Battle of Hearts

Chapter 28- Sleep for Christmas

The morning of Christmas Eve, Ally woke up with an expected headache and excruciating pain in her hands. She squinted to examine her hands. Her fingers felt too tight to move and her knuckles were bruised. She grazed the dried blood with one of her hands and flinched at the sharp pain. She gradually opened and closed her palms to ease into its movement.

The events of the night before raced into her mind. She pushed aside the image of Jake and got off the bed. After cleaning herself up she went downstairs for breakfast. "You could at least get up early on Christmas Eve, Ally."She was greeted by her mother's words.

When Ally didn't reply her mother simply pushed a plate of pancakes towards her. Her father too emerged from his bedroom with a sleepy look on his face.

"Like father like daughter." Her mother taunted again. Taunts were the last thing she needed today. So she chose to ignore all of them and took out her phone. She saw a text message from Cameron. It was strange but a simple

'Hey'.

"Keep that thing away." Her mother yelled.

Ally sighed and shoved the phone inside her pocket. Her mom didn't like them using phones on the breakfast table. After breakfast she was lying down on the couch watching some reality shows when she remembered about Cameron's text.

'Hi'. She had replied. He didn't reply for an hour so she had to consume her

time watching television. When he did reply it was slightly surprising.

How are you feeling? -C

How was she feeling? She read those words a few times pondering over his

question. She didn't know how she was feeling anymore. Sad or hurt weren't the right words to describe it. There was an indescribable emptiness within her.Nevertheless she replied the opposite.

Good. -A

Really? -C

Yes. -A

Do you remember what happened last night? -C

She did but she didn't want to rethink it. She even remembered the part where Cameron had come looking for her and they had a talk about something. She didn't know about what but she wished it wasn't something she would regret.

Some of it. -A

Well do you remember our talk? -C

"Shit." She cursed aloud. She had definitely told him something she

would never tell anyone if she was sober.

I told you something stupid. Didn't I? -A

It wasn't stupid. Everyone has a past.

It's good you finally talked about it. -C

Then it dawned on her. She must've told him about one of her worst secrets. She felt embarrassed even thinking about her freshmen year. She had been sheer stupid and would never share that incident with anyone. But apparently she had

shared it. And with Cameron.

I'm sorry you had to handle me last night. -A

It's cool. You really talked. Finally. -C

Yeah... -A

Merry Christmas Eve, Parker. -A

She smiled at the screen. He was the first person to wish her that day.

Merry Christmas Eve to you too. So any plans? -A

My parents are flying here tonight. So just with family I guess. -C