a good luck thing\u2026\u201d The memory seemed to distract her, but it brought a contented smile to her face. So I didn\u2019t say anything, and let the memory linger in the air between us.<\/p>\n
I watched Olivia as she carefully folded my tie into a perfect knot. Without even being finished, it looked better than anything I could have done myself, and I had plenty of practice tying ties with my fancy prep school uniform.<\/p>\n
She carefully adjusted the knot, and the collar of my shirt. \u201cThere.\u201d She smiled up at me. \u201cPerfect.\u201d She stood on her toes and lightly kissed me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia grinned. \u201cAnd if I may say so, you look very, very handsome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d I chuckled. \u201cI kind of need the ego boost, after\u2026 you know, loosing a fight with a brick wall.\u201d I held up my hand.<\/p>\n
Olivia frowned. \u201cYou should probably keep that bandaged. The last thing you want is to get it infected.\u201d She mused, placing her hand gently over mine. Her hand was cool against my sore hand, and for once it didn\u2019t hurt. It actually felt alright.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d I replied. \u201cI took the bandages off to take a shower, and haven\u2019t put it back on yet. I figure I can use it to scare some of my little cousins, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cThat\u2019s just cruel. Do you have the dressings the nurses gave you? I can help you wrap your hand again.\u201d She offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cUmm\u2026.\u201d I glanced down at my hand. \u201cYeah, maybe. It might be a little easier. At least that way if I accidentally bang it, it will have some padding to it.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Have a seat.\u201d She instructed, motioning to the edge of the bed.<\/p>\n
I immediately plopped down on the edge of my bed. \u201cAwesome, are we going to play doctor? I\u2019m amazingly good at this game.\u201d I smirked.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed. \u201cOh, Isaac.\u201d She shook her head. She sat next to me with the gauze and various other wrappings that the nurse had sent home with me.<\/p>\n
I held out my hand to her, and she carefully adjusted my fingers.<\/p>\n
I winced.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, are you okay?\u201d She demanded worriedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d I insisted. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about me, I\u2019ve had worse.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be so macho. I wouldn\u2019t judge you if you complained a little.\u201d She replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really fine.\u201d I insisted. \u201cIt hardly hurts at all.\u201d I shrugged lightly.<\/p>\n
Olivia sighed softly and carefully began wrapping my hand. She wound the gauze around my hand like a tensor bandage. I wouldn\u2019t be able to move my fingers with the bandage keeping them secure, but it hurt to move my fingers and knuckles any way. Not being able to move them would probably be a lot easier. Finally, she tucked the gauze in on itself like she\u2019d done it a million times, and carefully taped the loose end. \u201cThere.\u201d She smiled. \u201cGood as new.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d I mused. \u201cYou\u2019re good at that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia shrugged lightly. \u201cI took a first aid course for extra credit last year at PCA. I\u2019m actually surprised that I remembered.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
I sighed, dropping my wounded hand onto her lap gently. \u201cHas anyone else arrived upstairs yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia nodded. \u201cA few people, there are kids running around everywhere. It\u2019s very sweet, actually. It definitely feels like Christmas in this home.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cYou know, I used to like Christmas. It used to be my favorite time of year.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsed to be?\u201d She asked curiously.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt used to be. Then I realized how superficial it is. My dad gets the biggest tree and puts it in the window to compete with the neighbors. My mom has to have the best meals, which by the way includes not just one turkey. There are two turkeys. You should definitely write to PETA about that one.\u201d I added. \u201cIt\u2019s just so\u2026 fake. Its supposed to be about giving and peace on earth and all that bull shit, and in this house it\u2019s all about topping the year before.\u201d I sighed.<\/p>\n
Olivia laid her head on my shoulder. \u201cThe holidays are stressful for everyone, Isaac.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed. \u201cI know. But it\u2019s just one more way that I don\u2019t fit in here in this house hold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia pursed her lips. \u201cYour mother loves you. She looks at you with utter adoration, I can see it. Your father is very protective of you, you\u2019re his first born son. I\u2019m sure they don\u2019t show it as much as they should, but I\u2019m sure it\u2019s there.\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n
Olivia always knew the right thing to say to make any situation better.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, maybe we should make an appearance upstairs.\u201d I suggested.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good idea.\u201d Olivia limberly leapt to her feet, smiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides,\u201d I mused. \u201cIf we stay down here much longer, people are going to start thinking we\u2019re having sex.\u201d I teased.<\/p>\n