Chapter 8

                                    

                                          

Remy woke up around 6:30 the next morning to someone's hand on top of her face. Flinging the mystery arm off of her she turned to find Braeden in her bed. Laughing to herself, she climbed over him and began to get ready for Christmas morning.
Christmas in the King household was a very big deal. Since it had always been just Remy and her mom, they spent the holiday with each other, as well as their chosen family, the Lemasters. She remembered all of the good times they had at their houses setting up new toys and pranking each other. Since Remy's mom was British, they always had fun Christmas crackers that when popped open had the little crown inside. She remembered Braeden finding them before they were given out and opening all of them, stacking all of the flimsy crowns on his head and walking around like he was the coolest person alive. The adults had laughed so hard seeing him strut, the memory made Remy smile.
After finishing getting dressed Remy made her way back to her bed where Braeden had now sprawled out like a starfish. Before waking him, she snapped a photo of him and sent it into the group chat.
"Brae, wake up. You have to get home before Kate sees that you're here," she said shaking him violently. It was impossible to wake Braeden up without blunt force, and with Remy still feeling off balance and dizzy, that simply wouldn't be possible.
Braeden stirred awake and gasped, seeing Remy hovering over him. He was in her bed, under her blankets, fully clothed. "What the fuck, how did I get here," Braeden asked groggily. However, moments later his mind was flooded with memories. "Rem, you were absolutely trashed last night. How the fuck are you awake right now?"
Remy laughed loudly and shook her head. "I don't know," she said stumbling a bit.
"Oh my god. Remy King, you are still drunk," he exclaimed clapping his hands and shaking her shoulders.
"Braeden I swear to god if Kate comes up here because you're screaming so loud I'm going to tell Deb about the summer you said you were spending the weekend at my house but we went to Coachella."
"Okay, okay I'm sorry I will quiet down," he said in a hushed voice.
"Now you have to go, I need to find a way to sober up and then prepare for Christmas here with your family. Whatever you do, do not tell your mom you were here. She will talk to my mom about it and then we are all in trouble," she said pushing him towards the window. 
"Okay, I'll see you in a bit. I'll bring a flask, might as well stay drunk to avoid the hangover," he told her with a wink jumping out the window and down the house.
"Good morning mum," Remy said bounding down the staircase. She ran up to her mother and gave her a big squeeze. "Happy Christmas Christmas," she said handing her mother a small box wrapped in beautiful red and silver wrapping paper.
"Remy, you know we don't do gifts until we're with the Lemasters," she told her.
"I know, but this is a special gift that I want you to open here with just us," she told her mom sweetly.
Kate took her time unwrapping the box and admiring her daughters wrapping job. When she finally opened the box she found a gorgeous gold necklace that said 'wherever we are'.  This was the first song of Remy's that had reached the billboard top 100. It was a song that she wrote for her mom after she moved from her hometown to Los Angeles. Her mom was experiencing empty nest syndrome, and writing the song helped remind her that no matter where the two of them were, they would always have each other to call home. She ended up selling the song to an artist in the industry, but she felt that regardless it would always be their song.
Kate looked up with tears cascading down her face. "This is the most thoughtful gift. Thank you my sweet, I love you," she said pulling her daughter into a bone crushing hug.