I always will (A DNF Christmas Story)

Chapter #3

 
    The door was pulled closed by George before he pulled the cold metal key chain out of his pocket, inserting it into the hole to lock it, before pulling it out. George placed the key chain back into his pocket before walking down the concrete driveway.

The colorblind man settled on taking a walk around town. After all, he loved seeing all of the Christmas decorations. The shimmering blinking lights, the candy canes, the Trains in the window display of the toy store. Wait, the toy store!

George remembered wanting to get a train set for the girl that he saw giving out candy canes. The brunet quickly changed his course and crossed the empty street.

George entered the blue building with a bright red door. As soon as he crossed the threshold, the girl behind the counter greeted him.

"Hello, I'm Niki. Welcome to Toys R Us. Is there something I can help you with?" Her pink hair complimented her warm personality nicely.

"Hello. I'm wanting to buy one of your train sets," George muttered quietly. He forgot how much he hated talking to people, even more so strangers.

"Oh wonderful! Clay, your shift is soon! What color do you want?" The girl spoke happily. She had pink hair. She wore a white and black striped shirt and overalls with with one strap undone.

George finched at the name before realizing he didn't answer her question. "Oh Uhm- I don't care what color," he replied.

The woman walked away and shortly after returning with a giant box in her hands. It was a lego train set. George believed that it was a red color and Christmas themed. It's perfect.

"Will this do?" The lady asked politely, George nodded. "Would you like it wrapped?" George thought about it before muttering a small 'yes please'

"Clay, could you wrap this for me?" The girl spoke. A blond emerged from behind a door, his bright forest green shining in the illuminated shop in a way that made him look flawless in George's opinion.

"Of course, Niki. I'd be glad to help-" Clay's eyes met with George's and it was as if time stopped. Neither of them dared to move or say hi.

'It can't be!' George thought to himself, 'there is no way that Clay, my ex, is him.'

Niki cleared her thought, "Clay, stop staring at the poor boy. You're such a pervert," Niki playfully shoved the blond towards the door he exited from moments before.

"Sorry about him. He's not normally like that," Niki giggled. The two stood there in awkward silence before Clay walked back out and handed Niki the now-wrapped gift.

After paying and thanking them, George left the store in utter shock and disarray. Did that really just happen?

George kept walking along the concrete slabs, avoiding all the cracks. He looks over to see a store with suits and dresses in the display case.

The store was a worn out brick look with a rainbow flag hanging beneath the window on the second story of the shop. There was an oak sign above that door that had Puffy's Fashion engraved into it in using fancy pirate-like scribbles.

"I'll get a suit for the dance, tomorrow. Of course I promised Sap that i'd go," George scolded himself for being stupid enough to make a deal with the raven. He never forgot anything.

———

The environment was cheerful; Couples holding hands and kids gasping at the sights of all the new toys this holiday season. The air was misty and the wind was showing no mercy.

George had a few snowflakes in his hair from the light sprinkles and his cheeks were tinted a pinkish color due to the harsh winds. The brunet wore golden rimmed circular glasses. The doe-eyed boy had on pink shirt with milk in it and some baggy cuffed jeans. And don't forget the flannel jacket that he now had wrapped around his waist.

"Hello, George. I haven't seen you here in forever," Puffy greeted as she noticed the colorblind man walk in.

"Yeah...I'm just looking to buy a suit for the gala," George explained as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"You got a date? Or are you becoming the third-wheel because of Sapnap and Karl?" Puffy was Clay's mom so obviously she knew both of the boys were friends with the two.

"I don't have a date, no." Puffy smiled apologetically before she scrambled off into the back of the store. When she returned in her left hand was a navy blue suit and in her right hand was a darker crystal blue suit.

"I think the navy blends in too much with your fluffy hair. Let's try this darker one. It compliments your skin tone. I think, if you feel comfortable of course, you should apply some blush when you wear the suit-" Puffy blabbed on.

"I actually don't own any make-up. That does sound like a good idea though." George replied. He'd never thought of wearing make-up before, but the idea didn't bother him.

"Well, I'll let you think about it." Puffy handed George the suit and led him to the changing area. After some adjusting, the two agreed that the suit looked spectacular.

"That will be $2,469 dollars," George handed her his credit card. She swiped it before handing it back to the brunet who quickly put it back in his wallet before he lost it.  

"Here's your suit. And don't forget to iron it!" Puffy pointed her finger in the brunets face. George nodded and exited the shop, enjoying the pleasant tunes from the wind chime that was located next to the door.

George walked down the street, passing the church, the bus stop, and a few other buildings. As he passed the toy store, he looked through the window and saw Clay kissing a girls cheek. She was slightly shorter than him and looked a bit younger. She almost liked like a female version of him with the long blonde hair and piercing piss-colored eyes.

George felt something stir inside of him. His eyes stung and he felt as if someone had ripped his heart out of his chest and crushed it.

George ran home, not caring about the looks he got. George fiddled with his keys before successfully opening the door.

The brunet hung the suit up in his bedroom closet before making himself some ramen and sitting on the couch.  Tears streamed down his face as the Hallmark channel played in the background.

'Why did it hurt so much to see Clay with someone else? Was he jealous? Upset?' George sighed and decided not to overwhelm himself with emotions that he'd pushed away for so long.

George sadly ate the now cold ramen as he watched couple and couple get together in the cheesy movies that always played around this time of year.