"Argh, this isn't even fair! Your practically a snowball-making machine, while we have to bend down and form our own!" A huffing Isen wined, dropping onto the cold snow, a bead of sweat rolling down his face as he closed his eyes.
"I don't deny that but you have to get up and go inside Isen. Your gonna freeze out here" I said looking down at the tired boy as I just stood there beside him. Stuffing my hands into the pocket of my jacket. "We can have a rematch again later if you want"
I suggested poking his side with my foot as the boy just groaned and sat up.
"Fine, but this isn't a defeat! I'm just taking a rest, so don't think otherwise!" Isen said out of breath as I stared at him still on the ground avoiding my gaze. Chuckling at Isen's sudden outburst, I took a step forward leaning down at him
"Here," I said extending an arm at the tired boy as he just glanced at me and my hand hesitantly for a few seconds before finally taking it. And just like that, I pulled him up, his hand gripping mine just in case I suddenly let his go as he took a step forward standing on his own two feet.
"Thanks" he awkwardly said, looking away from me as I let out a chuckle. "Where did all your toughness go all of a sudden?" I teasingly said at the boy as he glared my way
"Oh shut up!" I let out a chuckle as I just watched the boy quickly turn around and scurry off into the house leaving me alone outside.
"Your welcome!" I managed to shout out just before the orange-haired boy disappeared into the house, closing the door behind him. Taking one last glance out into the now empty streets I let out a sigh, a small puff of air appearing as I exhaled.
Raising my cold hands in front of me I rubbed them together, attempting to warm them up. I guess I should head back inside too. And with that, I turned around and slowly made my way over to the front door of John's house.
🎶Feliz Navidad🎶 Feliz Navidad🎶 Feliz Navidad🎶 Próspero año y felicidad🎶
"I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas!"
"I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas!"
"I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas!"
"From the bottom of my HEART!"
As soon as I reached the front door of the house my ears perked up at a familiar Christmas song blasting through the speakers, and along with it are the familiar voices of my friends singing along to it together. A grin made its way up to my face as I began singing the song in my head too, pushing the wooden door open.
My eyes immediately lit up in delight as they landed on my friends laughing together with cups of hot chocolates in their hands, the aroma of the warm drink reaching my nose as I took a deep breath.
Remi and Sera noticed my presence and called me over to join them as I just nodded my head with a smile. Slipping my padded jacket off of my shoulders and removing my shoes, a familiar black-haired boy made their way over to me making me lift my head, meeting their eyes.
"Hey Crystal, here..." John flashed me a wide smile as I stood up straight, glancing down at his hands to see him holding two mugs filled with hot chocolate, one of the cups in front of me and the other in front of him.
"Oh, thanks John, it smells good!" A smile made its way up to my face as I carefully took the cup from the boy, slowly bringing the cup up to my nose as I breathe in the sweet smell of the drink. A faint tint of blush made its way up to the black-haired boy's cheeks as he just turned around.
"Don't mention it, there's a spot over there. Do you wanna sit together?" The boy muttered softly, pointing at an empty spot on the floor beside the group of friends as I just happily nodded my head, not thinking much into the boy's reaction. "Sure"
And before I knew it, the black-haired boy grabbed my empty hand and began leading me towards the spot. Surprised by the sudden gesture my heart began beating quickly as I just silently followed behind the boy, squeezing the handle of my mug in my other hand.
"Here we are," John cheerfully said turning around to face me as I just returned a smile. But before I could thank the boy my attention averted over the girl beside me sitting on the floor with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands calling me.
"Oh! Crystal come sit here! We were just talking about the snowball fight earlier." Remi said looking up at me, scooting to the side giving me enough place to sit in between her and Sera as I just opened my mouth to speak. But before I could mutter any words I was taken back by hand softly squeezing mine. I snapped my eyes up at the boy standing beside me as I just stared at him with a surprised look, his head turned away from mine as he casually sipped his hot chocolate, completely unaware of what he had just done.
"Uhh...John?" I awkwardly said glancing down at our hands as the boy just turned his head around, meeting my gaze as he hummed in response, still not getting it. "Um...Y-your hand..."
The boy tilted his head, confused before looking down. I watched as his eyes widened in shock at the realization as he quickly unwrapped his hand around mine, quickly turning around in embarrassment. "Sorry Crystal! I-I didn't realize I was still holding your hand..."
The boy frantically said, stuttering from the embarrassment as I just stood there, feeling my cheeks heat up. "I-It's okay John, thanks again for saving me a spot and for the hot chocolate. And Remi..."
I said glancing back down at the pink-haired girl who was still looking up at me, giving me some sort of look as I just let out a sigh. "I'll just sit here if it's okay. I'm still sitting beside you anyways so we can still talk"
I suggested to the girl as she just cheerfully nodded her head at me, scooting back to her original place. Patting the seat beside her I knelt down into a sitting position along with the others as I glanced back up at the black-haired boy, still refusing to look my way making me chuckle.
"Hey, John" I spoke up as the boy just glanced down at me from the corner of his eyes. I patted the empty space beside me. "Didn't you want to sit together? Come on, sit"
John stared at me for a second before kneeling down beside me, hesitantly scooting a bit closer as I just chuckled finally taking a sip out of my warm hot chocolate. My eyes immediately lit up as I took more sips, savoring the sweet taste as I silently drank it. And before I knew it I finished it all, a loud "ahhhh" leaving my lips as John laughed beside me.
"Is it that good?" The boy asked in a curious tone with a chuckle as I glanced over at him nodding my head with wide eyes "Definitely," I said with an impressed grin on my face as I held up a thumbs up at him, making him chuckle. "who made it anyway?
"I did actually" John chuckled at my compliment as I just blushed from embarrassment, turning my head away from him as he chuckled even more. "Glad to know it's to your taste, I might've added a bit more sugar than needed"
I turned my head back around taking a deep breath, feeling my cheeks return to normal as I just shook my head and smiled at the boy. "It was just right John, thank you"
The boy grinned at me proudly before raising an eyebrow curiously. "So does that mean you like sweet things?"
I nodded my head nonchalantly at the boy as a smirk made its way up to his face. Confused by his reaction, I opened my mouth to ask him about it. But before I had the chance to I flinched back as the boy leaned in closer, his mouth beside my ear as his hand covered his mouth ready to whisper something.
"You know...I AM a pretty sweet guy for doing all of this so does that mean you like-" My face flushed bright red as I quickly shoved his face away from mine, not letting him finish his sentence. Feeling my heartbeat quicken I immediately stood up from my seat, shaking my head at the boy, flustered. While John just laughed at my blushing state, amused.
"NOPE. You are NOT finishing that sentence. You know what I'm sitting somewhere else"
"Hey! Don't leave, I was just kidding. Crystal!"
Rolling my eyes at the boy's pleas I just turned around and made my way over to the other side of the room. Placing my hand right on top of my face in an attempt to brush off what just happened. I stopped in my tracks just right behind two familiar boys as I took a deep breath.
"Hey, mind if I sit here?" I said to the two boys making them turn their heads, and as soon as they saw me they both flashed me a happy smile. "Oh, sure Crystal, you can sit here"
The red-haired boy said scooting over and making a space wide enough for me to sit in between him and Sera. "Thanks"
Quickly thanking him, I knelt down beside him and took a seat, taking a quick glance at the black-haired boy on the other side to see him just staring at me with wide eyes and an over-exaggerated frown on his face, preparing to stand up from his seat. Rolling my eyes again at him I turned my head towards Blyke who was now asking me a question.
"So what brings you here? Weren't you sitting beside Remi a minute ago?"
A frown made its way up to my face as I let out a sigh. "I was until someone changed my mind"
I said glancing over at a certain black-haired boy who was now standing by the food table, getting himself some sweets I assumed, occasionally glancing at me before I turned back towards Blyke. The red-haired boy followed my gaze over at John as he just let out a sigh too.
"I'm not even going to ask." I nodded my head at the boy in agreement as he just held up two candy canes in front of me. "Want one?"
My eyes lit up at the two treats in his hand as I nodded my hand eagerly asking one. "Thanks"
Slowly taking the wrapper off, I began licking the candy as Blyke did the same with his. Too invested in eating my candy cane I didn't notice a strand of my purple hair fall down from my face, just centimeters away from my mouth.
"Wait-" My eyes glanced up at Blyke who was now leaning into the side of my face, catching me off guard as he proceed to brush the strand of my hair behind my ear. My heartbeat quickening as I held my breath "You might end up eating it if it stayed there"
The red-haired boy nonchalantly said before retracting his finger and leaning away, glancing at my surprised expression. "Uh, you okay Crystal?"
I blinked my eyes at him a few times before finally snapping out of it. "Oh- yeah sorry I just...didn't expect that but thanks"
I said awkwardly, chuckling at the end of my sentence as I looked away from the red-haired boy. Confused, Blyke opened his mouth to ask me about it but was suddenly caught off by Remi saying something
"Guys It's almost midnight! Which means it's almost time to open presents!" Remi excitedly shouted out as I curiously glanced over at the clock on the wall. My eyes slightly widened as I thought to myself.
It's quarter to 12 already!? Damn, so it's true, time does fly when you have fun, I thought raising my eyebrows as I slowly stood up from my seat.
"Hey, I'm just going to the bathroom real quick, I'll be back." I quickly muttered to the red-haired boy in a whisper as he tilted his head up at me, nodding his head. "Don't take too long or Isen might take up your spot"
"Hey! Whose say I would!?" I chuckled at the sight of The orange-haired and red-haired boy bickering as I just shrug my shoulders. Turning around I began making my way towards the bathroom, carefully passing by my friends making sure I didn't step on any of their hands. And soon enough the bathroom door came into view. But before I could grip the door a familiar voice shouted out to me making me turn around.
"Crystal help! Blyke's trying to kill me!- Wait, look out!"
Turning my head around at the two boys I didn't notice the bathroom door swing open. Snapping my head back to the front, confused by Isen's warning my eyes shut close as I collided with something making me take a step backward from the sudden impact. But before I could fall down a hand gripped my arm keeping me from falling.
"Tch, I told you to watch where you're going before, didn't I?" The blonde-haired boy said looking down at me as I just stood there surprised. Staring at his expression it was a mix of surprise, anger, and seriousness that caught me off guard.
"I- uh yeah, sorry- I just thought the bathroom was unoccupied." I hesitantly said to the boy as he just let out a sigh, letting my arm go as he stood up straight.
"I'll let it go this time, but next watch where you're going," Arlo said sternly as I just nodded my head secretly scoffing in my head at the boy's warning.
"Yeah, yeah I know, I'll be careful next time"
Arlo narrowed his eyes at me before nodding his head, just about to walk past me and exit the washroom but was stopped by a sudden shout behind us making us flinch.
"Wait! Freeze! Both of you!" A familiar pink-haired queen screamed at us with wide and mischievous eyes as we both began to sweatdrop. And because of her scream, all the other friends began huddling around us in curiosity as they just stayed kept their eyes on her, curiously.
"What is it now Remi?" The blonde king irritably spatted stopping in his tracks turning his attention towards at girl as she just smiled innocently. Turning around to face her I raised an eyebrow as the girl just glanced up above us. But as soon as she did all the others behind her seemed to notice it too as they all gave us some sort of look making me furrow my eyebrows.
"What's with those looks?" I asked skeptically as Remi tried to stifle a giggle, glancing back and forth between the two of us and something above.
"And what are you even looking at-" Cutting off mid-sentence my eyes widened at the sight of a familiar plant hanging right above us, taped to the ceiling in front of the doorway to the bathroom.
"Come on you guys you know the drill, at least a peck," Remi said wriggling her eyebrows at us as my face flushed red. Out of curiosity, I glanced at the blonde-haired from the corner of my eye to see him looking away a small tint of blush on his face as it made my heart beat faster. But to my relief a loud ringing sound broke the awkwardness as everyone turned towards Remi pulling out her phone out of her pocket.
"12:00 AM"
With wide and excited eyes she began jumping up and down and screaming. "MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS!!"
Completely forgetting what happened just happened I let out a chuckle as everyone began joining in with Remi.
"Merry Christmas!!!" Multiple voices cheered out as Sera began playing Christmas songs again.
But just as I glanced beside me to wish a certain blonde a merry christmas to my surprise he was no longer there, a drown unconsciously making it's way up to my face as just shrugged it off and turned around, making my way to the bathroom.