the other side of the world

I could hear the cackling of the fire mixed with our laughs and the snow falling all around us. It was just a perfect Christmas night.

I was sitting between Xander and Annabeth, laughing at jokes, and stories that were told. Xander had a strong sense of humor but he was annoying.

“who will dance tonight? And sing?” Max announced eyeing me with a smirk. I shook my head and stood up. “perhaps someone would like to sing?” I asked getting a round of laughs.

Annabeth volunteered to sing while I dance.

“I’ve made mistakes but so have you.

It’s been a year of nothing new.

And now I’m waiting for this to unfold.

They raise a glass, but I’m all sad

I keep awake and spirits high.

It’s you I’m hoping to meet in the cold.”

This was one of my favorite Christmas song to be honest and I wasn’t going to be surprised when the others joined in. but I was surprised when Xander sang the next part:

“And no

You’re not the only reason I came home.

And maybe it’s the seasons, I don’t know.

And maybe it’s because I’m on my own.”

Dammit the guy had some vocals.

Next thing I knew everyone was singing including me and yes, I was still dancing:

“Last year, you took a piece of my heart.

This year, I guess it’s falling apart.

Everyone’s hoping for snow.

But I’m just hoping that you come home.

Last year, we stole a dance in the dark

This year, we’re just a thought from afar.

Everyone’s hoping for snow.

But I’m just hoping that you might make it home.”

It was Xander again:

“I catch a breath; it chills my lungs.

It takes me back to when we were young.

I always seem to get lost in the past ’cause I let go,

I breath you out before my eyes,

You form a cloud and disappear in the stake to the glass.

Oh, you’re not the only reason I came home,

And maybe it’s the seasons, I don’t know,

Maybe it’s because I’m on my own.”

And then it’s all of us singing at the top of our lungs and me twirling around under the snow:

“Last year, you took a piece of my heart

This year, I guess it’s falling apart

Everyone’s hoping for snow

But I’m just hoping that you come home

Last year, we stole a dance in the dark

This year, we’re just a thought from afar

Everyone’s hoping for snow

But I’m just hoping that you might make it home”

I twirled then to everyone surprise I jumped , and landed on one foot, then I went to twirling again.

I felt like I was a lightweight feather as I danced, twirled, jumped. I felt so carefree, like my heart was at ease, like all my worries were washed away with the snow. The people singing in the background just brought a small smile to my face.

Maybe they were all gone but the memories, their traces are still there.

I was so drawn into dancing that I didn’t realize everyone was singing to another song.

“You can hold my hand like you need it

Keep my soul like you want it

Hold my hand, stop wasting it all

You can hold my hand like you need it

Keep my soul like you want it

Hold my hand, stop wasting it all”

I danced till it felt like forever. When I stopped a laugh escaped my lips as I let my self fall down into the snow. Everyone watched me weirdly. Xander walked up and looked down at me then laughed shaking his head when he saw me staring at the stars.

I always love stargazing.

I stared up the beautiful night above. Something wheezed leaving a small shiny trail behind it. A shining star. A small tear formed in my eyes. Amelia loved to stargaze too. I missed her so much. It breaks my heart.

Mason lays down next to me facing me. his finger wipes a tear from my cheeks. “she is up there” he whispered. I sometimes wondered if mason could read minds. “I can read people, not minds” he whispered. Yeah, defiantly he can. He turns his head and we both watched as a meteor shower began. It was my favorite.

“Oh my god!” Maria inhaled. Xander stopped laughing and looked up at the sky “woah” he muttered. I pictured Max smiling as he watched the show. But it wasn’t an ordinary one. It was a Quadrantid meteor shower. One of the best.

When I was really young it was my tradition with dad and Alexander to watch the Quadrantid meteor showers on such nights.

The night ended with us watching the meteor shower.