I Got You ~ C.B

THIRTY-ONE

Dad clears his throat, and sets his beer down, his voice icily calm as he repeats
"Acting role? Boyfriend? Sounds like your life is more interesting than you've lead me to believe over our calls pumpkin."
I gulp, Goddamn Damien and his drunken conversation. He laughs
"Ohhh shit!"
I roll my eyes, explaining, perhaps with a bit of a white lie in there
"I was waiting to tell you the big news in person dad. But thanks to Damien here, he did it for me. I'm playing Kitana for Mortal Kombat in a Netflix movie."
He buys it, but almost disregards it
"Congratulations, Pumpkin, how exciting. Boyfriend?"
Of course that would be all he cares about right now. I sigh
"Yeah, dad, I've got a boyfriend. I've had one for about six months."
He shakes his head
"And you didn't tell me this for six months?"
I shrug
"I didn't know how you'd react. Wanted to see your face when I told you to know how to approach it."
He decides
"No. You just weren't planning on telling me."
I shrug
"Look, dad, you still think I wear a purity ring. Of course I wasn't going to."
He stands abruptly
"You know I haves right to meet him, Alaska! I'm your father. What happens if you two get married, I meet him on the fucking wedding day?!"
I grab his arm, pulling him to sit back down again
"Shhh, dada, of course I want you to meet him I just didn't know how to tell you."
He goes quiet, staring broodingly into the fire. This is where it could go south extremely fast. At least Damien seemingly hasn't told him about anything else I've been up to. Hell, maybe telling him over the phone before I came would have been a better option. At least he would have had time to stew over it and cool down then. Then again, he would have wanted me to bring Colby here to meet him, and I can't say I plan on doing that. Ever. I offer, rubbing my father's shoulder
"Want me to tell you about him? Show you some photos?"
Dad scoffs
"No, I don't want to know anything about your life at all."
I sigh, beginning
"His name is Colby. He's a YouTuber, just like me. He has a joint channel with his friend Sam. They explore places. Go overseas and stuff. He's incredibly good to me dada. He's so supportive, and protective, and kind- humble. Driven- successful. I think you two would really get along. He is keen to meet you."
He asks me
"You two in love?"
I hum, nodding my head
"Incredibly."
"You think you'll marry him?"
I sigh, admitting for the first time even to myself
"I could see me spending my whole life with him. But we're still young."
He looks at me, eyes wide
"Hell Yeah you are. Don't be coming around here with no babies until you're at least twenty seven."
I laugh, asking him
"So we're good? You're okay with me dating someone?"
He shrugs
"You've made it half a year with him. Something has to be there. And if he makes you happy, I'm happy. I still want to meet him though- and show me some photos."
I proceed to go through my camera roll with him. Showing him my most recent photo with Colby. Dad groans
"Oh God- he's emo!"
I retort with a laugh
"And he makes it work. Weren't you the one who taught me not to judge a book by its cover?"
He sighs
"I was. Damn my amazing life lessons."
I show him photos of all my friends over in LA, photos of me on set, costumes, my trailer. I can see him start beaming as we go through the photos. Photos of crowds of fans, places I've been. I tell him about Colby throwing me a surprise party, everyone chipping in to get me my car. He's happy for me, I saved it. We then move onto me showing dad videos of Colby. Dad isn't big on the Internet or technology, so he hasn't watched any of my videos. Even if he did, the Internet still thinks Colby and I are just friends. I explain the situation to him, which concerns him, but he sees why it's for the best. Obviously Damien caught on though. Maybe we need to be more subtle again. Because, according to everyone here, we aren't doing a good job. I'm glad it turned out okay in the end. Everything smoothed over.

The next morning, Christmas morning, everyone is hungover and sleeping in. Joy. There's no 'Santa came!' Like there always is with Maisie around. There isn't even a Christmas tree up, no decorations. It's the saddest and loneliest Christmas yet. At least I think it is, until I get a FaceTime call. Colby's name and contact photo flashing up on my screen. I rush to answer
"Colby!"
I exclaim. He grins
"Hey baby."
I ask him
"What Time is it back home?"
"Five. Merry Christmas by the way."
I turn the camera around, showing the lack of life in the household
"Yeah... everything is Faliz Navi-dead."
He chuckles, and pouts
"Awe... you're down aren't you?"
I shrug, nodding
"It's the saddest Christmas I've ever had. Apart from the year my grandpa died."
He tells me
"I wish I was there baby. But you know you gotta grab this Christmas by the balls and make it the best Christmas you can."
I smile at him through the screen
"Even in a different country you're motivating me."
He smiles
"Try to have a good time baby. I have something here waiting for you when you get home."
I wink
"I bet you do."
He scoffs
"I mean a present, perv."
I laugh, telling him
"I sent your present in advance to your mom's so you can open it in the morning."
He smiles
"I know you did. Mom already has it under the tree. And I, snoopy as always, went peaking under the tree and saw it waiting. You're the sweetest."
I sigh
"I better go grab the baubles of this Christmas. But thank you for calling."
He smiles
"I'll see you in the new year, baby. I love you."
"Bye honey. I love you."
We blow kisses through the screen before hanging up. Within two hours, I heave been to the store and decorated the house like Will Ferrel in Elf. There's a tree, there's lights all over the place, random Christmas bunting and statues everywhere. Like a winter wonderland. I have candy canes and a Christmas music playing through the Bluetooth speaker. I have a Christmas roast pork in the oven. Only then do I head in, shaking my dad awake
"Dada! Dada!"
"Alaska..."
He groans. I exclaim like I did when I was a child
"Santa's been!"
He pops his head up, eyebrows furrowed with confusion
"Huh?"
I pull at his arm
"Come see?"
It would appear the Christmas music has woken the others up, as we walk out to find them standing like they're witnessing a legit Christmas miracle. Dad coos
"You are over the top."
I slap at him
"I'm festive."
I pass out the finishing touch to them
"Everyone, get freshened up and put these on. Christmas lunch is in twenty minutes."