Please Come Home for Christmas

*December 24th 2005*

The sound of a loud buzzer filled the crowded gymnasium mixed with the very loud screams and chants of the crowd. It was an intense moment of adrenaline and excitement as the two teams battled over the ball. It was not only Christmas Eve, but it was the night were the Bearcats versus Wolves were competing for the youth basketball championship, an event equally important in a small town like this.

"My parents aren't here still." Chase said anxiously as he scanned the empty seats, wondering where they could be. They had never missed a game, nor been late.

"I'm sure they're just stuck in traffic, it is Christmas Eve you know." Hannah pointed out while she fixed her headband, trying to calm her boyfriend down. Chase just shrugged and nodded, putting his focus back on the game.

Young Hannah paced the court and panted heavily as she dribbled the ball, looking fiercely at the opposing team and trying to plan her next move.

"Hannah, I'm open!" Chase yelled over the crowd, her eyes snapping towards the familiar voice and she smiled as she threw the ball to the male. He moved like lightning as he dashed around his opponents and focused on the hoop mere inches away. He was almost knocked down but he managed to avoid the collision and continued on. The crowd yelled in encouragement at their favorite athlete, counting on him to lead another victory.

Hannah watched in awe as he dazzled the court, sticking his feet in position as he prepared to shoot. The crowd stood still in nervousness, praying for the ball to go in. Hannah's heart stopped momentarily as her eyes fixated on Chase then the ticking clock.

Chase huffed as he shot the ball in the air, watching intsoar in the air which seemed to fly in slow motion. He breathed heavily with every moment it got closer to the hoop. The crowd gasped as it circled around the hoop in a tease, gasps filling the gym. What felt like forever, the ball circled the orange surface before it fell in its confinement just as the clock ran out. It didn't take a second before the gym had erupted in screams and cheers, they had won again.

Hannah yelled excitedly as she ran to her best friend and practically jumped into his arms at the victory.

"We did it! We did it!" she screamed. Chase just laughed at the girl's antics, giving her a big smile and was just about to give her a kiss, but the pair had been separated by the over excited crowd exiting the gym. Hannah had managed to find her way out the craziness and into the embrace of her parents, too excited to notice the policeman entering the gym, too excited to see what was a strong bright boy turn cold as the officer whispered in his ears.

The young boy's face turned stern as he ignored the words of the officer and coach, walking to the locker room. Hannah looked on confused and was about to run after him, but ran to the coach instead. When the words seeped out of his lips, Hannah gasped in horror and turned to hide in her father, tears streaming down her face...

"Chase?" Hannah whispered as she entered the locker room and twisted her hands. "Chase...I'm so sorry, I don't know what to say." she added as the boy just shoved his clothes into his gym bag.

"There's nothing to say, my parents are dead. Merry Christmas, now leave me alone." he replied coldly while walking out as she looked at the door, her heart crumbling.
__

*December 24th 2009

'Bells will be ringing this sad sad news
Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby's gone I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again'

"Hannah, aren't you going to come down sweetie?" her mother asked worriedly while Hannah sat on her bed. She had not been in the mood for festivities, the holidays had become her least favorite ever since, ever since he...

"Yeah, just give me a second." she replied quietly while her mother shifted her eyes.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" she asked kindly while the girl rolled her eyes mentally but pretended to smile as she nodded.

"Yes mom, I'm fine." she replied equally while her mom looked at her briefly and wanted to say something, but chose not to.

"Okay honey, hurry up and come down." she added before shutting the door. Hannah just sighed as she got off from the bed and went to the large window. The massive amount of snow covered the whole scenery, and not even that was enough to make her smile. She stared aimlessly and wondered if he was out there. She had not seem him since the night of the accident and she began to wonder if she ever would. The hurt in her heart made her stomach twist as she tried to fight back tears. She couldn't handle another year, another year he had been gone without a word. Was her hurt? Did he even miss her at all?

Her mind drifted to the times where things had been perfect and the twelve year olds were happy. She had wondered why it all had to go wrong, and why the love of her life had left so coldly. Hannah couldn't help but blame herself as she leaned her head on the cold glass and sighed once more. She had missed him so.

Choirs will be singing "Silent Night"
Christmas carols by candlelight
Please come home for Christmas
Please come home for Christmas
__

*December 24th, 2015*

Hannah smiled as she fixed her dress and smoothed out her hair. She was just about ready for the festivities, it was going to be extra special this year she thought. When she looked presentable to her liking, she turned away from the vanity mirror and stopped as the sparkly ring on her finger glimmered in the sun's reflection. A small smile formed on her face as she studied it's beauty and sighed softly. She had been in a better place than ever before. She was an established poet and created a life for herself she had always dreamed of as a kid. Everything seemed to have fallen in place. She was successful, pretty, and now engaged.

She continued to stare at the ring and anxiousness filled her heart as she thought of Ryan coming over later. A lot had changed in the last few years and she was sure she was heading in the right direction, even with Ryan. Her life was perfect...almost.

Her mind had drifted to Chase and she huffed as she tried to shake the thoughts away. Even after it being so long and her mind eventually learning to put in the past, every now and then the thoughts crept back up. She shook her head as she pushed the thoughts away and tried ignore his face, wondering where he could be now. She would not let him ruin another holiday, not anymore.

If not for Christmas by New Years night
Friends and relations send salutations
Sure as the stars shine above
But this is Christmas yes Christmas my dear

The time of year to be with the ones you love
So won't you tell me you'll never more roam
Christmas and new Years will find you home
There'll be no more sorrow no grief and pain

She took a deep breath as she began to walk downstairs and make sure everything was ready for dinner. The family would be rushing over soon no doubt, and Hannah made sure everything was spotless for her never satisfied mom. Just as she finished, a knock filled the air and she sighed.

"Right on time." she whispered prepared for the loudness that would soon erupt. She walked to the door and with nimble fingers, she opened the door.

"You guys just couldn't wait could-" she stopped dead in her tracks as the person, not her parents, stood in the doorway. She stared confused at the tall man and had it not been for the eyes...she froze. Those eyes.

"C-Chase?" she whispered hesitantly at the man as he smiled nervously.

"Hannah." he whispered back equally as she could only just stand there. Her mind racing so fast as she studied him. He looked so different, yet he looked the exact same. His wavy brown hair was now short. His lanky frame she once remembered was now chiseled and more muscular. His round face was now more defined and contoured quite nicely. His icy blue eyes had remained the same.

"W-what are you doing here?" she asked curiously. "H-How did you find me?" she stuttered on her words.

"I called your parents, turns out their number never changed." he laughed attempting to lighten the situation but to no avail as Hannah only stared him down. He shifted on his feet awkwardly.

"Can I come in? It's pretty cold out here." he motioned to the harsh wind beginning to blow which would no doubt create more snow. Hannah hesitantly stood aside and motioned for him to come in. Chase looked around curiously at the rather pristine looking house.

"Why did you come?" Hannah couldn't help but ask he turned to face her.

"I just...I wanted to apologize-"

"Apologize for what?" she suddenly snapped, the mere words making her anger bubble. "Apologize for leaving me without another word, ever?" she scoffed.

"Hannah please listen, there was just so much going on..."

"So you just took off and disappear that I never hear from you again?"

"I know what I did was wrong. I know I shouldn't have walked out on you, I just...I didn't know what to do after the accident. I just shut down." he whispered while tears involuntarily seeped out her eyes. She knew she shouldn't really be angry, but she couldn't help it. All these years...

"I was worried sick about you. I didn't know if you were dead or alive, you just left. I know what happened was terrible Chase, but...why didn't you let me help?" she replied quietly.

"I don't know." he whispered ashamed looking at the floor. "I don't know why I did a lot things I did...but i'm here now."

"A whole 10 years later." she replied bitterly.

"I'm sorry." he whispered once more while looking at the girl. She had looked completely different from the twelve year old he once knew. She was now grown up, her body mature, and she looked even more beautiful then he pictured. He had made a lot of mistakes after his parents died that he cared more to admit, his biggest once being Hannah. He knew what he did to her trumped everything else, but he was so young, he didn't know how to cope. It didn't excuse his regret that he carried for many years as he tried to look for her, but couldn't bring himself to.

"I-I don't know what you expect me to say. You show up years later like you never left, what am I to think?"

"I know I waited too long, but I wanted to make things right."

"You're too late Chase." she replied astonished. "Everything...has changed. My life, my career...I'm engaged."

"Oh..." was all he could muster, not sure what to say back to her.

"Yeah, oh." she mocked gently.

"Hannah I know you might not be able to forgive me, but please let me have a chance to make things right. You were my girlfriend after all." he mused while Hannah rolled her eyes.

"We were twelve, Chase." she retorted lightly even though it at the time he was her everything. She could only shake her head at how naive she had been back then.

"Still counts." he pointed out while she shrugged. Before she could make another retort the doorbell had interrupted. Hannah looked at her watch and sighed, looking at Chase carefully.

"My family's here."

"Oh, maybe I should go." he offered. Part of her wanted him to leave, but then the inner afraid child inside her was worried she'd never see him after this once more. So before she could oblige, her mind spoke before her.

"No it's okay...stay."

__

The snow had begun to fall at a fast place quickly covering the ground. The loud usual chatter filled the room with endless Christmas songs playing. It would just wouldn't be a Christmas without one drunk person. In this case, it seemed to be all the elders in Hannah's family. She had expected the worse when her parents had to see Chase again. She thought for sure her father would blow up in his usual manner, but amazingly all he did was bring him for a big hug. It had been like he never left and the feeling left a strange taste in Hannah's mouth. She wanted to still be angry at him, hate him for what he did. Yet the more he was around, she felt them melting away much to her chagrin.

It was hard to look back at how much time she wasted in sorrow only to be facing him now. Now, as a man not the boy she once knew. The man who smoked a cigarette while watching the snow, not the boy who played video games.

"So...this Ryan guy...you're happy with him?" he asked nonchalantly which took her by surprise.

"I guess so." she replied hesitantly. He eyed her curiously while her stomach seemed to twist. "I mean...yeah he's pretty great."

"That's good." he nodded casually and took another drag of his cigarette. She shifted on the balls of her feet and looked at him.

"Chase, where did you go?" she finally asked while he stiffed up. She had wanted to know so desperately.

"After my parents died...I just wanted to run away, I didn't really care where. But since I had no family here, I was forced to go live with my uncle in Canada." he answered while her eyes widened.

"So I went there and stayed for a couple years. At first my uncle was alright, then soon enough we just ended up bumping heads, so I left again. Then from there I didn't stop, I just kept exploring. Made a lot of bad choices I'm not proud of along the way I admit."

"So you just thought it'd be better to cut everyone off?"

"I didn't know how to handle it, I didn't feel like I had anyone who would understand-"

"You had me!" she snapped. "What about me huh? Why did you cut even me off?"

"Hannah damn it, don't you get it? Imagine being twelve and being told the most important people in your life were dead? How was I supposed to handle it?"

"I could've helped you! I would've been there for you and you know it! Jesus, I loved you Chase. Do you know how hard it was for me to just forget you like you forgot me? I waited every damn Christmas for you to come back, and you didn't. You broke my heart over and over." she whispered as her voiced cracked, ashamed of the tears had fallen. Chase felt his heart hurt as he grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry I hurt you Hannah. It's my fault fully, I lost control. I didn't want to face the world anymore, and I didn't think how it would affect you in the process. I'm sorry." he whispered back pulling her into an embrace while she cried in his shoulder. It was too much for her to take in.

"I missed you so much." she lamented and shook her head.

"I missed you too, everyday." he admitted.

"I'm so mad at you."

"I know. Let me fix it, let me make it right between us. I know I screwed up, but I'm back. I know what I have and I'm not giving it up." he declared as she looked up at him.

"Please...I still love you Hannah, I always will." he added sincerely while she looked back down, not sure what to say back. She knew it was wrong, that she shouldn't have felt the way she did. But being in his arms, it felt just like they were twelve again. The feelings came rushing back, and as much as she could deny it, she didn't want him to give up either.

"I still love you too." she whispered once more while staring into his face. Chase smiled as he went in to kiss her, but stopped abruptly.

"Wait." he told her gently while reaching into his pocket and pulling out the green item, to which Hannah scoffed.

"Really? You brought that here?" she mused as he just grinned and held the mistletoe up above them and leaned in to kiss her deeply. Hannah felt her stomach tingle with the familiar sensation and then suddenly, she had felt whole again.

"Some things never change do they?" she whispered.

"Nope, and I'm glad." he replied only to kiss her again.

"Chase?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't leave me again."

"I'm never leaving, I promise. I'm home."

And I'll be happy, happy once again
Oh there'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
And I'll be happy, happy once again