Christmas Eve
INDI
I stared out the foggy glass window and out into the pitch-black night, lost in thought. Snow was falling, leaving the entire countryside in a blanket of pure white. It was beautiful, and yet it made me sad.
It had been about a month or so since I’d last seen Haze.
And every day since had been painstakingly long and agonizing.
It wasn’t as hard as I expected in the beginning, but it progressively got worse as the holiday snuck up on me.
I had no friends or family to spend it with, and despite Felix claiming to try to sneak Haze out, he never did.
Something about a security breach in the web—I wasn’t really sure.
All I knew was that Haze wouldn’t be coming home for Christmas.
I rolled onto my back with a heavy sigh. Kush was passed out on Haze’s pillow.
Maybe I should join Charlotte’s Web…I mean, I’m not exactly skilled in much…but I could learn. Right?
I sat up and quietly made my way to the stairs.
I mean, they obviously offer training. Maybe they could train me?
I stepped into the living room.
Be real, Indi…you can’t do it.
I stepped into the kitchen and grabbed my phone. There were no missed texts or calls, and that sad fact made me feel blue.
“If Haze wants me to join, then I should join. It shouldn’t matter why, right?
” I looked out into the apartment as someone knocked at the front door.
I froze, unsure of whether or not I should answer.
I sat my phone down and quietly made my way to the door.
“Hello?” No one answered. I took a deep breath and opened the front door.
Standing there in the snow, with the biggest grin on his face, was Haze. “Merry Christmas, little sis.” He scooped me up and hugged me tight.
“Haze!” I hugged him back, kissing him as he carried me inside. “What’re you—how did you—fuck, I missed you!”
He laughed and sat me down on the kitchen island. “You didn’t think I’d leave you all alone on Christmas now, did you?” He kissed me again.
“Hey.” I tried to speak, but he kept kissing me. “I have to tell you something.” Haze reluctantly pulled away, holding my face.
“What?”
My face burned as I smiled up at him. “I made my choice.” His face lit up as he waited for me to answer. “Yes.”
Haze’s grin grew even larger as he ran his hand along my neck. “You know what this means, little sis?” He moved in close and kissed my exposed neck, making me moan. I shook my head, unable to speak. “It means...” His mouth met mine. “That you get to come back with me.”
“Tonight?” I breathed.
He shook his head, grabbing my body and lifting me up.
“No, not tonight. Tonight, I’m going to unwrap you like my own little Christmas present.
” He kissed me again, carrying me to the stairs.
“And tomorrow, I’ll take you back.” He stepped from the stairs and into our bedroom, noticing Kush on his pillow. “You and our little pothead.”
My fingers tore his shirt and revealed a freshly healed tattoo of my name, inked along his heart, fitting perfectly between the many others. My fingertips glided along it as he watched me. “You…you got my name,” I whispered with tears in my eyes.
Haze smiled and touched my face. “Of course I did. It’s always belonged to you, Indi.” I sobbed happy tears as he kissed me again. “Merry Christmas, little sis.”
Merry Christmas, big brother.