Pride High : Book 2 - Orange by Jay Bell

Author:Jay Bell [Bell, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-17T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

December 25th, 1992

Cameron only managed a few fitful hours of sleep. But that made it feel more like the Christmases of his childhood, when anticipation kept him up for most of the night. He wasn’t expecting any miracles this year. And yet, once he had showered and gone downstairs, the scene that greeted him was unusually tranquil. His parents were sitting around the living room while idly chatting.

“Good morning, baby boy,” Brenda said.

“Merry Christmas, son,” Trevor added, raising his cup of coffee.

“Merry Christmas,” Cameron echoed, waiting for him to say something about the holidays not seeming so merry at his age. Instead, his parents continued whatever conversation Cameron had interrupted. Without any sign of bickering. That was different. Cameron sat down carefully, not wanting to break the spell, but to his delight it continued for the rest of the morning.

Everything remained peaceful while they opened presents and hung out in the living room afterwards. Cameron didn’t mention Anthony, too worried that it would end the truce. But he did think of him more and more as the day wore on.

“I have a couple of presents to deliver,” he said to his parents. “Can I take the station wagon?”

“Sure thing, hon,” Brenda said. “Drive safe.”

Cameron drove to Mindy’s house first. He worried about showing up on another holiday, this time unannounced, but he was so grateful for everything she had done for him that he wanted to give her a present.

“Cameron!” Mindy said when answering the door.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, holding up a small wrapped gift.

“You got me a present?” Mindy said loudly over her shoulder. She winced when facing him again and whispered, “They still think you’re my boyfriend.”

That had been painfully obvious after the play, when she’d introduced him to her mother. “I don’t mind,” he said. “Although I’m not sure why you bother.”

“I’ll show you,” Mindy said.

She put a finger to her lips and beckoned him inside. Together they crept through the house to the living room, where he could hear the Rankin/Bass version of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer playing on the TV. Mindy peered around the doorway before motioning for him to do the same. “That’s who my sister is dating,” she whispered.

Sitting on the couch, next to an older version of Mindy with auburn hair, was someone who looked like a surfer dude. His white teeth were on permanent display, his blemish-free skin tan even though summer was long gone.

“Wow,” Cameron whispered when he pulled back. “He’s hot!”

“Incredibly!” Mindy moaned, before covering her mouth. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled them both into plain view. “So very very nice of you,” Mindy said, holding up the present. “Look what my boyfriend gave me!"

"It's nothing,” Cameron said bashfully.

“It might be,” her sister said. “Open it and let’s see.”

“Hey, man,” the surfer boy said with an upward nod. “How’s it hanging?”

“Like ornaments from a tree,” Cameron replied, intending it to be a charmingly festive response. He didn’t realize how dirty it sounded until everyone laughed. Including the surfer, which made him blush.

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