Under The Mistletoe

2. A Silly Tradition

8th December

Shiro

"How's the Christmas party coming along?" Allura asks, taking a seat opposite me in the school cafeteria. I poke at my meal to test if it won't bite me back when I start eating it, but so far, so good.

"Fine. We have a venue—the Old Red Lion bar. They should handle the catering, too, and the invitations went out a week ago. That's pretty much everything, I think."

"Excellent. Good job, Shiro."

"Happy to help." I take a careful bite out of my ground beef sandwich. The taste won't prompt anyone to compose songs about it, but as school lunches go, it could be worse, although I'm still not sure if the free meals here are a perk or punishment. Allura keeps staring at me, her tray untouched in front of her.

"Is there something else you want to discuss?"

"How's Keith adjusting?"

Ah, so that's the reason why Allura decided to eat lunch with me today. Should've known. While we're on friendly terms, Allura doesn't stop by just to chat. No, she wields her time off like a weapon to check up on less formal matters and ensure the school runs smoothly.

"No idea."

Her brows knit together.

"I'd have to actually see him sometimes to know how he's doing," I answer her unspoken question. "He's been avoiding me." Ever since the morning when I showed him around and introduced him to staff, he kept clear of me. I have no idea why, but it bothers me. Most people enjoy my company. This is as though I still have my office all to myself, which might sound great, but I'm a social person and wouldn't mind talking to someone occasionally. Even when Keith and I happen to cross paths, he barely grunts out a word or two. His record is two whole sentences, and that was to apologize for spilling filthy brush water all over my desk.

He's a bit of a disaster, but a cute one, and I'd love to get to know him better. Even before realizing we would become colleagues, I wanted to ask for his number, not because of the cost of dry-cleaning, but because I wanted to ask him out. Our working together complicates matters a little, but nothing that couldn't be solved with a quick visit to HR. If Keith was interested. His lack of contact suggests he isn't, so I should forget this stupid idea, but for some reason, I can't get it out of my head. Can't get him out of my head.

"Are you listening to me, Shiro?"

"Sorry, what?"

"I said that Keith's been doing great with the students but doesn't really fit in otherwise, so I wanted to ask if you could make sure he comes to the party. Gets to know everyone with less pressure."

"Again, he'd have to be around the office sometimes so I could invite him. The guy's a ghost. I'm not sure he even works here at this point."

"He does, and he's right over there." Allura points to a table where Keith sits alone, shoveling food into his mouth without paying attention to what he's eating. Clearly, he's already mastered the trick to surviving cafeteria fare. He stares into his phone, lips turned up at the corners, and he types out something with his unoccupied hand. My throat tightens a little. Why does the guy have to be so unbearably hot? And why the hell does he keep dodging me? He can't be embarrassed about our first meeting anymore, can he? I assured him over and over that it didn't matter. In fact, I found it pretty funny, and I was glad to have an excuse for getting rid of the ugly sweater.

"Why don't you tell him to come? You're his boss."

"Exactly." Allura spears a piece of carrot and examines it thoroughly before eating it. "It'll sound like an order, and I don't want to pressure him. I want him to feel welcome."