Chapter 3 Merry Christmas

I'm sitting down on the couch in family room with blanket all over my lap and a sketch book. This is my typical day night. If I didn't sketching, I would read comic book. I have passion with arts and I hope that I could make it someday.

Suddenly I heard some steps to downstairs. I turn my face and see Sam walks in and turn his way to kitchen. "I thought you already sleeping in your room." Sam says to me.

"Not yet." I shake my head.

"What are you doing?" Sam sits down next to me and eating a box of cornflakes. "Is that me?" Sam asks me and point to my sketch.

"Yes. I'm making a real comedy stripe comic. I have passion in arts. Since I was little kid I always got the highest score at drawing." I said to him. "Why you didn't sleep?"

"I'm kinda having sleeping trouble nowadays. At home, my little sister usually read me a bed time story to made me fall asleep." Sam says to me.

"Do you want me to read a bed time story for you?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"No. Do you have any story about Star Wars? Like Star Wars fanfiction maybe?" Sam asks me.

"I can Google it." I said to him and close my sketch book then take my iPad. "Oh I found some. Do you want to hear it?"

"Okay but can we go upstairs? Because I can't sleep on the couch that shorter than my legs." Sam frowns.

"Sure." I nod and get up. "Put that box back into the pantry or I'll kill you." I said to Sam.

I take my blanket and turn off the living room lights then walk upstairs. I walk to Sam's bedroom and sit down on bean bag pillow.

"You're pretty neat." I said to him as I look around his room.

"Yeah I don't like messy things even sometimes I left my shirt on the ground." Sam says and lays down on the bed and pulling the blanket all over his body.

I start reading the fanfiction from my iPad while sitting down on that bean bag. I look at him and he is starring at the ceiling. I chuckle and continue reading the fanfiction. I guess he is my new close friend now.

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It's finally the holiday that I love the most, yes Christmas! It's not about how much we get the Christmas present but it's about the giving. Yes I love Christmas and everything about it.

Tina with New Directions Girls:

We're on the island of misfit toys

Here we don't wanna stay

Artie with New Directions Boys:

We want to travel with Santa Claus

Artie with New Directions:

In his magic sleigh

Artie:

A pack full of toys means a sack full of joys

For millions of girls and for millions of boys

Artie with New Directions:

When Christmas Day is here

The most wonderful day of the year

Sam:

A jack-in-the-box waits for children to shout

Paris:

Wake up!

Don't you know that it's time to come out!

New Directions:

When Christmas Day is here

The most wonderful day of the year

Artie with New Directions:

Toys galore scattered on the floor

There's no room for more

And it's all because of Santa Claus

Sam:

A scooter for Jimmy

Quinn:

A dolly for Sue

Sam:

The kind that will even say

Brittany:

"How do you do?"

Tina with New Directions:

When Christmas Day is here

The most wonderful day of the year

Brittany:

How'd you like to be a spotted elephant?

Artie:

Or a choo-choo with square wheels on your caboose!

Quinn:

Or a water pistol that shoots..... jelly?

New Directions:

We're all Misfits!

Artie and Tina with New Directions:

If we're on the island of unwanted toys

We'll miss all the fun with the girls and the boys

When Christmas Day is here

The most wonderful, wonderful

Wonderful, wonderful

Wonderful day of the year!

We are standing around our Christmas tree and looking at it. "This year Christmas tree is totally awesome." I smile.

"We might have spent the entire decorating budget for the whole year, but with something that looks as absolutely fabulous as this, I have to say, brav-ho-ho-ho." Rachel smiles and clapping her hands.

I chuckle and sit down on my seat. Sam is sitting down next to me. We are totally become close friend since we live together. I read him fanfictions every night before he goes to sleep or sometimes usual bed time story.

"Guess who's not getting coal in their stockings foonce us. I just got off the phone with Don Borowski, the local station manager at Lima's PBS affiliate." Dad walks in. "Turns out that their annual broadcast of the Yule log burning has been canceled." Dad grins at us.

"The hell?" Puck frowns.

"Yeah, they can't afford the licensing fees anymore. But thank you, Scrooges who own that copyright, because Don came to Sectionals, he loved what we did - and he is offering us..." Dad grins at us.

"A Christmas special featuring all of us?" Artie asks excitedly.

"Okay please say you said yes." Rachel says to dad.

"Not only did I say yes, but when Don said that they were looking for a director for the special, I nominated you, Artie." Dad smiles and points at Artie.

"Me?" Artie frowns.

"Yeah. He saw West Side Story, loved your work, and he wants to take a meeting." Dad says to Artie.

"But I I swore I would never sell out and do television. I'm really going to have to think about this, Mr. Schue." Artie says to dad.

I half smiled and walk out from the choir room as I heard the bell rings. I walk to my locker and write on the list that I made. I'm gonna do something special this year but I don't know what it should be. Or maybe a little charity.

~~

I'm decorating the Christmas three with Sam in different side. I'm on the front and he is on the back. It's like I'm having an older brother here. It's fun and I'm not alone anymore.

"Sweetie, I'm home!" Dad walks in. "Wow since when my baby girl let anyone else decorated her beloved Christmas tree?" Dad chuckles.

"Dad, having a perfectly decorated tree is not what Christmas is about. It's about being with the people that you love." I smile at him. "You can help Sam with his side." I said to dad.

"Alright, I will join." Dad says and walks to Sam.

I smile and keep decorating our Christmas tree. "I will bake ginger chocolate chips cookies tomorrow. You will have Christmas with us right?" I ask Sam.

"No, I will go home. I will bring Rory to have Christmas with my family." Sam says to us.

"Where are we going for Christmas this year?" I ask dad.

"Your mom and I agreed to take you to Harry Potter and The Cursed Child stage play in Chicago." Dad smiles at me.

"Really?" I ask excitedly.

"Yeah. You can't stop whimpering about it." Dad chuckles.

"Yeah well, who doesn't love Harry Potter?" I giggle.

"The nerd guy with magic trick?" Sam frowns.

"Better than Star Wars." I roll my eyes.

"Alright we are done with our tree!" Dad and Sam cheers.

I walk to their side and look at the tree they decorated. I shake my head and turn the side around which my side is facing the front. Which facing the front.

"I thought she wouldn't turn it around." Dad simply said.

"I heard that!" I roll my eyes and walk to the kitchen. "Dad, I'm so lazy to cook, can we call Breadstix?"

"No, I will cook." Dad says to me and walks to the kitchen.

I walk to the pantry and take Orly food and put it on his bowl. "Orly, time for dinner!" I shout. I heard Orly footsteps on the stairs until he turns to the kitchen and I put the bowl on the ground.

"He is really smart." Sam says while looking at Orly.

"He is well trained. He won't pee in anywhere except in toilet." I said to Sam and sit down on the counter. "Dad, you know that I love sketching and making stripe comic since I was little right?"

"Yeah. Why?" Dad asks me.

"Can I enter Hunter College, City University of New York? They have this best arts program and the tuition fee is not that expensive so if I don't get scholarship, you still can afford that." I said to dad.

"Isn't that public state university?" Dad turns his face at me.

"Yes." I nod. "Can I?" I grin at him.

"Make sure you're graduate first." Dad chuckles.

"Like I'm not going to graduate." I roll my eyes.

"Hey, I got report from Ms. Jenskin that you got A- for your algorithm exam." Dad says to me.

"That was her fault to gave exam without telling us before." I shrug.

"Mr. Schue, I was wondering. Since I lived here, will you give me A+ for my Spanish exam?" Sam asks dad.

"Hah don't wish!" I roll my eyes.

"No, Sam. I'm very professional and strict about grades. Even she has to study hard first." Dad says to Sam. "Alright, barbeque chicken pop is ready." Dad grins at us and put the food on the dining table.

~~

I open my eyes slowly as I feel thirsty. I look around my room and Sam is sleeping on my hanging chair. Yeah I was tired from reading him a bed time story so I gave him a book and let him to read it by himself.

I get up and take a glass of water from my desk and sip the water. After that, I walk to my closet and take a blanket. I'm sitting down in front of Sam and take the book then put the blanket all over his body and rub his head.

With him my life seems brighter now. I'm not lonely anymore and I feel like I have a close friend again. It's really nice.

I continue lay down on my bed and turn off the lamp and pull the blanket on. Christmas week is still begin and I can't wait for that.

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Now we are in auditorium. I'm just listening to Rachel sing a song to us for that PBS show. This is my second Christmas year without my parents to be together and I just hope that they could be one for me on Christmas.

I lean my head on Sam's sleeve and listening to the song that Rachel sing which is kinda sad. I don't want to be sad on Christmas, I want to be happy.

"Rachel, could you come see me?" Artie called Rachel as Rachel ended up her song.

"Yes, Artie, of course. And if this is about my ears, I know that they're a little naked right now, but that's just because I'm waiting for something special. Something that's really gonna sparkle and, you know, catch the light. So what's up?" Rachel says to Artie.

"It's not about your ears, it's about your song. It makes me want to kill myself." Artie simply said.

"I'm sorry, Joni Mitchell is not depressing, she's emotional." Rachel frowns.

"It doesn't fit my vision for our Christmas spectacular." Artie shakes his head.

"And what is that exactly?" I frown.

"We begin in the Swiss Alps, in the village of Gstaad, in the perfely-appointed living room of Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson's chic swank chalet. The tree towering and opulent. The fireplace draped in garlands. The stockings bejeweled. Kurt and Blaine, the perfect hosts have invited their friends to drop in for an evening of Noel Coward-esque banter and fun, happy, cheer-filled songs." Artie says to us.

"Are you telling me I'm not invited to Kurt and Blaine's for Christmas?" Rachel asks Artie.

"Not unless you pick a happier song. The evenins festivities conclude with Rory, dressed as the Christmas elf Itchy, reciting Frosty the Snowman. Start with fun, end with fun. That's how you do it, kids." Artie smiles at us.

"The Frosty story isn't fun. At the end, he melts and dies." Sam frowns.

"I'm rebooting Frosty. In my version, he doesn't melt.He.. well, new pages forthcoming." Artie says to Sam.

"What's wrong with a story that's a little sad or a song that's a little depressing? I mean, that's part of Christmas, too, right? It's the sad things that make you remember what's really important." Sam says to Artie.

"Sorry, Sam, but the phrase is "Merry Christmas," not "morose Christmas" That's the vision. That's what you have to buy into." Artie says to Sam.

"Well, sorry, Artie, I'm not buying into it. I'm gonna go downtown, see if I can ring one of those Salvation Army bells." Sam gets up and about to walk off. "Come on, Rory. I'll give you a ride." Sam turns his face at Rory.

"I should memorize my part, Sam." Rory says to Sam.

"Fine." Sam simply said and walks out from the auditorium.

I half smiled and let out a sigh until I heard the bell rings. I actually don't want to be in a show where Kurt, Rachel, and Blaine will taking all the spotlight. I'm invisible in this school and everything I did is not matter.

~~

I'm sorting out some stuff that I can giveaway for a charity. Instead of rehearsing for that show and listening to how Artie wants the show to be. It's better to be at home, packing stuff for charity.

"Do you have any...what are you doing?" Sam walks into my bedroom.

"I have these children books that I never read anymore since I was in middle school. Maybe I can give it away for charity you know. Like a school for homeless kids." I smile at Sam.

"What about you come with me? We can volunteer at Lima Homeless Shelter and then we can donate these books. Then we also can collecting donations in downtown. How is that?" Sam smiles back at me.

"I never do all those things before but sure." I giggle.

"Being homeless make me realize that if you always look to someone above you, it will never be the end, we always wanted more. But somehow we have to look to someone below us and realized that everything we have is enough." Sam says to me.

"I actually agree with you about what you said in auditorium today." I said to him. "It's been two years I'm facing Christmas without my parents to be together." I half smiled.

"Aren't your dad and your mom fine now?" Sam asks me.

"Yeah they both are fine with not being together but I'm not. I'm exhausted doing the custody. I want to live in a house with both of my parents in it." I half smiled. "And honestly, the biggest reason why I'm single because it's hard for me to trust someone and having commitment. That's why I just love watching my crush and never talk to him."

"That guy across the street? Really?" Sam raises his eyebrows.

"You said he was cute." I roll my eyes.

"Come here." Sam sits down next to me and hugs me. "Look, I can help you to go out on a date with him if you want to. I can talk it out."

"No. He already assume that you're gay. I'm sure with that." I shake my head.

"Alright. But look, your parents already made a decision. They still love you no matter what. Your mom can't stop talking about you at work. Currently she told Howard Bamboo to find the best Christmas present for you and 90% of them are wrong." Sam says while rubbing my back.

"Really?" I frown.

"Yeah. I saw it." Sam smiles at me. "Look, this is Christmas week and no tears on this day. You should be happy we all have to be happy even though everything is not perfect.

"Thank you Sam." I smile back at him.

"Do you have any colour pen anyway?" Sam asks me.

"On my desk." I said to him and point to my desk.

"Alright, I borrow these." Sam takes my colour pen and walks out from my bedroom.

I smile and continue sorting these books. Yeah Sam is right. Everything that he said is totally right. I'm sure I will have the best Christmas this year.

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I'm applauding annoyingly as Blaine and Rachel ended up their song. I'm stuck in this room because of dad which I actually don't like it. Because this is not what Christmas about.

"I bow to you." Artie grins at them.

"Oh, God." Rachel giggles.

"Gold. Gold! That's what I'm talking about! I see Cheerios behind you, kind of a dancing Santa thing." Artie grins at them.

"Just as long as they don't upstage us." Rachel simply said and goes back to her seat.

"Yeah, as long as they don't upstage us." Blaine nods.

"Good." Artie smiles happily.

"Look at you do-gooders. Hard at work." Coach Sylvester walks in.

"Coach Sylvester, we're in the middle of rehearsal." Artie says to her.

"Yeah, and I think it's great you're working so hard on your performance. And I'll tell you what. Everyone at the homeless shelter is really looking forward to the show. I just wanted to confirm with you, Artie, that we're on for Friday night.

Oh, Friday." Coach Sylvester smiles at us.

"It's a no-can-do on Friday. We're taping our Christmas special for the Lima PBS." Artie shakes his head.

"You told me you were in." Coach Sylvester frowns .

"This is a huge opportunity for us. Can we just do it another night?" Artie asks.

"Homeless will be homeless for a while. That's sort of the problem. I promised them. You don't want to disappoint these kids." Coach Sylvester says to us.

"Hmm, like your behavior has disappointed us for years?" Mercedes asks.

"Last Christmas, you cut down our tree, you stole our presents and you made Becky dress up like a reindeer." Artie frowns.

"So you're gonna walk away from people who have nothing?" Coach Sylvester asks us.

"No, not at all. We're just gonna distract them from their plight and the smell of urine and make them happy with our glamorous Christmas cheer." Rachel grins at her.

"The homeless don't have TVs. So you're all agreed on this? Fine. Merry Christmas." Coach Sylvester simply said and walks away.

"Let's take it from the top, guys. And remember, smile." Artie grins at us.

I let out a sigh and take my bag then walk out from the choir room. I'm sick with people who doesn't have any sense of giving. I mean it's not about coach Sue but it's about those homeless kids.

"Coach Sylvester?" I called her and run to her.

"Yeah Schuester?" She turns her face at me.

"I'll be volunteering at the Lima Homeless Shelter. I also have some old children books that still clean and in a good condition also some clothes that still new but I never wear those. Can I donate those?" I ask her.

"Sure, kiddo. See you this Friday." Coach Sylvester smiles at me and walks away.

I smile and turn around. Yes I want to do a charity this year and how to do this from myself. I don't care if I don't have to be on TV. I more care what if those homeless people wouldn't have food for Christmas.