Celebrity Crush

December 25, 2009

It's Christmas Day. I take a sip of the hot coco as I sit at the table in the kitchen eating my breakfast. The house is mostly quiet since mom and Robert didn't get back until awfully late last night. Sarah, Momaw, and I are the only one's up so far.

I'm already dressed in a white sleeveless baby doll shirt and black skinny jeans. The jacket I received from Momaw last night is draped over the chair I'm sitting in. Sarah's in the living room eating a protein bar and drinking a mug of hot coco while Momaw and I sit at the table in the kitchen.

Aunt Karen and everyone are on their way here as we eat. I was sitting across from Momaw as she drank her hot mug of hot coffee. I brought the fork up to my mouth and ate the scrambled eggs that were on my plate. Momaw looked at me and smiled.

I feel really bad about lying to her last night. I want more than anything, to be able to tell her about Robert and me. I give her a smile back looking back down at my plate feeling incredibly guilty.

Suddenly there's noise from outside. I hear Sarah groan and her footsteps walking back into the kitchen. She hasn't gotten dressed just yet meaning she's still walking around in her robe. As she walks in the kitchen she gives me a glare before tossing her mug and plate in the sink.

"Obviously Aunt Karen and the kids are all here. They are way too early if you ask me."

I humph, "Better than them showing up at eight o'clock on the dot, like they wanted to. Aunt Karen called at seven thirty asking Momaw if they could come on over. Daphne was in a hurry to come."

Sarah rolled her eyes, "Well make sure they don't come up to my room. I still need to get ready for the day."

Momaw nodded at her as she ran toward the stairs minutes from the front door opening wide.

Momaw looked at me at the same time the door opened, "Get ready for your mother to throw a fit."

I couldn't help but giggle. Serves mom and Robert right for staying out until way past eleven last night. Who knows when they actually got back in last night?

I heard small feet pattering against the floor and suddenly I saw Daphne. She was dressed in a very nice red dress with red bows in her hair. Her hair was curled with two pig tails with the red ribbons around the top of the pig tails.

She found me sitting at the table and grinned. She ran right toward me and I moved my chair away from the table as she ran straight toward me climbing into my lap.

"Laura, you'll never guess what Santa brought me."

My mouth opened, "What did Santa bring you?"

She giggled, "Well, he brought me this huge doll house for my dollies. I couldn't believe how big it was, cousiy. He also brought me a new Barbie doll, this one was the skiing doll and she's dressed in all pink."

I stuck my nose up before I could think about it. Daphne started giggling, "Why does Cousiy Laura hate pink?"

I shrugged, "Too girly for me. That's a color just for girls like you Daphne. Girl's that love dresses and pig tails."

She grinned showing her teeth and pointing at herself, "Really? That's great. Pink's my favorite anyway no matter what Sam and Phil say."

My eyebrows knitted together, "What have they said?"

She shrugged lowering her head to her fingers. Five year olds got distracted very easily and if they didn't want to talk about something no one could get it out of them.

We heard footsteps and I heard Aunt Karen and Cousin Rachel's voices. Daphne quickly got down from my lap as her mother came into the room. Karen was already in a dress for the party tonight. They wouldn't get a chance to go home to change before the party so dressing for it to begin with made things easier.

Karen spotted me and smiled, "Well at least someone around here is wide awake on Christmas morning."

I chuckled and shook my head grabbing my dishes and taking them to the sink. After I placed them in the sink I turned around only to be brought into Aunt Karen's chest in a hug.

"Merry Christmas, Laura!"

I smiled and hugged her back and then we pulled apart. I gave her a smile and then she kissed my forehead, "Molly may not see it but I certainly do. You are so grown up; soon you'll be graduating and going to college."

Karen started tearing up and I grinned, "Graduation is in May, Aunt Karen."

Her eyes widened, "Does Molly know this?"

I shrugged, "Whether she knows or not doesn't change the fact that I'm still graduating in May. Hopefully she won't know until the day of my graduation that Kimi and I applied to the same college here closer to Momaw."

Karen smiled at me before pulling me into a hug once again, "I swear you are the sweetest daughter anyone could ask for. Molly doesn't know what she's missing."

We pulled away once again when someone cleared their throat. I looked around Karen and saw Rachel holding Daphne's hand in the middle of the kitchen. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Merry Christmas, Cousin Rachel."

She smiled widely dropping her sister's hand and coming toward me. She wrapped her arms around my small frame and gave me a tight hug.

Once we pulled away she replied, "Merry Christmas to you, Cousin Laura."

She grabbed my hand pulling me into the living room. Sam and Phil were dressed in dark blue jeans with Christmas vest on. Sam was playing some handheld game he must have gotten for Christmas while Phil was playing around with his action figure Momaw got him.

Jack saw me and smiled, "Merry Christmas, Laura."

I gave a smile and a wave, "Merry Christmas, Uncle Jack."

Suddenly we heard stomping footsteps coming down the stairs. Momaw and Karen were standing next to me in a split second. Mom came barreling down the stairs in her while silk robe and pajamas. Her hair was a mess and her make-up from yesterday was smeared across her face.

She looked around the room half asleep when her glare met mine. I knew the glare wasn't intended for me but the people that stood behind me.

"Doesn't anyone know the meaning of sleep around here? Some of us are still trying to sleep if you haven't already figured it out by now. I mean really couldn't you all fucking lower the noise down here!"

It was suddenly deathly quiet and I felt Momaw move toward mom before Aunt Karen said something she would regret.

"Molly, please go back upstairs and get dressed. Its Christmas morning if you forgotten and some of us actually want to enjoy the bright morning and open some gifts. So both you and Robert get up and get dressed and come join us for gift opening."

Mom rolled her eyes but she looked around. Her eyes widened as she took in Karen and the kids along with me. She turned on her heel, "You guys can go ahead and get started. It might take me a few minutes to get Robert up and get dressed."

She ran up the stairs to the room she and Robert were staying in. I sighed and looked down at Daphne, she was frowning.

"Is Aunt Molly okay? Did Santa not bring her any presents? I can share my toys with her if she wants."

Everyone looked at Daphne; five year olds just say the sweetest things sometimes. Momaw smiled at everyone, "Well you heard Molly, let's get started."

**

About three and a half hours later the floor was covered in wrapping paper. I had no idea there were so many Christmas themed wrapping paper. Sam leaned back against the couch taking in the sight before him. I had to laugh at his siblings around his feet.

As I grew older Christmas was only fun for the younger kids. They got most of the gifts and plus they didn't pay attention to the change in atmosphere as other people joined in. Mom and Robert finally graced us with their presence about an hour after mom's show.

I had managed to get enough gifts from everyone, expect Sarah. She had only gotten gifts for Daphne and Phil but nothing else. She claimed she had been too busy with work as a model to get everyone gifts. I personally think the girl was out of money since Daphne and Phil's gifts were small knick knacks. Daphne and Phil will probably lose them within a day or less.

Mom and Robert sat on the couch only receiving gifts from Momaw and Karen. They seemed content with what they had received. I partially felt bad that I hadn't bought mom a gift but she didn't seem upset about it. She had given both Sarah and I necklaces. Sarah's, of course, cost quite a deal more than mine but I was just thankful she remembered a gift for me in the first place.

I had gotten mostly clothes and a few things of jewelry from Momaw. She always bought me Christmas themed things to wear at her Christmas party. She bought me a gingerbread themed bracelet with Santa Earrings. I loved them and they matched the Christmas necklace that Aunt Karen had given me.

I remembered the gift for Robert but I wasn't going to give it to him in front of everyone. It wasn't the type of gift I wanted to give him with mom's eyes directly on my face.

Momaw stood to her feet, "How about we get this cleaned up and get ready for Christmas dinner?"

All the adults nodded and the men including Uncle Jack, Robert, and Sam all stood to their feet and began grabbing wrapping paper. I stood to my feet and helped Rachel and Karen gather up the empty boxes for the trash. I could feel someone's eyes on me but I didn't turn around as I walked outside behind Karen to the trash can on the side of the house.

Robert and Jack had followed us outside to the trash as well.

"So Laura, do you have a dress for the party tonight?"

I nodded my head, "Yep, a perfect red dress in Christmas colors."

Aunt Karen nodded, "What about shoes? Do you have any shoes?"

I bite my lip and think, "Well not really. I mean I had some black flats I could wear."

She shook her head, "No flats, Laura. Rachel has some shoes she could give you. You said the dress is mostly red right?"

I nodded and she replied, "Well, Rachel has a pair of green heels you could have. She doesn't like them much so I don't think she'd mind."

I nodded and followed behind Aunt Karen back into the house. The floor was clear now void of all traces of the wrapping paper and the gifts. Momaw came from the kitchen and I noticed mom wasn't on the couch now.

"Okay, now, the other guests are on their way. We need to get the food read for everyone."

Karen nodded and then she spotted Rachel, "Rachel, honey?"

Rachel looked up from her phone she had just been texting, "Take your eyes from the phone for a few minutes, Rachel. Those green heels you have, did you bring them?"

Rachel's eyes widened, "Oh, I forgot to bring them from the car. I was going to give them to Laura for Christmas, mom. You ruined it now."

Karen gave a guilty smile, "Well, it's not my fault you forgot them."

Rachel put the phone in her pocket and stood to her feet. She was wearing a dress as well as she walked across the floor toward me grabbing my hand.

"We'll be right back, everyone."

She pulled me outside toward their car toward the back of the car.

"I totally forgot about this because it was in the trunk instead of in my lap. I'm totally forgetful these days."

She used a key to unlock the back of the van and I saw all the boxes piled on top of one another.

"As you can see neither mom nor dad cleans this at all. These boxes have been in here for a couple of months. There are a few food items in here for the party. Now where's the bag with the shoes?"

She tapped her chin while she moved things around, "There's the bag!"

She pulled out a gift bag with a picture of a house with snow on top. The straps at the top were red and there was a little note for the person that was given the gift.

"Come on, let's get in the house. I pretty sure everyone else wants to see them as well."

She closed the trunk and we walked back into the house behind Robert and Uncle Jack since they had still been outside throwing away the wrapping paper. We all walked in the living room and Rachel handed me the bag and I took a seat.

"Mom, Momaw, Aunt Molly, come in here. Laura's opening her gift from me."

Aunt Karen walked in the living room first with a smile on her face. Momaw came next rubbing her hands with a rag, I guess she had been working on some food. Mom was last with a scowl on her face as she looked at me. Her expression was 'Hurry the hell up so we can get this over with.'

I sighed and looked down and started pulling out the paper in the bag. The paper was green and red and I folded them next to me on the couch so I didn't make a huge mess. I looked in the bag as all the paper was out and my mouth form and "O."

I pulled the shoes from the bag and held them out for everyone to see. They were green heels with straps over the top and then there was one that buckled around the ankle. I looked up at Rachel and smiled, "I love them, Rachel. They will match my dress perfectly."

She smiled brightly, "Glad you like them."

Suddenly we heard noises outside and Momaw smiled widely, "Well it's time for Christmas dinner everyone."

***

It's safe to say that Momaw wanted to stuff everyone at home before the party. The food had been delicious, of course, with a ham this time instead of a turkey. I found out that Mom helped make the glaze for the ham which made it even better. She got tons of congratulations on that glaze, one of them coming from me.

I sighed and looked down at myself. I felt like I had over done it just a smidge with the dress and the jewelry. I looked down at my feet and smiled at the heels covering my feet. The shoes fit my feet perfectly with just the right amount of extra space for my toes to move around in.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, "Laura, darling, hurry up! We need to leave for the hotel before the guests arrive," said Momaw from the other side of the door.

I sighed, "I'll be out in just a second. I need to grab a jacket."

I heard her sigh and walk off down the hall. I looked down at the necklace in my hand and sighed, I couldn't wear the necklace Robert had given me tonight. I didn't want to lie any more than absolutely necessary to people.

I dropped the necklace back in the box and looked around. I found the jacket I wore on Robert's and mine's first date and pulled my arm through the sleeves. It was a good thing it had a hood since it had started drizzling outside.

I buttoned the front to cover the dress; I didn't want to take the chance of anyone making me change from this dress. It was a strapless red dress with a green bow around the waist, a perfect Christmas dress. I wore the Santa earrings Momaw had given me as a gift along with the gingerbread bracelet and the necklace Aunt Karen had given me.

I pinned the pendant one of Momaw's friends had given me to the top of the dress. The bracelet Momaw had given me last year sat on my other wrist. I stuffed Robert's gift in my purse and walked out of the room. I could hear voices coming from the living room so I walked in there.

It seemed that everyone had been waiting on me to leave. Aunt Karen was trying to get coats on the younger kids. I looked around and found Mom and Robert standing off to the side talking in hushed whispers to one another.

Mom was dressed in a white, black, and red dress; it had a white top with a black and red bottom. I looked down at her feet and surprising liked the heels I saw on her feet; a pair of red heels that tied like a bow around her ankles.

She had Christmas themed earrings and a bracelet around one wrist. She had a pin of a Christmas tree pinned to the top of her dress along with a necklace of the same tree around her neck.

Robert was dressed in a suit, nothing overly done, but one could tell he was the best dressed out of everyone tonight.

Aunt Karen was the first to notice me and she smiled, "Well, look who finally decided to join us."

I felt everyone's eyes moving toward me on the stairs. I lowered my gaze toward the stairs as I made my way to the bottom of the steps.

"Well, now that Laura has joined us, we should get going."

It was now about six forty five and Momaw wanted to be there early before guests started arriving. She would have plenty of guests tonight from the guests of the hotel she always booked. She thought that no matter whom you were you deserved to be around a family during the holidays. If someone was alone and wanted to spend the holidays with cheer than her party was the best place. Meeting new people was always a good thing during the holidays according to Momaw.

I smiled at everyone as we all started walking out of the house.

Rachel came up to me and took my hand. I looked around and saw Sarah glaring my way and I groaned. She just seemed to hate me. Ever since Thanksgiving her attempt at being nice had flown out the window. Not that mom or anyone else had noticed her change in behavior.

"How about you ride with us, Laura?" asked Rachel.

I bit the side of my lip as I watched mom, Robert, and Sarah walk toward their rental vehicle. I looked at Rachel and nodded, "Only if that's alright with Aunt Karen and Uncle Jack."

She rolled her eyes, "You know it will be."

Rachel dropped my hand and ran toward her parents. I watched as she talked to them and pointed toward me. I saw Aunt Karen smile and wave me toward them.

"You can ride with us, Laura. Just run it by your mom first and then you can if she agrees."

I nodded and walked over to the rental vehicle mom and Robert was already inside of. I stood at mom's window and gave her a smile.

"Rachel wants me to ride with them. Can I go? Aunt Karen said I had to ask you first."

Mom groaned, "How about you just ride with us. They have enough kids to look after without you being in there to cause more trouble."

I groaned, "Mom, I know and I could help with the kids."

She gave me a glare, "You heard me. Tell them I said no and then come back and get in the damn vehicle."

I sighed angry blowing out a breath of air from my mouth. She was treating me like a three year old instead of the eighteen year old I was. I nodded toward her and she rolled her window back up as I walked back over to Aunt Karen.

Rachel was grinning at me but I frowned which caused her smile to drop.

"Aunt Karen, I can't come."

Karen frowned looking toward mom's vehicle, "She said no? Well I don't want to make her mad so maybe you should just ride with them. If she gives you a hard time just let me know."

I gave her a smile and walked back to the vehicle. I had to share the back seat with Sarah, unfortunately. I slid inside the car with a frown on my face and buckled my seat belt. Robert was the one driving and I could already feel the tension between him and mom.

I rolled my eyes and just stared out the window as we rode toward town. It would take a few minutes to get there since Momaw lived far away from the main part of town. I zoned out most of the ride until I heard Robert yelling at mom in whispers.

"Molly, just because we are having outs doesn't mean you should take it out on every other damn person. No one has done anything to your fucking ass. Your mom wouldn't want you drunk off your ass before the damn party."

Mom humped but didn't comment any further. I could only guess that she had her pink flask with her to drink throughout the party. What Robert didn't know was the fact that this wasn't something new with mom. She always drank during the party of Momaw's, most of the time leaving with a guest of the hotel to their room.

I rolled my eyes and looked back out the window smiling as the SUV pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. Robert pulled in next to Momaw's vehicle; she was driving her friend's here as well. The hotel was plenty full with cars already in the parking lot. That didn't really mean anything though; most of the people could be out at their friends or families houses.

I unbuckled my belt as soon as Robert put the SUV in park. I was out of the vehicle before anyone else had started unbuckling their belts. I walked up the side of Momaw's red van as I saw her and her friend's grabbing platters of food.

"Can I help?"

Momaw stood up straighter and smiled at me, "Why of course, Laura."

She pulled out a couple pans of food and handed them to me. They weren't heavy at all and I stepped in behind her and her friends as they began walking inside the hotel. We smiled at the people at the front behind the desk and walked toward their huge party room upstairs.

Momaw pushed the doors opened and I smiled. Just like every year at this hotel the place was decorated to the nail. There were streamers hanging down from the ceiling, Christmas trees in every cover of the room and not to mention the mistletoe's hanging from the doorways that lead to the outside.

There was this huge long table just like from those parties on the movies. The table was covered in a Christmas theme covering. I followed behind Momaw toward the table where she took the pans from my hands.

"Laura, go ahead and help Rachel with the music please."

I nodded and smiled at her. I found Rachel at the huge stereo system looking through CD's.

"What do you have?"

She jumped holding her chest as she turned to glare at me, "Damn Laura! Give me a heart attack at such an early age already."

I giggled, "My bad. I thought you heard me come up. Anyway Momaw told me to come help."

She sighed and we both looked through the music. We found plenty of Christmas music and then picked up to date music to give the guests something else to listen to.

About twenty minutes later people started arriving. Momaw and Aunt Karen were showing people to tables and chairs to eat while other people stood around to talk. I loved this part of Christmas; Momaw always knew how to make anyone feel welcomed.

I sighed as I pulled my jacket from my arms to hang it on the rack. I felt a little exposed but with all these people in here it was getting stuffy.

Suddenly my phone started buzzing from inside my purse. I groaned and unzipped the top rummaging through the contents for the ringing. The buzzing had stopped by the time I found it and was only glowing with a red and blue light.

I flipped it open and looked at the screen.

One new message from *unknown

I smiled knowing the message was from Robert. I opened the message and read what it said.

Molly's talking to some people. She's buzzed and won't notice me leaving her for a while. Come find me.

I smiled and stuffed my phone back in my bag. I turned off the phone and walked through the crowd of people. I found mom talking to a crowd of guests about something I didn't quite catch. There were so many people here now; it was only about an hour into the party. How many more people could really fit in here?

When I couldn't find him after five minutes I was about to give up when I found him hiding his face at the back door of the room. Suddenly Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne song's "Down" started playing. I smiled and I looked around. I couldn't see anyone important, like family, looking my way so I started toward Robert at the back door.

He noticed me coming toward him and walked out the door. I looked up and noticed mistletoe above the door. Momaw was keeping an eye out for people walking under them together; she forced people to kiss even if it was only a kiss to the cheek. I don't think she would force us unto anything but you never can tell with that woman.

I looked around at the party as I stepped to the door. No one had noticed me so I pushed the door opened and stepped outside.

"Did anyone see you?"

I jumped at Robert's fingers on my bare shoulders. Turning around, I looked into his blue eyes and felt my stomach erupt with butterflies.

"Of course, not."

He smiled, "Good."

Then his lips were on mine. I gasped in his mouth as he kissed me with so much passion. He trailed his tongue over my bottom lip causing me to open my mouth wider. He greeted my tongue in a fierce battle causing me moan as he pushed me against the wall.

I brought my hand up to his chest and pushed. He looked shocked that I pushed him away.

"What's wrong, Robert? You usually aren't that forceful."

He sighed walking over to the side of the building. He pulled out a cigarette and I gave him a look as he lit the tip of it.

"I thought you were going to try to quit?"

He groaned taking a drag from the cigarette.

"I can't. Your mom is driving me insane. I don't know what to do. I lied to her Laura. I told her I loved her."

My eyes widened as I looked at him. My heart started beating faster, out of rhythm. I could feel the tears starting up in my eyes as I gazed at him. He told her?! He lied to her?! She got to hear those words even though they were a lie?! I would never get to hear those words from him no matter how much I wanted to.

"You did?" I whispered lowering my head.

"Yeah," he grumbled.

I nodded turning on my heel, "I should get back to the party then."

I started walking toward the door and he grabbed my arm, "Don't go, Laura. I lied to her. I don't feel that way about her. No matter how much she tries I don't love her. I don't know what to do here. I hate her, but I'm falling for you, Laura. Tell me what to do, without ruining your life."

The tears fell down my cheeks as I turned to look at him, "I don't know what to tell you but soon you are going to have to make a choice. Not thinking about either one of us because you can't drag us both down with you, hurting both of us. Trust me the longer it takes for you to choose the more it'll hurt in the end."

He sighed nodding tossing his cigarette to the ground before stomping it out.

I grinned pulling out the small box from my purse, "Anyway, enough of being depressed and the bad moods. It's Christmas and time for cheer. Here's your gift; I didn't feel comfortable giving it to you while mom was staring at me like I had grown five heads or something."

His eyes widened and then he pulled out something from his back, "I bought you something too."

My eyes widened; I didn't think he bought me anything.

We handed each other the gifts at the same time. I watched him pull the wrapping off and find a small box and he opened it gasping at the contents. I had bought him a watch; couldn't think of anything else to buy him without mom looking at me crazy.

"Read the inscription."

I watched as he pulled the watch from the small box and turn it over to read what I had put there.

"Welcome to the family, Robert. Hope you like our crazy bunch."

He chuckled and I smiled replying, "Well, I didn't want to put something that would give mom any ideas. That seemed the easiest route to go with."

He nodded, "I love it. Now open yours."

I looked down at the rectangle and pulled the wrapping off it. There was a jewelry shaped box and I opened it gasping at what I saw. It was a heart shaped necklace sitting nestled all nice and neat in the box.

"It's a locket, open it."

I pulled the necklace from the box and opened the heart. There was a picture of Robert dressed as Edward Cullen and then the other side had a few words.

"You are exactly my brand of heroin."

"I thought it was fitting, considering that I feel the same way about you."

I looked up at Robert to see him standing right in front of me. He took the box from my hands and pulled his arms around my neck clasping the necklace around my neck.

Suddenly we heard music from the door. Muse "Uprising" was playing in the main room just on the other side of that door. I turned to look at Robert, he was grinning at me as he held out his hand.

"Would you care for a dance, my lady?"

I giggled and nodded, "Why that would be splendid, kind sir."

I took his hand as he pulled me to his chest and we swayed to the music. I closed my eyes just enjoying the moment we had, no one interrupting us for once.

UNKNOWN POV

I drummed my fingers across the table listening to the woman that sat right next to me. She was going on and on about not being able to go to her son's house for the holidays.

I rolled my eyes my eyes finding the door Laura and Robert just walked through. What the hell was taking them so long? Obviously my threats hadn't been quite good enough.

I smiled at the woman, "I hate to stop you but if you don't mind I need to get some more of that amazing food."

She smiled and nodded, "Sure thing, sweetie."

I stood to my feet and walked toward the table making it look like I was walking toward the table. I looked back at the woman to see her attention on the other people at the table and grinned. Looking around I sighed, this place was just so boring; too much cheer for such a drizzle day.

Suddenly my phone started ringing. I groaned but smiled as I answered the phone, "Yes? What do you have for me?"

"She bought that dress at some boutique. She paid in cash. I think he gave her money."

I rolled my eyes. Of course he did. Stupid ass thought she was the world. What's so damn special about that damn girl I don't fucking get.

My eyes found the door and Robert and Laura walked out at the same time. No one noticing them come out, but me. My camera was in my hand and I brought it up snapping a picture. Her face was flushed and so was his.

She would be seeing these photos again. I swear everyone loves that damn girl; even Ben. I hate the fact that I had to get my hands dirty with that but he was being clouded by that stupid girl and her meddling ways.

"Luke, listen just keep an eye out for anything else. I want to know everything about her."

"Sure thing."

The line disconnected and I grinned. Everyone could be taught to obey with just a little force. I took a glass of champagne from a waiter and down it in one gulp. Poor little Laura won't know what hit her when she finally figures it out.

I stuff my phone and camera in my bag as the song "Fireflies" by Owl City starts to play. A cute drunk hotel guest catches my eye and I smile at him. I wink at him and walk toward the main door knowing he's following me. I need a little fun before I reveal myself to Laura.