Learning to Love Christmas

Chapter 3

III: The List

December 1, 2013

I spent most of the night trying to figure out what I was going to do to win the bet. To be honest, I don’t even know why I agreed to do it. If it was the drive to prove Gavin wrong or to help Oliver, I’m not sure.

The end credits of The Bucket List were rolling. My older brother and I were having a holiday movie marathon and I have no idea why we ended the night on a non-Christmas movie.  But at exactly eleven forty-six last night, when It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year played on the radio as my brother turned it on, an idea came to mind.

“I got it!” I screamed, sitting up suddenly.

My brother jumped in his seat in surprise and almost dropped our bowl of popcorn. He gave me a weird look and said, “Honestly, Elle. You have to stop screaming like that. You’re not even reading a book this time.”

I didn’t care though. I already had a great idea and I was not going to forget it. I hurried up the stairs, yelling a quick good night to my brother who scolded me for shouting that late at night. I burst through the doors of my room and sat down on my bed, getting a notebook and a pen from the night stand. I began scribbling notes on the lined paper until early in the morning.

Aside from my lack of sleep, I felt excited to go to work today. Jo called me last night to check if I was free to work the morning shift. I agreed knowing I had nothing better to do especially now that I had an idea. I just need Carol’s help to finish it.

I walked down the streets of our town as I adjusted the red scarf around my neck. My house was about a fifteen minute walk from the store. I took my time, watching my feet step in front of one another. It was barely nine o’clock and streaks of sunlight were already peeking through the clouds making icicles from trees shimmer. Shopkeepers were just about to finish opening up, shovelling snow in front of their stores. It was fairly busy for a Saturday morning.

I rounded the corner to Everglade Street. I smiled when I saw Angie unlocking the doors to For Me, the pretty clothes boutique. It was an absolutely girly store with plenty of pink and glitter. Girly-ness aside, the clothes they sell were great. Carol and I got most of our sweaters and shirts there. She waved and greeted me good morning.

I was so focused on the organized busyness of the street that I didn’t notice someone was in my way. I bumped into the person by accident. The box the person was holding fell down, spilling some of the contents. I immediately said sorry a hundred times and bent down to pick it up.

“It’s ok, Noelle.” The person said, chuckling in amusement. I looked up and saw the electric green eyes of Dylan Patterson.

“I’m really sorry.” I mumble and gathered as many cards as I can. We picked up all the cards together. I studied the ones in my hand. There were Christmas trees, wreathes, mistletoes, animals, Santa hats or snowflakes on different sheets of red, white, green, or gold cardstock.

I stood up while I looked at one particular card. There was a camera drawn on a red card. The words “Can I take a picture of you so I can show Santa exactly what I want for Christmas?” were scrawled across the card.

I laughed and said, “Charming.”

Dylan shot me a questioning look. It wasn’t until I handed him the cards that he got it and laughed too. “Mrs. Doyle loves these Christmas pick-up line cards. I don’t even know why.”

“They’re amusing.” I said, smiling at him.

He grinned back, showing his dimples. Dylan was impossibly cute with his light brown hair and dazzling smile. He can make any girl swoon. Gavin told me he was on the basketball team with him. We first met at one of Gavin’s games when Carol forced me to go.