Christmas Carols

s i x

"So?" Ezra asks, "how was that date?"

"It was magical," I say and I remember the events of the day before.

We had walked across the bridge, hand in hand, and she had gifted me with another sweet kiss on my cheek when she walked me home. I still remember the giddy feeling she left me with.

"Scarlet, Earth to Scarlet, I was talking," Ezra says.

"Sorry, I was just—"

"Thinking about Stella? Yeah, I know. Whenever you're thinking about her, you get this special smile on your face."

"Really?"

"Yes, and it's annoying. Why do you have to shove it in my face that you have a girlfriend?" He jokingly asks.

"We haven't actually declared that we're dating."

"You went on a date though."

"We still didn't declare it," I say.

"Well, you will."

"We'll see. And Ezra, you will get a girlfriend! Even if it isn't now, it'll happen in the future."

"I'm almost out of high school though and isn't that when you're supposed to find the one?" He asks curiously.

"First of all, you're only a sophomore— I'm the one that's almost out of high school. Second of all, no! Don't let anyone tell you when you're supposed to find love."

"Ok, ok. Calm down, I get it."

"You better. I don't want you to fool around at school with a random girl, expecting her to be the one."

"I won't!"

"Good," I tell him, satisfied with his response.

"Anyways, when do you think you and Stella will declare you're dating?"

"I have no idea. Don't pressure me."

"Fine," he says and he leaves my room, closing the door behind him.

I grab my phone and find a text from Stella, saying, 'I had a good time yesterday. I hope we can go on another date soon.'

She wants another date?

The realization causes me to squeal and I shoot her a text saying, 'definitely.'

'How about Saturday at the Christmas parade? It's okay if you say no to that.'

I feel a bit uneasy about going to a parade for the holiday but I ignore it, 'Yes! I'll see you there.'

'Can't wait.'

I smile and I put my phone away, excited for the event that's three days away.

************

  "I can't believe it's already time!" I yell, rushing the the stairs so I can get a look in the mirror.

  "Calm down! This is your second date, you didn't freak out like this at the first one."

  "I asked her on that date impulsively— I didn't have the time to freak out!"

  "You went on a date?" My dad asks and he walks to me, tapping his foot to the floor.

  "Yeah."

  "With who?"

  "You don't know her," I say.

  "She's a Christmas caroler! The Scarlet Lox— Hater of Christmas is going on a date with a caroler!" Ezra exclaims.

  "I never thought I would hear that," my dad says, chuckling at what Ezra yelled.

  "I was going to tell you," I tell my dad and I shoot darts at Ezra with my eyes.

  My dad ignores that and says, "have a nice time on that date. If you start getting serious with this girl then I better get to meet her."

  "You will."

  Someone rings the doorbell and I run to the door before my dad or Ezra can. I motion for them to go away and I open the door, a large smile on my face.

  "Hey, Stel— You're not Stella," I say.

  A girl with sleek, black hair and wide brown eyes is in front of me. She's wearing a band t-shirt with ripped jeans and black vans. She's clearly pretty, but I've never seen her in my entire life.

  This is not Stella.

  "Oh, it's Iris! Hey," Ezra says, pushing me out of the way so he can greet her.

    "Hey, babe," she tells him and she plants a loud kiss on his lips.

  "Who is this?" I ask, and I suddenly feel very protective of Ezra.

   Ezra rolls his eyes at me and says, "this is my girlfriend, Iris."

  "Iris? After what I told you and you still got a girlfriend?"

  "To be fair, this was before you gave me that speech," he tells me.

  "Scarlet?" Stella suddenly asks and I turn around, finding at her the open door with a bouquet of scarlet colored roses.

  "Get out of here with your girlfriend! Dad, I have to go!" I yell at everyone.

  I get out of the house and I slam the door in their faces.

  "Sorry about that," I tell Stella.

  "It's fine. I didn't know your brother had a girlfriend."

  "I didn't know either."

  "Don't think about him anymore," she says, "think about our date and the fun we're going to have."

With that, she holds my hand as we walk to the parade.