diamond //sweet pea//

//fifteen//

"Have a very Merry Christmas sir!" 

The old man was taken aback at the spirit radiating off of the tiny blonde, dressed head to tow in black, a gang sign embroidered on her back. He watched her skip out of his store, wrapping paper, tape and bows in hand. He craned his neck to get a good look at the motorcycle she jumped on the back of, a towering boy driving it. 

For as long as Dallas had remembered, Christmas had always been good at her house. Her mom didn't have a ton of money, but Christmas time was always special. They had so many traditions together, her mom and her. Picking out a tree and decorating it the day after Thanksgiving. Cocoa and cookies on Christmas Eve. Christmas music on while they decorated whatever place they were living in at the time. She always got to open one present on Christmas Eve, and it was always a pair of festive pajamas. Matching ones with her mother when she was younger. Point was that the holiday held a place near and dear to her heart. 

The pair was getting ready to head into the Wyrm when Dallas stopped him. "What do you want for Christmas?" she asked giddily. 

"Nothing," he said trying to step around her, but she was quick.

"Seriously? That's lame," she replied sarcastically. 

"I don't need anything doll, okay?"

He successfully got around her and she decided to let it go for now. The two entered the building, Dallas running ahead of him.

"We're back!" Dallas announced, a grin spread ear to ear. 

"Well if it isn't the Christmas fairy herself," Toni laughed taking the bows out of her hand. 

"Ha, ha, ha very funny," she mocked giving wrapping paper to a few older Serpents who had run out. 

"She terrified that store owner. Probably thought she was crazy. What kind of gang member skips down aisles looking for Christmas decorations," Sweet Pea laughed. 

"I think it's cool Dal," Trey piped up from his spot with a few Serpents his age. Dallas smiled politely, turning away from him completely. Sweet Pea flicked his attention over to Trey who was pretending like he didn't notice Sweet Pea burning holes in the back o this head. 

"My mom was a lot of things, but Christmas was always good," Dallas explained. 

"Yeah, Cindy loved Christmas." FP clasped a hand on Dallas' shoulder and gave it a couple pats. 

"Even back then?" she asked though she looked like she needed to know the answer.

"Yep. When we were teenagers you could count on all of us hanging out on Christmas Eve. She'd save her money every year and get us all these ridiculous matching pajamas. But we'd wear them because it made her happy," FP remembered. 

Dallas immediately broke into tears, feverishly wiping them away. Sweet Pea wrapped his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. 

"You okay baby?" he whispered in her ear. All her friends leaned in with concern, FP taken aback. 

"Sorry kid, I didn't know..."

"It's okay. I honestly try not to think about her. But I guess that got to me. I'm okay really." Dallas sniffled and straightens out her jacket. 

"Remind me why you all aren't in school?" FP asked, changing the subject.

"It's a half day before break," Jughead explained.

"Well in that case, you can hold down the fort here, Jug"

"Or I could come with you guys," Jughead pleaded, cutting off Tall Boy and FP's path.