Last Christmas (Book 1 in the Christmas Series)

Chapter Four

If I had to pick one thing I was extremely excited about on my little trip, it would have to be the prospect of going to school and meeting people my own age! As mental as I may seem, I had spent my entire life surrounded by Papa, Mama, Nick and the elves. That was it. I didn't know anyone my own age and, frankly, making friends with other people was scary. Like, how do you talk to people? Do you introduce yourself or just walk up to them and start talking? The many mysteries of actual conversing and socialising with other people.

Though, honestly, the part about socialising didn't bother me half as much as I thought it would, it was definitely how people would react to me. Okay, so I'm not one of those hippie-types who wear tie-dye shirts and don't shower, I do shower and I own one pair of tie-dye shorts. However, my general appearance might put them off. How many kids do you know who have white-blonde hair? Like Elsa from Frozen. None. Zilch. Zero. Not only that but the only things in my wardrobe are fluffy, warm clothing, nothing in there is suited to Autumn weather, it's all for Winter. Luckily, Granny had brought some Autumn clothing for my arrival, whether I wore them was up to me. I loved my Winter clothes too much to part with them. They were just so fluffy!

Anyway, since I didn't have to wear the school uniform (I was only going to be there for two months unless I changed my mind), I got to pick whatever outfit I wanted. The news that morning said that it was cold, but not freezing cold. For most people, that meant jeans and some kind of cool shirt, for me, I wasn't going to let a small thing like heat get in the way of my Winter love. So, I chose a pair of black, skinny jeans, my snow boots, a long-sleeved blue and white striped shirt, a fluffy body warmer, and, of course, my snowboarding jacket. Not gonna lie, I looked like an Eskimo.

Granny was not too happy with my particular outfit choice, but she kept her mouth shut tight. Her annoyance was shown through the tightly drawn lips and small raise of the eyebrow when I looked into the room. Of course, I couldn't help but copy her actions, I even followed it up with the folded arms across the chest. That changed her face almost immediately, the tightly drawn lips turned up at the edges to create a small smile. The copying never failed to put a smile on peoples face, unless they were Papa or had no sense of humour. Again, like Papa.

"Are you ready for today?" Grandpa said, turning the page of his paper and looking up at me.

"Yup, not too nervous. Actually looking forward it," I replied as I took my seat at the kitchen table, Granny placing a plate of peanut butter toast in front of me.

"That's the best way to approach it," Grandpa said, a smile stretching across the bottom half of his face, though it was partially hidden by the beard. I couldn't wait for Nick to get the beard, it was going to be the funniest thing, ever.

"You sure you're not going to be too warm in all that? You have, what, three layers on?" Granny said.

"I'll be fine, if it gets too warm, I'll take the jacket off," I replied with a mouthful of toast. Safe to say, I was not the most ladylike of people, in fact, I'm still not. Mama always said I was the most unladylike lady she had ever met.

"Make sure you so. I don't want a phone call mid-way through the day saying you had passed out from being too hot."

"You won't. You seem to be forgetting, I'm a Claus, we are not affected by normal muggle things like heat exhaustion," I laughed, finishing almost half my toast in one single bite. Yes, I had a big mouth, problem?

"Shouldn't you two get going? You don't want to be late on your first day," Granny said, checking the clock on the wall.

Grandpa was still absorbed in his paper, he ha the worst time keeping ever. You would have thought, that by being Santa Claus, he would have much better timing problems, but he didn't. I remember a story Mama told me once when Grandpa completely forgot it was Christmas Eve and only had a few hours to get all the presents delivered. By the time he had dropped the last couple off, the sun was beginning to rise and he almost got caught by some eager six-year-olds.