Riley's POV

I jumped out of bed as soon as my eyes popped open. It was Christmas and for once it wasn't gonna be dreadful for me.

I figured since it was the holidays, i could dress somewhat nice. I threw on my khaki skinny jeans, my long sleeve denim button down, my brown oxfords and a bright red bowtie to top it off. I rolled my sleeves up halfway and cuffed the bottom of my jeans right above my ankle. Now that I'm dressed, what the fuck do I do to my hair?

I tried about fifty different hairstyles before I threw my comb in frustration, maybe simplicity was more up my alley. I tied my red bandana around my head, bumped up my hair, and curled my bangs into a swoop over my eye. There we go. I lined my eyes and glossed my lips, then I was out the door.

We didn't wish each other a merry Christmas in our house, it brought up too many memories. They usually just left me a card with money in it on my bed and I got it whenever I came home from wherever I ended up that day. That's why I was so excited to actually be able to celebrate it this year. I had gone shopping for the gang and everything. It gives me a warm feeling that I've missed for so long.

I pulled up at the Way house and everyone was hanging outside the door waving insanely. They were definitely drunk already, well except for Mikey, he was always the most sober one because he was the one with the most sense out of all of us. I ran inside and before I could say merry Christmas there was a giant mug of egg nog in my face. I shrugged and we all cheered.

"What's in the bag, lovely?", slurred a hammered Gee. I giggled and said they'd see later. I threw the gifts under the tree and went to greet Donna in the kitchen.

"Merry Christmas Other Mother!", I grinned as I hugged her, "How are you holding up with the drunken rascals over there?" We both laughed and she said I hadn't even seen the best of it seeing how it was only two o'clock. I looked into the living room and while Frank was playing Halo, Gee was in his lap shooting the screen with his finger gun. It was hilarious to watch because they were so serious, especially when Frank would die. Gee would punch him in the back of the head claiming he killed him, not realizing that he wasn't actually playing.

I sat down on the floor next to Taylor and we started talking about what we got everyone. "Well when me and Mikey went shopping, I was in Spencer's and saw these shirts that said "My boyfriend can deep throat better than your bitch" so of course I got those for Gee and Frankie, I got Mikey a giant stuffed unicorn, and I got Bob and Ray matching Misfits shirts.", she said grinning. I laughed at the image of Frank and Gee flaunting their shirts through the hallways at school. They were couple of the year in my eyes so they had every right to.

Dinner was done and everyone was holding a good buzz, now it was finally time to open presents. We all sat in a circle on the floor like a bunch of kids anxious to rip open our shit. When everyone sorted out what was theirs, Gee was the first to kick it off. "Fuck yes!" He hugged the framed Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings record as tight as he could, then he pointed to his mom, "You know I fucking love you woman!"

We went around the circle until everyone had opened their gifts and got back to the party. I sat over at the table and looked at the most beautiful gift I had ever gotten. Gee got me a metal cased notebook with a note inside:

"Riley, thank you so much for everything you've done so far. Yeah things didn't work out between us like I imagined they would, but I couldn't be more at peace with my life and where it's going. You're one of my best friends and I wouldn't have it any other way. You guys make my life worth living. I'd probably be
rotting in a ditch without you all. You're a special girl and things are gonna go so well for you. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And please always remember I'm here for you no matter what the case is. Now put this fucking notebook to work. I expect a masterpiece by graduation. I love you kiddo and Merry fucking Christmas :).
-Gee."

I jumped when I felt a hand wiping away the unnoticeable tears falling down my face. "Thank you so much Gee, this is the greatest gift I've ever gotten.", I threw my arms around him, kind of knocking him back a step. He managed to put together a "you're welcome" in the midst of all his slurs, "And I'll make sure to meet your deadline, I might even beat it." We both laughed and returned to the room where everyone was playing that stupid game where you stick your forehead to a bat and spin around it until you fall out. Looked like Bob was winning so far, but that's only because Ray had thrown up all over himself and he had kicked Tay's bat over. And then there was Frank.

"Fuck you Frank! You're not gonna win this shit!", he yelled as he started to slow down then eventually hit the floor. Frank threw his hands up in victory and stood over a doubled sighted Bob.

"Who lost, beeotch?!", he yelled as he shoved his nuts in Bob's face. We all broke out in tears when he crouched over after Bob kneed him in the balls. "Fuck....fuuuuuuuck. I fucking...hate you!", he cried out and punched Bob with his free hand.

Everything toned down after a while and we were watching A Christmas Story, the one movie we didn't make fun of because we spent the whole time laughing. Ray, Mikey, and Bob were sprawled out in the floor, Gee was laid back in the loveseat with Frank in his lap, and Taylor and I were cuddled up on the couch under my tie dyed blanket. "I hope you guys fucking know I love you. Merry Christmas.", Gee slipped out. We all said merry christmas back and one by one, we started falling asleep.