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The Fireplace

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I DIDN'T ask why Jane hadn't called out for help when the sheer amount of work to do was suffocating her. I just set out to help with whatever I could, because she needed it.

We got so absolved in all the work that I forgot about my phone switched off in my room. Dad came back soon enough and got to work on the decorations. He was quite the creative person, saving us the hassle of renting someone to help with decorations whenever we were planning something.

Everything was coming together, and I had to stop and marvel at the way Dad had transformed our house in the little time he had. He was coming down the ladder after hanging some Christmas lights when I asked, "Dad, why did you become a banker?"

He frowned at my question, so I went further. "I mean, you're so good at decorating and setting things up. One could say I got my creativity from you. So, what's all that creativity doing in a bank?"

His head tilted slightly as his hands rested on his waist. He looked from the lights to me and back to the lights. His eyes remained on them as he said, "My dad was a banker."

My shoulders slumped. That was not the answer I was expecting. Dad always cheered us on to do what we loved. The thought that he was doing something he didn't love while cheering us on tugged at me.

"Was that why you became a banker?"

"My dad was my role model growing up, and he always looked so cool," he chuckled and shook his head like he couldn't believe he was saying this and then added, "So I wanted to be like him."

It was silent for a while as he moved to turn on the switch and a varying blend of yellow, green, and red danced around us, bringing Christmas to life.

I don't know where the words came from, but I said them regardless as my eyes remained fixed on the lights.

"Mum was my role model." My statement made him whip his head to look at me. I kept my eyes on the lights as I went on. "But I don't want to end up like her. Does that make sense?"

He came over and gave me a side hug as his eyes went back to the lights with both of our eyes shining and not only from the lights that reflected on them.

"That makes perfect sense. You can love her, but not all of her. You can share her laughs but not her mistakes. No one is perfect. Not me, not your mother, or Jane. I know you're not totally happy with what our family has become, but sometimes, life throws things at you. Life whips things up and when the dust settles, it looks like a mess. Until you see it differently. Then it becomes a beautiful mess."

"Just like the lights?" The colors kept changing, and I still hadn't figured out the pattern.

"Just like the lights." He leaned down to kiss the top of my head. "Now that the lights are up and running. Time to wrap up some gifts," he said and rubbed his hands together. I could feel the glee coming off of him and in my eyes, he had transformed into a young child excited for their first Christmas. He was always like this. Even during the first Christmas we had as a family without my mom.

As I watched him walk away, a smile took residence on my face. But just as soon as it formed, it dropped.

Crap!

I had been so consumed with everything going on I forgot this was Christmas! I had to get something for them.

How was I gonna get out of all this work and head out? It was snowing outside and the weather forecast claimed it could get worse this night. If I was to go out, I needed to find an excuse and get everything done quickly. The sooner I finished, the more I was out of snow, the better. I wouldn't want to get snowed out.

"You look like you're deep in thought," Jane said as she walked past to get a chair from the living room. "Has your yet-to-be boyfriend reached out since?" she asked and I got the perfect excuse.

"Actually, he did," I started and followed her as she took the chair into the kitchen. "He wants to meet so we can talk more about it. I know you said I shouldn't push him away when he's ready to talk, but everything just seems a lot to you. How could I leave-"

"Oh no, Clara, go ahead. Don't worry about me. I can do this and finish in no time. You should talk to him. Communication is very vital for every relationship."

I didn't want to feel bad that I was lying to her, but it was for a just cause. Everyone loves a surprise Christmas gift, right? In my real life, I hardly ever purchased gifts for them. After my mom got jailed, I stopped completely. I felt Mom was the star of all celebrations, so without her, what was even the point?

"Thank you. I'll be back before you know it," I said and hurried up to my room. I turned on my phone and had a change of clothes. Then headed back down with some cash to put on my jacket, boots, beanie, and gloves. All the while double-checking to make sure I got everything on before heading out to the bus stop and getting on a bus.

Of course, I had lots of missed calls and messages, most from Kai and others from Naomi. Guess he must have told her and she tried to reach out.

I shot her a quick reply, telling her I was fine and that Kai and I were just having a little... misunderstanding. If that's what this was. Then I looked through Kai's messages.

He didn't come after me, but it was eating him up and I could tell from his distressed messages. I frowned. It shouldn't because this shouldn't involve at all. And I should be the one apologizing, not him.

I wanted to call him back, but I stopped myself and locked my phone instead of pressing the dial button. I should also do what I was out for. Calling Kai can wait a while since I don't wanna be having a serious conversation while shivering or walking to catch a bus.

I stuffed my phone in my pocket as the bus neared my stop. I walked further after I highlighted the bus before reaching my destination, a thrift store.

What can I say? I'm a high-schooler in a boarding school, so I don't get that much of an allowance that I can save. But I ended up getting something for all four of them. I wasn't sure of what to get for Aunt Vera, though I was more inclined not to get anything at all.

As I stepped out onto the snow-filled street, satisfied with the things I got from the store, I got a call from Dad.

I brought the hood of the jacket over my head when I said, "Hey Dad."

"Clara, how long before you get back? The snow's picking up and I don't want you out there for so long."

"I'm done with what I needed to do. I'll take like twenty minutes to get back," I said as I readjusted my grip on the bag of gifts. In truth, it would take like ten minutes, but I still needed to get some wrapping paper.

"Okay, that's good. Could you stop by the Jacksons' house? I need to get something from Dave, but he'll be back in about thirty minutes. If you get there before him, maybe you can wait a bit," he said.

The Jacksons lived in the house at the farthest end of our street, but from the direction I was coming from, I would have to pass their house first before I reached mine.

"Sure, I'll be coming from their direction, so it'll be easier."

"Perfect! Thanks, dear, and be careful."

"Of course. I'll be back in no time."

It didn't take as much time as I set aside to get the wrapping paper and was well on my way soon enough. I would say, the expenses weren't cheap, but I guess that's what you do for family. It was money well spent since this cave had, in some twisted way, granted me the opportunity to get something for them.

The snow picked up as the bus neared my stop and once I got down; it came at me with violent force as the howls that sent it flying sounded more like the groans of some dying creature.

The thought alone brought more shivers than the cold as I forced against the wind, putting each foot down with more force as I went on. I hoped the roads wouldn't be so bad tomorrow, or the party might just be the four of us, and maybe Aunt Vera. If she could even make it from her place.

I passed by buildings that had snow on roofs and cars so far buried in white that I couldn't even guess what their original colors were until I reached the particular house. It was the same as I remembered as I trudged up the familiar four steps onto the front porch and sent my hands flying to bang on the door.

Any more in this cold and I could be as frozen as the icicles hanging from the roof of the buildings around. The door opened to reveal Junior. Their first son, who was in his senior year while I was in tenth grade, if I remembered correctly.

I'd been to their house enough times to know he had feelings for him, but when he told me, I turned him down. I couldn't remember when exactly, but I wasn't so close to Kai then, so my feelings for Kai had nothing to do with it.

"Hey Clara, what are you doing here? It's snowing a lot. Come on in," he said, shifting for me to enter. I rushed in but stopped in the lobby, trying to make my shivering unnoticeable.

"I don't wanna leave a mess since I'm coming from outside," I said as the warmth from the house started filtering into my jacket.

"You sure? You could at least take off your jacket and warm up before you head back out. And your boots too. My mom doesn't like when we come in with our boots and jacket with snow since it leaves water all around."

He always spoke about his mom and maybe that was one reason I turned him down then. I felt he was, for lack of better words, a mama's boy. But now, knowing more about myself, I realize it was more of jealousy. I was jealous of the relationship he had with his mom, while mine was close to nonexistent.

His eyes lingered on me with his lips frozen in a smile that only seemed to look more nervous as seconds ticked by.

I broke the silence when I said, "Thanks, but I just need to get something from your dad."

"Huhn?"

"My dad said I should-"

"Oh yeah. Yeah," he shook his head as if shaking himself from some trance. "Sure. My dad just got in. I'll let him know now." He rushed down the hallway before going on the stairs to his left.

From where I stood, I couldn't see much of the house except the hallway that was dimly illuminated, setting a cozy vibe over the place. I finally took off my boots and wriggle my feet when I heard something. I discarded it as something falling down and the wind rattling a window, but I heard it again and this time it was more clear.

It sounded as if someone was shaking something, then I heard someone grunt. Was someone sneaking in? But I shook the thought away. That was unlikely in this snow. The best option would be to hide in an open garage if they found any or get the courage to knock on the door.

The third time I heard it was enough to shake me into action as I hung my jacket on the hook near the door and headed forward before turning right into the living room, where I was sure the noise was coming from.

"Who's there?" I asked as I leaped into the room, but I found it empty of any human but me. I looked around, my eyes taking their time to find anything out of the ordinary, but there was nothing to suggest someone was there. They sealed the windows shut and nothing seemed out of place.

I was about to leave when something gold and purple caught my eye. I spun towards the fireplace. It appeared normal. Before I could question what I'd just seen, it happened again and this time; I heard my name. But the shock didn't end there.

"Clarissa." I heard, and it came with that familiar warmth.

Grandma!

I could recognize my grandma's voice anywhere and anytime, not because we spent so much time at her place, but because I could never forget how it sounded.

I rushed towards the fireplace that now crackled with a mix of gold and purple flames. A combination that was both refreshing and strange to see compared to the familiar blue and green.

"Grandma! Is that you? Where are you?"

"Clarissa, you can hear me, good. I got your message, so listen."

"My message? From Perry?" I asked, unable to keep the shock and excitement out of my voice, not sure which came out stronger.

"Yes, I did. That was smart of you. Now listen, you're not safe."

"You... you know where I am?"

"I don't know where exactly you are. But I've been able to conclude that you can't stay at your house tomorrow. You must go to the enemy's place and find what can guide you." Her words started sounding rushed.

"The enemy? Who's the enemy and-"

"I don't know, but you have to figure out who. You will find what will help you there, or at least something useful that would help clear your confusion. I know you stumbled into..."

The sound of fire crackling filled the silence that came after she trailed off.

"Grandma! Grandma, I can't hear you anymore."

"And I know Allistair is-" There was another pause that I felt was unnatural and not her taking a break. "You should know why you're there by now. The next thing is to-"

The fireplace snuffed out, and I could only sit with unknown emotions swirling and raging in me.

The enemy. Who was Allistair? Was he the enemy or was he the kee-

"I see you've gotten comfortable." I heard and veered around to see Junior smiling at me and his dad walking in behind him.

I got to my feet as Mr. Jones came further with a bag in his hands. That should be what my dad wanted. I hoped it wasn't heavy since that was what I would trudge along with in the heavy snow.

"Hello, Clary." He never got my name right. I always tried to remind him but stopped trying when he asked if he could call me by my full name. To which I said, Clary is just fine.

"Evening Mr. Jones."

"Oh yes, your dad said you'll be dropping by. You can get to your house just fine, right, or should Junior here-"

"Oh, no need, sir. It's no trouble for me," I said as he handed me the bag. I thanked him and then bade them goodbye before I dashed back out, braving myself for the onslaught of snow that raged outside.

When I got back, purpose and determination filled my steps as I handed my dad the bag and went to set the gifts down in my room. Wrapping them could wait. Now, I had a conversation pending.

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The Sparkling Authoress
Mis. A

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