Valedictorian | Armin Arlert

holidays

Sasha doesn't celebrate Christmas.

She didn't come from a religious family and it's not as if you have to be religious to celebrate it, but her family didn't either way. No tree, no decorations, no lavish dinner. Of course, they took advantage of the break from school, but life was the same as usual.

Of course, a lot of people don't celebrate Christmas– you didn't even typically celebrate it. But for Sasha, it felt strange– in a good way– knowing she didn't either.

The rural communities are famous for being small-minded, religious, and somewhat simple folk. Sasha, being from rural parts of town, wasn't exactly a "wide-minded" person, but she still wasn't small-minded. It was a healthy balance that allowed her to form the bond she did with Connie, who lived in the urban area.

But Sasha loved her family.

She took whatever lengths for some quality time with them. She once referred to them as her "assigned friends" which made you scoff and complain you were assigned, lousy friends. Plus, Sasha was sentimental. She may not have celebrated many holidays, but that didn't mean she wasn't pulled into the excitement.

It would've been hard for Sasha to come into town. Snowstorms plagued the roads for multiple days at a time. Plus, with the weather heating up, and diving back down, black ice formed making driving dangerous. School was nearly canceled because of it. In fact, she didn't go to school and was basically exempt from her exams.

So the fact she was on your doorstep on Christmas Eve– although you'd deny it if confronted– made you choke up a bit. 

"(Y/N)!" She clasped her hands together. The hair that hung in front of her face was pushed to the side. Replacing it was a burgundy ear band that sheilded her ears from the biting frost outside. You caught a glimpse of the car that was parked outside. It looked to be Niccolo's car and it melted your heart that Niccolo put that much trust in Sasha to drive his car. 

"Sasha," you stepped aside, allowing her in, "What's up?"

You drew your brows together, concerned that her face was hurting from smiling so much. She glanced about, internally frowning at the lack of decor in your house, "Are you free tonight?"

You sized her up, squinting at her. Yes, obviously you were. Absolutely nobody was at home besides you and it was the evening before a major holiday. Insulted is all you could describe it as. It felt as if she asked just to hear you say no. She knew– so why is she asking?

"Guess," you deadpanned.

She let her face drop, "Uh... no." You stood before her silently with a stone expression. She pulled on your arm in a pleading motion, "Come with me downtown!"

You wrinkled your face, "What?"

As if on a timer, she grabbed your hand, pulling you into the basement, where your room was. Excitedly, she rambled about "how much fun" you're going to have and how "you should get out more" and "studying alone this much can't be healthy" as you vehemently protested and more insulted than before. She ignored you, by replying with "you'll see" every time you asked what the hell she was doing.

Sasha began digging through your closet, "You and I are going to the downtown plaza and enjoying ourselves, no buts."

Your knees weakened, crowds were not your typical idea of fun. The plaza was a crowded recreational joint that was always packed during the holidays. Its main attraction being its amazing food, an ice rink, and the obnoxiously bright tree in the center.

Sounded like a sensory overload breeding ground.

"Please, (Y/N)..." she pouted.

You inhaled, "Let me get this straight, you come in my house at 6 p.m. and drag me around my own house- without taking your snow boots off. You want me to go downtown and... and enjoy myself..."