Modern Day Santa Claus

MDSC [8]

Chapter 8

When class with Sir Wynter finally ended, Jae was too enthusiastic to leave. Skye bothered her for the rest of the class and she didn't have a clue about what the new teacher talked about the whole time. She waved to Maggie for a second before turning around and left.

She heard Skye's footsteps behind her. She walked faster without turning around. And then—

"Ow!" she exclaimed when she suddenly bumped into someone in front of her. And that someone was Skye. Panicking, Jae surveyed her surroundings before glaring at Skye. "What the hell are you doing? You shouldn't teleport in public!"

Skye smirked. "There's no one here Jae. I know the rules. I know I shouldn't teleport in public."

"Yes, exactly! If anyone finds out that you can, you'd be torn in half right now as they examined your body."

Skye's eyes sparked as he raised both of his eyebrows. "That... is a very creative way of saying 'be careful'."

Jae shook her head, "Plus, you were bothering me too much that I couldn't hear what the new teacher was saying!"

Skye shrugged as he inserted both of his hands inside the pockets of his hooded jacket. "Who wants to hear what that old man has to say?"

"Obviously me, dumbass. I need to learn!" Jae said, unflinching. And when she realized what she said, she pursed her lips.

"Dumbass?" Skye repeated as a darker glint flashed in his eyes.

Jae, in a panic, suddenly found Sam standing a few meters behind Skye and said, "Whoops! There goes my ride. See you next time, Santa!" she said a little too quickly and then rushed towards Sam without even waiting for Skye to utter a word.

Sam was sizing up Skye when she neared him. He narrowed his eyes at the gray-haired boy and then gazed at Jae. "You done with your classes?" he asked.

Jae grabbed Sam's sweater sleeve and pulled him away from Santa Claus and onto the parking lot. "Yes! I thought you were going to treat me today? Let's go, let's go!" Sam didn't argue until they reached his parked car. His car was definitely not new and definitely not expensive. But it was comfortable enough that he agreed to take Jae home when he can.

Sam wordlessly opened the car with his keys. He watched as Jae looked around first, probably for that gray-haired guy, until she opened the shotgun door and entered. Sam followed suit and closed the door. The silence was not unusual between the two of them, but Sam was struggling for words this time. He silently inserted the key into the keyhole and started the engine, the heater blowing out hot air.

Jae placed her hands in front of the heater as rubbed them together, sighing in relief. "It's so gods-damned cold today."

"Where do you want to go?" Sam asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Wait! Actually, we still have lasagna back home. We can reheat it if you'd like. My mom makes the best lasagna," Jae said as she stared out the window, still looking back at their school. She can see Skye standing far away and he waved once before disappearing out of her sight. Jae sighed.

Sam glanced at her before saying, "It would be an honor to finally taste the best lasagna."

Jae looked at him with a grin. "Yeah. You'll love it."

Sam caught sight of the Christmas accessories she wore on her wrists. And suddenly, his mood turned gloomy. "Christmas was over ages ago," he said, his voice sounding hollow.

Jae gazed at the watch and the bracelet on her wrist and then hid them behind her bag. "O-oh. They were gifts from a friend." Jae heard the difference in his voice. She couldn't help but feel worried but she was too scared to point it out.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Both of them?"

"No. I bought the watch from the mall," Jae answered.

"That... is a couple's watch," Sam said flatly. He spared a glance at the watch again, only to find out Jae had hidden it behind her bag. Sam huffed. "I've seen them from several stores."

Dammit. Why does everyone know that her watch was a couple's watch? "I didn't know that."

"So you only bought one?" Sam asked.

Jae nodded. She thought the questions were over. She was wrong.

"Why did you buy a Christmas watch?"

"I just—uh—found them cute. That's all," she answered. She shifted in her seat.

Sam realized his questions were making her uncomfortable, so he reluctantly stopped. The rest of the drive was quiet. When they arrived in front of Jae's house, Jae stepped out first. "I should tell them you're visiting. You can come in after you park your car."

Sam only nodded. He watched as Jae climbed up the few steps towards her house and then rang the doorbell. After parking his car and locking the door, he went up the steps and then knocked on the door before opening it and entering.

"Sam, come in! Come in!" Jae's mother was sweeping in their living room, her hair pulled up in a bun and the newly-formed creases on her face told him she was getting older fast. "Oh, you still look as dashing as ever, hon," Pauline said with a smile.

Sam smiled back. "Same to you, Ms. Gonzales," he said politely.

Pauline beamed. "Oh, hon. I told you to call me Pauline. Anyway, Jae's in the kitchen, reheating some food." She gestured towards the kitchen.

Sam nodded once. "I'll see you later, Pauline."

Pauline winked at him. "You can come and see Jae whenever you want, Sam."

A small smile appeared on Sam's face as he headed towards the kitchen. He found Jae in front of the microwave, big hand mitts on both of her hands.

Jae turned to him when she heard him come into the kitchen. "Did Mom just—" A blush was settled on her face.

"Yes, she did," Sam answered coolly.

Jae stashed her face on the hand mitts. "Oh my god," she groaned, embarrassed.

He chuckled. "Don't worry Jae. If it makes you that uncomfortable, I wouldn't come here whenever I want."

"That's not what I meant." Jae's nose twitched. "Mom should really stay out of my romantic interests."

This piqued Sam's attention as a smirk tugged on his lips. He leaned his hand against a table counter. "Romantic interests?"

Jae almost choked as her blush deepened. "T-that's, uh, not what I meant!" she said too quickly as she covered her face with the mitts again. "Damn it, Sam."

"What?" he said innocently.

The smell of slightly burnt lasagna wafted out of the microwave. Jae panicked, "Oh shit." She turned off the microwave and opened it. Barely-visible smoke came out of it and Jae cursed again.

Sam, as he watched her look disappointed, coughed and said, "I think burnt lasagna sounds nice right now," he said.

Jae pouted. "Oh man, these were supposed to be good!" she cried.

"I'm sure it would still taste good, Jae," Sam said, trying to comfort her.

With a nod, Jae relented and carefully pulled out the lasagna using the oven mitts. She hissed slightly, probably burnt her hand on accident, but she managed to place the lasagna on the table unharmed. The top of the lasagna was burnt but was still edible.

"So," Sam said when Jae made no move and just stared disappointedly at the lasagna. She snapped out of her moment.

"Oh right," she muttered. She went to grabbed two plates, two spoon and forks, and a knife. She looked blank as she sliced a portion of the lasagna and then scooped them onto Sam's plate. She did it a second time to her own.

"Stop looking so down, CJ," Sam said as he grabbed his plate and moved it nearer to him. He sat down on the table and waited for Jae to do the same.

When Jae heard the nickname, she glared at the guy. "Again with that nickname," she said with a shudder. She finally sat down and grabbed a spoonful of lasagna.

Sam was the first to take a bite of his before drawling, "This is sooo good."

Jae tried it and shrugged, but a smile crept onto her face. "It's not so bad." She noticed the way Sam had tried to cheer her up and her mood got a little better. "If you finish that, Mom would probably let you take the whole container back to your home."

Sam did manage to finish his plate and truthfully enough, Pauline did give him the whole container. Sam was grateful and promised to make it up for her sometime. Pauline only said that he'd better come back if he wanted to make it up for her.

Jae watched the interaction between her mom and her friend. Although it still awed her to see Sam smiling whenever he visited their home. He got along pretty well with her mom. With her brother... not so much. Good thing her brother's not here.

When it was time for Sam to leave, Pauline waved at him eagerly as a goodbye. Sam only nodded once. His gaze met Jae's and he silently thanked her. She gave him a smile back.

The whole day passed and Jae felt too excited to go to school. She woke up earlier than usual and then took the bus to her school. Sam, though, was still earlier than her. They met up at the tree and hanged out in silence before the first bell rang.

Jae found herself looking around more than usual. First class was, again, the most difficult time of the day. Their professor for that class was present. Which meant Sam was going to sit beside Mitch for the whole period. Once, Jae offered to take his seat just so Mitch wouldn't bother him but Sam disagreed with the idea. He said that Mitch didn't bother her as much as she would bother Jae when they end up being seatmates.

Jae thought it was pretty sweet of him. But nonetheless grateful enough that Sam disagreed. Worst case scenario, she might get sent to the guidance office if she and Mitch would sit beside each other.

The morning passed quickly and it was already lunchtime. Jae suggested they eat on the rooftop. She was still looking around, but she still couldn't find who she was looking for. Sam noticed this but decided not to comment on it.

It was cold when they sat down on one of the benches. The winter chill was still lingering around. But Jae was wearing two sets of sweater so she wasn't bothered that much. Her brother told her the temperature would drop a bit today.

When lunch passed and no sign of the gray-haired boy came up, Jae sighed and moved on to her next class. Margaret greeted her as usual from their seats.

"What's with the long face?" Maggie asked as Jae sat on her seat.

Jae sighed. "Nothing."

Maggie rolled her eyes. "Dude, you're lying. Why are you so down? Was it because of..." Her voice dropped to a whisper and teasingly said, "you-know-who?"

"No, Maggie. Shut up," Jae said.

Their teacher, Skye's cousin, walked in the front door and Margaret immediately straightened her posture. This made Jae look at her with amusement but shook her head when the teacher started to speak.

If it was hard moments ago, it was harder now. Although, Jae didn't why she was so keen on seeing Skye again today. Sighing, she listened hard to the teacher. At least there would be no one bothering her today. She couldn't help but steal glances from the seat beside her. No one came, though.

The whole day passed. Jae immediately gave up. Maybe she'd see him again at Christmas. But now that she saw him in a not-Christmas day, it was difficult to imagine that the only day she would see Santa Claus again was months away. He was a pretty good company if she said so herself.

Sam took her home again but didn't come in. He left immediately. Jae silently walked in their front door. Her brother noticed her looking so down.

"Hey, Jae. 'Sup?" Adams asked.

"Nothing," Jae replied shortly.

Adams lifted a brow. "Did that transferee stopped hanging out with you?"

Jae glared at her brother. "His name's Sam and no, he did not stop hanging out with me."

"Then why do you look like you've been rejected?"

Jae didn't answer and went up to her room.

A week passed. She really didn't see him again. By this time, she was almost forgetting about him. He was really interesting and he did have his own life, so maybe Jae could see him again at Christmas. It was a bit sad that she can only see him once a year but—

Jae was walking along the hallway, preparing to go to her next class, when the door to the Principal's office suddenly opened. She gaped as the familiar gray-haired young man exited the door and looked around suspiciously. He stopped when he saw that he had an audience.

Before Jae could speak, Skye spoke first, "Hey sweetheart. Nice to see you again," he said coolly with a smug but sincere smile on his face.

Again with the sweetheart? "What are you doing here?" Jae could only manage to ask.

Skye shrugged. "Well, I did say we would bump into each other often." He glanced around and then said, "Wanna hang out after class?"

Jae found her throat dry. Did Santa Claus just ask her to hang out? She tried to think if she was free this afternoon. And fortunately, she was. "Yes," she answered, a sheepish grin on her face.