As He Held My Hand

3. North Bay High's Annual Christmas Fair

3. North Bay High’s Annual Christmas Fair

Gemma’s POV

“And to conclude today’s class, I would like to say that I encourage all of you to come to North Bay High’s Annual Christmas Fair! After all seniors, it’ll be your last.” the teacher says, just before the high pitched beep of a bell interrupts her cheery demeanor and the mass of students exit the classroom like there’s a fire.

I walk slowly to my locker, not bothering to try and hurry home. It isn’t snowing that hard outside, but it hasn’t stopped since yesterday afternoon. When I arrive at my locker, I’m greeted by Alex. “Are you going to the fair tonight?” she asks, crossing her arms and standing up straight.

“Probably not. I haven’t really gone to that since my freshman year when that girl spilled hot chocolate all over me.” I tell her. “Oh, that incident. C’mon that was three years ago. It’s not gonna happen again.” she presses. “You try having scorching hot chocolate spilled all over the front of you. And I’m pretty sure she did it on purpose.” I say, shoving a book in my locker. “Pleaseee come. Please. Greg and I are going, and I want you to come with us.” she adds. Greg Carson was Alex’s boyfriend. They’d been together since sophomore year.

“I’ll think about it.” I paused for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, pretending to think. “No.” I say, grabbing my coat and pulling it on. I walk off before she can say anything else.

As I walk to my car, I’m more cautious about the ice patches. But as I come closer to the car, I turn around. I don’t know why at first, but then I realize. I’m looking, in vain, for Grant. Why do I wish that he was standing right behind me, waiting to catch me again? I don’t even like him. He’s annoying and rude and sexist and abuses girl’s hearts.

I shake my head and laugh to myself. I’m being stupid. I walk to my car and climb in, rubbing my hands together in an attempt to get them warm again. Then I drive home.

After doing my homework, I collapse onto the couch and start flipping through channels, searching for something to watch. I finally settle on a cheesy Christmas Hallmark movie. Just when the guy is about to save Christmas for the widow and her son, the doorbell rings and I roll off the couch to go answer it.

I open the door to see Alex standing outside in the cold, arms crossed over her dark red leather jacket. Her hair is curled and she’s wearing makeup. “What are you doing?” I ask, the cold draft blowing through the door and into the house.

“We’re going to the Christmas Fair!” she exclaims. “I told you I didn’t want to go.” I laugh. “But you walked off before I could try to convince you some more, so I’m here to pick you up! Come on, Greg’s waiting in the car.” she says.

I figure I’m not going to get out of this no matter how hard I try, so I make a pact to myself to steer clear of anyone with a cup of hot chocolate. “Alright, give me five minutes.” I tell her. She goes back out to the car to wait while I run upstairs and throw on something a little more appropriate for the fair.

I peel off my sweatpants and sweatshirt and put on a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, a cream sweater with off the shoulder sleeves, and a mixed brown plaid scarf. I pull on a pair of dark brown boots that come up to my mid-calves, run a brush through my hair, and fix my makeup. I grab thirty dollars from my wallet and stuff it into the pocket of my dark brown leather jacket.

I leave a note for Aunt Rebecca and then lock the door behind me as I rush out to Alex’s car. “Hey Gemma, how’s it going?” Greg asks me as he backs out of the driveway. “Good, except for the fact that I was dragged here against my will.” I joke, poking Alex in the side. They both laugh. “Oh, shush you know you wanted to come.” Alex says, turning up the volume on the radio.