A Boy For Christmas

Chapter 1

There was never a dull moment in Winter Grove during December. Nestled into the Rocky Mountains, the town was never short on snow. Whether that was considered a curse or not, no one knows. Thick, white flakes drifted through the air like the town had been out in a snow globe. Ellie was bustling around the small college apartment she called home, hanging up decorations as the small oven struggled to survive the mass amounts of dough crammed in it. She could hear the opening and closing of the front door but stayed focused on what she was doing.

"Wow."

Ellie turned, and and her roommate Lauren, stood in the middle of their small living room, her mouth wide in awe at the lights and decorations that brought their boring room to life.

Ellie blushed, smiling at her friend's comment.

"Wooow," she said again. "You've been busy, El!"

Ellie gave a sheepish grin, she had been busy. Spending all day finding the most festive decorations a college student's budget could muster. Hundreds of twinkling lights were strung along the wall; hand-cut paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling with fishing wire, making it look as if they were falling. Along with it all, their TV played a video of a crackling fire accompanied by soft holiday music.

"The only thing you're missing is a tree," Lauren said, admiring the festive scene as she shook the snow off her damp coat.

"I was thinking it was something I could do that with Parker," Ellie said, warmth blooming across her cheeks. "When we go to the town square tomorrow, I want to pick one out and bring it back here to decorate!"

She couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face as she thought of it.

Lauren looked fondly at her friend. "That sounds like a lot of fun."

"I just hope he likes it," Ellie said, pursing her lips together as she looked around the room, admiring her handiwork. "I know I can be a bit more Christmas-crazy than everyone else."

"Geez El, he's been your boyfriend for two years. I'm sure he's used to your craziness by now," Lauren said laughing.

Ellie took a deep breath, looking at her friend with warm eyes. "Yeah, I guess you're right," she said. "Anyway, I still can't believe you chose to go to the beach this year instead of spending Christmas with me!"

Ellie pushed Lauren playfully, as her friend made her way to the oven where the cookies sat.

"Hey, you know it's a family trip," she said, opening the oven to pull out a tray of cookies before giving Ellie a mischievous smile. "Last year you went so Christmas-crazy, I somehow ended up on the lake ice skating, third-wheeling with you and Parker."

Ellie let out a gasp, putting her hand on her chest. "You can't possibly still be mad about that, Laur!"

Lauren let out a laugh, eying up a warm cookie that sat in front of her. "Yeah I am," she confirmed, adding a hint of sass. "Besides, I don't want to intrude on you and Parker," she said, winking as she nudged Ellie. Earning herself a light slap on the arm.

"Don't even! It's nothing like that!" Ellie defended, not wanting to let Lauren's dirty thoughts disrupt the cheerful, Christmas mood. She sighed. "Have you even started packing?"

Lauren groaned, flopping onto the couch and wiggling her toes in their thick knit socks as if she could feel the warmth from the fire on the TV. "No, I haven't. I don't even have a bag big enough to fit everything!" she complained.

Ellie dug around a cabinet, successfully finding and pulling out a container of light vanilla frosting. "Lauren! Don't you leave tomorrow?" she said, getting a weary nod in response. "You can borrow mine," she offered as she wrestled the lid off the frosting-crusted rim. "It's pretty big, so it should be perfect for your needs!"