Page 2 of Wrap Me Up

Frustrated tears well in my eyes. “I will not cry over a stupid boy anymore.” I grit my teeth and ready myself for bed. Tomorrow starts a new month, new day, new season. And as much as I love my bestie, I plan to beat him in this year’s best Naughty workshop competition. Every workshop in the North Pole, whether Naughty or Nice, has the opportunity to show off their craft skills in a competition. For the last five years, Dylan has won. Not this year, though!

But there’s something more important first. The first annual Naughty and Nice Gift Exchange Program. I told Dylan and Snow I’d participate, and tomorrow morning we draw names. I’m eager to find out who I get to play with. Perhaps they’ll end up being more in favor of romance than Noel.

Chapter 2

Noel

Elves bustle around me as I walk to the party hall for the second time in two days. The celebration last night was nice, but not really my scene. I showed up because I promised my friends that I’d “live a little”. But once I walked through the door, I realized I messed up.

Big time.

And have no idea how the fudge to fix it. Tinsel is the best guy in the North Pole, hands down, and I panicked when we got closer last Christmas. He pretty much single-handedly created and ran the talent show that raised enough funds to repair the housing problem last year. He’s dedicated to helping the North Pole, and it shows.

Watching him walk out of the party hall last night, I wanted to chase after him, but refrained. He’s part of the Naughty Workshops, while I’m a gift wrapper in the Nice Workshop. The two workshops didn’t mean to stay within their own little cliques. It sort of just happened.

My friends Cookie and Garland join me as we wind our way down the gumdrop and candy cane paths to the working sectors.

Cookie rambles on about something in the cafe she runs as she straightens her short sleeves. She’s slightly taller than I am. Her red hair is slicked in a high ponytail to keep out of her face when she’s baking.

Garland works for Santa himself, and everyday wears perfectly pressed skirt suits, though Santa gave her permission to wear business casual years ago. She talks a little about how sweet Dylan and Snow are when they show up for their Santa magic lessons. At least I think that’s what she’s saying. My mind still floats with thoughts of Tinsel and how I can make up for my ridiculousness.

This year, Snow and Dylan are trying to integrate everyone with a gift exchange between the workshops as part of their training to become the next Santa together. Once I heard about it, I marked it down on my calendar and circled the date so I wouldn’t forget. I may have jazzed the day up with a few star stickers and glitter. Just to make the date stand out, not because I’m excited or anything.

Cookie plants a kiss on Garland’s cheek. “See ya, Noel.”

“Hmmm?” I snap my head towards her. I’d completely spaced out that we had been walking together. She waves and takes the fork to head to the Cookie Cafe.

Garland snorts at my inattentiveness.

“So, what has you completely distracted today? We told you all about our exciting evening experimenting with the new toys we got from Dylan’s shop and you didn’t make one face.”

My mouth falls open. “Uh, sorry.”

She drops her hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Can I help?”

“I don’t know.” I nibble my bottom lip. She and Cookie have no idea about what I did to Tinsel. However, they both noticed one minute we’re talking, and the next we don’t speak. The nice thing about Cookie and Garland is that, for the most part, they don’t pry.

“Well, let me know if you change your mind. We’re here for you, Noel.” Garland continues walking on while I take a left on the path.

At the rate I’m walking, I’ll be at my destination early. Maybe Tinsel will show up. Just the hope warms me like a good hot chocolate. Maybe, fingers-crossed, I’ll draw his name. If that happens, I’ll do everything in my power to surround him with gifts and hope that he forgives me for being such a dummy.

They can’t be just any gifts, though. No, they have to have meaning, heart, and soul behind them. I’m a gift wrapper and giving is what I do best.

If I don’t draw his name… I’m not entirely sure what my plan is.

The bright red brick building comes into view. White lights wrap around it to make it appear as one giant square candy cane and it always makes me smile.

There’s a line of elves waiting to get in and it warms my heart to see so many open to getting to know the other side. I go to the end of the line to wait.

“I love that we don’t have to wear coats anymore,” Bells, an elf from a lingerie studio in the Nice Workshop, says as she turns to me. “Isn’t it great? I actually tanned this summer. It’s wild.”

“I’m pretty excited about it, though I’m wondering if we’ll get our white Christmas.” I miss snow more than I’d like to admit.

Bells nods. “Oh, I heard it’ll be a test for Dylan and Snow to see if they can manipulate the weather barrier the opposite way to bring the cold back for a few days.”

“That’ll be nice.”

We continue on with idle chitchat until the door opens and we file inside. I grab a seat right in the front and suck in a deep breath when my eyes fall upon Tinsel. Today he’s as sparkly as ever in a pair of blue sequins shorts, a white t-shirt with a blue sequins bowtie, suspenders, and combat boots. On anyone else, the outfit would probably look ridiculous, but on Tinsel, he looks like a masterpiece.

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