With a Little Christmas Cheer

Alas it was finally New Years eve. and Coraline was getting ready for the party her parents were throwing that night. She hadn’t talked much since Bartholomew left. She couldn’t help but think where he was now. He could have stayed near her and was under her nose or could have been ironic and is now living in Ireland. Where ever he might be she wished she knew. She did have a conscious and couldn’t help but worry about the elf.

“Coraline people will be arriving soon and you haven’t put on you dress yet,” said her mum walking into her room.

“I will mum,” she said turning to the dress laid out on her bed. It was a black lace dress over a black sleeveless dress. There was embroidery at the bottom of the dress and it was paid with black heels and silver stud earrings. It was beautiful yet Coraline did not care.

“Is this about Bartholomew? You can still write to him, even call him if you want. But you knew he would have to go back to Ireland eventually,” said her mum brushing Coraline’s curly hair back.

“I know,” said Coraline looking up at her mum, “I’ll be fine.”

“Good. Well put your dress on and head downstairs I still need help getting a few things set up,” she said before leaving the room. Coraline sighed and finished getting ready.

The party was in full swing by ten that night. All of her parent’s friends and co-workers were there. Coraline’s job was to make sure there was food on the table and that the music was never horrible.

Slowly the time went on and soon it was half a minute till midnight. Everyone was gathered around the TV that was stationed on the ball in Times Square. Coraline went outside to see her neighbours set of fireworks. Every year on the correct days her neighbours would set fireworks off in their court. It was loud and usually Coraline would hide away into her room, but this time she wanted to watch. She took a seat on the bench on their porch and listened as everyone inside the house counted down till midnight.

It came and the fireworks and cheers went off.

“Loud isn’t it?” asked someone next to Coraline. She nodded and turned her head to see sitting next to her was Bartholomew.

“What are you doing here?” she asked shocked.

“Well after I was gloriously banished from the North Pole, I found myself a job at that bookstore and I have a small apartment not far from here. I considered since it was New Years and you have to spend it with people you like I found my way here,” he said.

“I am sorry about the whole banishment thing,” Coraline said.

“I know, but I think I might like it here more,” he said.

“Why?” she asked like he was crazy.

“Because I have you here,” he said and before she could say anything in response he leaned up and kissed her. She was shocked but decided to go with it and kissed him in return. They pulled away and Coraline smirked.

“Now why did you do that?” she asked.

“I realized I sort of fell in love with you. And I’m you’re ideal man according to those questions I asked you. And,” he said, “It’s tradition on New Years.”

“Really?” asked Coraline shocked.

“Now why did you kiss me back?” he asked.

“It’s tradition,” was all Coraline said. He rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her to him. She leaned back into his embraced and they watched the fireworks.

The End.