Celeste

The apartment intercom buzzed just as Celeste was just pulling on her jeans, getting ready for her second 'date' with Sterling. Half dressed, she ran to the living room window where she could see down to the front door of the building. She clung to the wall so that she wouldn't be seen in just her bra, and peered around the corner. 

Sterling was standing there, waiting by the door and pressing the button for her apartment. As if he could feel her gaze, he looked up towards her window. She swore under her breath and leapt back. She scrambled to zip up her jeans as she ran over to her still buzzing intercom.

She pressed the button to talk. "You're early!"

"Hello to you, too," Sterling said from the other side, his voice crackling over the line. "And early is better than late.'

"I'm not even ready yet!" Celeste shot back. She groaned. "You're going to have to come up."

"Fine."

She hit the other button and heard the door below give its own bzzz and unlatch. She unlocked the apartment deadbolt and ran back down the hall to her bedroom to put on the rest of her outfit. As she dug through her closet looking for her sweater—Where had it gone? she wondered. She had just had it—she heard the apartment door open, and Sterling stepped inside.

"Do you really leave your apartment unlocked for any weirdo to wander in?" he called from the living room.

"Oh, not just any weirdo," she called back. "And hello to you, too."

Sterling actually gave a laugh. "Are you going to be long?"

"Hey! You're the one who's early!" she said, sticking her head just out the door. "I was doing fine and then you threw me off. I'll be ready soon, though." She just had to find that damned sweater. She swore she had just laid it out...

She stopped as realization hit.

She had just laid it out...

On the couch.

Celeste swore under her breath. She poked her head out again. "Hey, can I get your help?"

"Depends," he said, raising an eyebrow. "What do you need?"

"Just that sweater." She pointed to where the sweater was lying across the back of the couch—it was deep green and woven through with glittering golden thread.

"Sure." He grabbed it and headed down the hall.

"Wait!" Celeste said when Sterling got too close. "Turn away, okay?"

Sterling did as she said and averted his eyes, looking back down the hall toward the living room. He reached back with the sweater, holding it out for Celeste.

He was still a bit too far, so she had to sneak out and grab the sweater from his hand. Thankfully Sterling kept his gaze fixed on the living room. She grabbed the sweater and dove back into her room, slamming the door behind her.

He lingered outside the door. "You don't have a tree."

"N-No, I don't," Celeste said, going still as she looked over the sweater. "You just realized? Didn't you notice when you crashed on our couch?"

"I didn't really look that close before," Sterling said. "And I didn't know you before. Now that I do, it's odd."

Celeste frowned. "Why is it odd?"

"Because you're so into Christmas," he said. "Your place is all decorated, but there's no tree. And I know I'm no expert on the holiday, but isn't the tree the most important part?"

Her chest tightened. She focused on pulling on the sweater rather than the pain between her ribs.

The tree had been a part of her plans for Christmas with Jared. They were supposed to pick up a tree from the Festival, bring it home, and decorate it together. It was going to be her first tree—not her parent's, not her friend's, hers.

But now...

She took a deep breath to steel herself and opened her eyes as they still stung with tears. She blinked hard to fight them off. She couldn't let this derail the night. She could cry about it later.

She finished pulling on the sweater and went to the door.

"I'm ready," she said, pulling it open.

Sterling jumped back from the door. He studied her, his eyes narrowing. He clearly noticed that she didn't answer his question about the tree, but he didn't press.

"Great," he said instead. "Then let's go."

🎄

Once again, Celeste and Sterling found themselves wandering the pathways between the stalls of Winter Grove's Christmas Tree Festival. Only now, everything about the festival felt like a chore. Celeste wished she was anywhere but here.

Since Sterling had mentioned the tree, she couldn't stop thinking about it... or Jared. Her chest had been aching since they'd left the apartment, and the words spoken between them had been few.

"So," Sterling said, his tone gentle. "What did you call this night of the Festival?" He had picked up on her dark mood and had been trying his best to prod her into a conversation but to little success.

"It's the Night of the Ornaments," Celeste muttered, no excitement in her voice. Her gaze lifted from her feet up to the large tree that still towered over them from the center of the square.

The town had now added oversized ornaments and decorations to the tree—round baubles, multi-coloured lights, and thick swathes of garland. They sparkled in the glow of the lights that had been added on the festival's first night.

"I guess that explains the booths," Sterling said, looking around.

"Yeah," Celeste said, looking now, too. "The Festival booths change depending on the night. Since tonight's the Night of Ornaments, they sell decorations for people to buy and bring home to put on their own trees."

"So," Sterling said, looking back at her. "We're at a festival about buying ornaments for a tree you don't have?"

Celeste bristled and looked away. Her eyes stung again. Not only would this be her first Christmas alone, it would also be her first Christmas without a tree.

Sterling realized he'd said the wrong thing. "Sorry. We don't—"

"We don't need to buy anything," she grumbled, cutting him off. "We're just here to make Jared jealous."

"Right," Sterling said with a solemn nod. He looked like he was thinking about something...

Then his eye caught on something behind her.

"If you're wondering about Jared, then it looks like we should get ready."

Celeste turned, following his gaze. She stared through the mass of people and spotted what he'd seen—there, across the crowd, was Jared. Rebecca was at his side, clinging to his arm, and they were headed their way.

Celeste's heart jumped up into her throat as if she was seeing them together for the first time.

She didn't want to be here. She wanted to turn and run—

Before she could, Sterling grabbed her shoulder and pulled her close. Startled, she stumbled and fell against him. Her face pressed into his chest, the soft fabric of his dark gray sweater. She couldn't help but notice that he smelled good, like leather with a hint of wood smoke.

She pulled back and looked up at him.

"Just getting into position," Sterling explained.

"R-Right," Celeste said, straightening up. She stayed close to his side and looked out into the crowd again.

Jared and Rebecca were only a few feet away.

He was... smiling. Joking. Laughing.

With her.

It felt like her heart was breaking all over again.

How could he move on so quickly?

Rebecca noticed them first. "Oh, look who it is!" she shrieked.

Jared's face fell at the sight of them.

Celeste pressed herself tighter to Sterling's side. He followed her lead and tightened his arm around her. Even if it wasn't real, having someone hold her felt nice. It made her feel a little better and made her smile a little more real.

"Hi!" Celeste cheered as Rebecca dragged Jared over to them. "You two sure are becoming Festival regulars."

"I could say the same about you," Jared replied, his voice flat.

Celeste met his eye. His features were tense, his brow folded. It looked like there was something he wanted to say... But Rebecca tugged on his arm, breaking their stare.

"Jared insisted we come," Rebecca said, giggling. She nuzzled into Jared's arm and looked at him with big, fluttering lashes. "I didn't realize he was such a big fan of Christmas, but I couldn't say no. What girl doesn't want to be romanced in the middle of all this holiday magic?" She looked directly at Celeste.

A lump rose in Celeste's throat. She tried to speak, but no words would come out.

Sterling stepped in. "See, it's the opposite for us," he said. "I can't stand Christmas, but when I see how happy it makes her...." He reached over and touched Celeste's cheek, pulling her face towards his, "...it's started to kind of grow on me."

Celeste stared into his dark eyes. His gaze was surprisingly tender, but only someone as close as she was at that moment could see the walls behind them.

"Isn't that right, babe?" Sterling finished.

Celeste swallowed. He put on a good act. "T-That's right, uh, babe."

"Oh, babe, before I forget," he continued as he dropped his hand from her face. "I think I saw that thing you were looking for, over there." He pointed at one of the booths behind them.

"Huh?"

"You know," he said with a big smile. He raised his eyebrows. "The thing."

Celeste clued in. "Oh! Yes. Right. The thing. The thing I was looking for."

"Yeah," Sterling said, nodding. "That thing."

Celeste let him guide her away as he waved goodbye to Jared and Rebecca. He led her over to a nearby booth, whichever was closest. She knew it had just been a ruse to get her out of that conversation before things fell apart.

Once they were well out of earshot, Celeste let out a sigh. "Thanks."

"It's my duty," Sterling said. "You know, as your fake-date. Or am I your fake-boyfriend now?"

"Who knows," Celeste admitted and sighed again. "This is all so stupid. I don't know what I was thinking when I asked you to pretend like this, in hopes of making Jared jealous. It's insane. He's with her now! Why would I think that he'd want to come back—"

"I don't know," Sterling said, cutting her off. "Maybe because he looks absolutely miserable, right now?" He nodded to the spot where they'd left Jared and Rebecca.

Celeste snuck a look. They were arguing about something, and Jared kept looking their way.

"Trouble in paradise," Sterling agreed. "Something tells me that they won't be a couple that lasts."

She felt a quick pang of cruel happiness. She liked the idea of that. "Maybe not."

"Now, com'n, before they notice you staring," Sterling said, nudging her back to the booth.

Fortunately, Sterling had steered them towards a good booth. This particular one sold ornaments made out of stained glass. They were both modern and folksy, their shimmering angular pieces lined in a smoky black. They came in all shapes and sizes. There was even a big beautiful stained glass star.

But Celeste was particularly drawn to the set of woodland animals. Next to them was a sign next to them that read TWO FOR $25.

"These are so cute," Celeste said, touching a little geometric fox. It was curled up, its big tail tucked under its chin.

"They are nice," Sterling agreed. "Really well made. And not so... over the top Christmas." His hand lingered over a large black bear sitting back on its behind.

If only I had a tree to put them on, Celeste thought. She ran her fingers over the fox's edges.

But I don't.

She withdrew her hand and stepped back from the booth. "Let's move on."

"Sure," Sterling said. "If that's what you want."

"It is," Celeste said, folding her arms. She suddenly felt very cold.

Sterling went to follow her, then stopped and pulled out his phone. "Oh, just a sec. I got a text from Olly," he said. "You can go on ahead. I'll catch up."

Celeste took him at his word and went ahead, eager to get away from the booth. But the other booths proved just to be painful, each one a reminder of the fact that she didn't have a tree and why she didn't have any tree...

There was a gap in the booths off to the side, so she hurried over in that way for a breath of air. But as she got there, her heart sank. It wasn't a little spot to catch her breath.

It was just another kind of booth—and they were selling the trees themselves. The rows of peaked green bundles taunted her.

"Olly has been sorted," Sterling said, coming up behind her. He was shoving something into his pocket, probably his phone. "What're you looking at?"

"Nothing," Celeste said, trying to hurry off. "Let's get moving." Now she just wanted to get this over with.

Sterling caught her by the elbow. "Wait, did you want to get a tree?"

Celeste tried to pull away. "No, I was—"

"I'd be happy to carry it home for you," Sterling said. "We can do it now."

"You don't have to do that," Celeste said.

"No, I don't," he said. He grinned at her as he stepped into the tree lot, dragging Celeste along with him. "But I want to."

🎄