Modern Day Santa Claus

MDSC [9]

Chapter 9

Jae was practically giddy the whole afternoon. Sam pointed it out at lunch. They decided to eat at the cafeteria today because it drizzled outside for a while. "What's eating you?" Sam snapped.

Jae frowned. "What do you mean what's eating me?" She looked at the food on her tray. "Well, I'm definitely eating something, not the other way around," she said too quickly.

Sam gave her an unamused glance, not believing a word she said.

Jae said nothing else. Sam had no choice but to drop it.

She continued to fumble around with her food, her mind drifting back to the gray-haired man. She was daydreaming. In public.

Sam cringed but didn't call her out on it. While he continued to eat and ignore Jae at the same time, an unfamiliar girl walked to their table. Sam didn't even look at her. He figured it was one of those girls who would annoy the heck out of him.

"Camilla!" the girl said loudly to catch her attention.

Sam almost rolled his eyes. Camilla? It's one of those girls again, for sure.

Jae instantly snapped out of her daze and then glanced at the girl. She beamed brightly, something she doesn't do when she sees someone who annoys her. "Maggie!" she said. "Sit with us!"

Sam furrowed his brows instantly. Jae knew this girl and liked her enough that she'd invite them to their table? Well, that's a first. Usually, the girls would invite themselves since Jae wouldn't do that. Sam continued to appear uninterested.

"Sorry, my 'friends' were total assholes and I didn't want to hear them talk anymore. And then I saw you!"

"It's a good thing your friends were assholes or else I wouldn't have a chance to eat lunch with you," she said with a teasing grin. She stole a glance at Sam because Maggie eyed him suspiciously. "That's my best friend, Sam."

Best friend? Sam felt a little proud of himself when he heard her say that. He made friends with someone he doesn't want to punch every ten seconds. Gotta cross that off his bucket list. As a reward, Sam looked up and made eye contact with the two of them, a sign that he looked interested, even for a bit. And then he looked down again.

"He's a little quiet, isn't he?" Maggie said a bit weirded out with him.

"He's usually like that," Jae said. They dropped the topic about him and moved on to a different one. "So, mind telling me what your friends did?"

Maggie scoffed. "They were just arguing about this viral video on the internet. I thought it was dumb. And I told them that. One of them said, 'You just don't get it, Margaret.' And I explained why I thought it was dumb. And then one of them said, 'You're dumb.'" Maggie looked like she was fuming.

Jae raised one of her brows. "And?"

"And I said, 'Well you obviously like to hear your dumb self talk, so please call me when you're done.' And I walked out."

Jae laughed loudly. "Oh my god, Maggie."

Maggie couldn't help but laugh a little. "I know. They were the absolute worst. I don't know why I even hang out with them." Then she nudged Jae with her elbow. "I'd much prefer your quiet presence, Camilla."

Jae smiled. "That's cute. But we all know you wouldn't survive with me. Silence and you don't go hand-in-hand."

Maggie gave Sam a pointed look. "Yeah, I can see that you two are a perfect pair," she said flatly.

Jae chuckled. "You're still always welcomed here. Sam won't talk with anyone else, but you can talk with me."

Maggie winked at her. "I already know that Jae. But hearing you say it makes me a lot more relieved."

Sam sighed loudly, a sign that he was being irritable. Jae knew he missed the silence. Jae and Maggie looked at each other. Jae put a finger to her mouth, gesturing to be quiet. Maggie shrugged and then gave her attention to the food instead.

The rest of the lunch went by in peace. "Hey Sam, see you later," Jae said when the bell rang. Sam didn't spare her a glance. Jae scrunched up her nose. "Asshole," she murmured before she went with Maggie to go to their next class, the only class where they're together.

They sat on their usual seats while the others went by on their business. "So, seen you-know-who lately?" Maggie asked Jae.

Jae couldn't help but grin. "Yep."

Maggie gave her a doubtful look. "Really? Where? When? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I saw him this morning. He asked me to hang out later," she answered as casually as she can.

Maggie squealed. "He asked you on a date?!"

"N-no! He asked me to hang out," Jae said, emphasizing the two words but was a little flustered.

"Oh please, everyone knows hang out is another word for date." Maggie clapped her hands. "Finally, some alone time with you and your guy, huh?"

Jae rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Maggie."

As Maggie continued to tease her, a familiar figure calmly approached the two of them. Maggie suddenly stopped talking and stared. Jae, once again, couldn't form words.

Skye grinned, obviously aware of what his presence can do. "Hey Jae. I'm sitting in for my cousin's class again. Mind if I sit beside you?" he asked politely, uncharacteristically so.

Maggie pinched Jae on her arm and that snapped her out. "Ow!" she yelped. She glared at her friend. "What?"

"Is that him?" Maggie asked, looking as dazed as her seconds ago.

"Yes." Jae wanted to tell her he was here that one time, but she didn't. She can't tell her he suddenly disappeared in thin air. She turned to Skye, who was looking at the two of them. "Skye, this is my friend, Margaret. Margaret, Skye."

Skye offered his hand. "Hi there. Jae's friends are always a pleasure to meet," he said with a charismatic grin.

Jae almost rolled her eyes. He wasn't even trying to hide that he's flirting with her friend.

Maggie managed to restrain herself and gave him a big grin. "Sorry, I don't touch Jae's things."

Flustered, Jae exclaimed, "M-maggie!" A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead as she looked at Skye with an embarrassed look on her face.

Skye laughed and pulled his hand back. "I like you already."

Maggie winked, "Likewise." Maggie met Jae's gaze and inclined her head towards the gray-haired guy. Jae shook her head, still flustered. Maggie shrugged and then sat down on her chair, leaving the two of them to talk.

"Your friend is cool," Skye said when Jae neared him.

"I know. I'm lucky," Jae said while looking at Maggie. She turned her head to Skye and then gave him a blank expression. "Tell me, why are you here again?"

Skye raised an eyebrow. "Did you not miss me?"

Jae narrowed her eyes, "You're evading the question."

He was about to speak up, when his cousin, the professor, entered the room. "Good afternoon, class," he greeted with a hint of cheerfulness.

"I'll tell you later," Skye murmured as Jae sat down on her seat.

Sir Wynter swept his gaze across the room, something he does whenever he entered. His eyes locked onto Skye. Jae could see the silent conversation between the two of them.

'What are you doing here?' Sir Wynter asked.

'I'm here to support you,' Skye said smugly.

Sir Wynter looked at him pointedly. 'Don't bother anyone or else, kick yourself out.'

Skye saluted. 'Sir, yes, sir!'

Sir Wynter continued on like an unwanted student wasn't inside the room right now. He gave Jae a silent glance, too, and she wasn't sure if she was breathing. The teacher noticed a quiet girl like her. Because of this guy sitting beside her. Uh-oh. She wished that Sir Wynter wasn't the type to suddenly call random student's names. Or else she was dead.

"Psst," Skye called Jae's attention. Jae was tempted to shoot him a glare, but she didn't and simply ignored him.

"Psst!" Skye whispered again. An irritated expression crossed her face but she still didn't look at him. This was the single, most annoying thing about Skye. He just loves to annoy her.

"Psst!"

Willing calm to her senses, Jae glanced at Skye with an irritated look.

Skye looked like he wanted to laugh at her face. But he managed to keep it in as he smiled and said, "Do you want to get out of this boring class?"

"No. I have to learn," Jae said drily.

"C'mon Jae!" Skye pleaded.

If she can just stop time, she would, just so she could beat up Skye this instant.

Skye pouted. "You're no fun, Jae."

"We're in a school, Skye. Shut up and listen," she hissed.

Skye suddenly touched her hand and she was too shocked to speak. The next moment, something unbelievable happened. It felt like the ground beneath her disappeared and she was falling, falling, falling endlessly. And she could feel nothing and everything all at once. She wanted to speak, but she couldn't even find her voice. She couldn't see anything. It was either she was blind or everything was black. It felt like it happened for a long time.

But it didn't. It lasted only half a second. And in the next half, she was tumbling over her own feet as the ground finally reappeared beneath her. She felt like she was going to be sick as a headache took over.

"Here, drink this," she heard a voice say. She was too disoriented to even check who it was. The edge of a bottle was pushed to her lips, edging her to drink. She did.

And after a few seconds, her headache disappeared. She felt better. That's when she noticed where she was. She was on the rooftop. And as blood rushed back to her own body, she finally realized she was leaning against someone's chest. A soft breeze passed by and it took her a moment to process everything.

"Do you feel okay now?" Skye asked. He was still holding her hand, a bottle of... something on his other hand. Jae pushed herself off and she almost tripped again. But Skye had quick reflexes and caught her. "Woah there."

"What did you do?" Jae tried to sound mad, but her voice was slurred.

Skye smiled sheepishly. "I might have... teleported... you..."

Jae was too sick to even look mad. "Goddamn it, Skye."

"I know. My cousin's going to kill me."

"What were you thinking!?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it through. I acted on impulse," he said, sounding genuinely sorry.

Jae gave herself a few moments to relax. And when whatever-she-drank kicked in, she was fully recovered. "Ok, what the f**k, Skye?!"

Skye lifted both of his arms. "I said I'm sorry!" he said, while his eyes cast downwards.

Well... he did look guilty. Maybe he is sorry. Jae flinched. "That was what you feel when teleporting? God, it sucks."

Skye slowly put his arms down and smiled. "You get used to it."

Jae furrowed her brows. "Well, I wouldn't want to. That would be the last time you would do that. If you did it again, I swear I'm going to kick your balls so hard..." She didn't finish, letting Skye imagine what it would feel like.

He visibly cringed. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I should've asked permission first."

Jae remembered when he touched her hand. Her cheeks were tinged with pink. "Yes. You should have. And now, I should have been in my Math class. But you pulled me out. So I can't go back in there without announcing to everyone that I snuck out."

"I think I'd be in bigger trouble when Wynter sees I'm not in his class and you're not in his class. With me."

"Well serves you right," Jae said.

Skye stretched his arms out and then looked at his watch. "Guess we have an hour and a half to waste before we both get slapped in the ass."

Skye and Jae both snuck out of the school, with Skye leading the way.

"Where are we going?" Jae whispered a sense of panic and dread sat on her chest.

"Out of here. School sucks."

"Oh my god, you sound like a kid."

"Well, it's true."

"That is the lamest reply ever."

Skye looked at her sharply. "At least I don't treat school like it's the greatest thing ever."

"It's not," Jae said flatly. "What's your point?"

"That school sucks."

Jae grumbled but kept quiet. She let Skye guide her to where they can waste their time. They walked for a few minutes along the sidewalk. Jae was tempted to turn around and leave, but she has nowhere to go anyway. Might as well spend time with the guy who makes her uneasy most of the time.

And when they finally reached the park... Jae gazed at him. He walked to the swing where he sat on their second Christmas meeting. He inclined his head to the swing beside him. Jae followed and sat down.

Both of them were silent. The park was peaceful and quiet. Nobody was there except them. Kids were still inside their schools. Teenagers were the same. Adults have work. It was only a small, neighborhood park, but it felt big when they have it all to themselves.

"Your magic's drained," Jae said.

"How'd you know?" Skye asked.

"That time when you teleported that thief that broke into our house." Her voice suddenly became smaller. "Thanks for that."

"You're welcome. Anything for the first girl that caught me on the job."

Jae snorted. "I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Where's your silver-white hair, Santa? That suits you much better."

Skye glared. "Don't insult the hair."