Part 2
“Maybe Christmas....doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more.” -The Grinch in Dr. Seuss’ animated feature, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”-
When they finished dinner, they all loaded into the van and headed back to Horizon. The back of the van was filled with boxes and bags of gifts, and wrapping paper and ornaments that Peter and Sophie had bought for the tree that was strapped to the top of the van with bungee cords.
Back at Horizon, Scott, Auggie, David and Ezra helped Peter carry the tree in and set it up in the stand. Sophie went over to the cd player and put in a cd. It was something like “Bing Crosby’s Christmas” All the kids groaned when he started belting out Silent Night. She just smiled.
Juliet sat down on the floor and spread out some newspaper. She pulled 9 stockings out of plastic bags. Each one was different, embroidered with little snowmen, or reindeer. It was obvious Sophie had picked them out. She got a few glitter paint pens and started to write each person’s name on a stocking. Shelby came up and laid down on her stomach next to Juliet.
“Hey, Queenie. Whatcha doin?” she said, even though it was obvious.
“Just.....making these stockings for everyone” she replied, surprised Shelby wasn’t trying to pick a fight with her.
“Oh.” Shelby said.
“Is there....something you wanted?” Juliet asked, writing Daisy’s name in pink glitter across a stocking with Rudolph on the front. She didn’t look up at Shelby.
“Actually, no. I just wanted to....hang out.” It took her a while to say, because she didn’t want to come off as a softie.
Juliet looked up at her. “Really? You want to hang out with me?” she asked. Shelby just nodded slightly. Juliet smiled. “Ok..well...do you wanna help me with these stockings?”
“Sure.” Shelby said and smiled slightly. Juliet gave her a stocking and a glitter pen.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# Daisy was sitting alone on the couch, watching everyone work. Shelby was unusually hanging out with Juliet, and they even looked like they were enjoying it. They were laughing and they both had glitter from the pens on their faces. Daisy almost felt jealous that Shelby wasn’t sitting there with her. Sophie was hanging up garland and mistletoe, and the guys were opening boxes of ornaments. They would start decorating the tree soon.
Ezra came over and sat down next to her on the couch. “What are you doing?” he pried. “Why aren’t you over there....with the girls?”
“What do you care?” she said dryly.
“Oh...I don’t...” he said, getting up and starting to walk away.
“Wait! Ezra....I didn’t mean it that way.....” She said, not wanting him to leave. He stopped and sat down again. “Christmas just...isn’t my favorite time of year, that’s all.” She muttered.
“Any...reason why that is?” he asked her.
“It just.....well.....seeing all the happy people....and smiles and.....all that crap, which is REALLY overrated by the way, just reminds me that it’s never going to be that way for me.” Ezra didn’t say anything for a minute. He just sat there looking at her.
“Would you allow me to give you a hug?” he asked her, in a slightly joking tone.
“I should be asking you the same question.” She said. They shared an awkward hug.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*##* Scott sat down on the floor and opened a box of Christmas balls. He heard Shelby’s so seldom heard laughter ring across the room. He looked up at her. She and Juliet were hanging the stockings. He smiled and went back to opening the ornaments. Auggie sat down next to him. They worked in silence for a while.
“So..what did you get Shelby?” Auggie asked, not looking at Scott, but they both knew he was talking to him.
“What’s it to ya?” he replied. “What’d you get Jules?”
“I didn’t get her anything. I’m gonna do somethin for her. I don’t know what to get someone like her.....I mean....she grew up in the ritz.....I grew up in the hood. The only thing I ever got for Christmas was an old sock and half a candy cane.” He joked. Scott chuckled.
“I got Shelby something real nice. I think she’ll really like it.” He said looking down at his box of ornaments.
“If it’s from you, Meat, I’m sure she will......”
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# David sat down with Daisy and Ezra. They didn’t speak. David took a deep breath.
“You know how sitting here by yourself makes you feel all forgotten, left out, and alone?” he asked them.
“For your safety’s sake, there better be a point to this.” Daisy said dryly.
“There is. Just...answer the question.” He commanded
“Yeah, I guess.” Ezra said.
“Well....as your friend......I’m asking you to come help us decorate the tree....we’re starting pretty soon.....and it wouldn’t be the same without you. Besides...sitting here all alone, you remind me of Rudolph and Hermie...the misfits off Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer....” They just looked at him. “Ok....well...you obviously have no clue what I’m talking about. Just....look....I have about an ounce of sincerity left in me, so would you come on?” Daisy smiled.
“Well..it is Christmas. Come on, Ez....let’s...deck the halls.” She said sarcastically. They got up. Everyone began decorating the tree.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*##*#*#*#*# Shelby hung a few ornaments. Then Sophie brought out a tray of cookies and soda. Everyone practically jumped on the soda, because caffeine wasn’t very common around there.
Everyone was laughing and busying themselves with the tree. She found her chance to sneak off for a minute.
She ran all the way to the dorms in the snow and opened her trunk. She dug through a whole bunch of stuff and found a small box at the bottom. She opened it. It was still there. She had her present for Scott.
I got this Fanfic from www.fanfiction.net