Sterling

"So, what's the big deal with this festival?" Sterling asked, sipping his hot chocolate as they walked through the winding path lined with shops of all varieties. There were food trucks, craft stations, and stalls selling Christmas knick-knacks of every shape and size. There was even a small lot where you could buy freshly cut Christmas trees, miniatures of the giant one that sat in the middle of the town square.

"It's the Christmas Tree Festival," Celeste said, motioning to the big tree like it was obvious.

"I get that," Sterling grumbled. "But what exactly is a Christmas Tree Festival? You celebrate... trees?"

Celeste laughed. "Basically, yeah. Winter Grove was a logging town before the university was founded. So, they began the Christmas Tree Festival as a way to promote the town and its industry."

"I guess that explains the monster tree," Sterling said, looking up at the tree that loomed large over the festival.

"Well, not quite," Celeste explained, her gaze turning towards the tree, her eyes going starry as they reflected the lights all around. "The big tree wasn't a fixture of the festival until later. That tradition started during the Great Depression. Back then, due to regulations in the surrounding forests, you couldn't just go and cut down your own tree, and not many could afford to purchase their own. So, there was this big worry of it being a 'treeless' Christmas for many families."

Sterling watched her expression falter for a moment like she truly understood how sad that was. He wondered how she would react if she knew how many treeless Christmases he had experienced.

Her brightness returned when she turned back to him to finish the story. "That didn't sit right with the Mayor at the time," she continued, "so he got one of the logging companies to donate a big tree and put it in the center of town, so everyone could enjoy it. And they've done it every year since, as a special reminder of the importance of charity and community."

Sterling looked back at the tree. It was a night gesture, but it didn't look very special to him. There were no lights, or ornaments, or even a star on top.

"It's kind of bare, isn't it?" Sterling said. "Isn't the point of getting a tree, to decorate it?"

Celeste covered her mouth with a mittened hand and giggled. "They'll be lighting it soon."

"Lighting it?" Sterling asked.

"Yeah," Celeste said. "That's what the festival tonight is for—the town is gathering to watch them light the tree up."

"Hmm," was all Sterling said to that. He had no idea how this stuff worked. He'd never been to an event like this. He'd never wanted to.

"What? Don't you like Christmas trees?" Celeste teased.

Sterling scoffed. "It's not the trees I don't like," he said.

"What? Christmas then?" Celeste said. "You don't like Christmas?"

"Not especially," Sterling said. If only she knew.

Celeste blinked at him like she couldn't imagine anyone not liking Christmas. "Why not?"

"Never had a good one." That was putting it lightly.

"Never? Not one?"

"Not one," he said. There were slivers of happiness but nothing whole. Something had always happened to ruin the holiday... But Celeste didn't seem to have that issue. He eyed her. "I'm guessing you've had lots, though."

"What makes you say that?"

"Come on," Sterling said. He shook his head—it was so obvious.

The girl was dressed like something out of a holiday ad—a pom-pom hat, cherry red coat, a sweater dress. It was all a little too... Perfect.

"You're, like, Christmas-cheer personified." He reached out and tugged on the pom-pom on the top of her head.

"Hey!" she squeaked, swatting his hand away.

Sterling chuckled. "I'm right, though, aren't I?"

Celeste shifted awkwardly like she felt guilty about having happy memories. "Yeah. I can't lie. Christmas always was—is—a big deal for my family, so I definitely enjoy the holiday." She smiled, and her face went dreamy like she was replaying all her good memories in her head. A smile spread across her face; there had to be a lot of them.

And then her smile fell.

"Usually," she finished, frowning as she looked off into the crowd, "except for this Christmas."

Her shoulders went stiff as her eye caught on something. Sterling followed her gaze. Of course, it was Jared and Rebecca, cozied up like before. They had found a spot right at the base of the tree, ready to watch the lights being lit.

"This Christmas?" Sterling asked, his deep voice going soft.

"Yeah," Celeste said with a sigh. "No big family celebration this year. I'm on my own."

"Oh, right. Alicia mentioned that. Where are your parents?"

"They're on a cruise."

"And you weren't invited?"

Celeste sighed again. "No, it's not like that. I encouraged them to go."

Sterling fought the urge to scoff. "Then why aren't you with them?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, and her voice came out small and quiet. "Because I was supposed to spend Christmas with Jared."

Sterling went still. "Wait. He ran out on you right before you were supposed to spend Christmas with him?"

"Uh-huh," Celeste said.

Sterling snapped his head up and searched the crowd for Jared. When he found him, he stared hard until Jared looked up. He levelled a steely glare in his direction. Asshole.

Jared looked startled by Sterling's sudden hostility.

Beside him, he heard Celeste give a small chuckle.

Sterling turned back to her and softened his gaze. He was starting to put it all together. "So that's why you're stuck here in Winter Grove."

"Yep," Celeste said, popping the p. "My parents offered to cancel their cruise and fly back, but that would be practically impossible... At least, not without incurring a significant amount of debt. They tried, though. I had to talk them down." She gave a little laugh, but her heart wasn't in it.

Sterling's chest tightened. His mom might've made the same offer if she was alive, though they had never had that kind of money to spare. His dad, though, would never waste a cent on him.

"Must be nice."

Celeste looked over at Sterling. Her eyes flickered, shading over with worry. She must've seen something troubling in his expression. He did his best to smooth his features and hide his darkness from view.

He forced a laugh, trying to ease the tension in the air. "Sorry, I don't mean getting dumped right before Christmas. I meant, it must be nice to have parents that care about you that much." He smiled, though he was sure it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Celeste just stared. She didn't look fooled. She opened her mouth...

Don't bother asking, Sterling thought.

Just then, a voice came booming over the speakers placed on high around the festival grounds. "Gather round, everyone!" the voice called out over the crowd. "The tree lighting will begin soon."

"I guess we better go and get a good spot," Sterling said, thankful for the change in subject.

"We don't have to," Celeste said, her voice still low. She still looked bothered.

"Hey, now," Sterling said, forcing another smile to his face. He didn't believe she'd really seen anything. He was good at hiding his true feelings. "I thought you wanted this to be real?"

"I guess, but—" Celeste began.

"If this was a real date," Sterling continued, putting on his best act. "And I was taking a pretty little thing like you to a Christmas festival, I would make sure you got the very best spot." He held out his hand to her.

Despite the cold air, Celeste's face flushed. "Alright, t-then," she said.

She took his hand and let him whisk her away into the crowd. He moved through with ease—the many concerts he'd attended had taught him a thing or two about navigating quickly through a crowd.

They emerged at the edge of the tree, right next to the stage where the Mayor was readying the big dramatic switch.

"Wow," Celeste said, staring up at the tree in awe from their new position. "You're good at that."

"I've had lots of experience," he said, grinning. He continued his act, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. "I'm a veteran of many, many mosh pits."

"How do you do it?" she asked.

"It's a matter of finding the gaps," he explained. "You spot the gaps in the crowd, and you move in to fill them, working your way through."

Celeste nodded, impressed, before turning her attention to the tree in front of them. Sterling let his gaze follow.

The tree towered over many of the buildings that ran along Main Street, including The Snowball's Chance and Olly's loft apartment above that he could see in the distance. Winter Grove really did seem like a nice town... Or it would be if it weren't for all the Christmas shit plastered around.

Next to him, Celeste shuddered. Was she cold? She felt so warm against his side. He pressed her closer, hoping that'd help. He was supposed to be her date, and that's what a date would do. A decent one, anyway.

A man appeared on the little stage set up under the boughs of the tree. He was very plump with rosy cheeks and a white wispy mustache. If it wasn't for his lack of beard and completely bald head, he would have been mistaken for a Santa impersonator.

"That's Mr. Oaken, the Mayor," Celeste explained as the man made his way across the stage, waving at the crowd.

Sterling watched as the man picked up a microphone. Once again, his voice once again echoed through the speakers. "Good evening, everyone!" the Mayor said. "Thank you for coming to our first tree lighting of the season! Are you ready?"

The crowd cheered loudly in agreement.

"Alright, alright," the Mayor said with a big booming laugh. Sterling half-expected him to break into ho-ho-hos."I hear you, I hear you! Then let's get the show on the road. Everybody, count along with me!

"Ten... Nine..."

Everyone began counting down. Even Sterling joined in, playing his part by smiling down at Celeste as they cheered the numbers back, one by one, at the Mayor.

"Three... Two... And... ONE!"

The Mayor hit the switch.

The tree lit up with a thousand twinkling lights—green lights.

The crowd erupted into applause.

"Green?" Sterling said, looking around confused. "Why are all the lights green?"

"Because it's just the first night of the festival," Celeste explained.

"First night?"

"The festival is kind of like an advent calendar. It goes all the way up until Christmas Eve, and they decorate the tree bit by bit along the way. The green lights are to celebrate the tree itself. Next, they'll add the ornaments. Then, they'll add the presents at the base of the tree and, finally, on Christmas Eve, after the Town's Annual Christmas Tree Ball, they light the star on top."

"Huh," Sterling said. "Winter Grove takes Christmas seriously, huh?"

"They really do." Celeste said with a grin, but it quickly gave way. She let out a big sigh.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing."

"No, something is definitely the matter," Sterling said. "And it sounds like something your Very Real Date should know about."

Celeste laughed. "It's just... I've always wanted to attend this festival, ever since I came to Winter Grove. While I studied for exams, I watched them set it all up, but I always had to fly out before I ever got to attend. And this year was supposed to be the year that I'd get to stay and experience it... Just me and Jared." Her voice got small. "I had planned everything out. I had planned all these dates to experience the festival for the first time. I was so looking forward to it. But now..."

Sterling just watched her with tight eyes. "But why can't you still do it?"

"Are you kidding me?" she said, looking up at Sterling like he should already get it. "It would just make me sad. And it would be embarrassing—Jared knew about all the dates I had planned. If I show up for them alone, I'll look like such a fool." She sighed, and she dropped her gaze, her shoulders slumping. "But at least I got to go to this one."

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and straightened up. When she opened her eyes again, they were bright. She looked at him. "Thank you for coming with me." She did her best to smile, but her lips trembled ever so slightly.

"Don't worry about it," Sterling said, and his heart gave a twinge. He hated seeing someone like this—especially a girl. He wanted to do something to help, but instead, he forced himself to look away. He knew if he kept looking at her, he'd do something stupid, like...

As he gazed out over the festival, something—someone—caught his eye.

Jared. He had noticed them across the crowd, and he kept glancing in their direction.

He leaned down close to her ear. "Don't look now," he whispered, "but someone is watching us."

Of course, Celeste immediately turned to look.

Sterling caught her and pulled her back to him, pressing her to his chest. "I said don't look now."

"Then when?" Celeste asked, eyeing him, her voice slightly muffled by his coat.

Sterling snuck another glance. Jared had looked away for a moment. He held Celeste in place for a few seconds more before he released her. "Okay, now. But play it cool."

Celeste did as he said and did her best to look around casually like she was just interested in the crowd around her. She was no great actress, but he didn't hold that against her. Being a good liar was not a badge of honour—he should know.

Then she spotted Jared. She drew a sharp breath.

Jared and the girl were there, only a handful of people away from them. The girl still had a tight grip on him, and she was bouncing up and down, giddy with excitement.

But Jared wasn't looking at her. He glanced over again, looking at Celeste and Sterling. His face was twisted up with obvious jealousy.

Celeste looked away, doing her best to pretend like she hadn't noticed him. She leaned into Sterling, taking his arm and pulling it tighter around her.

"Guess now would be a good time for that real kiss," Sterling said, keeping his voice low so only she could hear him.

Celeste whipped her head up, her eyes wide, making her look like a startled deer.

Sterling wanted to laugh, but thankfully, he had it under control.

"Don't worry," he said, leaning in close to whisper. "Follow my lead."

He hooked his finger under her chin and tilted her head up, angling her mouth, so she was right where he needed her. Celeste's eyes went wide and starry in the lights, frozen in panic. Her cheeks flushed bright pink, and her lips even pursed ever so slightly. He leaned in close...

Then he stopped, less than an inch from her face. He smiled. "Don't worry," he murmured. "I'm not really going to kiss you. But at this angle, Jared will sure think I did."

Celeste's face fell as realization hit. She stayed in place but averted her eyes.

For a moment or two, Sterling lingered there before leaning away. He snuck another glance in Jared's direction.

Jared had turned completely red. He was clearly furious.

Sterling smirked. Success.

But next to him, Celeste didn't seem to be enjoying their victory. She pulled away and smiled at him, but her expression was tight, and her cheeks were red, and the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

🎄