Waiting Under The Mistletoe

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“I love you, Jack.”

Jack kept his eyes on the TV. “You’re just happy I took you to this Christmas party.”

After being Jack’s best friend and classmate for 15 years, I knew what he really meant was Your Welcome, Lavender.

Since we were kids, Jack’s family had never celebrated Christmas. Jack always found it strange that around this time of year I had a tree surrounded by presents near the window of my home, or how my father always blasted Christmas songs throughout my house on Christmas day. Though he didn’t celebrate it, we usually spent Christmas Eve watching holiday classics at my house while sharing holiday cookies and chips (I hated those cookies with the colored, plastic-looking sprinkles, and Jack loved them).

My friend Lucy was throwing a Christmas party at her house, and since my parents went on an outing and I didn’t have a car, Jack had brought me in his pick-up truck. He was going to leave and be back to pick me up but I begged him to stay.

“Why should I? I don’t celebrate Christmas.” he argued.

“Common, Jack, come to the party with me. It’ll be fun!” I had told him.

“I’d rather just go home and watch movies with you after. If you feel up to it of course.” he said after a moment.

The thought that he’d wait for me warmed my heart, but I pushed it away. At least once, I wanted him to celebrate. Christmas had always been a magical time of year for me, where flying reindeer felt as real as birds and a cozy hot chocolate by the fireplace was true happiness. My parents had always made the holidays special for me, and I just had to do the same for Jack! He was my best friend!

I looked around the living room. A christmas tree wrapped with swirls of tinsel and shiny round ornaments sat next to the TV, which was playing a classic christmas tale. Across from her deep brown couch was a coffee covered table with Christmas cookies and cupcakes. A fireplace sat at the end of the hall, stockings hung from the mantle. People were talking in groups around the room. I immediately ran to my girl friends from school and we exchanged greetings and holidays blessings.

“I really want to get Jack into the spirit of Christmas, but he won’t budge!” I said angrily.

“Hmm, if he won’t get into the spirit, maybe you’ve just gotta bring the spirit to him!” one of my friends suggested.

My eyes widened. How smart of her!

I went back to Jack, who was sitting on the couch eating and watching the movie.

I sat on the arm of the couch and smiled. “Looks like someone wants to watch with you,”

He turned and saw the little plastic elf I put beside him.

“Ew, what the-” he threw the elf at me, and I threw it back at him. He began to chase me with the elf, and that lasted until people started to stare at us.

“Enough is enough, Lav,” He laughed, and went back to the TV.

I then begged him to help put up decorations, but he wouldn’t budge. I let out a raspy, worn-out sigh, and I looked out the window, where tiny white dots were floating down from the sky.

“Jack, look!”

He then looked at me. “What?”

I dropped his hand. “Just come.”

He got up and we went to the window. I could see the first little bits of snow stick to the grass, and even as some melted some stayed. It was snowing!

I turned to see Jack staring at the snow as well. He was smiling. “Remember all those days we’d play basketball out in the snow?”

I nodded. “The loser had to catch a snowflake with their tongue!”

I smiled at the memory of me and Jack in our small coats, dodging each other, or stealing the ball from each other, only for one of us to make a hoop and while one jumps the other sulks.

I felt something warm brush my hand, the wrap around it.

I looked down. It was Jack’s hand! My heart thumping, I grabbed his hand and locked mine with his. I felt so happy, I might as well have had the power to fly and floated to the ceiling like a balloon.

“Ooh! Jack and Lav are standing under the mistletoe!” someone yelled.

It took me a moment to realize someone had said my name. I looked up and right at the top of the window, held by a nail and red ribbon, was a patch of green stems and leaves. What!? I had thought that was just some decoration! Not mistletoe!

My heart began beating faster as I turned to Jack.

He looked around at everyone then back at me. “I don’t understand. What’s the big deal?”

“You know the rules with mistletoe! Now you’ve got to kiss Lavender!” another kid said.

The whole living room started to chant ‘Kiss’ over and over. I wanted to slap everyone but at the same time, I really, really wanted to kiss Jack.

I turned to him. “Well, we can’t ignore the rules of mistletoe!” I closed my eyes and leaned closer to Jack. Could this really be happening?

Apparently not, because I felt his hand slip away from mine. I waited a moment with my eyes closed and felt nothing.

When I opened my eyes. I saw Jack already across the room, walking away.

Half the room was watching him, half the room was watching me, all in shock.

“I told you, I don’t do all that Christmas stuff. I’m out,” Jack said leaving.

My vision went blurry. I never cry in front of others, so I wouldn’t let myself today. My throat ached, but I wouldn’t let the tears fall.

I ran. I ran past Jack and I opened the front door and slammed it. I ran down her driveway and onto the sidewalk. I needed to walk and clear my thoughts.

When I was maybe four houses away, I heard a car drive up. I ignored it. At that moment, I focused on trying not to cry.

Until I heard a familiar honk. I turned. It was Jack, in his pick-up truck.

“You wouldn’t know how to walk back home, and you know it.”

I hated that he was right. My direction skills were terrible, but I didn’t care. “Leave me alone, Jack.”

“Listen Lavender, we need to talk.”

Gosh, was he going to follow me all day!? I rolled my eyes and sighed. He was lucky I just didn’t wanna freeze to death.

Once I was in his truck, he immediately stopped and turned to me. I crossed my arms at him.

“Well, what-”

His lips met mine at that moment. I couldn’t believe it! Jack had leaned over and kissed me!

I enjoyed it while it lasted but when it was over I wasn’t smiling. “So you embarrassed me in front of everyone, but now that we’re alone you want to kiss me because?”

“Because I like you, Lavender. I just didn’t want to be forced to kiss you on account of some tradition. I don’t celebrate Christmas, Lavender. And I don’t want to be forced to.”

At that moment I realized I kinda had been pushing Jack to have some Christmas Spirit all night. It wasn’t fair to him.

“I’m sorry about leaving you on the spot, I was just angry. Do you want to go back to the party, or have I ruined it for you?” He asked.

I reached out for his hand. “Nah, I think we should go home. Wanna watch a movie at my place? My Mom bought those disgusting sprinkle cookies that you like for some reason,” I told him.

His smile got bigger. “Sure.”

And that’s how we spent Christmas Eve.

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Hey there! I’m Shila Williams, a 16 year-old author. I’ve loved books since I could read, and decided I would write books I wanted to see written for others! Check my children’s book Imagination on Amazon!

Also, check out my Wattpad account!

I also post on read.cash.