An Elf's Crush [Fiction]

"Cool costume."

I freeze for like a second. My friend, Sandra, chuckles at the expression on my face. I recover quickly because Lucas Moore, my crush, is literally admiring my elf costume, especially my red, pointy hat.

"Thanks," I reply, a little out of breath. "Will you be at the party?" I add quickly as his friends start to pull him away. He glances back and winks playfully. "I wouldn't miss it. See you there?" I nod and he's gone.

"What just happened?" I ask, feeling my cheeks grow warm.

Sandra laughs. "You finally got Lucas' attention, that's what!"

My excitement is overwhelming. I'm hopping from class to class, taking down names of attendees for the school Christmas party fixed for the next day when the closing bell rings. I grab my bag and dash out of the school premises when I see Lucas standing on the sidewalk, distracted. In slow motion, I glimpse a car zigzagging towards him.

A loud scream fills the air and I realise it's emanating from my lips. I'm standing beside Lucas and shoving him out of the way when the force of the car's impact sends me into the air. I black out, the sound of Lucas' shriek fading away.

* * * * *

It's been a week now. I'm finding it hard adjusting to my new environment and life.

Kris, the snow-white bearded plump man with rosy cheeks and laughing eyes, welcomed me as I walked through a tall white gate after the accident. A group of joyful children and teenagers, dressed in white tunics and trousers, stood by him. Their cheery faces were annoying at the time because I didn't want to be here.

I scanned the strange place—a vast estate with surrounding snowy hills. It was the very definition of a winter wonderland with sparkling decorations everywhere. A tall, decorated Christmas tree stood in the centre of the outdoor area. Light bill was not a problem here. Was I in a Christmas heaven?

Kris told me that I saved a life and as such, I was now his helper. "What?" I shrieked. "Who are you? Santa?" He grinned and the children chuckled like my questions were ridiculous.

Then I remembered I was dressed like an elf before the accident happened. I gasped. Lucas!

"Georgina, you have a good heart and saved a life. Now you'll be my elf for all eternity," he explained and I burst into tears.

All I ever wanted was for Lucas, the handsome, popular boy in school to notice me. I was twelve then and ready to settle for friendship with the hope that we might be more later on. Then he spoke to me. Finally, my wish was coming true and poof, just like that, my life was over.

* * * * *

"Georgina, you're up!" Kris calls from his glass office. I curl my lips in distaste. Though our office is a large building, there's no need to shout or use a microphone. Our ears can pick up the slightest sound or whisper.

It's my first Christmas with my new family and I'll be starting my first task soon. I walk into his office and fold my arms across my chest with a frown. He grins, his cheerfulness unending and irritating. "You tryin' to mimic a grinch, my little one?"

I scowl some more. "I'm not a grinch. Did you have to shout so loud?"

He throws back his head and guffaws. My scowl loses effect. "Guess where you're headed."

"Tell me. I'm not good with guessing games."

Kris shrugs. "Convince Lucas Moore to stop being naughty or else Krampus will come for him."

My arms falls limply to my side at the mention of his name. I'm almost close to tears. Kris is nice and all. He's Santa Claus for Pete sake. Why is he being mean to me?

He raises a finger. "And before you start thinking funny things, trust me. Hmm?"

I scoff. "You know how I feel about him."

"Precisely why you'll do this assignment better than your elf brothers and sisters. We don't often do this but we're making an exception for him—," he pauses, his sparkly amber eyes boring into mine. "Because of you," he ends in a whisper.

"Okay. I'll do it."

* * * * *

Kenn, a tall, weird looking boy, dressed in grey overall with a hoodie, holds my hand and together we phase through the wall of the estate. Next, we're standing on the premises of my school. Everything appears changed—the walls repainted, the doors and windows remodelled.

I walk down the hallway, peeking through the windows into the classes. I'm nostalgic as memories of my human life flood my mind. I miss attending classes with my friend, Sandra, and causing mischief with the other kids.

Kenn and I hear noises coming from the lunch hall. I gesture for him to follow me. He does so with a smile on his pale face. He's barely said a word to me since Kris paired him and I to work the Lucas case together. I wonder what his story is but I'm not interested in finding out.

We pass the locker room when we hear voices and one of them is Lucas. "Come. This way," I whisper to Kenn and we walk down to the end of the room.

In a dark corner, Lucas and two friends are mixing some liquids that I perceive are chemicals. Lucas glances up at me. I gasp, thinking of what to say only to realise he's looking through me!

"He can't see me?" I whisper and Kenn nods. I almost let out a stream of expletives at Kris for not warning me on what seems like a futile mission when Lucas curses. "Crap! Careful. Don't let that liquid touch you or your skin is gone. Imma teach Jefferson some lessons."

I gasp again. Mr Jefferson is the football coach and I remember some boys commenting on how strict he is. Lucas is on the team, so why does he want to hurt his coach?

My instinct prompts me to say something. I take a deep breath and hope I know what I'm doing. "Lucas?"

The boys keep talking but Lucas freezes and looks at me. His face becomes as pale as a sheet. That confirms he can see me.

"Lucas?"

He shakes his head in disbelief. "Guys, can you see this? Can you see….her?" He points at me but his friends don't respond. The boys are in a frozen state, their gloved hands clutching an unidentifiable can of acid, beakers and pipettes. It's like time stopped. I glance back at Kenn who stands at attention behind me like a bodyguard. He shrugs, an eerie smile on his face.

Lucas staggers back from the sight of his frozen friends. "N-no, this can't be happening."

I quickly seize the moment. "Lucas, it's me, Georgina."

"No! I don't believe you. You're—are you a ghost?" He yells, turns to run down the hall but hits an invisible wall. It's like we are enclosed in a bubble of some sort. Perhaps a bubble outside of time? I'll have a long talk with Kris on how these things work. My sullen mood blinded me from getting the necessary information for this task.

"Lucas, calm down. I'm not a, uh, ghost. Not like that."

"Then what are you? And why are you here?" If he gets any paler, he may faint and I don't want that. Not on my first assignment.

"You may not believe this but I'm an elf sent—"

He snickers. "Elf? What am I? Five?"

"Please, Lucas. Listen, will you?"

"No! Everyone knows Santa is not real and neither does he have elves. Ugh, are you here to haunt me?"

I sigh and rub my eyes. This task is harder than I expected. "I'm not haunting you. Santa is real and so are elves…"

"I didn't know, Georgina. I didn't see the car coming. Why did you save me?"

It's clear he's not interested in my elf story but rather in understanding the accident. I shrug. "I don't know. I was trying to warn you but pushing you out of the way seemed faster. I didn't know the car would hit me."

Tears roll down his face, his eyes sad. The anger I saw in them earlier is replaced by sadness. "I'm sorry I didn't pay you any attention before that day. I - I've been so angry…"

"Don't!" I say quickly, moving close to him. He takes a step back and I stop. Scaring him will not get my task done. "Don't blame yourself for my death. I-I'm happy as you can see." His eyes widen, taking in my pale complexion and elf costume.

"Are you? Happy?"

I don't let a moment pass. I nod my head firmly. Kris and my new family are good to me but I've been too selfish to notice, to appreciate that I wasn't rotting in some dark, cold place. "I'm happy, Lucas and I want you to be. Santa is real and he sent me because Krampus, believe it, is real and may come for you if you hurt Mr Jefferson. Whatever it is you're planning to do, don't do it."

He roughly wipes the tears away. "He's been so mean to the team. I wanted to teach him a lesson."

"Don't go down that road. If you do, you will become a different person. Promise me?" I whisper. Our eyes meet and we gaze at each other for a long moment. Scenes of the times I watched him from hidden places and the fantasies I had about him passed before my eyes. Strangely, I no longer have those feelings. Instead, I think I care deeply for him.

"I promise," he whispers, drawing me out of my contemplation.

* * * * *

Kris and all the elves are cheering loudly when Kenn brings me back.

"Congrats, Georgina, on the success of your first assignment. You're on your way to becoming one of my best elves," Kris says, his cheeks rosy and his eyes twinkling.

"I understand now why you sent me to Lucas."

"You do?"

I nod. "He promised not to be naughty. I don't know if—"

"Ah-ah, no doubts, Georgie. Elves always believe. See for yourself." Kris waves his hand towards a wall and a screen appears. I see Lucas is all grown up—a handsome young man—going on his knees to propose to a pretty young lady. I gasp; the young lady is my sister, Bernice.

I gaze at Kris, he spreads out his hands and I rush into them.

A warm hug from Santa Claus is bliss.

I hope you enjoyed reading this short story. It's inspired by the Scholar & Scribe Christmas Invitational. The genre is fantasy and the theme is Christmas. My story doesn't count for grading and prize but I wanted to write something on the theme. Feel free to participate.

^{Image 1: deddygr
Image 2: RDNE Stock project}