"Dashing through the snow... In a one-horse open sleigh..."
The music rang gently through the air of the small room, punctuated with laughter and vivid chatting. To one side was a tiny Christmas pine, covered in candy-canes and a few ornaments. On top of the tree was a white-clad angel, arms raised to the sky. To-be middle schoolers dotted the room, a line forming in front of the food table, which was carpeted in fresh cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and a few plates of small sandwiches and apples. Gates blocked up the entrances to the bedrooms and into the kitchen, and mistletoe hung in the doorways of the bathroom and main room.
Next to the front door were two young girls, one with reddish-brown curls cascading down her back, big, dark eyes, and a large smile. The other had darker hair, which reached her shoulders, and cat-like black eyes. The first, a Japanese girl named Yumiko Hamasaki, wore a red dress that swirled around her knees, as well as black combat boots, one side of her hair neatly braided. The other, a Japanese girl named Mikaela Asuka, had on black leggings, a blue tunic, and tall black boots. Her hair was messily pinned in the back of her head, strands framing her face.
Across from them were two boys, both who kept glancing at the girls. The first was Deshi Tanemara, a Japanese boy with dark reddish-brown hair and large eyes, clad in dark jeans and a button-up shirt. Untucked, of course. He kept glancing at Yumi, dark eyes flickering to her every few seconds. The other was me. Feng Xiu, a Chinese kid with messy black hair, narrowed black eyes, black jeans, and a black hoodie with Soul Evans from Soul Eater on it. I had my eyes on Mika, my best friend since kindergarten, and my major crush.
Yumi had transferred to our school three years ago, about the same time I realized I liked Mika as more than friends. The four of us were labelled the Asians, considering we were all Asian and loved anime and all that Nihon no mono(Japanese stuff). It was Mika's annual Christmas party, in which she had invited our whole class to. I was pretty sure it was just for James Krown, a boy in which Mika had told me she had developed a crush on this year. She said he was nice, and smart and that she was pretty sure he liked her. She also said she loved his blonde hair and icy eyes, and the way they made him look stunning.
In my opinion, he looked like a short toad.
"Konbonwa!(Good evening)" Mika's eyes lit up as James entered, followed by his younger brother, Luke. The latter was about six inches taller than the four of us. She smiled nervously, and James actually smiled back, giving Yumi a slight nod and barely glancing as Deshi and I. What a jerk.
Deshi glanced at me, giving me a tight smile. "It's okay, bro." He mouthed, patting my arm.
I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. "This is so uncool, man." I replied out loud, voice low.
The greetings went on like so, all of us smiling and nodding and saying "Hello." You know what I'm talking about. But then Lora Sobbs arrived.
The blonde stalker opened the door and slithered in, smiling that eerie smile at me. "Feeeeeng." She said in a sing-song voice, eyes flickering over me like a predator that wanted to pounce on me.
"Hey, Lora." Deshi said, giving her a cheery wave. She ignored him, pale eyes still on me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mika's jaw tighten, eyes getting that cold hint they do when Lora's around.
Lora Sobbs was my destruction, but she was also my hope. Mika was jealous.
"Hey Lora..." I smiled nervously. My heart was going a little too fast for my comfort. But it wasn't beating in that warm, fuzzy way I got when Mika smiled at me. Neither was it hammering like when Mika smiled at the Toad. It was more like watching a horror movie and there's suspenseful music and the main character's all alone in a dark forest. Oh, and there's blood and guts splattered on the ground, as well as zombie moans and shrieks in the background. Imagine that times four thousand three hundred eighty-two. That's about a tenth of what I was feeling.
Lora reached up and plucked one of my hairs, causing me to wince. She examined it with a devilish grin. "Yay.... I can clone you now." She giggled.
I looked up and saw Mika turning away to talk to the Toad, who was shooting her that soft smile that I knew made her insides melt. Just like when she smiled at me.They were awfully close, heading away from us, and a stab of panic shot through me. I pushed Lora away. "Sorry, gotta go!" I said frantically, grabbing Deshi's hand and hurrying into the growing crowd.
I turned to Deshi, pointing at the two of them. "Look at that!" I hissed to him, frantic.
James seemed to be guiding her in the direction of the bathroom, and he looked up at something, grinning.
I followed his gaze and froze. Cold blood ran through my veins. The mistletoe!
I pushed through the crowd, hearing Deshi trying to get my attention. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't, I couldn't. My heart was pounding against my chest, louder than the annoying Rudolf song overhead.
James pulled Mika towards him, pointing at the mistletoe. She laughed and shrugged, and he pulled her closer, their heads angled together.
Time was slowing down, and my pace quickened. Just as James leaned close, someone's hands grabbed his shoulders and yanked him away. Mika's eyes widened in surprise, seeing me coming towards her.
"Feng?!" Her voice was faint, and she gasped as I ended up in front of her.
"I couldn't let him kiss you..." I said, feeling her warm hands on my arms. Her gaze flickered up, and I blushed dark red.
She shrugged. "We have to listen to the mistletoe, don't we?" She was so close....
I smiled softly. My heart was pounding so loud I was surprised she didn't ask what the sound was. She was here, in front of me. And we had to listen to the mistletoe.
This time, no one was there to stop it.
I closed my eyes, and fireworks exploded.
