(Jai's P.O.V.)

Unfortunately, we're playing a game. A sick twisted game that seems almost impossible to win but, if you think about it, we're all playing a game. We're just all on different levels yet, in the same hell. Some of us have different devils and angels that say different things which is why we all have such different perspectives on the world.

Some people can hear their devils and angels louder than others and they can't control that. What they can control, is which one they choose to listen to. That may be hard though because, sometimes the devils can be much more persuasive.

Luke decided to listen to his devils when he hit Beau. Beau decided to listen to his angels when he didn't hit back. Do you see how it works? Anyway, a lot has happened these past few days. With the note written on Luke, the note on the ceiling, and the tape recorder, we've been looking over our shoulders constantly. We aren't safe here and that's pretty clear now.

I wrote down the message written on Luke's arm on a piece of paper and I took the note down from the ceiling. I put them both with the other notes I had been collecting. I looked at the pile of notes I had and frowned at the number of them. I went of to the tape recorded and carefully picked it up. I gently put in with the other notes, which were inside a safe that I had found and had hidden from Beau and Luke. It required at key to get into and I wore that key around my neck like a necklace. I locked the safe again and then pulled the necklace back over my head. As I was doing all of this, Beau and Luke were scrubbing the note off of Luke's arm so, they didn't notice my actions at all. Good.

Well we've been here for about 10 days now and I can't remember the last shower we had. Yeah I know, it's gross but, we didn't know where the showers were or if there were even any here! Either way, I've had enough of that. I feel dirty and all I want is to be clean. Especially today.

"U-uh Beau? Do you think they have showers here we can use? I feel dirty." I told him and he stopped scrubbing Luke's arm and looked at each of us up and down. He gave us a sympathetic look and scratched his head.

"Probably. We should ask someone though. Nonna is our best bet." He said and I agreed. I looked over at Luke to see if he would agree because, I knew he didn't like trusting anyone. I can't really blame him though.

"Yeah. I think we should see if......she can help us. I won't be surprised if she doesn't though." Luke said and I could he was starting to mature a little bit.

"Alright well, we should bring our clothes just in case there is one downstairs so, we wouldn't have to come all the way back upstairs." Beau told us and we all nodded and began to get out some clean clothes. I pulled out a nice shirt my mum bought for me, which I had never wore, jeans, my favorite shoes, and a beanie. I put everything inside a small bag and pulled it over my shoulder. I looked around our room and saw that Luke had done the same thing as I, and that Beau was taking longer than the both of us.

"C'mon Beau!" Luke jumped up and down impatiently. Beau stuffed a few more things into his own bag and then stood up and walked out the door with Luke and I following. I ran my fingers along the cracks of the walls and I could feel Luke's eyes staring at me.
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We made it downstairs and then made our way to the kitchen were Nonna said she'd always be. We walked into the kitchen and looked around the room until we saw her near the dishes.

"Nonna?" Beau said to get her attention. She heard him and turned around with a smile.

"Oh hello boys! How are you?" She asked us. We all mumbled a positive response but, Beau quickly cut to the chase.

"We're hanging in there Nonna but, do you know of a place where we could wash up?"

"Ah yes! There is a shower all the foster kids use. You'll find it if you go down this hall and take a right at the end." She said and gestured to a different hallway. Beau nodded and thanked her before grabbing both Luke and I's hand and started leading us in the direction she described. As we started walking she said,

"But you boys don't have to use that one. Oh no, that shower is filthy! You boys can use my bathroom shower. It's much cleaner since it is my own and I am able to keep it clean." She said with a smile and I couldn't help but smile in return. She's done so much for us! More than the boys think.

"Why are you doing all this to help us?" Luke questioned her. She simply looked at him and said,

"Because, I know what it's like to feel all alone. It doesn't take much for me to help you boys out." Nonna was listening to her angels.

Luke smiled at her and I could tell that he was warming up to her. She gestured for us to follow her and we did as asked. She led us to her room and into her large bathroom. It was clean and had everything we would need to clean ourselves properly.

"Help yourselves to the towels boys." She said then closed the door. Luke went to lock it and as he was doing so, Beau began to take things out of his bag. He took out body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. I smiled because, amongst everything that was happening with us, he still remembered to bring toiletries for us.

"All right boys, we can go one at a time and um...yeah." Beau said and nodded.

"I'll go last." He added.

"I'll go second." Luke volunteered.

"Why? You can go first Luke if you want?" I asked. Why didn't they want to go first? Back at home, we would fight over who went first but, now they didn't want to?

"No it's okay. I want there to be enough hot water for you. I don't want you to get sick from a cold shower." Luke said to me and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I shook my head and said,

"B-but I don't want you guys to be cold either! I wouldn't mind going last boys, really!" I said.

"Jai, it's alright! Just shower and then we'll go after you okay?" Beau told me and I knew I wouldn't have won that argument. I began to take off my clothes and then I stepped into the shower. The water was warm and it felt so good! As I went to wash my hair, my arms were to weak to do so. They felt heavy and too tired to the job. My eyes got watery and I began to cry. I can't do the simplest of things!

"Jai? Why are you crying? Do you need help?" Luke asked as he hard my sniffles. My cheeks flushed red in embarrassment and I nodded my head slowly.

"I can't do it! My body still isn't strong enough." I cried harder.

"Hey hey shhhh it's alright Jai. I can help you okay? That's what big brothers are for." He told me and put shampoo in his hands and then ran it through my hair. He put a little bit of conditioner in my hair as well and then he rinsed it all out. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed and weak as Luke did all of these things for me.

"Alright, all done Jai Jai! You can dry off now." He said to me and handed me a towel. I wrapped it around myself and then stepped out of the shower. Luke stepped into the shower as I stepped out and I went to put my clothes on. I put on my underwear, jeans, my fresh clean shirt that still smelt like home, and then pulled my beanie over my head. I felt fresh and clean!

Soon enough, we were all clean and dressed. We gathered our things and then exited the bathroom. We thanked Nonna and made our way back up to our room.

When we made it there, Beau put our dirty clothes in a plastic bag and Luke unpacked the toiletries. I had something else to do.

"Beau I left something downstairs, can I go get it?" I asked when really, I didn't leave anything.

"Yes but, can you take Luke with you?" He told me. No! This would ruin my plan!

"But I won't be long! Can I please just go alone?" I begged. He looked at me with a confused face and then he said,

"Um okay but, be careful!"

"I know I know!" I said I began to leave the room.

"I'm serious Jai!" He said.

"Okay! I will!" I said and then ran out the door.

I ran through the halls and held out my hand to feel the wall as I did. I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen where Nonna was.

"Nonna!" I said and grabbed her attention. She jumped up and turned to face me.

"Oh goodness! Jai don't scare me like that!" She said and held a hand over her heart. I laughed and apologized.

"Sorry Nonna. Do you have the stuff?" I asked her and prayed that she did. She smiled at me and said,

"I do. Wait here." Then she left the room. I smiled and waited for her return. She came back with a large box and three mugs. Perfect!

"Here you go Jai." She said and handed me the stuff. You see, when I had first met Nonna, she had told me that if I ever needed anything, that she would be willing to help. So, knowing that Christmas was arriving, I knew that the boys had forgotten, especially with everything going on right now. Though, found it in my own interest to ask Nonna if she could pick up some things for me at a store. I gave her all my money and a list of things to get. I trusted her with that task and what do you know? She didn't break that trust.

"Thank you so much Nonna! I seriously can't thank you enough." I told her.

"Sure thing love. It's sweet what you're doing you know?" She said and I just shrugged and said,

"I'm not done yet so, I haven't done anything sweet yet." She laughed and I added,

"I'll send them down here so that I can finish up some things."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll hold them here for as long as I can. When you're ready for them, open your window and there should be old wires around it. Pull the blue one and it should ring this phone." She said and ponted to an old phone on her counter.

"The cables are connected." She said and I smiled and thanked her again.
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I ran back up to our room and hid the stuff behind a corner. I went back to our door, and knocked. Luke opened the door and looked confused.

"Why didn't you just walk in?" He asked me.

"Because Nonna needs your and Beau's help." I told him.

"With what?" He questioned.

"I don't know but, stop asking so many questions and just go!" I said and ushered them both out of the room. I eventually succeeded in kicking them both out and then I went to grab the stuff I hid behind the corner. I then got to work!
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I hung up lights and decorated the room with Christmas decorations. I pulled out a small Christmas tree from the box Nonna had given to me and stood it up in the middle of the room. I decorated it with lights and put a star on top of it. I pulled out the wrapped gifts that were also in the box and I placed them under the tree. I made the beds and made sure everything looked in order before I put the three mugs on a small table.

Yes I know what you're thinking, how did I afford all this?! Well, I used everything that I had. I wanted our first Christmas here to be as special as possible. Therefore, I'll do whatever it takes.

I stepped back and looked around he room. Everything was perfect! I went over to the window and pulled on the blue cord Nonna had described. I felt it vibrate so, I knew it was working. I went to sit on my bed and I waited patiently for my brothers to return. I took off my beanie and pulled on a Santa hat instead then waited and hoped for the best.

I heard a click and then the door opened. Both of my brothers walked in with shocked expressions on their faces.

"J-jai what's all this?" Beau asked and looked around the room.

"Merry Christmas Boys!" I yelled and jumped into their arms. They laughed and hugged me back.

"Jai Jai this is amazing! How did get all this?" Luke asked as he walked around the room.

"Don't worry about that. Just put this on!" I said and gave him and Beau a hat as well. They smiled at me and then I felt myself be lifted up by Luke and then I was spun around as well. I laughed and he said,

"Merry Christmas Jai Jai!"
Beau smiled at us and then he hugged us both.

"There's hot chocolate for us on the table." I told them and then we all sat down and drank them together. I had a milk stash and as did Luke. Beau laughed at us and then wiped them off with a napkin.

"This is amazing Jai.....Thank you." Beau said sincerely. I blushed and nodded.

"I'm not done yet." I said.

"What else could be better than this?!" Luke said. I laughed and grabbed the two gifts that I had placed under he tree.

"What's this?" Beau said astonished.

"A gift!" I told them with a smile.
Luke smiled and opened his gift and Beau did the same. Inside the wrapped gifts, were two necklaces. They were dog tag necklaces that had messages engraved on them.

Beau's said: My Big Brother, My friend, I will love you until the end. -Jai
Luke's said: My Hero, My Big Brother, I will love you forever. -Jai.

I think they liked it because, they immediately put them on and kissed their necklaces. They then engulfed me in hugs and I've never felt happier.

"Thank you so much Jai." They told me.
"We're sorry we couldn't get you anything." Beau sadly said. I smiled though because, they didn't know what I did knew.

"You boys are my presents. You guys are all I wanted and all I needed for Christmas. I love you boys." I said and they hugged me tighter. That's what my angels had told me to say and they were right too.

For the rest of the day, we spent it together and we told stories to each other and overall, had a good time.
It was the greatest Christmas ever!

As the night ended, I opened the window and looked up the stars. I began to talk to the stars and I said,

"Mum? I miss you. I tried my best to make this years Christians good but, it's not the same without you. Please keep watching over us and um.....
Merry Christmas Mum."

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Beau standing there.

"She would've been proud of you." He smiled at me. I smiled back and looked back up at the sky. I can see the Angels dancing within the stars and it was truly, the best Christmas ever.

What I had noticed though amongst all else, was that we didn't receive a note from anyone and I consider it a gift from the mysterious person.

He listened to his or her angels today. Unless his or her devils have something else planned.

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!☃

Stay safe and ily all!♥︎