Punk Cinderella

Chapter 10: A Royal Christmas

*Harlow POV*

Can I just say it…I HATE CHRISTMAS! I am called a Grinch and in all honesty, I could care less. Sammy though wants to decorate the bunker for Christmas and I cannot say no to him. “Fine, but don’t get mad at me if I tell you that I hate the holidays.” I roll my eyes as I hear Gabriel, Sam, Kaleb and Harlow cheering while Bobby, who is spending the holidays with us this year, calls them idjits. It was the day before Christmas and everyone is getting ready for tonight. I was just wrapping everyone’s presents when I see Sam come into the library, looking worried as I finish wrapping Ashley’s new Webcam since her’s is about dead when Sam holds me from behind. “Harlow, if you don’t hurry up, you are going to make us late for tonight. Besides, doesn’t Cinderella enjoy a ball every now and then?” He teases but I was not in the joking mood. “Look, go on the supply run and I will be ready when you get back.” I urge him as Kaleb yelled that she was ready, leaving me alone in the bunker. “You know, you can come with us if you like.” He urges as I push him out the door. “Just go please.” I yell and lock him out, trying to keep from crying as I walk down the stairs to our Christmas tree, trying to ignore previous Christmases because all they do is break me down. “I despise the holidays,” I mumble to myself until something catches my eye.

Sam got some of the Christmas ornaments from my family during the time we were together because there is one of Ashley and me at a young age holding each other and grinning ear to ear. I remember that picture because we did feel like princesses during that time. “I was always Cinderella yet, you were seen as Belle from Beauty and the Beast”. I mumble as I touch the picture frame and see all the others from my past. They were all homemade, some were by us and some were made by the kids for us. The one that caught my eye the most though was a musical one that Ashley got me when I turned 16. I got it from her when I sang “Where Are You Christmas?” by Faith Hill for a talent show and because I did not win; she went out on Christmas Eve and gave it to me.

Looking at the ornament, I decided to sing softly since no one was around. “Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away? Where is the laughter, you used to bring me? Why can't I hear music play? My world is changing, I'm rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes too?” I start out softly, imagining the sweet music in my head as I look back at the Gabriel and Kaleb influenced tree, full of sweets and tensile. It was defiantly not a tree I was used to but it was still nice to look at. “Where are you Christmas? Do you remember, the one you used to know? I'm not the same one, see what the time's done. Is that why you have let me go?” I continue to whisper before I feel tears in my eyes. Why was I crying then I remembered now why I was crying. I hated the holidays because bad things always seem to happen either to me or to those that I love. I hated the holidays because I was afraid of seeing those I love getting hurt.

“You know, you sing beautifully, it is a shame that you won’t sing Christmas Carols with me” I hear someone say from behind me. I turn around quickly, tears still streaming down my face as the prince who stole my heart, holding his arms open, greets me with his eyes full of love. For some unknown reason, I ran to it, holding him and crying harder as he pulls the hair from my face, telling me that it was ok. I cried harder into his chest and felt like everything I was ever sad about was falling around me and yet, he held me in his arms. He was the light I needed right now. I cried harder as I hear him tell everyone to finish getting ready as I then sit my head up and he leads me to the couch, pulling me into his lap and playing with the aqua streak in my hair. I felt like I was naked, my walls were gone and it was not normal.

“Harlow, is that why you don’t like Christmas like everyone else? Because of something that happened in the past? Honey, I need to know. Please tell me baby girl.” He pleads with me and before I can keep it in, the words come out. “I don’t like the holidays because everything bad seems to happen around them and they have left some horrible memories. I hate keeping it in but I just hate getting my hopes up and then having them crash down. I am so sorry.” I cry into his chest as he holds me, pets my hair and tells me it is ok. “That is the great thing about each New Year, new memories and those new ones can help you see the good things about the old ones.” He reassures me as I nod and feel my mascara running. Dammit, waterproof my ass. “Do you remember what the 27th is?” He quizzes me and I smile gently before nodding.