My Christmas Star ( A Santa Clause Story Ft Bernard x OC)

Chapter 4: Toy Santa

When the meeting ended I went to hunt down Bernard and Curtis who were having an argument in the break room.
"What are you two arguing about now?" I asked as I approached them.
"Tell her," said Bernard.
"No! You tell her! You're her boyfriend," Curtis said mockingly. I groaned and grabbed them both by the ear and pulled them down.
"I don't care which one of you does it but you either tell me now or both your ears are coming off," I growled.
"Okay! Okay! We found something in the Elf Clause!" Curtis said with a wince. I let go of their ears and pushed them away.
"And what exactly would that be, huh?" I asked as I crossed my arms.
"Welllll," Bernard said with a blush as he scratched behind his neck.
"Oh, don't tell me I need to be married by Christmas Eve too," I grumbled.
"No, no. Not exactly. But, uh..." Bernard mumbled.
"Well? Spit it out," I hissed as I grew impatient.
"Well, you are to remain to be Christmas Spirit Herself BUT, we found a slight connection between the Elf Clause and the Santa Clause," Bernard replied.
"Which is?" I questioned as I tapped my foot impatiently.
"The Clauses connect to each other in a sense that you will no longer be an elf if your Dad stops being Santa Claus," Bernard replied. I uncrossed my arms.
"You better be kidding," I said with a glare. Bernard and Curtis gulped. Curtis took out the same card I found in the elf hat eight years ago and I snatched it from his hand and looked at it. I noticed something written in the small design underneath the title "Santa's Assistant"
"Crap..." I whispered.
"Do you need to read it?" asked Curtis.
"No. I already know it's there. Shoot," I said, glumly.
"Don't worry, Stella. I'm sure your dad will find a wife by Christmas Eve," Bernard said as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"He better," I said as I looked up at Bernard. He gulped as he looked at me with fear in his eyes. I walked away with the card in my hand.
"Stella, wait!" Bernard called after me.
"I don't want to hear anything else you have to say since you won't say it yourself," I said as I continued to walk away.
"Look, I'm sorry. Will you please forgive me?" Bernard pleaded as he grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him.
"Forgiving you for a mess-up this big is something that is going to be extremely difficult," I told him as I looked him dead in the eye.
"I know, I know. And I promise I'll make it up to you, just please don't be mad at me anymore," Bernard pleaded. I crossed my arms and stared at him.
"I can't just stop being mad at you. If my dad stops being Santa Claus because you didn't tell him in time, we can't be together anymore," I told him.
"Wh-what? But, why? You'd still be Christmas Spirit Herself. That'd work, right?" asked Bernard.
"I can't have Dad leave me behind. We're family. And if he goes, I go. It's as simple as that. Yes, I'll still be Christmas Spirit Herself but I'm not going to do it here if I don't have my Dad right beside me. He needs me just as much as I need him," I told Bernard before I continued walking.
"But, we all need you too, Stella. You're family to us elves," Bernard said. I looked back at him.
"And so is my dad but if he leaves he'll just be replaced as if he didn't exist. Isn't that what happened to the other Santas?" I asked once more before I continued to walk away. I heard Bernard's footsteps behind me but I didn't get a single response out of him. I started to feel a little overwhelmed. I tried to continue walking but my stress started to take advantage of me. I stopped in my tracks as I tried to catch my breath.
"Stella?" Bernard asked, worriedly.
"I'm fine, I'm fi–" I said as I tried not to pass out. I almost fell over.
"Okay, okay. Breathe. Do you need soup?" Bernard asked.
"No, I don't need soup," I told him off.
"Okay, okay. Just take deep breaths, okay?" Bernard told me as he rubbed circles on my back.
"I'm having a panic attack, not giving birth," I told him. Bernard's face went red as I began to catch my breath. "Maybe you need soup."
"How about I get you a cookie or something to calm your nerves?" Bernard suggested. I shook my head.
"No, it's fine, it's fine. I'm calming down," I told him.
"Are you sure?" Bernard asked.
"Yes," I nodded. "I'm fine. We need to go find my Dad anyway. Go get Curtis," I told him.
"And you're sure you'll be fine on your own," Bernard asked.
"I'm a grown woman, yes I'll be fine. Go," I said to him, sternly. Bernard pursed his lips and went to go find Curtis.