Little Life of Nolan Parks - 16. A Parks Christmas - What's This

Liam's POV

I looked over at the clock: 6:49am. Eleven more minutes and Leif will be trampling down the hallway and into my room telling Nolan and me 'Get up its Christmas' before gallivanting to mom's room to do the same. He's eleven; can you really get mad at him for it?

Nolan lay fast asleep on my chest. He shook in his sleep, grabbing hold of me sometimes. The moment I hugged him tight and said, “I gotcha.” he would stop and settle down. I never met my cousin Paul, but man I could kill him.

Nolan has been on my hip for weeks. My grades are worse here than they were at home. I haven't even had the chance to talk to any of the coaches. I'm not trying to whine about it, I just didn't expect to move right into this situation.

We talk about it a lot. He's told me things I never thought a brother could do to their little bro. By the end of his stories we're usually both in tears and I just hold him tight. I won't let someone do something like that to him ever again.

I looked at the clock again: 6:58. Two minutes until the Leif rampage.

My door cracked open, “Liam, are you awake?”

“Two minutes Leif,” I said quiet enough to not wake Nolan.

Leif let himself into my room and closed the door. “No, that's not what I want.” Oh? “I wanted to tell you to stay with Nolan until he wakes up. He should sleep in as much as he can.”

I couldn't help but smile. Leif is such a good kid. “I'm sure he'll appreciate it, thanks, Leif.” And like that he was out of my room. 7Am means mom is about to be woken up.

I didn't even realize that I fell back asleep. Nolan woke me up smiling, “its Christmas you lunatic, get up!”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, let's get going.” When we got out into the living room, Leif was watching a TV show; his stocking all unwrapped and placed in a messy pile. “Someone is really patient today.” Leif just looked up and smiled before returning to his show.

Stockings are a big thing in my house. Like, my stocking could fit in a garbage bag usually. This year it's a little smaller, but I mean, we just moved amongst other things.

Nolan and I tore through our stockings pretty quickly. I got the typical cologne, socks and a couple of scratchies. I got a pack of condoms but quickly shoved them into the pile before anyone noticed. Mom gave me a smile as I did it, dammit mom!

Nolan stopped on a picture frame. He turned around to his mom, “Where did you get this?”

I looked over his shoulder at the picture. It was everyone from school playing in the pool. The smile on Nolan's face in the photo was the biggest I'd ever seen. They were all splashing each other just having fun like regular teenage boys.

“I got it from Coach Williams! He took it a few months ago.”

Nolan turned back to the picture. “I love it.” He held it close to his chest. Nolan placed it down on the coffee table so that nothing would happen to it.

Once we finished with our stockings, Leif shot up, “UNDER THE TREE TIME!!”

Everyone in the room laughed. Mom spoke up, “Liam, why don't you play Santa?” I gladly did so. I passed out gifts throughout the room. I purposely avoided Leif's gifts for a good ten minutes. Mom caught my plan. “Liam stop bugging your brother and give him a gift. It looks like he's going to break.”

I smiled as Leif continued to bounce very impatiently. I handed him my gift to him. “You're welcome little bro. Merry Christmas!”

Leif tore the wrapping paper apart. Little did he know I wrapped the gift, put it in a big box and wrapped that box. When he opened the box, he looked up at me. “You're a butt!” I laughed as he continued to open the gift. “YES!!”

Out of the box came a remote control helicopter that he was drooling over the entire holiday season. Mom brought Leif and me down to the mall and helped us pick something out for each other, on separate days, of course.

“Remember to be careful with it Leif. It's easy to break, and we can't return it.” I warned my little brother.

“I won't break it, I promise!” He walked over carefully and placed it by his other gifts. He turned and bolted to the tree and grabbed a gift. “This is for you, open it!”

I laughed and did as he commanded. I opened it up, to find a shoe box. When I opened the shoe box, I wanted to tackle my little brother with a hug. It was a pair of the newest Nike running shoes. My current pair is reaching the end of their life, and I needed a new pair.

I pulled my brother in for a hug. “Thanks, little bro, I love you.”

Leif hugged me back. “I love you too Liam.” Over Leif's shoulder, I saw Nolan. He had a smile on his face, but you could see the pain in his eyes. Once Leif let go of our hug I grabbed a specific gift for Nolan. “This one is for you from Leif and me.”

Nolan took the gift and opened it slowly. He kept looking up at us as he opened it up. Once he got it all out, he looked up at us, “You didn't!”

“We did.” Nolan sat there stunned looking at the purple 3DS in his hands. “Leif and I put our money together to get it for you. I thought you could use something fun to do.”

Nolan went to hand it to me. “This is really expensive. I can't accept it. I didn't get you guys anything nearly this cool.”

“You keep it; you deserve it.” I pushed it back to him. He took another look at me and the 3ds. “I want you to have it Nolan.”

“Okay... Thanks, you guys.” Nolan ended up playing with the system most of the day. Leif was just as intoxicated with it as Nolan was. Nolan seemed extremely happy and calm today. I guess getting him such a gift was a good thing. It keeps his mind off of his life.

It was around 2 in the afternoon when we heard a knock on the door. Leif shot up towards the door. “I'll get it!” A few moments had passed before Leif returned. “It's for Nolan.”

Nolan, Auntie and I all got up to check it out. Nolan reached the door before us. “Hey Henry, Merry Christmas.”

Henry's POV

I stood at Nolan's door for a good five minutes, ten at most. I was at my Grandparent's place for the day. It was only a twenty-minute walk to here. I knocked louder than I thought I should have on the door.

The tramping steps taken on the other side only meant one thing; Leif was answering the door. He opened the door and looked at me, spotting the gift bag immediately. “For Nolan?” I nodded. “Okay, I'll go get him,” and he rushed back inside.

I should really explain what I'm doing shouldn't I? Well, I have feelings for Nolan, and I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't get him something. So I got him a gift...

Nolan came around the corner with a smile on his face. “Hey Henry, Merry Christmas.” Liam and his mom peeked around the corner.

“Merry Christmas Nolan.” I presented him the gift bag. “This is for you from everyone.” I was kind of acting as the messenger.

He took the bag hesitantly. “I didn't get you anything...” He sounded really sad about it.

“It's okay.I got it last minute anyways.” I scratched the back of my head. “May I come in for a few minutes? It's kind of cold out here.” Alberta weather sucks.

Nolan's mom spoke up. “Of course you can Henry. I'll get some hot chocolate going.”

I took off most of my winter garb; I really like my scarf okay. Nolan led the way to the living room. Each of them had a pile of gifts for themselves. Nolan sat beside a 3ds. “Did you get that for Christmas?”

He nodded. “Liam and Leif got it for me.”

Liam grinned. “Best cousins ever!” Nolan rolled his eyes.

“That's pretty cool man. Open what we all got you!” Nolan laughed at how excited I became.

He pulled out the tissue covering the gift. The first thing he pulled out were the Speedos. “Speedos really?”

“I know you're not that into swimming right now, but you were doing super good. They are for when you feel ready to get back in the deep end.” That and I wanted to see him in them, but that's a different story. “Coach has been asking about how you're doing. He seems to be waiting for you to catch up with us soon so he can ask you to join the team. Now continue there is more!”

The next gift he pulled out was a gift card for Quicksilver. He's got to buy from the store I work at, durr. “It doesn't say how much it is... I kind of need to know that right?”

Even though I didn't put how much on purpose, I still blushed. “You would throw it back at me if you knew how much it was. That gift is from Tobi and Justin.” He eyeballed me. “Okay, it's like... 100 bucks. It was Mrs. Jynx's idea!”

“You're right I do want to throw it back at you. You're not Tobi or Justin though, so it wouldn't do much.” He continued looking into the bag. He pulled out the second to last gift. “Swimming lessons?”

“The twins, Dylan and I thought that you could use an actual teacher. I don't mind teaching you, but I don't know how to teach the more advanced stuff. There is enough there for three levels.”

Nolan shook his head. “Do you guys always group up to give gifts like this?”

“Only when we think a friend needs it.” I could tell Nolan was really grateful for everything. That glimmer in his eyes showed up again, I haven't seen it since he went into the hospital. It was good to see him smiling again. “Oh, there is one more thing from me.”

He reached in and grabbed a card. Nolan opened it up and read it out load. “Merry Christmas to a great friend.” He looked up at me and smile before opening the card. “I know we haven't known each other for very long but I still consider you one of my very best friends. I miss the Nolan that I knew before you went to the hospital, but I don't know how to help. I just hope that these gifts can help you in your recovery. From Henry.”

Everyone in the room had tears in their eyes, I was blushing. “P.S. This is good for one ticket to Callaway Park.” I finished the card for him.

Nolan got up grabbing my wrist as he did. I stumbled up and followed him into his and Liam's room. He stood there looking at the ground. We didn't more until he wrapped his arms around me for a tight hug. It was then I noticed he was crying.

“Nolan, what's wrong?”

He shook his head, “nothing, I'm just so happy.” That's good to hear. “I'm sorry I've never told you what happened...”

I assumed he meant the whole hospital thing. “It's okay; I get it. It's a personal thing.”

He shook his head. “It's not just that... It's hard for me to say it.” He let go of me, turning away. He found himself a pen and paper and started to write something down. When I started to look at what he was writing he stopped me. “No, you're not allowed to read yet.”

I stood there silently waiting for him to finish. He folded his note up and handed it to me. “Am I allowed to read it now?”

“No. You're only allowed to read it once you're home. After you're done reading it, you burn it up and never tell anyone what it says.” His orders were just that, orders. That was the only way I was allowed to read what this note says.

I nodded my head. “Loud and clear.” Nolan rolled his eyes. “I should get going now but before I go... I have one last present.” A very daring one at that.

“What else can you give me?” I took a step forward and pressed my lips to his. Yes, that's right my present was a kiss. I felt his body tense up as I made contact. I thought he would push me away. He didn't though, rather his quickly relaxed and put his hands on my waist. After a moment, we backed away from each other. “That... that was some... something.”

“It wasn't a bad something right?”

He shook his head. “Yes and no... Once you read that,” pointing to the note, “you'll understand.” I nodded.

I left right after that. I had kissed Nolan, and he returned it! This is big news, big big big big BIG news! This means that I have a chance with him right? This is the best Christmas ever!

I quickly made my way to my grandparents, running most of the way there. When I got there all I said was, “I'll be right back” as I continued past everyone and into the bathroom to read Nolan's note.

I unfolded the note and began to read:

First and foremost Henry, this is to be kept private. You're not even allowed to tell Justin this. As I said, do something to get rid of it when you're done reading.

The reason I went into the hospital was because I had a seizure. This isn't normal for me, but I know why it happened. Well... I've been told why it happened.

Something that no one here knows about me is I was being raped by my brother for years. Mom didn't know a thing. When mom found Paul... Ya... I mentally broke in a way. The 'me' you know is fake. I tried my best to hide from you the pain deep inside me. This 'me' this is more of a truer 'me.'

Paul will no longer be able to do anything to me. So don't worry about that. You are one of the few people I feel safe around. Thank you for being an amazing friend and making my Christmas better this year. Everyone's gifts were even better than the 3ds.

You're my best friend, Henry.

I sat there in shock reading over his note. I got it now... I got why it was so hard for him to talk about it. I wouldn't want to talk about it either. Nolan... I will do everything in my power to protect you just like Liam has been doing. You're special to me... and I hope I'm special to you.

Chapter end.