Dear, St Nick.

I paused and stared between the card shop and the lolly shop, both looked oddly familiar and I knew there was a way to get past them around here. I thought there was supposed to be a gap between them both. I glanced around me and the rushing crowd, too embarrassed to stop someone and ask for directions since I worked here and probably should know.

This is the point where mobile phones became important.

“Can I help you miss?”

I turned towards the voice and was met with a very pale man that had icicles for hair. His nose was bright pink and his entire suit a light water blue. Jack Frost. I frowned remembering Terra’s advice from yesterday. Don’t trust Jack Frost, he might send you in another direction.

“It’s Noelle, right? Or are you going by another name nowadays?”

I continued to frown, not sure what he meant. “It’s Noelle,” I said slowly.

“I remember you when you were just a wee babe. Had the pleasure of nipping that nose of yours. It was delicious. Of course now you’ve got Marry in a tizzle, and she’s not doing well these days. Not at all.”

I stared at the man, freaked out as he grinned wide and manic.

“Right, I’m just going to go,” I stepped away but one of his hands reached out to latch onto mine. I looked down at it in surprise. Not because of how cold it was but because of how cold I remembered Harry’s skin was compared to the Jack Frosts.

“Come on, I promise to show ya the way,” He crowded into my space, bringing shivers down my spine. Goosebumps littered my arms and my teeth began to chatter.

“Frost, leave the poor girl alone,” a booming voice interrupted us and the cold hand that touched my arm was immediately removed.

Santa Claus seemed to be my rescuer, he moved across the snow with surprising ease. His hands rested causally on his large stomach as he stopped in front of the both of us. He peered at me over his half-moon glasses.

“You must be Noelle, my wife told me about you. Hair as white as mine.” Santa sighed, his eyes scrutinizing me. “You got a long lost daughter, Claude?”

I noticed the man standing behind Santa now. He too had hair that was white, but not as white as mine or Santa’s. It was short and sat upon his head, carefully groomed. The man was clean-shaven and seemed unimpressed with the entire world. His arms folded in front of him and he glared at any child who got too close to Santa.

“Not likely,” he muttered, eyes not even meeting mine.

“Please ignore my brother. He always get’s angry at this time of year.” Santa explained, in a half-whisper but loud enough for Claude to hear. He sighed and rolled his eyes. I was surprised, I had never heard of Santa having a brother.

“Claude,” Jack Frost walked up to wrap his arm tightly around Claude. “Don’t you remember Noelle? It’s been years since you saw her.”

“That’s enough Frost. It’s not funny.” Santa snapped and it felt like the whole world stopped being happy. I shivered, the cold touch of Frost felt like it was working its way into my heart.

“Niall, will take care of you Noelle. We will be on our way.” Santa waved his hand and Niall appeared beside me. I jumped and stared; I hadn’t seen him anywhere near us.

“Where were you trying to go?” Niall asked as Santa, Jack Frost and Claude walked away like our conversation didn’t even happen.

“T-to the t-tea house,” I was surprised how much I was shivering, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Niall smiled and wrapped are arms together. The moment the skin of my hand touched the skin of his my entire body went warm. It was a sudden shock that caused me to stop walking. Niall’s hand quickly moved from touching mine so we only touched through our clothes but it was enough to feed the warmth back into the tips of my toes. Whatever Frost had done to me was long gone. I felt perfectly toasty.

“What did you do?” I gasped out, wide-eyed.

Niall only grinned and tugged me away. “Come on, you don’t want to miss your date with Melissa. She’s been waiting patiently for you.”

I marveled at how a light shiver still ran through Niall despite his skin being warm enough to fight off pneumonia. It was impossible.

Niall led me, effortless, into the center ring of the Village and once again I was met with the North Pole. It radiated something that was bright and good and I wanted to touch it. I wanted to immerse myself within it.

“Noelle.” Niall said my name, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

I looked at him to watch his confused stare slip between me and the North Pole. “The tea place is just behind you,” Niall said slowly. His eyes alight with curiosity.

“Oh, thanks.” I murmured, taking one last look at North Pole before heading into the teashop. Melissa was waiting for me, two pots of tea already in front of her.

She waved me over, frowning, as I got closer. “What happened to you?” she asked. “You look like you got sunburnt.”

I frowned at her, unsure what she meant until she handed me a little compact mirror. I flipped the rhinestone encrusted mirror open so I could see my reflection. I gasped at the redness of my face. It was like I had spent a week in the blistering sun.

“I have no idea,” I said, poking my features wandering if the mirror was even telling the truth.

“Magic,” Melissa said slowly.

I looked up to her in surprise. It was only the other day that she was telling me that she didn’t believe in it.

“Not you too.” I groaned, putting the mirror down and taking a bite of the cookies that sat at our table.

“It would explain a lot of things,” she tried to reason.

“It explains nothing.” I countered. “Magic doesn’t exist.” I lowered my voice so guests wouldn’t hear us. “I don’t know what joke everyone has going on here but I’m sure it’s just a prank on the newbies and it will all be revealed soon enough.”

“Why are you so against believing in it?” Melissa asked. “I mean there is some pretty convincing evidence around here. “ Her hand waved out the window where Frosty the Snowman was gliding along. He always seemed to be followed by children. Like the Pied Piper.

“Because it’s not real, okay.” I replied back grumpily. Finished my first cookie and started on my next. “I used to believe in magic but I grew up. I grew up and I realised that I couldn’t keep waiting for magic to spring into my life.”

“Well the wait is over ladies.”

I flinched back when a hand appeared in my way before I noticed the rest of the person connected to it. I looked at Louis in confusion.

“Can we help you?” Melissa smiled, trying to look innocent.

Louis rolled his eyes at her abruptness. “I’m inviting you ladies to go tobogganing with us tonight after dinner.”

“It’s closed then,” I pointed out.

Louis laughed, loudly, holding his stomach before pretending to wipe away a fake tear.

“That’s really funny,” he pointed at me and shook his head. “A few of us are heading down there, feel free to join.” He shrugged as if it was no matter to him whether we joined or not. But no matter how cool he tried to look about it, he still made time to come over here and actually invite us.

“We’ll probably come,” Melissa answered while I stared at Louis in suspicion.

“Good,” he knocked his knuckles against the table and walked out of the shop.

“Why did you say yes?” I rounded on Melissa.

She held up her hand defensively. “Do you not want to go?”

“Doesn’t it seem suspicious to you?” I asked. “They somehow turned someone’s skin orange yesterday, I don’t trust them.” I felt itchy like my skin was too tight. Something was off about all four of them and I couldn’t place what it was.

“Magic.”

“Stop saying that,” I hissed. “I will not be held responsible for what I do to the next person that says that.”

Melissa rolled her eyes. “How can you be such a scrooge and work here?”

I gaped at her. “I am not a scrooge.” I whispered it like it was a forbidden word. “I just don’t have to believe in things that aren’t real. I believe that people are happy at this time of year because you get to spend time with family and friends. I believe that buying presents for people makes me happy because they are happy. I believe the season makes people happy but I do not believe in magic. It’s not possible.”

“Well I don’t believe in coincidence and your hair is as white as snow and your name screams Christmas baby and if you didn’t actually have parents I would swear your were Santa’s daughter.”

I froze at her words, my face obviously giving something away because it was Melissa’s turn to gape.

“Oh My God are you Santa’s daughter?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “No, don’t be stupid. I just don’t actually know who my parents are, I was adopted. Or found, I was kind of found then adopted.” I admitted, looking around the room, uncomfortable. I didn’t usually tell people this, it wasn’t anyone’s business. But I found myself almost compelled to tell Melissa and it did actually feel like a relief telling someone.

“What do you mean found?”

“My parents found me wandering around the bush behind their house and took me in. They called the cops but there were no missing children in the area and no one stepped forward to claim me so they decided to adopt me.” I shrugged like it was no big deal. But it was a big deal. It was a big deal because somehow I was alone and lost on Christmas Eve when I was three years old and no one knew who I was. No one admitted to owning me.

“I’m sorry,” Melissa reached over the table to grab my hand but I withdrew it and stood up.

“We should probably go to dinner.” I lead the way from the shop and was surprised when we ran into Liam. His eyes looked sad and he gazed at me, one of his hands reaching out.

I stepped out of the way and looked at him strangely.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He seemed to snap out of it and took a step back from the both of us. He smiled and I felt almost blinded like he was the sun and I shouldn’t look too close. I blinked and then he wasn’t there any longer. Already on the other side of the shop, ordering tea.

Melissa tugged me along but I wasn’t in the mood for food or for talking or any other social activity so I made my excuses and left.

I had never told anyone the story of being found as a child. My whole town knew about it though. It was hot topic at school and the number one way to bully me. I had never told anyone and the fact that I had so easily blurted it to Melissa without any major issues was worrying. It wasn’t like me and right now I didn’t feel normal. I felt manipulated and changed but I didn’t get how.

I shivered as if eyes were watching me and I hurried along back to the cabin. The sooner I could have a shower the quicker I could climb into bed and wish the world wasn’t suffocating me.

Notes