A Christmas Secret

Chapter One

        It was a pretty weird job. I’m not sure why I took it. Most teen would not be up for be surrounded by a bunch of screaming children none the less have them sit on their lap and tell them all their dreams and wishes. I didn’t why not though. Looking at their round chubby faces and shining eyes always put a smile on my face even in the darkest of times. By now I knew every lyrics to every Christmas song ever but I didn’t mind. The kids watched from beyond the small ginger bread houses that decorated the North Pole. It wafted a delicious smell around the whole area. Their eyes filled with glee and their tongues stuck out as some fake snow sprinkled from the sky. They always started shaking and holding on tightly to their mom’s as they approached the gold and green throne. Still as much as I liked my job, I sometimes wished I was one of the girls standing next to Santa.

                Once my shift was done, I ran off to the employee changing room and ran into the lobby. I patted the snow off the costume and sighed heavily as I checked the phone. The step monster hadn’t called at all and I knew what that meant. I unstrapped my fake stomach and stuffed everything into my locker. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and put on my loosest most comfortable sweat pants.

                I looked like I had just rolled out of bed so I was thrilled to see Jenny, the queen of the school and one of Santa’s sexiest elves, looking like she just walked off a runway with her perfect boyfriend. She had her arms crossed in front of her chest and a red lipped scowl on her face. His face was beat red as he stood there like a statue. This a complete change from how cute and happy they were in the halls. She was never the nicest girl but seeing her walking hand in hand with Jack in the hallways made it seem like she had a heart. But after she publicly bitched out and dumped her former best friend for even talking to Jenny’s ex-boyfriend, everyone knew not to mess with her.

                Thankfully, I passed right past them without being acknowledged. My wonderful night in my winter wonderful was ruined yet again when I walked outside and saw that the step monster’s car was not outside. Of course. I didn’t bother to call her again because I knew she’d just claim to be on her way.

“I could give you a ride.” I heard a voice say. I was wishing it would be Jack and he’d be offering me a ride on his white stallion. It wasn’t Jack. It was Nate.

“Are you sure?” I asked. He was. He knew the struggle all too well. I already knew how the scene would play out. He would ask me if I was okay and I would say I’m fine. On Saturdays, he’d come in and we’d watch Christmas movies. On Sundays, he’d drop me off and we’d FaceTime as he helped me with homework.

                I walked into the kitchen, ignoring the step monster as she tried but failed to seem like she was on her way. I grabbed some water and turned around.

“Crystal, I was just getting the kids something to eat and I was about to head out.” She said dropping the nuggets on the table for the gremlins she had birthed. I don’t respond and just head upstairs because I knew better. She did not work. She did not understand the concept of being on time. I walked upstairs and carefully closed the door. One slammed the door and I’d be getting the wrath of my stupid dad.

                Once I turned the lights, the stress instantly started to leave my body. My very own Christmas tree was sitting in the middle of my room. It was emerald green and decorated with ornaments I made myself. My mom had taught me how to make them when I was young. We made them every Christmas we spent together. I picked up a clear ornament from the box and found some paint brushes. Once I started, I’d make at least five. The tree almost had more ornaments than branches.

                By the time I looked at the clock, it was past dinner time. My stomach dropped. Before I could even come up with an excuse for why locked myself in my room and watched Christmas movies instead of eating dinner with my “family”, my dad was knocking on the door. I reluctantly open the door and look at him.

“What?” I asked.

“I thought you’d want to eat something.” He handed me a plate of mush that the step monster probably made.

“I rather not.” I said. “I’m going to eat a bagel.”

“Look, you,”

“I have homework to do.” I said as I closed the door. I didn’t have time for another “let’s be a family” speech. We weren’t a family. We hadn’t been for a long time. It should have been my dad, my mom, and I, not this episode of Full House that I was trapped in.

The only thing worse than being trapped in an episode of Full House was being trapped in a bad episode of Saved by the Bell.  As usual, I walked into school dreading every moment I would be stuck there. At least the course work was lightening due to the upcoming holidays. As I walked to physics, I saw Jack talking to Jenny, who looked much happier. Jack looked almost the same as he did last night. I wanted to make that gorgeous boy laugh but it wasn’t my place. I watched him walk into. His brown hair was styled like he just walked out of a magazine. I swore he was just like the paler version of Zayn Malik except his eyes were grass green. He was the reason physics was my second favorite class. The rest sucked. Once the bell rang for sixth period, I booked it out of my class. When I walked in my friends were dancing and singing to Christmas music.There was eggnog and copies of the Christmas Carol floating around everywhere. It had been that way since we came back from Thanksgiving break.

“It’s about time you turned jolly.” Nate whispered from behind me effectively causing me to jump. I rolled my eyes at him but laughed anyway.

“What’s there to be jolly about?”  I asked.

“Well, it is Christmas, your favorite holiday, and your alter ego finally gets to come out.” He wiggled his eyebrows. I looked around to see if anyone heard him. No one had thankfully. My job wasn’t exactly something I advertised.

“You know Christmas is never going to be the same again.” I said.

“I know but maybe you could still try to enjoy it.”

“Enjoy the mush that the step monster will try to cook and enjoy getting my life ruined by those gross little gremlins?”

“I know it sucks but,”

“Stop.” I interrupted as it got harder to breathe. “I still have my two favorite boy…Ben and Jerry.” Nate scowled and refused me as I tried to hug him.

“Very nice,” He scoffed. I hugged him tightly.

“I’ll try.” I said. I let him go even though I don’t want to. I’ve already let go of too much in my life. Despite the fact that this was my second Christmas without my mom, I wasn’t ready to let go of my dream of a perfect Christmas either.