➵ 'Deleted' Scene 2

J A C E There was a quick knock on the door, but I ignored it, staring up at the ceiling instead as I laid on my bed. The knocking grew louder and harder and much more insistent, but my eyes stayed fixed up above me, trying my best not to lash out at whoever was behind the door. It wasn't their fault I was so upset. Maybe I should go buy a menorah. That could be nice. But then what? Lay back down after lighting it and fling myself back into this pathetic abyss of self-pity? "English!" a voice said. "I know you're in there!" I sighed, swinging my legs out of bed and striding over to answer the door. When I pulled it open, Lia pushed her way inside without waiting for an invitation, heading over to drop a set of bags on my kitchen counter. "God, that was annoying to carry up all those stairs. Did you know that your building's elevator is broken?" She pulled out a wrapped gift that she had been holding tucked under her arm. "I nearly dropped this a million times. Might've broken what was inside." Setting it down with the bags, she continued to ramble on, oblivious to my gawking at her. "I was going to bring you latkes too, but I can't cook anything that I can't in the microwave  and I didn't want to bother Tonia on her-" She stopped, frowning. hands falling at her sides, brushing against the velvet of her dress. "Why are you looking at me like that? What's that stupid smile, Jacian?" "I-I'm just happy you're here." "Have you lit a candle on your menorah?" "Don't have one." Grabbing one the paper bags, she sat down on the floor, pulling out a packet of marshmallows. "We'll make one. Come on." "Why'd you bring marshmallows?" "S'mores. I don't care if you're Christian or Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist or whatever. If you're celebrating any sort of holiday, you've got to have s'mores." "Is that a rule?" I asked, sitting down in front of her. "It's my tradition, so yes, it's a rule. One that nobody's allowed to break in my presence." We busied ourselves for a few minutes, crafting a hideous menorah out of marshmallows, birthday candles, and frosting, before I lit the candle. Lia listened quietly as I recited the three blessings of Hanukkah though she hadn't the slightest idea what they meant. The rest of the night was a quiet one - we stuffed ourselves with her beloved s'mores and while I made latkes, she told me stories about the holidays she'd had with her biological parents, and what a terrible cook her mother was. It was only after she was satisfied I'd eaten enough s'mores and latkes and chocolate coins that she allowed me to open the present she bought. I stared at the wrapped gift in my hand and looked back at her. Lia was laying on her stomach, ankles crossed in the air, her hand tucked under her chin. "Aren't you going to open it?" I smiled at her before tearing away the wrapping paper, wondering how she could ever think herself to be cruel or evil or anything but wonderful, and pitying all those who believed her facade.