the ghost of christmas love

nini

HOLAAA!!!!!

these nexts chaaaaaptersssss JDHSJA

also i start exams tomorrow ugh. but i'm done wednesday which is a saving grace KDHSHAJA

ENJOY!!

ricky and i have made our way to the middle of downtown where all the action takes place. i can already tell today is going to be a good day.

we're standing in a line, waiting for our turn to grab skates. i'm rocking back and forth on my boot heels, looking around. i see little kids running around and playing in snow. they're making snowballs and playfully throwing them at each other.

i feel a saddened smile forming on my face watching all the little kids. i grew up in salt lake and i used to come here all the time with seb and kourtney. it makes me miss my life seeing everyone.

"you okay?"

i turn my head at the sound of his voice and quickly nod. we move up in the line and shortly arrive at the front. we rent skates and then go find a bench to put them on. i tie on my skates and then wait a couple seconds for ricky. he stands up and slightly loses his balance. after he regains it and he glances at me with a look of concern.

"i have no idea how to skate.", he says.

i wave him off and shake my head, "don't worry...it's easy. just glide."

we slightly waddle over to the gate and open it. i step onto the ice and immediately am taken back to the last time i was here. i balance on the ice and reach my hand out. ricky looks at my hand then at my face then back at my hand. he hesitantly reaches out and i take his hand. he steps onto the ice and grasps onto the side. i start skating ahead of him slowly, showing him how to move his feet.

"this isn't gonna end well!", he exclaims, his voice loud so i can hear him over the blasting christmas music.

i shrug, "if you fall you fall! it's christmas, you can't be unhappy!"

he lets out a quiet breath and carefully removes his hands from the walls. slowly we skate forward and eventually he gains balance on the ice.

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it's been an hour and we're off the ice now. we returned our skates and are now walking around downtown. so far...the day has been super enjoyable. ricky actually seems to be enjoying himself too. i look up at him and see him focused on something. he actually looks calm and at peace.

"what're you looking at?", i ask.

he lifts his finger and points in front of him. i turn my head and see a line of kids waiting to meet santa. there's a little boy sitting on his lap right now, tears coming from his eyes.

i laugh, "that reminds me of someone."

i playfully nudge his arm and he laughs, shaking his head.

"i wonder who? definitely not me.", he jokes.

i laugh and look around, spotting a concession stand serving hot chocolate. i grab his hand and pull him towards it.

"i should've brought money from my world.", i mention and he shakes his head.

"i got it."

we walk up and order two hot chocolates. he kindly pays and the worker hands us the cups. it's a red cup with white stripes and the coco is topped with whipped cream, christmas themed sprinkles, and a candy cane.

"these are the cutest omg!", i exclaim.

we walk to a bench and take a seat. christmas music can be heard from anywhere you are. i happily sit and my eyes watch all the humans. my heart feels happy seeing everyone enjoying the holiday season. i take a sip of my hot chocolate and then turn towards ricky. i feel my cheeks get hot when he was already staring at me.

he chuckles a little and points to my upper lip. i lick my lips and taste whipped cream. i squeeze my eyes shut and press my lips together in embarrassment.

"that's embarrassing.", i breath out, awkwardly laughing.

"it's christmas...you can't be unhappy."

my eyes glance to the side and see his face. the side of his mouth is slightly turned upward in a forming smile. i smile at him and take another sip of my drink.

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it's later in the afternoon and we stopped at a cute cafe to grab lunch sandwiches. we're now strolling down the sidewalk, window shopping. all the stores are decorated for christmas and have their special editions out.

i smile, looking from window to window. i continuously point out things to ricky and then one thing catches my eye. it causes me to stop in my tracks and turn completely towards the window.

ricky notices i've stopped and he retraces his steps, arriving next to me. he stares through the window and knows what i'm looking at.

my eyes are stuck on two beaded bracelets, sparkling in the sunshine through the window. each bracelet has a gem and the idea is that they go together. one bracelet has white and gold beads and it has a single gem that's half of a christmas tree. the other bracelet has black and white beads and the gem is the connecting half to the tree.

"what do you find appealing about those bracelets?", ricky asks me in a way that sounds curious and not judgmental.

i look over at him and let out a breath, "did you ever wonder how i became a ghost of christmas?"

he shrugs, "kinda? it's still hard to believe."

i put my hands in my coat pockets and suck in a breath, "i'm 25...i have been for quite some time now. and it's all because...years ago my best friends and i we're out on christmas night partying and celebrating. we left a christmas themed nightclub and we're going to cross a street when a car came speeding at me. they both ran at me to save me and then...we all died."

i see his face immediately drop and he looks at me with sympathy.

"wow...i'm sorry.", he says.

i shrug, "i mean i love being a ghost of christmas...but i never got to experience love, marriage...starting a family...having a dream job. life."

i look at him and notice his brows slightly raised in shock, "that's....wow."

"well today is supposed to be fun so we're gonna stop talking about death and continue walking.", i chuckle.