Winter break was always nice a chance to take a break from school work and just hang with her friends. Christmas was over her family left town and Iris was free. Her grandparents come every year both sides, not just one no both so you can see how things can get loud around the holidays for her. Iris would run around the house making sure everyone is taken care of so her mother wasn't stressed because that always stressed dad out and we don't need that.
Iris loves her grandparents very much but it's always a competition to who is better, who got the best gifts, and who is better off. The second the grandparents left she was heading out the door. She grabbed her thick coat, scarf, and gloves. "Mom, I am going to Sam's to give him his gift." She poked her head in the kitchen where her mother was washing dishes. "You know it gets dark early, so don't be out too late. You know how we worry."
She went to the garage to get her bike out to ride to the school to meet Sam. They never really hung out at his place cause his dad was unpredictable and sometimes a dick and her mom was in cleaning mode so she needed to stay out of her hair. Plus Iris needed time alone just as much as bother her parents. It was a nice but long Christmas.
Iris shot Sam a text before peddling off into the cold. It felt so good the wind in her face to be out of the house and free from Christmas music and old people. She was lucky her mom didn't make her stray and help her clean but her mom liked things done a certain way.
I'll be at the school in 15 just escaped the house
Grandparents left and dad's at work
@Raz
For Sam, Christmas was never much of an affair. His dad didn't really celebrate it, even when Sam was little. He used to have fun with it at school but once he got home, the whole festive feeling dropped away and everything was normal again. Sam used to love giving his dad the ornaments he made in class as a kid but his dad never seemed all that impressed. And they never had a tree to hang them on. Sam was pretty sure that everything he made his dad over the years had been tossed out with the garbage.
So it wasn't much for him to get away. There were no old people, no christmas music, nothing like that for him to escape the way Iris had to.
He didn't even have to say anything when he left because his dad wasn't even home. All he had to do was grab his bike, his backpack, and then pedal off to the school to meet Iris.
He didn't have to ask where she'd be. Every time they met up, they met up at the same place: over by the tetherball courts, which were located near the back of the school and weren't visible from the street. When he rode up, he saw Iris and he was more than relieved to see it was just Iris and not any of the other scoobies.
"Hey!" he called, coming to a halt in front of Iris. "It feels like it's been ages since I saw you."
"I think it has been." She took he backpack off smiling as she took his gift out. It wasn't much she made it herself. It was a scrapbook of the past year that had together. It was filled with them and the other Scoobies but most of the pictures were of her and Sam. They were best friends after all.
It was wrapped in blue paper with yellow suns on it. Iris reached out and handed it to Sam." Merry Christmas." She was sure he would love it, gosh she loved making it. That was her thing the crafts. If she could sale everything she made she would be rich. But it wasn't about the money it was about who she was making it for, the love she put into her gifts they were always specific gifts tailored for individuals.
She waited for him to open it. Smiling, anticipating his approval of the gift. "It's not much." She was now playing it down worried he wouldn't like it. The gift was now in his hands.
"It's the holidays," Sam said, although in the back of his mind, he was still thinking about family. Iris had a family that celebrated those holidays. Sam got closer to a celebration this year but his dad was still running off on him. He just didn't seem to be drinking. At all? It didn't make sense to Sam, because he couldn't fathom what made things different now. Was it talking about Sam's mom?
"Oh. Hey." Sam took the gift and smiled sheepishly. Warmth spread across his cheeks. "I don't have anything for you."
He felt like an asshole now. Now he'd have to find something to give her in return, even if it was something around the house that he'd had forever. Something good, though. Since he was sure Iris got him something nice. Still feeling guilty, he opened the gift to see a handmade book. Sam swallowed hard. Weird. How weird was it that Iris would make a book for him after he saw what his father made to remember his mother?
Slowly, Sam opened the book, letting the wrapping paper wad up in one hand while he looked through the scrapbook. It was just like the kind of thing his dad showed him, only this was a book about him and Iris. Sure, some of their other friends were there too but it was mostly about them. Swallowing hard again and blinking back a stinging sensation in his eyes, Sam looked up at Iris.
"Thank you," he said. "How did... how did you know?"
"Don't worry about it seeing you is my gift." She wished Sam would come to her family things being an only child sucked and they hung out so long just talking about lame things but Iris' mother is always saying, "be respectful and entertain."
"Go on open it," she cheered him on, the look on his face when he opened it she couldn't tell if it was good or bad. She took a step in closer smiling he hands cupped together close to her heart Sam was making her nervous.
"Your welcome and how did I know what? That you would love it? The look on your face is telling me something different."She looked over his shoulder at the pages. "Go to the last page it's my favorite." It was a picture of the two of them the first day of school the first day of high school things changed a lot of things have changed but they were still friends they still had that.
Sam made a slight face. Yeah, seeing him might be a present for her but it felt like a total copout. It was never a good feeling to get a present when there was nothing to give back in return. Not that he wasn't happy about the present, though. He could feel all the positive feelings that his best friend placed into that book and it made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Every page was filled with the best photographs and memories that Iris had managed to collect and Sam couldn't believe it. He kept thinking back to the book his dad had. Crazy how they thought so alike. Or had Sam's mom made that book? Now that Sam thought about it, there was still a lot he didn't know. Just because his dad started to open up didn't mean that he have told Sam everything. Sam bit his lower lip and then looked at Iris again.
"The last page?" he echoed, flipping over to it eagerly. He didn't correct her about loving it. He did love it--he just didn't know how she knew--how she knew about his dad's book. How it could be the perfect gift. Crazy. His gaze fell upon the last page of the book. It felt so long ago, this photo. And yet it really wasn't.
"Look at those two goofballs," he said with a big, stupid grin.
Iris had no idea that Sam's father shared a scrapbook with him so she was unaware of whatever feeling Sam was feeling she could see something was off but she couldn't read his mind. Sometimes she wished she could so she could say all the right things. With her abilities, she was able to see things at times and speak with the dead it's not like she mastered it at all yet, and if she was anything like her father should have something deep inside her that she would have to gain control of later on.
Iris was scared the first time she saw the dead she didn't tell her parent's right away she kept it to herself for some time. It was freighting she was pretty young but Iris' want to know more had her dive in and explore her powers rather than run from them.
"Right!" She giggles along with Sam. "We have changed so much but we're still the same." What she meant by that was they were still close and best friends and even though they were growing up they were staying true to who they were.
"I'm so glad to be free from all that and ready to just chill with you." She had been waiting for this for some time and she almost didn't know what to do with him first. Eat then shop? Or shop and eat while shopping? It was great to be with Sam she needed her bff time. Just the two of them
"Same old goofs?" Sam asked, adopting a goofy smile as he looked up at Iris. She was right, though. They changed a lot from the day they met but they were still--at the core--the same people. They were still close friends and that would never change. All that weirdness from Iris being around the other guys disappeared when he thought of it like that. Inwardly, his feelings were confused but at the same time, at least he knew his place with Iris was irreplaceable--other boys around or not!
He bet they didn't get a scrapbook like this, for example! He smiled to himself as he looked back down at the book and then closed it and brought it up to his chest to gently hug it.
"Since I didn't get you a present, do you want me to get us lunch?" Sam asked. "I snuck out a few dollars from dad's jacket before I left."
"Yeah, I think so." Iris giggled and covered her mouth. She knew things were getting weird with the new guys tagging along, Travis and Oliver didn't weasel into the group too much and she didn't push for them to hang seeing how Sam got last time. She never saw him as the jealous type but then again they were never put in that kind of situation.
She thought she could talk to Sam about everything but when it came to other guys and liking them she could see was not a chill conversion for them. Before she thought it was just because he was a guy and didn't know how to talk about things like that or give good advice but now she could see it was something else.
That something else made her heart flutter a little but it also confused her. She saw them as friends and it was hard to see him in a different light. Or maybe she just never tried looked at him in that way. Wouldn't it mess everything up? Or would it make it better she did love him and she couldn't see herself without him in her life?
None of the others in the group got handmade gifts like this even though she did secretly make Travis a gift but she didn't give it to him. Nor did she ever plan on it, it was just fun making it. She liked him but wasn't trying to make it a big deal and date him or anything. Her father wouldn't approve of that at ALL!
Awe he really like's the gift. It was the cutest seeing Sam hug the book. It warmed her heart to see him happy. "Sure where we going? And your dad better not find out you took his money or he'll kill you that's his beer money." She shook her head disappointed that his father was an alcoholic. It wasn't right the way he treated Sam. And the way her parents talked about Ethan and Sam like they were lower class then them hurt. She never told Sam the things they said that would be just wrong.
Iris got on her bike so they could head out, it was chilly out it would be nice to have a cup of hot cocoa warming her hands and tummy right about now.
Sam definitely saw the other guys as some kind of competition. He could tell Iris might even like them maybe, he wasn't sure. Iris was never the type of girl to get all flirty and shy around guys she liked. Actually, Sam didn't even know which guys she liked because they didn't talk about who they liked. Was that weird? Best friends should share that sort of thing! But Sam didn't so maybe Iris thought he didn't want to talk about it with her.
Which wasn't true. But then, he wasn't sure how to feel about the other guys. Iris didn't show any favoritism toward any of them in particular so honestly, there was no real threat. If she started moon eyeing one of them and getting all weird and hand holdy and blushy, there might be a problem. On his end.
But he didn't want to think about it. Mostly, he just wanted to revel in the fact that Iris made him a gift and it was a perfect one. She wasn't even psychic and she knew. Somehow, she knew. Because she knew him. It made him feel worse for not having the perfect, thoughtful gift in return. Now he would start working on one and he'd surprise her with it.
"About that," he started, looking over his shoulder, like his dad would be right behind him. He continued in a hushed voice as he approached his bike, "My dad's been acting real weird lately. He's... been sober. And he's talking about my mom. He never used to."
"Say what?" She stops in her tracks dropping her bike. As far back as she can remember Sam's dad was drunk. Like something big had to be up for him to stop drinking. Now Iris was worried for Sam what was going on in that home was he safe?
"Did your dad hit his head? Has he ever talked about your mom?" She wanted as ask about the being sober thing too but that would be low. They are best friend's and besties don't go taking shit about each other's parents. The whole town could call him a drunk but she wouldn't. Sam can call him one but she respected Sam too much to talk about it.
They had so much more to catch up on and she was eager to get caught up. This day was long awaited for her things to get back to the way they were the Scoobies doing Scooby stuff. "It seems we have a lot to talk about other them just monsters, hmm?" Mysteries didn't take a break because of the holidays so they had a few things to catch up on but Sams dad drama was top of this list right now.
Iris picked her bike back up after her dramatic reaction to Sam's statement so the could catch up something warmer.
See! That's how crazy it was for Sam's dad to be sober! Iris actually dropped her bike in surprise. Sam stopped, turning toward her. After a moment, he shook his head slowly.
"No. Never." His mother was off-limits for as long as Sam could remember. Every mother's day, there was a weird tension in the air as questions arose in Sam's head but by now, he'd learned not to ask. His father inevitably would get drunker and meaner than ever. Whatever happened, Sam decided it wasn't worth it anymore. That's why the book meant so much to him. For once in his life, Sam's father actually shared something about his mother with him.
"Yeah, but... we can..." Sam's eyes lit up as Iris picked up her bike. "We can find out what he's doing! The same way we always do, only not with monsters."
"That's what I thought." The worry was apparent on her face. What could they do about this? Was it a good change for Sam and his father? Sam had a great idea, this is why the would so well together.
"We can follow him one day and see what a day is like and who is in your father's life or what is making this change happen." Iris worried Ethan was sick and it sparked the sudden change. Given a shorter time to live. But she didn't want to bring the idea up to Sam it would kill him inside. They would end up finding out what's going on like they always do.
They are the Scoobies they don't leave any rock unturned. She wanted to be happy for Sam and his dad but deep down she knew something was wrong. She was there for it all the good, bad, and ugly.
Iris peddled off into the dark with Sam they made it to the hang out spot where they were going to plan their operation on Ethan. This case is close to home, so it will be handled in a different manner, with extra care.
Once they made it to the park where they usually met up, Sam leaned his bike against a picnic table and climbed on top. He sat with his feet on the bench, leaning back against the palms of his hands.
"All right, if we're going to follow my dad, we have to find a good time for it. Like the next time he goes out!" He checked the time on his ancient cellphone. Unlike the rich kids, he was pretty much left with the oldest model that would still connect. It used to bother him but after seeing what he'd seen with his dad over time, he sort of understood where they were. (In the hole.)
"What do you think he's doing?" Sam asked. "Do you think he met somebody new? Like... a new girlfriend?"
Since the change in his dad seemed positive, maybe his dad was finally able to let go of the memories of his past lover and find solace in a new one.
Iris kicked out her bike stand and joined Sam on the table, "I agree."
"Maybe he has met someone, she must be special to get him to..." Iris paused thinking before speaking. This was not just another case this had to do with a loved one. Iris wanted to know why Ethan was keeping her a secret, she hoped it wasn't a married woman. That would be all bad. She didn't share this concern with Sam he was probably thinking it already.
Whoever she was she was making Ethan happy and it was making Sam happy and that was all a good thing.
She smiled at Sam and grabbed his hand, "Whoever she is we need to thank her for showing your dad how to live again."
"I wonder what kind of person she is. Do you think she's like my mom?" Sam asked. He almost dared to ask--would she become his mom? His step-mom? Sam didn't want to curse it so he kept it close to his heart and left it silent. His dad could get remarried. There could be another woman in his life, now that he was learning to get over the past. Sam was positively gleeful over the idea--he didn't want to jinx it with anything else.
"Do you think she'll like me?" Sam looked down at their two hands together, heart thumping faster. Then he looked up at Iris. "Do you think the reason he hasn't let me meet her is because... of me? Because she doesn't like kids or...?"
"For your dad to like her, I am sure she is a little like your mom, in some way or another." Iris knew nothing about Sam's mother she could only imagine. She always imagined she was sweet and loving as all moms are. Iris and her mother had a bond one she appreciated she looked up to her mother and wanted to be like her when she got older. Iris' mother seemed to always have it together, level headed.
Iris couldn't imagine life without her mother. Sam's situation was unfortunate and she wished him the best. The news of his dad being sober and sharing things was a little alarming. Hopefully, Ethen wasn't sick drinking can kill you! So they preached during D.A.R.E week, don't do drugs kids!
"Sam! I'm sure she will like you. Maybe he just wants to make sure she's going to stick around. And he is trying to protect you."
"What if she has kids?" Iris giggled trying to change the mood. She wanted Sam happy it hurt her to see him sad.
"Yeah... maybe." It didn't sound like his father, though, to worry too much about what Sam thought or felt. In fact, most of Sam's life, he felt neglected and distant from his only family. It made it difficult for him to connect to other people in his life, too. Iris was the only one he had a strong connection with. Even the friends they hung out with were mostly there for Iris or met Iris or were brought in by Iris. Sam didn't share secrets with the guys. Some part of him didn't feel as close with them as he did with Iris.
"Ohhh," he said with a laugh, kicking his leg out and letting his heel catch the edge of the bench seat. "You mean built in siblings? I hope it's not anybody from school."
But the fact was, if she was from Hazleton and had kids, they definitely went to their school.
"I mean we are both only children so don't you ever wonder what it would be like to have a sibling?" She dreamed about it a lot to have a sister sounded like the greatest thing ever a built-in best friend. She and Sam were limited on time together and them being the opposite sex they didn't get to stay the night at each other. Not that Iris parents would allow it with Ethan's habits.
"Oh, that would be so weird." She couldn't help but think of an odd match up with Sam and another classmate."Let's just hope she likes kids but doesn't have any." Iris gave Sam a half smile. That would be the best possible situation, right? Sam doesn't need someone taking away the only family he has this could be a scary thing for Sam.
"We'll get to the bottom of this mystery just like we always do."
"Should we follow him tomorrow?"
"Maybe? Sometimes?"
Sam couldn't say he had never given it thought. Sometimes, he was envious of people with older siblings that protected them. He wasn't sure if he was equipped for a younger sibling, though. But then, he kinda liked the idea of somebody looking up to him. So... Maybe. He thought it might be nice to have a step-sibling, the more he thought about it.
But Iris didn't think so, judging by what she said, so Sam laughed. Well, it would be kinda weird if the kid was in their class. Like... if his dad was seeing Ollie's... um. Yeah, he somehow doubted THAT was happening. So it could get weird, then.
"Yep. I'll get everything ready and tell you when I see him leave the house. Deal?"
It's not like Iris' parents were going to have another baby not with how old they were it would but nuts to have a baby in the house. Same with Sam's dad. It's not like their parents can't have babies it would be just kinda late most people have them close together. Iris had it a little easier than Sam, her parents put a lot of focus on her and her happiness.
It wasn't always rainbows at home Iris and her mother fought at times they could both be pretty stubborn on holding their ground, Iris was the child so most of the time she was the on admitting the wrong. But she put up a good fight a few times.
"Deal." She smiled at Sam and got up from the table. "Oh, I forgot to tell you I got the new iPhone for Christmas!" She took her phone out eager to show Sam, "I didn't expect it all, you want my old phone?"
"That's if your dad can add it to his account, it still works well." Sam had an old flip phone and her parents already said it was fine, so this was like a second gift to Sam. The could facetime now!
"Um... sure!" Sam tried to smile as if it didn't mean anything but... sometimes the charity thing got to him. He knew that Iris was just trying to be a good friend--she had an item she no longer needed and Sam could use a better phone. His current one was hecka old and cracked and it had definitely seen better days. But he wished... he so wished that his father could do these things for him or that Sam himself was capable of it himself. As soon as he could get a real paying job, he was getting one. Not just odds and ends around the neighborhood, but a REAL job. Even if that meant Happy Burger.
"I'm sure my dad can add it to the account," he said. With his father's newfound interest in his life, it seemed like a possibility for once. "Maybe he'll get a new one too while we're at it," he said with a crooked smile. Not like his dad's phone was much better!
Iris thought she was doing a nice thing for Sam giving him a new phone and didn't catch on that it bothered him. She took out the old phone and gave it to Sam.
"Doesn't your dad have an old phone, like you? I think it's time for both of you." Iris and Sam were best of best friends but she still didn't know everything about Sam. She told him everything and trusted him with her life. So if she found out she hurt his feelings it would hurt her.
Silly girl logic to get upset for upsetting someone. In here head they were both good right now. And they were going to go on a hunt tomorrow to see what got Ethan to put the bottle down.
"You wanna ride me home?"
"Yeah, we're both living in like, the 90s," Sam said with a laugh. He tucked the phone away, actually grateful at the same time. He didn't want the charity, he didn't want Iris knowing how bad things really were (and she didn't, not fully), but he couldn't help that short-lived feeling. Turning toward his bike, he hopped on and patted the bars.
"Yeah, come on! Let's go~"
"I wasn't being mean about it." Iris was getting a off vibe from Sam now. Now she was feeling bad for bringing it up, it's silly how things don't always end up the way you plan. No matter how much you think you know someone.
Iris peddled up to Sam. "You know you're my best friend and I'd do anything for you and I thought it be cool to both have iPhones." She couldn't drop it now that she felt like she upset Sam. He had to see she was not doing it out of pity. How can giving someone something upset them? Is all she thought.
Iris didn't really know how it was for Sam at home, her parents didn't have addictions or afflictions like Ethan. All she could do is be there for him when he needed her. Iris felt helpless when it came to helping Sam with his father.
"I know. I'm not mad. Don't worry about it."
He didn't know what set her off; he thought he did an all right job masking his weird feelings about the charity thing. But hey, he got a free phone out of it, right? And one his father would never be able to afford on his own. He just wished that his father could or that Sam could. It was forever Sam's burden that he was just a kid and the best he could do was get 15 bucks for mowing a neighbor's lawn.
"Anyway, I should get home. But you have to tell me when we move into phase two!"
"All right, I'll text you when I get home," Iris said as she peddled off. She missed hanging out with Sam and couldn't wait to go out and investigating with him again. Spening time with the family was getting to her. Iris could only take them so much she was happy the house was quite again.
"Be safe!" She shouted as her parting words.