Once Upon A Christmas Evie

Merry Xmas '07 #7 (Dec. 24)

SUMMARY: ONESHOT. Peter had no idea what was going to happen to him when he went to the park by his house on Christmas Eve.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own iPods, that's owned by the awesome Apple. I don't own anything else either, except the story/plot and its characters.

Peter walked out of the house into the cold, wishing he had something better to do. He didn't, and so instead of wasting away in front of the TV, he decided to go to the park and walk around, perhaps go on the swings for a bit.

When he reached the park, he saw nobody, as he expected. It was December 24th, the day before Christmas. Most people would be in their homes, preparing for Christmas, maybe doing some last minute shopping.

As he headed towards the swings, he realized he was incorrect in his earlier assumption. There was a girl on the swings, iPod headphones plugged into her ears, mouthing the words to whatever she was listening as she swung back and forth.

With really honestly nothing better to do, he decided to talk to the girl, who looked unfamiliar. He plopped down in the swing next to her. He waited a few moments before tapping her shoulder lightly.

She looked up, startled, with a slightly bewildered look on her face. Spotting him, she took her right headphone out and spoke.

"Erm. Why are you tapping my shoulder?"

"I have nothing better to do, so I decided to talk to you."

"Oh."

They didn't say anything for a bit, and she was slightly squirming.

"Well that was a sufficiently awkward silence, don't you think?" he asked her, smiling. She smiled too.

"Funny," she said.

"Huh?"

"You're funny," she clarified. "Most people I know aren't that funny."

"Ah," he replied. "Well that must…" He searched for a politer word but couldn't think of any. "Suck."

"It does, a bit," she replied, shrugging a shoulder. "But you get used to it."

He struggled for a few moments, trying to find something to say. "So are you funny?"

"I like to think so," she answered. "But I wouldn't know."

"How do you not know if you're funny?"

"Well, as I mentioned before, most people I know aren't funny. Meaning, they also don't really have a sense of humor."

"Ah. Well, I'm sure you're quite funny."

"Oh?" she questioned, eyebrows raised, quirking a smile. "And how do you know that?"

"Well you certainly have a sense of humor," he explained, smiling himself. "So logically, I assume you're funny."

"Well you know what they say about assuming…" she sing-songed.

He chuckled. "Oh. So you're saying I'm being an as—?"

"Donkey."

"Donkey?"

"Donkey."

"Why are you saying donkey?"

"I don't particularly like using or hearing words I dislike."

"I see. That does make sense."

"I seldom don't. Make sense, that is."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really, mister… well, I don't actually know your name, sorry."

"No apologies needed, I don't know yours either." He stuck out his hand. "Peter."

She shook it firmly. "Eve."

"As in Adam and…?"

"No, as in Eve Leung."

"Well seeing as you've allowed me the pleasure of your last name, I should probably give mine."

"That would be polite."

He stuck out his hand again. "Peter Wu at your service, Miss Leung."

She smiled, and there was a look in her eyes that he didn't catch, but soon passed. He noted to himself that he liked her slightly crooked smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Mister Wu. Now what were we talking about?"

"You making sense, I believe?"

"Ah yes. I really barely make no sense at all, Mister Wu."

"And what would you call that last statement of yours, Miss Leung?"

"Fine. I sometimes make no sense."

"There we go. That makes you sound more human."

"And did I seem robotic to you, Mister Wu?"

"I was going to go with alien, but robotic works."

She smiled again. "Oh, you wound me."

"What school do you go to?"

"Franklin."

"Really?" he asked. "I go to Franklin… don't believe I've seen you before."

"I just moved here. I'm starting classes in 2008."

"That would explain it. So where did you move from?"

"Massachusetts."

"Wow. That would explain your lack of clothing."

"Excuse me?"

He blushed slightly. "I meant that would explain how come you're wearing so little."

She laughed gently. "You really are quite funny, Peter. I actually used to live here."

"You did?"

"Well, somewhere in this area."

A memory flashed through his mind. "Where?" he asked slowly.

"Near the elementary school? Morrison?"

"Do I know you?"

"I don't know," she answered, her eyes thoughtful. "You do seem somewhat familiar."

"Is Eve your real name?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I'm trying to figure out if I know you or not," he answered.

"Well then. Um, not quite. It's a nickname. I like it better than my real name."

"Then what is your real name?"

"Evangeline."

"Huh, then I must not know you. I didn't know anyone named Evangeline."

"Well I went by Angeline when I was younger."

"You really don't like your real name, huh?"

"No," she answered, laughing. "Wait," she said suddenly, the same time he did.

"I knew an Angeline…"

"I knew a Petie?"

"I went by Petie."

"Back in first grade," they said together.

She gasped, and his mouth dropped.

"You're Petie! You… you… stole my gluestick once!"

"And you kicked me in the shins for it." He grinned wanly. "It hurt like hell."

"I've always kicked hard," she admitted. "But… you look so different."

"You do too," he told her. "Taller."

"Obviously."

"More sarcastic."

"Oh, what teenager isn't?"

"Your hair's… lighter. It used to be dark, dark brown."

"I swim. Your hair's lighter too."

"I swim too."

They paused. "What's your favorite stroke?" she asked.

"Backstroke. You?"

"I personally don't like backstroke that much, actually. Oh, and freestyle, I guess."

"Freestyle, eh?" he asked, smiling.

"Yep," she responded cheerfully.

They grinned at each other for a few moments.

"So why were you in the park?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Reminiscing. Thinking."

"About what?"

She smiled enigmatically but didn't answer his question. "What were you doing?"

"Killing time." He paused. "What were you listening to?"

She held out the iPod for him to take. It was a playlist, Evie's Favies.

He smirked. "Interesting playlist title."

"Shut up and just look at the songs you were so interested in."

He scrolled through it. "Colors of the Wind… Disney fan, eh? The Way I Am… Lying Is the Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off… Diverse list."

"I'm a pretty diverse person."

"I see." He handed back her iPod. "Do you like to sing?"

"Who doesn't?" she shot. "Do you?"

"I would if my voice didn't sound like a hyena on crack," he answered. She laughed, and he laughed too. "Can you sing?" he asked.

"Everyone can sing," she replied. "But not everyone can sing well."

"Okay fine," he huffed. "Can you sing well?"

She shrugged. "I wouldn't know, but I'm pretty sure I don't sound like a hyena on crack." She smiled.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "Well have you ever gone caroling?"

"Yes," she answered slowly.

"Well did the people you caroled to complain?"

"No…"

"So you probably sing fine."

"Only because my voice was drowned out. Why do you want to know so much?"

"Because no one can sing at Franklin."

"I doubt that."

"Have you ever been to one of our musicals?"

"No."

"Exactly. So I believe I am the expert on this matter."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, I guess that's true."

"It is, because I'm always right," he declared, causing her to roll her eyes again. "So let's hear you sing."

"Uh… no."

"Why not?"

She sighed. "You're not gonna hear me sing, Peter."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really."

"Oh really?"

"Yes real—Peter, this is ridiculous."

"Who cares?" he replied with a reckless grin. "It's Christmas, Evie, no one's around, and I can be as ridiculous and spontaneous as I want." He paused. "I suddenly want to kiss you."

Her eyes widened a bit, but she made no move for a while. Instead, she looked away from him.

"Did you steal my gluestick because you liked me?"

He laughed. "I wasn't such a typical little boy, Evie. I'm afraid not."

"So you didn't like me?"

"Well… I liked you after you kicked me."

"Are you serious?"

"I guess I always had a thing for aggressive women."

She looked at him again at that statement and smiled.

"I'm not going to let you kiss me, Peter."

"I figured as much," he answered, shrugging. "I don't mind."

"But… I am attracted to you."

"Me too."

"And you seem pretty decent for a gluestick stealer. Why did you steal my gluestick in the first place?"

"I was a simple, lazy little boy, Evie. I needed glue."

She laughed at that. "Of course. And why are you calling me Evie?"

"Because I feel like it. So… definitely no kissing? Even if I whipped out mistletoe?"

"You don't honestly have mistletoe on you, do you?"

"No," he replied honestly. "I didn't expect to meet someone in the park today."

"Well I didn't either," she replied. She got up from the swings. "I should be going home now. It was nice meeting you again, Peter."

"Likewise." He stood up as well.

She faced him with a smile on her face.

"Don't look so hopeful, Peter. No goodbye kiss. I already told you I wasn't going to kiss you today."

"Rats."

"But maybe some day in the future. Merry Christmas. See you in 2008!" Waving, she left him.

"Merry Christmas!" he called, waving as well. Peter smiled to himself as he headed song. This had been a better Christmas Eve then he expected.

A/N: Despite what I just said in my profile earlier today (April 16, 2008... 4 months, I know, I know. Very bad.), I actually manged to finish this. I opened the document and just.. wrote. I'll admit this isn't the best oneshot, but I kinda like it because when I wrote it, all this just came out really randomly. This is quite a random oneshot, but we are random in real life too, so it works. I hope. XD If you're a fan of this (the series), first off: I love you! and secondly, please review. I'm sorry I took so long to update. :P As you probably can figure out or already know if you remember from the previous A/N, #8 is actually happening on Christmas. Hopefully I'll get that up soon.

I hope you enjoyed this, oh and question on my profile that no one's probably gonna read so I'm putting it here: should I change my penname? More details on this at my profile. Please review! (: