Bonus chapter: Christmas (1)

The lights were beautiful. Stretching down into the distance, little stalls were situated on either side of the icy streets. They illuminated the dark, starry night. The buzzing streets were filled with crowds of people. Elders and families strolled from stall to stall. Kids running around the place munching down on street foods. Students roaming around in groups. Couples feeding each other and playing Christmas-style games.

The cold yet warm sensation, as I breathed out, caused a stream of smoke to rise into my face. The lights, of the streets, blurred as I peeked through the smoke; it was beautiful.

I looked up, across the street, towards the big tree, located right at the centre, where everyone was gathering. Each step I took, my heart raced warmly and I continued to take another step. The calm wind blew against me as I glanced at the bright star sitting on top of the tree.

The snow slowly floated down from above and I took my hands out of my comfortable, coat pockets. Slowly, I took off my gloves and the chilling wind blew the snow towards my hands. I extended my fingers and the snow laid down on my palm. The heat, rising from it, melted the snow, making it sparkle in the lights as I looked into the water droplets.

"Hey..." I heard recognising a familiar voice coming from my side. He gently placed his hand on to mine. "Let's go see the Christmas tree together."

"Yeahhhh!!! Let's get going~" a girl's cheerful voice agreed. "We can't miss something this exciting!"

"Mhm," I agreed. "Let's go, Eli."

She took my other hand and dragged me away. My gloves, I was holding, slipped out of my hand and dropped on to the floor. I turned my head and glanced at the floor but he already crouched down grabbing it. He picked it up, patted it slightly and waved it at me. I gave him a smile trying to imply a 'thank you' as I was already metres away from him - Eli still dragging me along.

"Woahhhh," Eli said, her eyes glowing from the reflections of the blue, red and white lights. "It's amazing!!!"

Eli jumped around waving her hands up and down, my hands followed it as she was still holding on to me. The excited Eli continued to drag me along with her as we circled the tree pushing our way through the crowds of people.

Looking back, I lost sight of him. "Eli, Eli!" I slightly tugged her hands.

"Ahh, what is it?" She looked back at me as she slowed down a little - her face was still excited.

"My hands are cold," I began to say as my warm breath left my mouth. "Let's wait for him to come so I can get my gloves back."

"Ha..." Eli sighed. She began to take her gloves off and slipped them on to my hands. "Here, take one of mine!" She held on to my other hand and placed it into my coat pocket. "Keep one hand inside and I'll hold on to your other hand!" she said cheerfully.

"Ah-" I said but she interrupted.

"Let's gooo!" she said looking forward, her bare hand pointing towards the other side of the tree.

"Alright," I smilingly agreed.

A moment later, we arrived at the other side of the tree, where most people gathered. The crowd was surrounding an empty space in the middle; it was an area to take photos with the glowing tree.

The queue was long but Eli didn't care. She, still holding on my hand, dragged me to the back of the queue and we waited excitingly for our turn.

"Let's take a photo, us two!" she enthusiastically said.

"Yeah," I replied. I turned my head left and right but I couldn't see him. "Let's take a photo with him when he arrives as well."

"Forget about that idiot! He's so slowwww," Eli replied pouting.

"Ah... but-"

"No buts. If he comes soon then... maybe... but for now, just us!" she laughed.

A couple of minutes passed and it was our turn. We stepped forward into the open area and I gave my phone to the staff member, who was responsible for taking photos. Eli let go of my hand and placed it around my shoulders. She stretched out her other hand, holding two fingers up, and smiled brightly. I followed her and did the same placing my bare hands near my face with my head slightly tilted towards it.

"3... 2... 1..."

*Snap* *Snap*

The staff member took a few shots of us. "It's done!"

"Yayyyy~" Eli jumped forward. She ran towards the staff member and he gave my phone to her. She turned away and walked back to me as walked towards her. "Woah!!! That's soooo coooool!!!"

I walked around looking into my phone. "The trees glowing."

"You're sooo cuteee," Eli giggled.

I turned my head backwards looking for him, but I couldn't see him. My head dropped slightly and I looked down towards the ground.

"Hey, hey." Eli shook me slightly. "Send these to me later! I gotta put this as my profile pic on Insta."

"Mhm, Okay-"

"Hey! You finally arrived!" Eli faced the crowd. She dragged me towards the railings. "He alright helped us take photos," Eli smirked. "I beat ya~" she continued laughing. "If you wanna take, go queue up~ there's a long queue, hehe." She turned towards me and giggled, "Let's go, let him take a photo with the others instead~" Dragging my hand, she pulled me away from him.

"Ah, but-" I began to say. Turning my head, I looked back but then my shoes slid and I lost balance; I slipped. As I was falling towards the ground, I let go of Eli's hand and my face pointed towards the sky. The railings rattled and I could hear him running towards me. I fell on to a warm cushion. He held out his arms and caught me wrapping his hands around me. I could see his dark face blocking the glowing tree. Slowly, he lifted me back up and turned me towards him.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "Be careful," he smilingly said.

"Mhm... I'm okay," I replied.

"Roseeeeeee!!!" Eli cried. "I'm so, so, soooo, sorryyyyyy!!!" she placed her hands together and bowed down a little closing her eyes shut. She opened one eye and peeked at us. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry Eli."

"Come," he said helping me up from the ground. "Let's go."

"Wait!" Eli shouted holding her hand out. She rushed towards the staff member and handed my phone back to him. "Can you please take a few more photos???" After she begged him for a while, the staff member agreed. "Yahoooo!" she shouted waving back at us. "Take her over there!"

"Let's take a photo together," he said.

"Mhm," I nodded.

Holding on to my hands, we walked back to the position getting ready for the photo.

Eli waved her arms side to side. "Get closer!"

I started to warm up a little. I placed my bare hand on to my face trying to chill it down a bit.

"Hold on to her!!!" Eli shouted again.

He placed his arm around my waist. I looked up at him and he gave me a gentle smile. I smiled back and we looked at the phone's camera together.

"Yes! Like this," the staff member said. "3... 2... 1..."

*Snap* *Snap* *Snap*

The staff member took a few shots as Eli looked at the phone. She smiled cheerfully and then she jumped towards us. She got closer and hugged me tightly. "Awww, you're so cute!!!" She glared at him sharply and said, "She's 'my' Rose."

After a moment of silence, we all giggled a little.

"Let's take a few more!!!" Eli said.

Still clinging on to me, Eli stood between me and him and we looked at the camera.

I turned my head at him. He placed his hand behind Eli's head with two fingers up. I giggled a little and Eli looked at me.

"What you giggling at?" she confusingly questioned.

He smilingly looked at me and placed a finger near his mouth. "Shhh..." he whispered lowly.

"Nothing," I replied trying to keep my laugh in.

We faced the camera once more and I smiled brightly.