...and a partridge in a pear tree

[01] a partridge in a pear tree

               [in which your character begins a countdown to Christmas]

        You could tell Christmas was approaching when you started hearing Christmas songs playing, started seeing those toy commercials that the younger children adored airing on television.

        Being a part of a rather large family, Holly Mistletoe was used to it all: the constant, “Mommy, can you buy me that for Christmas?” the overstock of Eggnog in her refrigerator, the jokes about her last name being ‘Mistletoe’ this time of year.

        Though she rolled her eyes at the chants for every toy on the market, drank the Eggnog until her stomach hurt and had kicked a guy in the balls before for being a leering jerk about her last name, she couldn’t help but do it all over again the next year.

        It was December 13th, and Holly had begun her annual countdown to Christmas, following the well-known ‘12 Days of Christmas’ carol as her guide. Every year, Holly would roam the streets of her busy city, searching for the items listed in the classic tune.

        School was still on; the winter break wouldn’t start for another five days. As it was rather cold (well, what could you expect from Canadian winter weather?), she only ever wore her Pink Panther sweater. Though most didn’t compliment the bright fabric, they were used to her interesting attire of choice and didn’t comment on it anymore.

        Well, everyone but Luke Ebenezer.

        Luke Ebenezer was a rather attractive boy. When it came to looks, he was beyond comparison to the other seventeen year olds, though he was lacking in the attitude department. His hair was always perfect; he had the kind where you wanted to run your fingers through it again and again. It was like you could never get sick of the softness, and fluffiness.

        Holly pretended not to daydream about it.

        Once Holly entered the classroom, the sound of her classmates muttering to each other met her ears.

        “Here we go again with that stupid Pink Panther sweater,” Luke retorted, sending a stare to the red head.

        She sat down, placing her Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer backpack on the tiles of her English class. Ignoring Luke’s comment, she stared in front of her where the large green chalkboard would hold today’s lesson…well, usually. Today, there wasn’t anything written in the fluorescent orange chalk.

        “Good morning, class!” Mrs. Delmont rushed through the door, her winter apparel still on. “Apologies for my tardiness.”

        The class didn’t care about Mrs. Delmont’s late appearance; it meant less class time, which meant less time to endure their English teacher’s bizarre antics. Holly, on the other hand, was eager to begin the lesson. Unlike the other students, Holly enjoyed English class; especially this time of the year.

        Mrs. Delmont scribbled on the chalkboard, and clasped her hands together. “Christmas poems, class!”

        A burst of sudden excitement ran through Holly’s body. Under her desk, she fist pumped triumphantly. Luke caught Holly’s un-secretive move and simply rolled his brown eyes, crossing his arms.

        A sudden glint in his eye, he spared Holly a glance before raising his hand.

        “What if I don’t like Christmas?”

        Holly stared at him, slack jawed. Pushing her chair back, it screeched against the linoleum floor, causing all her peers to stare at her in curiosity. She inhaled sharply, focusing her attention on the smirking boy behind her as she stood.