***Chapter Sixty-Three***
The next couple of days went by and I found myself on the phone with my mom again. We were talking about the holidays coming up. The more major holidays if you will. Christmas was going to be exciting but the shopping I could do without it.
Thanksgiving is what was iffy because I didn't think I'd go home. It would be nice to see my mom but it's only 2 days and a weekend. Then I'll have to come back here. At least Christmas I'll get a week off and then some.
"Well, what if I come up there and we go to dinner?" My mom suggested.
I laughed at her silly proposal. "No Mom, it's fine. I'll be able to catch up on some things anyway."
She didn't like the sound of that but didn't try to change my stance. "Alright, but call me if anything," she says. "Also, there's a bit of news I need to share with you."
I groan. "Please tell me it's not about dad," I loathe. We weren't exactly on good terms yet.
However, her news wasn't about Dad at all. It was more about where we'll be for Christmas. I fully suspected we would spend it together without Dad for obvious reasons. My mom had other plans up her sleeve. Plans that truly bugged me given my situation. Staying there would be utter torture though fun because I get to spend it with my friend. Other than that, we couldn't do it. There was no way.
My mom paused for a moment before elaborating. "Well, since your father and I are divorced, doing Christmas alone doesn't sound too thrilling," she explained.
"Okay...I'm listening," I got this strange feeling in my stomach.
"So, Cindy and Carter thought it would be great for us to spend Christmas there." She said with glee. "Start a new tradition."
My eyes bugle out of my head. "Cindy and Carter as in Mr and Mrs Tate?" She couldn't be serious.
Her voice sounds confused when she hears my concern. "Ye-yes, what's wrong with that? I thought you would like to spend the holiday with your best friend."
Dillon wasn't my issue here, it was Drew.
If we continued to not speak until Christmas, that week would be horrendous! We can't possibly stay in the same house as them. Not only that, Dillon and Drew both had partners that they were dating. There's no doubt that they wouldn't make an appearance. I'll be there fifth wheeling it and that's not fun. What the hell was my mother thinking?
I couldn't be too mad at her because she didn't know what was going on. For all she knew, Drew and I hadn't connected much except for that one time she called. We haven't spoken much since then nor did she ask me anything about it. My reaction was out of the ordinary to her. However, she knew about my crush on Drew and still thought this was a good idea. If we had been talking it'll be just as bad only we wouldn't be on horrible terms.
My head wanted to explode hearing this crap. "Mom, this idea is horrible!" I yelled. "I can't be in the same house with them."
"Why not? Is it because you still have a crush on little Andrew?" She wondered.
My eyes roll. "He's not little anymore, Mom, and as a matter of fact, yes."
She scoffed. "Sweetie, I know you like him but is it wise to waste feelings on someone who already has a girlfriend?" She continued to pressure.
What she said was right, but she didn't know any of the other details. Like the fact that Drew and I had something going on despite him having a girlfriend. If she knew that there's no way I wouldn’t get scolded. Not to mention she may run her mouth to Drew's parents which we didn't need. Why did our families have to be so closely connected? It's all my fault for being friends with Dillon.
I pout. "That's not the point Mom," I frown. "We can't go."
My mom wasn't having any of it. "We were invited so it's happening," she said sternly. "And you're still going to see your father afterward."
The disgust couldn't be hidden. "You're making me stay at the Tate’s *and* see my father," I complain. "That's it you hate me."
"Oh, stop being dramatic! Just because we're not together doesn't mean you don't have to see him." She pointed out.
It should have been that way. "Whatever, I'll go be nice!" I was only joking but I didn't want to go.
The point is my peaceful holiday was turned upside down because my mom couldn't say no to anything. At least I'll be able to spend more time with Dillon. We would see each other anyway, but it would be nice to spend the holidays just us two like before. We haven't had time alone in forever since being here. I'll have to buy her a gift now as well. Not only do
I have to buy her a gift but Drew as well. I hate it here.
Ending the call with my mom as quickly as I could, I texted Dillon an SOS because it was an emergency! We weren't on good terms, but I had to get him a present. It would be awkward if I got him something and he didn't do the same in return. That's not the point though. There had to be something out there that he'd like. Anything that wouldn't draw too much attention to my crush on him and friendly enough to where Julie would be okay with it. If I get her something too then it should be fine.
Either way, Dillon ended up meeting me in front of the main campus building. We talked about what was going to be happening during our winter break which she thought was crazy. No matter how hard I tried my life couldn't catch a break. There was always something going on no matter what.
"Why would my mom even agree to that," Dillon wondered. "Our parents are so clueless."
I agreed. "Tell me about it," I moaned. "Well, at least we get to be together."
She smiled. "That I can live with," she nudged me. "As for the gift, I'm at a loss for what I'll even get him honestly."
"Right, you guys still don't talk much," I remember. "Damn, probably should have gone to Dre."
We were on the same page. "Yeah that would have been smart," she said.
It wasn't too late to ask him, but I needed some girl advice on the matter. The boys were going to say anything because I was their friend. Dillon would be honest and tell it to me straight. There was no sugarcoating when it came to Dillon. That was one thing I knew I could always count on her for. Even if I didn't like it very much. At least it'll be the truth. Something I'm desperate to hear.
Explaining to Dillon, she looked at me like she'd been wanting to ask me this for a while. "Song or no song, what the hell was that in our room?" She raised a brow at me.
My eyes look to the ground still trying to process what happened myself. "I'm not sure. One thing led to another and then we were half naked." I admit.
"Okay, but did anything...else happen?" She queried.
"Not much..." I trail off. "Maybe a bit of fingering but that's it before you guys showed up."
Dillon wasn't convinced. More concerned for my well-being than anything. "Just be careful Anna. I know what Julie said got to you that night," she reminds me.
I immediately shut it down. "It had nothing to do with Julie's words or anyone else's lack of speech." My shoulders shrug. "Things simply happened on their own accord."
"Right," she sighed. "Losing your virginity is something precious and...it changes you, Anna. Drew is my brother but I don't know if he's worth giving up something like that."
It was hard to know what she meant by that. Having sex with someone doesn't make us eternally connected. Or will it? The ends and outs of it were lost on me but people have sex for fun all the time. Whatever happens between Drew and I would be no different. Besides, we were currently in a no-communication zone. Nothing was going to change until one of us apologized. I'm counting on it being him but we'll see. By the time he works up the nerve, I'll be over him completely.
Despite not understanding, I knew there was some weight to her words. She would know these things better than I do. The more experience I gained the more I'll be able to understand. Until then, mistakes would probably be made. Giving up your virginity was something serious. It wasn't a matter to be taken lightly. Yet I'm confident that if I did give it to Drew, he would not disappoint me. It was only a matter of when.
Taking in her words, my head nods. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
She smiles to lighten up the mood. "In the meantime, let's make some plans for our holiday extravaganza," she laughs.
I laugh with her as we head back to our dorm to make plans. We were going to be together for a while so we may as well make the most of it.