Mimic

Christmas Parties

This chapter's going to jump around a bit, so bear with me. 

A few days after school let out for Christmas break, the Team decided to throw a Christmas party. Despite it being about a week until Christmas, we were all required to get one another gifts. I just wrote cards with money in them. Alfred tried telling me that that was usually considered insincere, but Dick assured me that basically all teenagers wanted cash and therefore it was a good gift. 

The party was in Mount Justice, and everyone was in their civvies. There were snowflake decorations everywhere, and the residents of Mount J even put a tree up. It was a really nice party, one where I actually socialized with everyone present, a feat that I'm proud of. And in honor of the Christmas spirit, we prank called a very confused Red Arrow.

"Julia," Wally walked over to me, saying my name in a sing-song voice. I raised my eyebrow in suspicion. "Do you know where you're standing?"

"Um," I looked around me, "By the punch bowl?"

"Look up," the ginger grinned widely as he came to stand beside me. I glanced upward to see a green plant hanging from the ceiling. Since I never celebrated Christmas, I wasn't quite sure what he was getting at.

"What's that?" I was afraid I sounded dumb, but thankfully Wally took my ignorance in stride.

"Mistletoe!" he said, "And you know what that means..."

I did not know what that meant.

But I very quickly found out when the Fastest Teen Alive leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. My eyes widened in surprise, but I found myself, and Wally, laughing.

"Merry Christmas," he said.

"You too," I told him as he began to walk away.

Like an idiot, I did not immediately find a new place to stand.

"It's almost time for presents," Dick, or rather, Robin, said as he walked over.

"I don't want to," I grumbled, taking a sip of my drink.

"I think you're the only person ever to not want gifts," the Boy Wonder rolled his eyes underneath his sunglasses.

"I don't know why, It just feels awkward to have to get things from my friends," I admitted. I wondered what people would even get for me.

"You're weird."

"Love you too," I said sarcastically.

"I know," Robin said with a smirk, then leaned over and kissed me on the cheek that hadn't been kissed already.

I nearly dropped my drink. I felt my face flare up, although I wasn't exactly sure why. Saying nothing else, Robin walked away. I felt the urge to scream, but not in a bad way. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, then walked over to the tree where most of the team had accumulated. Present time, I thought grimly.

***

Apparently, being part of the Wayne family meant I had to co-host the annual Christmas gala. So the weekend before Christmas, just a few days after the Team's party, I was getting ready for yet another party. But this time I had to actually dress up. Alfred had found a really nice red dress somewhere in the manor, so I was wearing that with a white cardigan.

"Julia?" Dick called as he knocked lightly on my door, "The party's starting."

I walked over and opened the door, prepared to make some joke, but when I opened my mouth, no sound came out. I don't know what came over me. I could usually make observations in two seconds or less, but for some reason, it was taking an inappropriate amount of time for me to inspect Dick's outfit. He was wearing a tux with a red bow-tie, and his hair was slicked back. He had a slight smirk on his face that almost immediately faded into his mouth hanging open at the sight of me.