Two

Garrett

I jumped out of bed so excited to get this day going. Today I could finally go to Sunrise Mall and see the Santa display they’d recently set up, and afterward I’d stroll through the rest of the mall enjoying the decorations. “It’s going to be such a good day,” I said to myself as I stepped into the bathroom. Sunrise Mall had once been the biggest mall in the Sacramento area, but now it was dated and barely hanging onto the few stores that somehow survived there. But they still had Santa, just like they had when I was a kid.

An hour later I was walking into the old mall that, from the outside looked like a giant cement block with no windows and zero personality, but inside was a different story. I sucked in an excited breath as I entered through Penny’s and took in their decorations, and the Christmas music that played in the background. Walking through the women’s section and out into the mall I gasped when I saw the display. It was beautiful, and even if it was pretty much the same every year, it was still amazing. The massive tree that stretched to the second floor was decorated with a different theme than last year. This year it was all shining silver and blue with snowflakes of different sizes. Some were hanging from the ceiling making them look like falling snow frozen in time. Santa was sitting on his throne and a long line of children and parents waited for their turn with him.

A few people dressed as elves wandered around helping to make sure the line moved along while ensuring it was still fun for everyone. They were all dressed alike with bells on their hats and curved shoes making them look similar to a living version of an Elf on the Shelf. But I loved it, it all added to the magic.

I stopped and watched as the line slowly moved, and one of the elves waved at me with a big smile, making the bells on his hat jingle. I grinned and couldn’t stop myself from waving back. I was tempted to sit and watch for a while, but I had other things on my mind, and I hurried off to the store that would be my first stop.

There was a small store that had been here as long as the mall had been. Nibs and Ink had been selling custom made and specialty journals for years. Each year I gave my grandfather one for Christmas, and by the end of the next year he had it filled and was ready for a new one.

He loved to take short walks and longer hikes in the forests around Tahoe or Auburn, and along the way he sketched anything he saw that caught his attention and then wrote in his journal. It was amazing to look at, and I knew how much he enjoyed it.

“Morning, Garrett, are you here for your order?” Mrs. Haney, one of the owners, asked me as soon as I stepped into the store.

“Good morning. Yes, but I think I’ll have a little look around and see if anything else catches my eye.” She nodded and was immediately busy with another customer, giving me time to see what new journals, writing pads, and pens they had to offer. One of the elves from Santa’s village came in and joined me at the journal area. He glanced around at all the handmade journals and ignored the fact I was trying to control the urge to fangirl all over him. I mean he was one of Santa’s elves, even if he did look grouchy and even a little pissed off.

He glanced at me and tipped his chin in acknowledgment making the bells on his hat jingle, and me gulp in excitement. “Hey, I’m just doing a little shopping before work,” he said, and went back to ignoring me while I continued to stare at his profile. His hair was dark and cut with military precision, but the top was long enough that his bangs were pushed to the side under his elf hat giving him a playful look which stood in direct contrast to his stern expression. He glanced at me again and I noticed his eyes were an icy blue, and when he didn’t look away this time, in my head I imagined he was staring at me the same as I was staring at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Birds sang and butterflies fluttered around him as I imagined him coming home each evening with a small gift he’d made that day in the workshop just for me. He’d walk in and kiss my cheek before pulling me close and holding me in his strong arms. Then he’d tell me how much he loved me, and—

“Are you okay?” he asked, putting his full focus on me now as he gripped my arms and looked closer at me.

“Your eyes are like ice,” I breathed out before shaking my head and stepping away. “I mean—I’m sorry, I need to go,” I managed to get out before rushing over to the counter and paying for the journal without bothering to look for anything else. Hurrying past the cookie shop I ducked around the corner, pulling the bag containing the journal to my chest. “Holy shit.”

Movement to the right of me caught my eye and I glanced that way just in time to see the grouchy elf walk by. He glanced in my direction and smirked at me before once again tipping his chin. After taking a deep breath, I walked back around the corner, and directly to the center of the mall to the next shop without looking behind me to see where Mr. Elf was.

“Welcome, what can I get for you today?” the barista asked as I stumbled up to the counter.

“A triple latte please.”

“Hot or iced?”

“Hot, oh and that coffee cake too,” I said, and after paying was thankful to find an empty seat in the small coffee shop. Taking out the journal, I opened it and looked at all the small details from the handmade paper to the metal clasp that held it closed. He’ll love this.

The barista signaled my coffee was ready, and I walked up to the counter to get it and the coffee cake. Relaxing back in my seat, I glanced around at all the decorations and soaked in the smells and sights of the season. Warm cinnamon and spice wafted up from the coffee cake, and my latte smelled delicious as I cupped the warm paper cup in my hands. I smiled at the twinkling lights and pine boughs that decorated everything in the small coffee shop giving it a warm, comfortable feeling. I was close enough to see the line for Santa and wasn’t surprised it had grown even longer since I’d walked by a little earlier. But when I looked at the different elves, I was surprised to see who stood at the front of the line guiding children to Santa. There he stood, Mr. Elf.

His arms were crossed and legs spread wide enough to look intimidating as he glared down at the next child in line. I grinned behind my cup as I watched the little boy match his energy. He was a small child, and if I had to guess I’d say he was barely four. But his crossed arms, and the scowl he wore, showed how serious he was about seeing Santa, and no grouchy elf was going to deter him.

Another elf walked over, stood in front of Mr. Grouchy, and knelt down in front of the boy before taking his hand and leading him to Santa with a backwards glance. Apparently today was not going well for Mr. Elf. Not in any way. That being said I was more than happy to sit here and watch him for a while longer. He might be grouchy, but he was still hot. And I wondered what it would take to get under that ice cold skin.