When he dropped me back off at my apartment, I packed a bag, called my mom crying, and she came to pick me up. I’ve been at my parents’ place since.
I needed a distraction, so my sisters and I have bunkered down in my old bedroom, with two of us on my bed and one on a mattress on the ground.
Alternating, of course.
My mom has spent hours cooking delicious, home-cooked meals for us to devour each night, while my Dad has spent his time swearing under his breath, muttering the name 'Max Anderson’ every so often.
He and my Dad were chummy while Austin and I dated. Same with my mom and Angela. But the moment they found out that Austin’s family knew he was cheating on me, they burned all bridges with the Anderson family almost instantly.
Cross one Herring, you cross us all.
They only found out about Harley and me recently, too, and were mortified when I told them what Austin had done to him. Turns out, my Dad followed Harley’s career closely and felt so terrible for him when he had to retire so young.
"Of course, I supported the young boy from Grangewood. We needed a new champion in this town,”Dad had said, making his distaste for Max very clear.
"What movie should we watch tonight?” Lizzie asks, scrolling mindlessly on her phone, hair in a braid, hanging over her shoulder.
"A Walk to Remember,” Olive replies quickly. "I’m a finalist for that song contest I applied for. I need to do some research on sad movies with sad songs on the soundtrack. I don’t have anything sad happening to me, and I need some inspo. Plus, I feel like a good cry sesh,” she says like it’s no big deal, shovelling a mountain of popcorn into her mouth.
Whowillinglyfeels like a good cry session? After all the crying I’ve done over the last few weeks, I think I’m fresh out of tears to shed.My eyes feel like the Sahara Desert.
Permanently dry and red.
"You’re a finalist?” Lizzie and I shout in unison, her phone falling to her lap.
"It’s not a big deal, chill.”She’s so calm about it. Does she not realize her songs could be in an actualmovie?Like a movie with real actors and real directors?I would ask why she isn’t more excited, but it’s Olive. I shouldn’t expect anything more than a casual reaction with the occasional hint of sarcasm. She could be selling out stadiums and she’d still shrug it off.
"When do you find out?” I ask calmly, trying to not overreact.
"Not until the end of next year. They have to get all production and shooting done, then they’ll decide on the soundtrack,” she says while reaching for the control to put the movie on. "It has some actor guy in it that’s new to the acting world, but has a huge fanbase of young girls thanks to his modelling career.” She shrugs, scooping another handful of popcorn into her mouth.
Typical Olive.
"The end ofnextyear?” My mouth hangs wide open.
"But that’s so far away!” Lizzie whines, voicing my outrage, because my mouth refuses to do so.
"Exactly, so let’s get through Christmas first. I’ll keep you guys updatedifI hear back.”
Christmas.
I forgot that was so soon. Like, this month, soon.
It used to be my favorite time of the year. Until it became tainted with the memory of Austin proposing to me, and that his love child was due to be born on Christmas Day, if he’s not here already.
Whenever the baby enters the world, I hope Austin steps up and is there for Alison and his son. I hope he’s a good Dad to the innocent little boy. Though, going by what he said to Harley, I think the chances of that are slim.I still shudder when I think about it.
I know Alison will be a kickass Mom, though. She’s the only parent that baby will ever need.
"I have a feeling this Christmas is going to be better than last.” Lizzie squeezes my hand and I squeeze hers back, the three of us curling up on my bed in our pajamas.
We wipe our eyes as Jamie Sullivan tells Landon Carter that she’s sick, crying tears of her own, and by the end of the movie, the three of us are blubbering messes, knowing Landon Carter lost the love of his life way too soon.
So much for the Sahara Desert.
***
My mom has always gone big for Christmas. She’s always been known for it by the entire town.
