Free Solo

61

Audrey's POV

"Well Balto." I say as I lazily pet my dog while checking my texts. "Looks like it's just you and me this New years...Stupid Kelley."

Viv: FYI Daan is very mad at you.

Me: Why?

Viv: You told her you were spending Christmas and New Years with your Mom.

Me: I'll call her and explain

Once I've finished texting Viv I call my girlfriend.

"Before you yell at me let me explain." I say when Daan picks up.

"Talk."

"The day after I told you my plans for Christmas my Mom called me and told me her girlfriend surprised her with a trip for Christmas so she went with her."

"You could've told me that Audrey." Daan says. "My parents would've loved to have you been with us."

"I didn't wanna intrude." I mumble. "Frankly I'm not really a fan of Christmas."

"Why?"

"When I was younger my Mom struggled to afford Christmas, but all I really wanted was her and I to spend time together so I told her that when I was 4. Every year after that Mom would do her best to get the things I put on my Christmas list and after we opened presents her and I would spend the whole day together unplugged from the world." I say then Balto licks my face. "I hated seeing my Mom so stressed because of me."

Suddenly there's a knock on my door which causes Balto to bolt towards it.

"Babe their's someone at my door so I gotta go."

"Alright I'll be home in a few days." Daan says.

"I love you Daniëlle."

"I love you Audrey." My girlfriend says then we hang up.

I then get off the couch and head to the door. Once at the door I open it and come face to face with my Mom, her girlfriend, Preath, and Krashlyn.

"Hi?" I say as Ash walks into my place.

"Hi Munchkin." Ash says and hugs me.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask as I'm carried to the living room.

Once in the living room Ash sets me down then Balto sits at my feet.

"Well Tobin and I have our annual Grassroots Soccer Gala here in London so we thought we'd stop by." Christen says.

"Ash and I are meeting with an adoption agency here." Ali says.

"We just wanted to surprise you." Kelley says then she opens her arms for a hug.

"I HATE YOU." I shout.

"Woah." Mom says then she wraps me in her arms while I look at Kelley.

"You lied to me." I say and try not to cry.

"About what?" Kelley asks

"You promised you wouldn't take my Mom away from me."

"I didn't take her away from you." Kelley says. "What are you talking about?"

"For the past 22 years Mom and I have spent Christmas together cuddled up next to a fire, but guess where she fucking was this year?"

"With me." Kelley mumbles.

"Exactly...and I was all alone on Christmas." I say then I take a deep breath. "You promised me you wouldn't change my Mom Kelley and you lied."

I wiggle out of Mom's grasp, walk down the hall with Balto, enter my room, close my door, take off my shirt, then lay on the bed.