You sat on your desk at work just looking around at the blaring Christmas lights around you. You hadn't liked Christmas. Just another holiday. What was so special about it anyway? A child was born big deal. "Okay Y/n, can you clean up and then lock up when you're finished?" Your boss asked peeping in to you. "Yeah, sure thing." You sighed. The door opened and then closed and this was your signal to finish up and get home as quickly as possible. You began by bringing in the signs and stuff from outside when you heard a familiar voice call your name. "Y/n Y/l/n?" You looked up and were met eye to eye with an old class mate and friend Callum Illot. "Callum." You said breathlessly. "You're back home!" Callum smiled and nodded. "And you're dressed as some sort of elf?" He said looking you up and down. "Work clothes. I was a bloody witch at Halloween." He laughed at the image of you in a witch costume. "Are you nearly finished work or do you need some help?"
You looked between the shop and Callum and decided two would work better than one. "Yeah I'd like some help but I understand if you don't want to. You do have your little sister and all at home so-" He cut you off by letting himself in. "No, not at all. Let me help you. For old time's sake." He held his hand out for you to take. "Madame." He bowed slightly. Your smiled grew wider as you took his hand and followed him in. "Right. Erm. Just dust off the shelf I guess." Callum took a hold of the duster and began his first task. "So what have you been up to?" You asked curiously. "Have you gotten to formula one yet?" He shook his head. "Not quite. I'm in formula 2 at the moment. It's quite fun there." You turned around grinning. "What?" He asked utterly confused. "Nothing you just, you actually went and did it didn't you?" Callum smiled and looked down nodding. "Indeed I did and I remember you actually said I'd be able to as well. We used to be so close."
You were and it was oh so wonderful. Then he went racing. You kinda knew he wouldn't have Tim eyo talk to you anymore and that there was a big chance he would probably just become friends with his fellow drivers. "Yeah, what on earth happened to us?" You sighed. Callum locked eyes with you. His eyes had a pained expression to them, as if something was bothering him deeply. "You know exactly what happened and so do I." You pretended to not know but he pushed it away. "I should have at least text you. I honestly should have and I feel terrible for not." It wasn't his fault. He was so busy. "And I came back here with a mission of some sorts. I made like a list kind of thing at the start of the year and basically, one of my to dos were to reconnect with you. I really, really missed getting my house practically broken into every morning because you needed us to go to school-" You cut him off. "I did not break into your house Callum Illot ." Callum's smile only grew. "Whatever you say. I just missed it." Callum took a step closer. You could practically smell his scent he was that close." I missed you." Your cheeks burned red. How do you take that? A confession of undying love or a best friend just saying he missed you? "C-Callum. We should err, get back to cleaning up. I'm probably gonna go get something from the chip shop on the way back so if you want to join me, you are free to do so."
You and Callum continued cleaning and talking until there wasn't even a speck of dust left. You locked up and put the key into your pocket before walking around with him. "So how is racing? You never told me that part." You said curling your arms around yourself half frozen. "You seem cold." He commented looking down at your small, shivering figure. "Me? No! I'm fine." He chuckled and threw his scarf around you. "It's not much but it might make you a little warmer I suppose." Callum swung his arm around your shoulder and continued to walk with you. "Stop stalling. Tell me about racing." You edged him on. "Well, this season has been really weird. I lost the championship to a German and lost my F1 seat to a Russian." Your heart broke for him. "I read that actually but the Russian replacing you is kind of a knobhead let's be honest." Callum chuckled lightly. "Your words not mine. Anyway, how's life been back here?"
"Lonely to put it sweetly. I can't break into your house anymore to get you up for school anyway." He felt terrible. Horrible. "I'm sorry but at least Christmas must have been nice. Christmas is always nice here." You scoffed at his words. "What? You don't like Christmas?" You rolled your eyes and nodded. "I despise it. I don't know why. I just stopped liking Christmas a few years ago. I never knew why." Callum furrowed his eyebrows. "So let me get this straight. Y/n Y/l/n, the person who gave me a wake up call on Christmas morning to show me what she got in her Christmas stocking at eleven years of age doesn't like Christmas anymore?" Wow. He remembered. "Yup." You said popping the letter 'p'. He nodded with a grin appearing on his face. "You know, with that green outfit and your horrible attitude towards Christmas- No, no. I can't say it." You pushed him to say it. "Okay, okay. You kinda remind me of the grinch." You gave him a disgusted look. The grinch? How dare he. "Well maybe I'll just go and steal your Christmas Mr Illot."
"Better do it quickly. Christmas is tomorrow after all." You continued talking up until you reached your house and went in to go to sleep. "Hey darling. How was work?" Your mum called from the living room. "Great actually. I met Callum down the town." Your mother did a double take on what you said. "Callum? Callum Illot?" You nodded happily as you hund your coat up. "Yes. That Callum. Anyway, he's in formula 2 now and he helped me clean and lock up. Then he walked me home and now I'm here saying goodnight." Your mum chuckled as she kissed your cheek goodnight and off you went to bed to prepare for yet another wretched Christmas morning.
Your eyes fluttered open to the sound of birds sweetly singing. Christmas. It's Christmas! Why were you happy it was Christmas for once? You hopped out of bed and knocked your mum's door to wake her. "Mum! It's Christmas." You whispered, gently shaking her awake. "Since when were you excited for Christmas?" She chuckled. "Since this morning apparently. Come on!" You giggled. It was just like when you were a child again. Magical.
Gifts were passed around and a true family moment was made, but still there was something not quite right about Christmas morning. The doorbell rang, tearing you from your thoughts. "I'll get it mum." You said getting up and walking out to the door to open it and there right in front of you stood Callum in a scarf and coat. "Callum." You said breathlessly. "Y/n." He replied. "Can I come in? No offence but it's snowing." You looked behind and noted that it was in fact snowing and let him on in. "So you aren't gonna stay with the family today?" You asked leading him to the kitchen. "I was but I remembered one of us would always come around to see the other on Christmas day and I'm pretty sure it's my turn so Merry Christmas." Your cheeks burned a red colour. What's with all the blushing since he came back? You hit the switch on the kettle and began preparing cups for the tea. Your mum walked in with a shawl on. "Oh hello Callum." She smiled. "Hello Mrs Y/l/n. Sorry for intruding. Just came by to say Happy Christmas."
"It's not problem at all." She said before turning back to you. "Y/n, I'll be back in a few minutes. I need to drop this down to Mary and I'll be back." She kissed your cheek and bid you both farewell. "Lovely woman. Well, I suppose I should be going." Callum said breaking the silence. "No, no, no. What about your tea?" You didn't want him to go. Not so soon anyway. "I don't want to be a bother-" he is cut off by you laughing. "The most bothering thing you've ever done was not contact me while you were away. Now you're here, the least you could do is sit down and drink some tea." Callum smirked and took the cup from your hand and chugged it leaving you baffled. "Now that I'm finished, I'll be on my way." You nodded and followed him out in a huff. You opened the door for him and painfully watched as he stepped back out into the freezing cold. "Will I see you before you leave again?" You asked just wanting to know the answer. If you weren't, you weren't going to bother getting yourself wound up or hurt about it all over again. There was no point in that. "I'll make some time to see you. Maybe even make some time for you to come and see me." You relaxed a bit knowing you would at least see him again. You hummed in response to him. "Alright well, Merry Christmas Callum." You were closing the door but you were stopped by someone pushing the door right back. "Callum-" You were silenced by him pointing up. Your eyes followed his point and set upon a bit of mistletoe that wasn't there when you opened the door this morning. Mum. "Dumb tradition isnt it?"
"I don't think so." He replied. "No? How come?" He looked down and locked eyes with you. "Because...aw fuck it." He cupped your cheeks with his hands and pulled you in closer for a sweet kiss. You melted into the kiss like a piece of wax melts with a flame. It was perfect, like from a movie. Like this was the peak of existence. You both pulled away from the kiss a little flustered. You didn't take your hand from his chest and he didn't take his hands from your face. "Well that's one way to keep warm." You joked earning a laugh from Callum in return. "Yeah. Still think it's a dumb tradition?" He asked. You shook your head smiling. "Not really but I might need some convincing." Callum chuckled and leaned in to give you another kiss when your mum coughed and put an abrupt end to this beautiful moment. "I leave for three minutes-" She begins. "Mum!" You shriek. Callum wrapped his arm around your waist and stood beside you, not exactly knowing what to say or how to explain himself. "It's fine. You two suit each other and it's about time too." You hid yourself in Callum's chest as Callum looked away to try and turn his attention elsewhere. "I think you should get going now, shouldn't you Callum?" You said giving a not so subtle hint. "Mmh? Oh, oh yeah. I should probably- yeah. Once again, Merry Christmas Mrs Y/l/n and erm....yeah same to you Y/n." His smile softened at the sound of your name. "Bye Callum." Your mum said before walking into the house and out of the cold. "You'll call me won't you?" He asked grabbing hold of your hand. "Of course I will! I'm not letting you go now I've got you."
"Well good. I don't want to be let go." You both laughed before once again letting your lips meet again in another passionate, loving kiss. "Well I'll see you later then Mrs Grinch." You squealed at the newfound nickname and nodded. "See ya." You watched as he walked the whole way down your street until he was out of sight before letting out a shake breath. Did that just happen? Yeah. It happened. You closed the door behind you and jumped up and down on the spot from a burst of excitement. Your mum watched on smiling. "What? Don't pretend you didn't know it would happen!" You said. "I didn't know. I honestly thought it would take longer." You furrowed your eyebrows and sat beside her. "You planted the Mistletoe. Don't act so slick." She gave you a confused look and shook her head. "No dear, I didn't. I just thiught you two would have probably kissed during New Years during the countdown but I'm not complaining. He'd be a lovely son in law." She flicked through the TV stations as you thought to yourself. "Then who-" Then it clicked. Callum set it up. Of course he did. What was this? Christmas felt like it was back to normal. Maybe that's what you were missing all along. Callum. No, it was Callum and now, with the help of some mistletoe, Mrs Grinch was back to normal too.