...and a partridge in a pear tree

[02] two turtle doves

        Her face already red from the harsh cold, Luke glanced back at her until she was standing beside him. “Where to begin.” She sighed wistfully, watching her breath fog. “It’s magical; I used to go all the time with my mom, we’d just… we’d just frolic through the streets and buy whatever caught our eye.” She shook her head, laughing airily. “At least, that’s how I remember it.”

        Luke stood stiffly beside her. “More magical than Disney world?” he joked offhandedly, though Holly could hear the obvious strain in his voice. Looking over to him, his eyes were unfocused as they stared across the street.

        “Maybe not that magical; you get the point, though,” she replied slowly, quirking an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”

        Luke met her stare, his gaze melting as he nodded slightly.

        “Yeah.”

        The bus pulling up to the curb, he waited for Holly to step inside before following. Snagging a seat at the back, Holly put in an earphone, staring absently into the open.

        "Hey,” she turned to him for the first time the entire ride. She was met by a snore, his head almost sliding off her shoulder.

        A small smile gracing her lips, she put her other earphone in.

. . .

        Stepping out of the station, a rush of warmth ran through Holly’s veins as she surveyed the busy street. Squeezing her eyes shut, she inhaled sharply, spreading her arms wide.

        “Um,” a groggy Luke squinted at her, snowflakes getting caught in his eyelashes. “Another ritual?”

        Holly hummed in response, opening her eyes slowly. She felt refreshed; she felt new. Filling her lungs with the crisp air, she shook her head. This is where she belonged.

        “Are you done yet?”

        Turning towards Luke, she sent him a glare. “I guess,” she huffed, averting her eyes to the decorated stores and freshly fallen snow. Her grin returned instantly; not even Luke Ebenezer could ruin this moment.

        Suddenly, the irony dawned on her and she looked back to Luke who was staring at her in fascination. Her laughter was quick, turning into full blown hysterics before he asked her what was so funny.

        “Ebenezer!” she wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes. “Like Ebenezer Scrooge! And you hate Christmas!” she struggled to catch her breath, finally calming herself down. “I’m so going to call you Ebenezer Scrooge from now on.”

        His face oozed boredom. “Ha ha,” he deadpanned, causing Holly to crack up once again.

        "You’re such a Grinch,” she smile toothily. He rolled his eyes at her, though his lips were quirked slightly.

        “So now what?”

        Holly shrugged. “Now, we go where the wind takes us.” Suddenly she was off, running down a crowded sidewalk. Glancing over her shoulder, she was glad to see a flushed Luke following after her.

. . .

        A bell chimed as Holly excitedly entered what seemed to be an antique shop. The musty atmosphere warmed her heart. An out of breath Luke pushed in after her, wrinkling his nose.

        “It smells like old people in here,” he groaned. The elderly cashier cleared her throat, though she looked more amused than angry.

        “You mean it smells like memories.” Holly sighed, practically skipping towards a display of ornaments. “Isn’t this so cute?” she grinned, picking up a gingerbread man one.

        “Adorable,” Luke called indifferently from the other side of the store, examining a shelf of worn books and old vinyls. Making his way towards her with an ancient copy of The Catcher in the Rye tucked under his arm, he glanced over Holly’s shoulder.

        “Aren’t those turtle doves?”

        Her eyes slipped to the other side of the display, lighting up at the two porcelain turtle doves.

        “They’re like the ones from Home Alone.” She grabbed them both, one fitting perfectly in the palm of her hand. “You’re a natural, Ebenezer.”

        Ignoring the comment, he quirked an eyebrow. “Home Alone?”

        “The movie?” Holly furrowed her brow. “You’ve never seen it?”

        “Never heard of it.” His face twisted in concentrated, his gaze glued to the ceiling. “Can’t recall it at all.”

        “Y-You haven’t seen Home Alone? Please tell me you’re kidding!” she gaped at the boy. His shook his head solemnly. “Oh Luke Ebenezer, you poor, poor soul.” Holly placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, making her way to the cashier. “You’re missing out on more than I thought; we must marathon!”

        “Marathon?” Luke asked, confused. “You mean, there’s more than one?”

        “Oh my goodness,” Holly groaned under her breath. “You have so much to learn.”

        As the woman wrapped her glass ornaments in paper towel before placing them in a plastic bag, her eyes flickered between the two. Her lips curved in a sweet smile, her worn laugh lines becoming even more defined on her wrinkled face.

        “Oh aren’t you two darling,” she cooed, handing the bag to Holly. “I do wish you the best.”

        It took Holly a second to register what she meant before she flushed. “Oh, w-we’re just, we’re not -”

        “Thank you,” Luke interrupted her, smiling sweetly. Gripping Holly’s hand, he dragged her out of the shop before she could deny any sort of relationship with the brown eyed boy.

        “Why did you -”

        “Oh lighten up, Holly,” Luke grinned, starting down the sidewalk. “It’s nearly Christmas, for crying out loud!”

        Dumbfounded, she paused, staring at him.

        “Um,” she spoke, skepticism lacing her voice. “If you say so…”

         She couldn’t help but wonder who exactly she was dealing with as they walked closer to the station.

[a/n]: hey guys! hope you enjoyed this chapter, show your love if you did!

the song on the side is 'jingle bell rock' considering @rxynn_ loves classic xmas music. we may not meet our goal of finishing this before xmas, though you never know!

- awfuls (r&m)