Holidaze

I. 'Tis the Season to be Jolly

She grabs her coffee from the barista at the counter. The barista greets her joyful "Merry Christmas" which she tries to return with the same energy. She turns and scans the quaint coffee shop for a seat. Packed with people, she heads out of the shop and parks herself on a table right beside the door. She takes a tentative sip, recoiling when it burns her tongue. She places it on the table to cool the drink then looks around her surroundings.

Seattle is bustling with activity. People dash in and out of stores, mountains of bags in their arms. She watches a man pass her by, barking orders on his phone as he rounds the corner. She turns to the sound of children yelling, running down the sidewalk. An exhausted mother trails behind them, shouting their names. Thank god I don't have children.

Checking her watch, she realizes it December 24. Ah, right. Christmas Eve, her mood sours the moment it sinks in.

She takes a sip of her now-warm coffee and stands. It is hightime for her to head home before rush hour starts. It starts to lightly snow around her so she pulls on her beanie.

Emma decides to head home to sleep because there's no point in celebrating Christmas if—

She takes a step forward to merge with the pedestrians when she collides with somone exiting the shop. The coffee sloshes wildy, staining her favourite sweater. She glares at whomever bumped into her, ready to give them a piece of her mind but the words die down in her throat when she realizes who's standing right in front of her.

"A-Alex?" 

The man stares at her in confusion and curiosity for a moment before recognition dawns in his eyes. "Emma? Is that you?"

The moment the Greek accent reaches her ears, she's hit with a faint sense of nostalgia. Her cheeks turn pink under his intent stare. He slightly cocks his head to the side, studying her. She does the same, noticing how much of him has changed after the past six years. He's gotten taller and leaner. His once black pompadour haircut is now styled into a faded side part, slicked back with gel. His hair and posture may have changed but his captivating electric blue eyes never changed. 

Emma slightly freezes when Alex's arms wrap around her in a friendly hug. She melts into the embrace and briefly squeezes his waist. He pulls back after a few seconds, holding her at arms length. "How have you been?"

"I'm fine. You?" He nods. "Alright as well." He then looks down on her dark green sweater, eyebrows shooting up. "Ah, right. Sorry about that." He rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "I think we can fix that."

"Yeah?" She says and Alex nods in agreement. "Yep. I know this quaint boutique shop around the block. Besides," he shoves his hands inside his pockets, avoiding her gaze. "I want to talk to you. Six years is pretty long."

Emma reddens at that. "Sure." He breaks into a grin, relieved. "Let's get going, then?" Emma disposes her coffee then falls in step with Alex along the sidewalk, maneuvering around the sea of people. They stay quiet but the air around them is comfortable, like the six years hadn't passed.

It takes a few minutes to get to the shop Alex had been referring to and the moment they step inside, Emma marvels at the interior. 

The shop smells of lavender, instantly relaxing her. Fairy lights adorn the boutique's ceilings, giving it a rustic look. Alex wasn't kidding; the shop is small. Emma estimated about six racks covering up the whole shop, with a tiny cashier pushed to the side.