Christmas Lights

a christmas oneshot.

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I wrapped my jacket tighter around my body as another cold breeze whisked through the air. Although it was somewhat nice to have that coldish feeling towards Christmas, it made one feel more in the cliché of American Christmas – one I had never experienced before, mind you, but the movies made it seem magical enough – it was summer, and we’d already rid of that coldness, and now we were meant to have three months of glorious warm weather, but instead, rain, rain, rain, and more rain.

Rain is wonderful as well, but everyday, making summer colder? Well not as wonderful.

Never one to break tradition, my family had announced only 30 minutes prior that tonight would be the night where we wander around the neighbourhoods which go all out and deck their house in beautiful lights for Christmas, before stopping and going into the main attraction.

The main attraction would be this nice house who receive one of the biggest electricity bills once December is over. Their house is covered in lights, and they have many little statues which also light up, on the roof, in the lawn, and one can wander into their front garden and look at everything.

If you choose to give them money, it would be a donation, because any money they collect goes straight to charity. Probably one of the most generous families, I’d say. But I think its completely insane to let random strangers wander around in your front lawn. Nice, yeah, but a little over the top.

The funny thing is, that even though the lights are exactly the same every year, lots of people still go and look at the lights. My family joins into that group of people.

I’ll admit that the first few years of it was great, I enjoyed it just like any kid would, and it would never cease to amaze me how much effort it would have taken to set up everything. But year after year, when you begin to see the exact same things, it gets incredibly boring, and even though I find it completely boring now, my parents are still as enthusiastic about it like they were when I was five.

Being an only child meant that I had no one to make the trips more enjoyable, my parents normally wandered off to look by themselves, giving me my ‘space’, and then finding me when they were done and wanted to move on.

They walked ahead of me, being all happy and lovey-dovey, which was cute I guess, but still quite annoying. I stormed ahead, hoping that the faster I looked at everything, the faster we could go home, and usually, I ended up standing at the end of the street while they strolled along at their own slow pace, and I end up even more bored.

Clearly they should have stopped bringing me along years ago, because they acted like I didn’t exist throughout this magical journey.

Insert eye roll.

“Oh Li, isn’t it all beautiful?” my mother remarked with a faraway look in her eyes once they reached me.

“All looks the same to me,” I muttered.

My dad shot me a look.

“I mean, of course, as it usually does,” I corrected, and my dad shot me another look. “Yeah mum, its…magical.”

My mother, who clearly handy been listening wandered off in front, my dad following her. I shot them looks and then made my way in front of them again. They can’t get mad at me, its Christmas, well, almost Christmas.

“Don’t wander too far Lila, we want you to wait for us once we get to the last one,” dad called out.

I sighed and continued walking until, we made it to the last house. The main attraction. Looked the same as it did every single year, and knowing my parents, we’d be here for a long time, just like every single year.

When the slow walkers (parents) caught up, we entered.

“We’ll meet you up front when we’re done,” my mother said as she and dad walked off.

Most likely they go and find the people they always see here, have a chat, THEN look at the lights for fifty billion years before they meet me at the gate. Ugh, joy.

As per usual, I walked around by myself. Such a solitary life I lead. Giving each light a look and a dismissive head nod, I walked along before just randomly stopping, not even noticing I was looking at a light and thinking. What would I be doing if I wasn’t here right now?

Probably be reading, but rerereading things because I’ve read everything before. I can’t wait until Christmas, Borders here I come, be ready for me.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” a random voice, one I’d never heard before, broke my train of thought.

I snapped out of my trance and glanced at the speaker.

Typical, a guy. His blonde hair was probably as perfect as it could be, and with one glance, I felt that only he could pull that look off, and I’d only just glimpsed at the guy.

“Yeah…if you like seeing things millions of times,” I blurted out.

Mouth, meet Brain, Brain will help you say the RIGHT things.

I really shouldn’t be allowed out.

“Oh?” boy raised his eyebrows, sort of willing me to go on.

Damn.

“Well, if you think about it, the people who live here put exactly the same lights up every single year. Which means, that people like myself, who have parents who adore looking at this every time, no matter how many times they’ve seen it, have to endure it year after year, which means that it becomes incredibly boring and drives you to the stage that you slightly begin to dread Christmas because you can’t stand the evening where you have to do this.”

I really, really, shouldn’t be allowed out.

“Really.” The boy looked amused now.

I stared at him.

“So, you think this thing is a bad idea.”

I stared at him some more. “No, I mean its great – charity and all, but…yeah.”

“I’ll make sure to tell my parents that then,” he said with a grin.

He’ll tell his parents…what? Use my argument so they won’t drag him here anymore? Oh come on, this guy needs originality. I raised my eyebrows. “Oh?”

The boy’s grin widened. “Yeah, well I suggested putting up the mistletoe this year. Make people really feel the love.”

Wait…what?

I glanced up and sure enough a piece of mistletoe hung above my head. “So I’m guessing you’ve been standing by the mistletoe all night, how many girls will you have kissed when tonight’s over?” I smirked.

Typical. Now, if I just edge away from the mistletoe, then I wouldn’t have to be stuck in this situation.

“I’ve been hovering near by all night, yes. But I’ll only have kissed one girl at the end of the night,” he said, noting my edging away.

“Rejected?”

“I’ve been waiting for someone,” the boy told me, giving me an odd look.

“That’s kind of sad isn’t it? Hanging around some stranger’s house, just waiting for some person, who might not actually show up,” I remarked.

The boy shook his head. “Actually, its not some stranger’s house.”

“Oh? You know the owners then?” I was amazed, I didn’t think anyone knew the owners. This was so cool.

“Well, I should hope so. This is my house after all, imagine me not knowing my own parents.” The boy watched my face for a reaction.

Aw jeez.

“And as for the girl, well she comes here every year. On this day, and in fact, she’s here right now,” he said as I stared at him, my mouth unflatteringly hanging open. But my curiosity was sparked when he said she was here.

Hell, I didn’t even know the guy and I was taking an interest in his love life.

“She’s here? Where?”

The boy looked embarrassed now. “Um, well, you know, here.”

“Yeah, I get the fact that she’s here, but where?” Seriously, this guy shouldn’t have told me. I’m too curious for my own good and will stop at nothing until I find the answers. All my teachers hate me. They think I question their teaching. Idiots.

“My name is Johnny, by the way.” He was blushing.

“Yeah that’s nice. I’m Lila – ”

“I know,” he cut in.

I shot him an annoyed look. “– now seriously, I’m too curious, tell me who she is.”

He didn’t answer. Instead he looked at me for a few moments, as if contemplating what to do. Before I could make an impatient retort though, he leant down and our lips met.

I was a tad confused. Didn’t he say he’d only kiss that girl who – oh.

Oh.

I pulled away from him and he looked flushed.

“I’m really sorry. Really –”

“I’m really glad you decided to feature the mistletoe,” I told him before pressing my lips back against his. I could feel his smile against mine and I don’t think I’ve ever had as much fun looking at this house.

I’m most definitely coming back next year.

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A/N: Yeah, I felt the need to write a X'mas oneshot. I mean, who can resist? There is actually a house just like the one featured in my oneshot, charity and all. My sister has gone into look at it with her best friend, but my family has just driven past it. It is quite wonderful, and this story has been nagging my brain to be written ever since we drove past it a few weeks ago. :)

I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you think.

-K.