VECTOR IN DC

I groaned as my phone rang, piercing the quiet of my bedroom. I fumbled around my bedside table, trying to find the device and shut it off before it woke me up entirely. I squinted at the screen, trying to make out the caller ID in the dim light of the early morning.

"Hello?" I croaked, my voice hoarse from too much partying the night before.

"Tom, dear? It's your grandparents," came the cheerful voice on the other end of the line. I blinked wearily at the clock on my nightstand - 8 am on Christmas morning.

"Hey, guys," I said, my tone indicating my exhaustion. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Tom," my grandmother replied. "We just wanted to ask you if you wanted us to book you a flight ticket to come and see us. We miss you, and we'd love for you to spend the holidays with us."

My heart sank. I had completely forgotten that my grandparents had even offered to buy me tickets. I had been so wrapped up in my own activities that I hadn't even thought about Christmas plans.

"Uh, no thanks," I said, my voice trailing off with uncertainty. "That's really nice of you guys."

"We know you're busy, dear," my grandfather chimed in. "But we miss you terribly. It's been months since we last saw you, and it might be hard on you to spend the holiday alone."

I rubbed my eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. "I'll see what I can do," I muttered.

"That's all we can ask for," my grandmother said warmly. "We'll be waiting for you, Tom. Merry Christmas."

I hung up the phone and flopped back onto my pillow. I felt torn - on the one hand, I knew I should go and see my grandparents. They were getting older, and I didn't know how much time we had left together. On the other hand, I was so tired and the idea of flying across the country felt daunting.

I closed my eyes and tried to clear my head. Maybe a change of scenery would do me good. I sat up and reached for my laptop, starting to search for flights. Maybe I could make it work, after all. *sigh*

I tossed and turned in bed, unable to shake the thoughts of my grandparents and the flight tickets they had sent me. After a few minutes of restlessness, I gave up trying to fall back asleep and got out of bed.

I stretched my arms and legs, feeling the soreness from the previous night's party slowly fade away. As I made my way to the kitchen, my thoughts were consumed with the idea of going to see my grandparents. Maybe explore Star City a little. 

I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down at my computer, starting to search for flights to Star City, where my grandparents lived. I scrolled through the options, trying to find the best deal and schedule that would work for me.

After a few minutes, I found a flight that left later that day and arrived in Star City just in time for dinner. Money wasn't an issue, so I booked the option that'll provide the best comfort. 

I quickly booked the ticket and started to prepare for my trip. I packed a bag with some clothes, toiletries, and decided to just get a few gifts for my grandparents at the airport. I also made sure to download some movies and TV shows on my tablet to keep me occupied during the flight.

As I finished up my preparations, I couldn't help but feel like the holiday was about to become a bit exciting for me. Maybe because I wouldn't mind exploring the night life of Star City, the party from the night before had reminded me of my playboy days and it wouldn't hurt to have some fun. 

I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, ready to start my journey to Star City. I felt a mix of excitement and anticipation as I made my way to the airport, but I had a feeling that this trip was exactly what I needed right now.

I stepped off the plane and breathed in the crisp, cool air of Star City. It felt good to be out of the stuffy airplane and in a new city. I made my way to baggage claim, my heart racing with excitement as I had no idea what the future had installed for me during my few days in the city. 

As I grabbed my suitcase from the carousel, I looked around for my grandparents. I spotted them standing off to the side, waving excitedly at me. I felt a warm smile spread across my face as I made my way over to them. I had missed that feeling of family love. 

"Tom, dear!" My grandmother exclaimed, wrapping me in a warm hug. "It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Grandma," I replied. 

My grandfather hugged me next, patting me on the back. "Good to have you here, Tom. We've missed you."

"I've missed you guys too," I said, feeling a wave of overwhelming emotions from the love they showed me. Which felt a bit embarrassing because I wasn't used to that. 

We made our way to the car, chatting excitedly about my flight and the holiday season. I couldn't tell them about the activities I've been up to lately, so I mainly talked about school and my time at the gym. What was I going to tell them? That I was a criminal mastermind who oversaw multiple crimes and heists? Absolutely not… They advised me to socialize and make friends, encouraging me to have some fun every once in a while like a normal teenager. 

We arrived at my grandparents' house, and I was immediately struck by the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The house was decorated with Christmas lights and ornaments, and the smell of holiday baking filled the air.

I stepped through the front door of my grandparent's house, my suitcase in hand, and was immediately met with the warm and smiling faces of my relatives. My aunts, uncles, and cousins all greeted me with hugs and kisses, welcoming me back to their home with open arms.

I recognized a few from my parents' funeral, while some faces weren't familiar to me. 

At first, I felt a sense of comfort and belonging wash over me. It was nice to be surrounded by family who loved and cared for me. But as I looked around at their smiling faces, my expression began to change into a fake smile. 

It reminded me of my previous life, where I had been betrayed by my own family. My father's younger brother had showered me with love and affection, treating me as if I was his own son. But it had all been a facade. He had been manipulating me, trying to use me to gain control over my father's business. My death back then was due to his unprecedented betrayal. 

As I looked at my relatives now, I couldn't help but wonder if their love was genuine or if they too had ulterior motives. I felt a sense of distrust and suspicion creeping in, despite their warm welcome.

I tried to push these thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on enjoying my time with my family. We all gathered around the dining table for a delicious home-cooked meal and caught up on each other's lives.

But as the night wore on, I found myself feeling increasingly uncomfortable. I excused myself to my room early, unable to shake the feeling of unease that lingered within me.

As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever be able to trust my family again. The pain and betrayal from my past life still weighed heavy on my heart, and I didn't know if I would ever be able to fully let it go.

I woke up to the sound of laughter and chatter drifting in from the living room. It was Boxing Day, and my family was already up and about, enjoying each other's company. 

As I got out of bed and got dressed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort. Despite the warmth and love that surrounded me, I still found it hard to fully trust my relatives. The memories of my previous life were still fresh in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of suspicion that lingered within me.

But I tried to put those thoughts aside as I joined my family in the living room. We spent the day catching up, playing games, and enjoying each other's company. Despite my initial hesitations, I found myself gradually relaxing and enjoying the day with them. 

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