Growing Pains

Chapter 8

I glance down at my jumper, black but scattered with silvery, seasonally appropriate snowflakes, and nod to myself. Sam will hate it.

I raise my fist and knock quickly on his door, leaning against the frame easily. I wait for a few moments before frowning, knocking again but more tentatively this time.

"I'm not coming out."

Sam's voice is muffled but definitive. I laugh.

"Come on! It can't be that bad, I picked it for a reason." I say, chuckling under my breath at his muffled groans.

"Yeah, to torture me!" He responds adamantly and I shake my head pointlessly.

"I have good taste, just let me see." I insist, waiting a moment before his door creaks open. His face is void of any happiness, glaring at me with distaste. I can't help myself, my lips twitching up of their own accord as I take in his appearance.

The deep green jumper looks amazing on him, as I knew it would, although the pattern makes him appear to be wearing an elf costume, which combined with his loose curls, makes him look even more boyishly charming.

"You look fine." I state, nodding in approval and Sam rolls his eyes.

"How come you got the cool one? You look great." He whines, his eyes widening as his gaze travels over my own outfit.

"You pull off green better, besides I have a reputation to uphold." I say, shrugging and Sam scoffs.

"Yeah, the antisocial, lanky shadow in the corner rep." He mutters and I nod.

"Exactly. You ready to go, or you wanna complain some more?" I ask, glancing at my watch and Sam huffs but reluctantly joins my side. I know the only reason he's wearing the ridiculous jumper is for me and I grin at the thought.

"So, I thought we'd hit the Christmas market first, get some festive treats and then we can go to the ice-rink because they have free entry for people wearing Christmas jumpers..." I say, tugging at his sweater lightly.

"And then we'll come back to mine and bake candy-cane shaped cookies and listen to Mariah Carey on repeat." I finish, flourishing my hands as Sam gapes at me.

"No, no way." He mutters, turning around and making a break for it. I grasp the back of his jumper and tug him along.

"Think of this as pay-back for all the years you made me do this stuff on my own." I say happily and Sam grumbles but doesn't outwardly protest again.

The streets are dimly lit with the decorative street-lights, the trees twined with hundreds of fairy lights, all sparkling softly. Little market stalls are set up all over the place and old-school carols are playing softly over an ancient looking speaker system. The air is warm with the scent of cinnamon and chestnuts, a happy murmur filling any silence and I smile to myself.

I glance over at Sam hopefully; however he doesn't seem too impressed.

I tug him along and he pays for hot chocolates, candy canes and ridiculously shaped cookies, all the while sporting a distasteful frown. Eventually I give up on trying to inspire a festive mood in him and feel my shoulders slump slightly. I try not to let my disappointment dampen my own festive spirit, but I had wanted Sam to enjoy this holiday with me for a change.

Christmas is awful when you're alone, and I had hoped that this year might be different.

I wander over to a tacky looking stall and peer at the ornaments hung up, grinning at the little hockey stick glass ornament. I carefully pluck it off of the mini purple tree and smile when I find a little glass music note to match. I hand them to the woman in charge delicately, who has been watching me curiously, and hand over the money in exchange as she wraps them.