"On the 9th day of December, Santa gave to me, Two Blonde Newbies, a Gingerbread treat, a Shopping Trip, an Awkward Silence, and a Lights Show."

December 9th

The day was in full swing and Arthur was trying desperately to talk with Yuri. But it was like nothing had changed between the two of them. He wasn't her friend. Not yet. He had to put in more work. Work he hadn't anticipated.

Noel on the other hand was completely fine not talking. He stood behind the cash register greeting customers and placing orders for his brother and Yuri.

He'd glance at her every now and then. Wondering what made her such a big mystery. He thought girls were chatty and cared about looks. At least that's the kind of girls he's been forced to talk to since he's been here. Girl's come up to him all the time wanting to talk nonsense and get his number. Both of which he didn't care to comment on.

She seemed to throw on whatever was comfortable and barely talked to him unless it was asking for him to do something. He hadn't read her letters yet. He'd decided to let his brother read them first.

"Noel, can you get me another caramel hot cocoa, please." At least she had manner's.

"Sure." He wrote it down and handed it to his brother. "Here."

"Got it."

He nodded and turned back to looking out the front door. It was snowing. He pursed his lips and thought for a second. He made up his mind when Yuri came back to collect the hot chocolate.

"Take me to see the lights."

Yuri raised an eyebrow, reaching for the hot cocoa in his hands. He held it out of reach. She sighed, "You mean the house with the radio synced lights?"

He nodded, "Yes, that."

"It's on 4th street, go by yourself, now give me the hot chocolate." She looked over her shoulder and at the preoccupied customers.

"I will, as long as you agree to take me."

Her shoulders deflated, "Fine, now give it here."

He gave it to her with a tilt of his lips. She rolled her eyes and walked away with the sweet drink.

...

"You ready?" Noel asked, walking into the break room.

Yuri jumped and whipped her head around to stare at him, "For what?"

He raised an eyebrow, "You forgot?"

"Well if I'm asking 'For what?' then I'm pretty sure I forgot." She sassed, pulling on her puffy jacket.

"You're taking me to see the house lights."

"Oh." She grabbed her backpack. She spoke as she walked towards the cafe's entrance, "I didn't have a choice, so it becomes invalid."

"Say's who?" Noel followed her.

"Me." She held the door open for him, "Where's your brother?"

He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked out, "At home."

"I thought you guys lived in ClausVil." She closed the door and put in the key.

"We do, but we're staying at Marsh's house."

She turned to look at him, "Why?"

He shrugged, "She needed someone to look after her house and she knows my dad, so they came to an agreement I guess."

"Okay." She nodded and started for her house.

"Wait." Noel placed a hand on her shoulder. "What about the lights?"

Her shoulders fell. Looking over her shoulder at him, she asked, "You really wanna see them?" He nodded. Sighing, she changed directions, "Alright, let's go."

He matched her steps. Together they went the opposite way of her house and towards 4th street. The silence between them was fine, but Noel knew he had to hurry this friendship thing along so he could go home and eat his mom's pot pie.

"What's your favorite part of Christmas?" Noel kept his gaze ahead.

She looked at him from the corner of her eye, "You already asked that question- Arthur did anyways."

"Right." He looked at the tree's covered in white lights.

"But the lights. What's your favorite part?"

He looked down at her, "I don't enjoy a lot of it. It's really only enjoyable under two conditions."

She looked up at him, "Which are?"

He looked ahead again, "Snow and silence."

"That's it?" She huffed out a breath, creating fog.

"I like Christmas lights too, I just prefer the other two."

"I wonder what Christmas is like at your house." She smiled, imagining him sitting there being a grump while everyone rips open presents.

"It's pretty mundane actually. We don't get that many presents."

She turned down a road and leaned forward to look him in the eye, "Mind if I ask why?"

"I don't care." He shrugged. "We don't have money problems, it's just our environment. We're surrounded by Christmas all the time- lights and the elves sing Christmas songs all the time, it makes it hard to enjoy Christmas when it comes around. I'm pretty sure my mom gets that, so she makes sure we have simple but good gifts."

"Elves?" She questioned, looking confused.

"Is that the house?" He took his hand out of his hoodie pocket and pointed at the bright house a little farther up.

She looked where he pointed and nodded, "Yeah, I think this will get you out of your Christmas funk." She pulled her phone from her backpack along with her corded earbuds. She plugged them in and searched for the radio station. Then handed one to the boy beside her, "Here, put this in."

He did, and 'Gramma Got Run Over By A Reindeer' played into his left ear.

As they stopped and turned to face the house, Yuri heard humming. A smile pulled her lips up as she looked at Noel from the corner of her eye. He was humming the song.

As many times as he's heard the song and doesn't like it, he still can't help humming the lyrics.

They stood there, hands stuffed in their pockets, the earbuds wire dangling between them, and a soft smile on each of their lips as they watched an animated reindeer dance across the rooftop in the Christmas lights. The cold air forgotten in that moment and tranquility taking its place.

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Honestly, I have a think for the quiet type XD

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