Merry Christmas

“You did alright,” The red headed elf stated as she began to pack her things, her comment directed at the human in the corner. “Although, there wasn’t much for you to do.”

The human sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as a caffeine-induced migraine began to form behind his eyes. “You did great, Missy.” The comment was completely disingenuous, but the elf didn’t seem to notice.

“Of course I did,” She responded matter-of-factly.

“Jesus Christ…” The human groaned quietly. “Hey, d’you got any Advil up here? That sugar-packed iced coffee is giving me a killer headache.”

“Advil?” Missy considered the term for a moment. “We have painkillers, yes, but I do not have an Advil.” The word was foreign on her tongue. She continued, “Still, Elliot, I do not understand why you would drink that… thing.”

“I needed something to stay awake. Need I remind you that you’ve had me up since 3 in the morning?”

Missy hummed quietly as she considered his point. “I suppose. But-”

“Can you just get me some goddamn pills?” Elliot interjected. His elf companion was just as insufferable as he remembered a year ago.

Missy offered two small, circular tablets to Elliot, which he gladly, quickly swallowed, dry, much to Missy’s disgust. But the human didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t care. Elliot let out a long sigh.

“Much appreciated.”

“Right.” After a brief look of disdain, Missy turned away to grab her things. “Well, I suppose it’s time to return home. After all, you do have to take the first flight back tomorrow.”

At the mention of his early flight, Elliot groaned. “How could I forget…”

“Not an early bird, I take it?”

Elliot shook his head as he began to follow Missy out to her family’s truck. “Far from it.”

“Well, considering how you consume coffee, I’m assuming you’re not one to stay up, either.”

“Nope.”

“So what part of the day do you like?”

“I tolerate it all.” Elliot pulled the red truck door shut as Missy climbed into the driver’s side. “I don’t like any time of day. But I appreciate the attempt at conversation.”

Missy huffed, trying to start the truck. “The more I understand you, the more understanding I have of the human race.”

Elliot snorted. “Sure. Because I am the perfect example of humanity.”

“You disagree?”

“Strongly. Look, Missy,” Elliot crossed his legs, propping his arm up on the door, “The only reason I took your offer was because I don’t have anything better to do this time of year. No one works on Christmas and I don’t have anyone to spend it with.” He shifted slightly. “Plus, the money sounded nice.”

“No family?” Missy almost laughed, but it was a bitter sound. “Consider yourself lucky.”

“Sure.”

The two fell into silence as the truck clunked down the snowy road. It was true, yes, that Elliot didn’t have much to do on Christmas, but he had family to spend it with. His aunt and uncle, their kids, coworkers who offered a Christmas dinner, a significant other, if Elliot was lucky. But he chose to spend the holiday alone.

“I’m sorry if I struck a nerve.”

Elliot was pulled from his thoughts by Missy’s uncharacteristically soft tone. “Huh?”

“You got quiet, so I assumed you were upset.” She glanced at him. “Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not-” Elliot cut himself off with a sigh. “You’re fine, it’s… nothing you did wrong.” He took a deep breath. “I’m just thinking about… what you said. About your family.”

“What about them?”

“You said they’re all Christmas elves and… you’re not like them. You just seemed… I don’t know, ashamed. Your brother said you were embarrassed-”

“Who?” Missy, again, glanced at Elliot, laughing in disbelief. “You’ve never met my brother.”

Elliot caught himself, the back of his neck growing warm with guilt. “Oh- right- I meant- um-”

“Elliot, you’ve never met my brother.” Missy’s tone grew harder. “I’ve never talked about my brother.”

He looked down. “Look… please don’t get mad-”

“You left the room?!”

“I’m not your prisoner!” Elliot snapped, turning to Missy, who’s typically steady hands tightened on the wheel. “Did you seriously expect me to just sit there for 2, 3 hours?”

“Yes!” The windshield wipers began to swat snow away faster, the thumping back and forth timed with Elliot’s pounding heart. “You were supposed to stay there until I got back! Do you know what could’ve happened?!”

“Oh, god forbid I risk ruining your perfect research.” Elliot scoffed. “I do not live for whatever purpose you choose, Missy! I existed before we met and I will exist after I leave!”

“Because you just can’t wait to leave.”

“Honestly, yes! If it means not being here for you, I couldn’t be more excited about going home.”

“Of course, to the family you don’t have.”

This struck Elliot deep and he fell quiet for a moment. “That was a low blow, Missy.”

The rest of the ride was silent as each stewed in their own resentment for the other. Once the truck was parked, before Missy could turn it off, Elliot was shutting his door, moving swiftly to the front door. Missy was quick to follow and stepped into the cozy cabin. Both looked up simultaneously at the waiting family before them, the fiery haired elves holding their breath in anticipation for the news. Elliot heard Missy sigh behind him.

“It went well.”

There was collective celebration, each family member congratulating Missy happily. Elliot could feel his awareness begin to dim, moving and hearing as if underwater. He pushed past the small crowd of people to the guest room, every step feeling slower than the last and, though every sound was muffled, he felt as if someone had cranked up the volume to every single thing around him. The moment the wooden door shut-

Everything cleared up.

Elliot sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the sheets beside him, staring at the floor through tear-blurred eyes. Every inch of his skin from his shoulders up felt like it was on fire, his fingers twitched and twisted in the fabric, his breath came in quick gasps. He shut his eyes tight, squeezing out a tear, two tears. Elliot sighed shakily.

To the family you don’t have.

There was a soft knock at the door, followed by a soft creaking. Elliot looked up briefly before quickly wiping his eyes on his sleeve. “Hey, Peppermint.”

Missy’s younger brother was a rather lean elf, weighing just about as much as Elliot would have at the teenager’s age. His hair was much darker than his sister’s, his face donned with many more freckles, but the similarities were nonetheless striking. Still a few heads shorter than Elliot, Peppermint was the human’s favorite, though Elliot would never admit it. The young elf came to sit next to Elliot on the bed, unbothered by the latter’s attempt to clear his face of any remaining tears. “Mistletoe said you did good.”

“Did she?” Elliot attempted a laugh, unsuccessfully. He looked down at his hands folded in his lap. “Well that’s great to hear.”

“It doesn’t sound like you agree.” The young elf’s light lisp shone through his tough-boy facade, which was softening with every passing second.

“No, no, I think I did alright.”

“Then why are you crying?”

Elliot’s chest tightened. He took a deep breath in. “Well, I…”

“Is it because you’re away from your family for Christmas?”

You don’t have a family.

Elliot shook his head and his stung with tears again. “No, that’s… I’m fine.” Elliot wiped his eyes again, sitting up straighter. “I just needed some space after that conference.”

“It’s okay to cry.” The statement coming from Peppermint, of all people, and so matter-of-factly, took Elliot off-guard. “I know the medical conference is always around Christmas, and it isn’t fair that they have to take everyone from their family-”

“I don’t spend the holidays with anyone.” Elliot finally spit it out, interrupting the elf. “I… I don’t have anyone to spend it with.”

“So… that’s why you’re crying?”

“I…” Elliot hesitated, looking down at the floor. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Why don’t you stay with us?” Peppermint seemed to perk up at the idea.

“No.” Elliot bursted out suddenly, startling himself. “I mean… no. It’s fine. I don’t want to… intrude.”

Peppermint shook his head. “I’m sure no one would mind.”

Elliot scoffed. “Missy can’t wait for me to leave. I don’t belong here, alright? You all know each other, and you love each other, and I’m sure you’re gonna have a great Christmas. It’s better if I just leave tomorrow morning, as I should-”

“Stop it.” Elliot was slightly surprised by Peppermint’s tone, which had gotten firm and annoyed. “My parents love you, they wouldn’t stop talking about you after you and Mistletoe left. And if she’s the only one who doesn’t want you here, that’s her problem. But we love having you here. Even if just for a couple more days.”

The room was quiet for a while. Elliot finally took a deep breath. “I guess I can stay.” He laughed, somewhat bitterly. “It’s not like I have anyone waiting for me anyway.”

“Come on.” Peppermint stood. “Everyone’s probably wondering why you ran off.”

Elliot followed the young elf out of the guest room and into the living space. The entire elven family were sitting on couches and chairs around a lit fire, plates of cookies and mugs of eggnog on the table. They all looked in the boys’ direction as they walked in. Holly smiled, standing up.

“Elliot! Would you like some cookies? A drink?”

Elliot’s gaze immediately shot to Mistletoe, now nervous to be around her after their argument. She rolled her eyes with a loud sigh. “Mom, leave him alone. He probably just wants to sleep before he leaves tomorrow-”

“Yes, please,” Elliot interrupted. “That actually sounds really nice right now.”

Missy and Elliot locked eyes. She was mad. Eventually, she rolled her eyes again, looking away. And this got to Elliot. The back of his neck started to heat up and his vision blurred. He took a deep breath.

“Is there a problem with that, Missy?”

Elliot knew he was only poking the bear, but he was furious. She didn’t know how much she really had.

Missy looked at Elliot, surprised for a moment, but regained her composure as she stood. “No. Not at all.” She left for the kitchen, and it seemed no one noticed the tension between the two. No one but Grandmother. Elliot avoided eye contact with her. He didn’t want it to be brought up, because he knew her family wouldn’t take his side, why would they?

His own family never took his side.

“Please, sit,” Holly ushered Elliot to a chair before leaving to get a sixth plate. Peppermint sat across from him and curled his legs to his chest, seemingly unaffected by the conversation they had just had. Missy's dad, Jolly, patted Elliot hard on the shoulder.

“So how was the conference?”

“Oh.” To be fair, Elliot had drowned the whole thing out. He had to dissociate completely just to keep from snapping at Mistletoe. He simply smiled and said, “It was good.”

“That’s great!” Jolly smiled.

As Holly came in with another plate of cookies and a mug, she smiled sadly. “Such a shame you’re leaving so soon. We’d love to have you longer. But I’d hate to keep you from your family.”

Missy had returned, leaning against the wall by the fireplace, arms crossed. “Oh, yeah, that would be horrible.” Her expression was completely blank as she looked directly at Elliot. “What do you have planned?”

He wouldn’t let her get to him. He took a deep breath. “Nothing special.”

“Yeah?” She raised an eyebrow. “Visiting your parents?”

Elliot stared her straight in the eyes. “My parents are dead.”

Her expression faltered as a tense hush fell over the room. “Oh.”

He shifted in his seat. “So like I said. Nothing special.”

Missy stood awkwardly. “Elliot, I didn’t-”

“I know.” He didn’t want her to say anything else. “It’s fine.” Elliot attempted a smile as he sipped from the mug given to him.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Jolly said as he placed a more gentle hand on Elliot’s arm, who shook his head.

“It’s been a while, I’ve had time to heal. But thank you.”

Missy looked like she was about to cry. She sat in a chair far from Elliot and refused to make eye contact with him. He almost felt bad.

“It’s okay now because you have us.” Peppermint smiled. “At least this year.”

Holly perked up. “Oh, we’d be happy to have you!”

Elliot nodded with a smile. “I appreciate the offer. I really do.”

“It’s settled, then!” Jolly seemed ecstatic at the news. “Christmas dinner for six!”

Elliot didn’t return to his room until late into the night, exhausted and, admittedly, drunk. Jolly had a heavy hand when it came to serving the “special” eggnog, but Elliot didn’t mind. He flopped onto the bed, face down, and laid there for a while. The window was still open a crack, letting in a perfectly chilly breeze, the idle silence slowly lulling Elliot to sleep. And a soft knock on the door yanked Elliot right out of that. Groaning, he pushed himself up and opened the door.

“Can we talk?” Missy was nervously cracking her knuckles. She looked so upset, Elliot could’ve sworn he sobered immediately.

“Yeah. Yeah, we can talk.” He stepped aside to let her in. She stood in the middle of the room while Elliot sat on the bed. Silence settled over the two before she finally spoke.

“I’m… really sorry.” She couldn’t even look him in the eye. She just stared at the floor - Elliot had never seen her like this before.

“Thank you.” His answer was simple, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Missy hesitated before sitting beside Elliot. “The other elves, they don’t take me seriously. My family are all Christmas elves, so how could I possibly excel in such a different specialty? And then you came along and I… I could prove myself. But I thought that if you met my family, you wouldn’t take me seriously either.”

Elliot sat quietly for a while. “Your family loves you. A lot.”

She looked at him, confused. “What does that-”

“They accept you no matter what. They take you seriously.” Elliot looked over. “Shouldn’t that be enough? The opinions of the people you love?”

“I’ve been so ashamed… I knew I shouldn’t hate them, but they made it so hard for me to get through-”

“No, your peers made it hard to get through school. Your parents were with you every step of the way, weren’t they?”

Missy nodded.

“So why are you mad at them?”

Missy stared down at her lap. “I wanted someone to blame.”

“Yeah.” Elliot laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I know.”

“I’m…” She hesitated. “I’m glad you’re staying.”

Elliot smiled.

“Me too.”