Cape High Christmas: A Side Story (Cape High Series) (10 page)

"You have, but you haven't decorated your own." They all look up as they come into a clearing. Summer is sitting on a gigantic bush decorated with Christmas lights. Sunny stands next to it, grinning widely and motioning to the area in front of them.

"We decided you should all get your own," he explains. Lines of foot tall Christmas trees with their roots wrapped up in brown material line the ground. "They'll be fine with a bit of caretaking through Christmas, and when it starts warming up, we'll plant them," he explains. "Oh, and we're going to turn this into a greenhouse," he adds, motioning around. "Mom talked Dad into fixing up a special cold weather protection system. So now I'll have someplace to sleep when it's snowing! We can hang some hammocks for you guys, if you want."

The group laughs as they head out, picking out their own tree and picking them up. "Will we plant them here?" Zoe asks.

"Nah, these are good for all weather. We'll start a little evergreen forest not far from here. When you move out, come get me or Mom and we'll help you take your tree to your new place," Sunny says, grinning. "Now, if you'd put your trees to the sides," he instructs them, turning and grabbing a huge armful of blankets, "we're going to have a picnic!"

They quickly move their trees and help put the blankets down. Soon food is being passed out and the group is digging in. Only Adanna isn't eating yet, she's sitting to the side with the little orchid ornament in her hand. Sunny drops down next to her with his plate in his hands. "You noticed, huh?" he asks her with a shy little grin.

"How could I not?" she asks, only to lean over and kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you," she says, pulling out the little black cat ornament. "I'll put them side by side."

Advent Calendar - Day Fifteen

Malina stares at her phone, trying to figure out who in the world she should call. It's a simple idea, really, but she's going to need money to do it... but everyone knows that calling Mastermental costs the promise of being on his team, right? Or at least owing him a really big favor, like Brandon does.

She doesn't want to stay in the Midwest! There's not nearly enough water around here. South is okay, there are a few beaches there, right? But practically half of her sibling group is already lined up to go there--they won't NEED her all the time--maybe during the hurricane season, or something, she'd have to negotiate that one. But for the rest of the time, there's the choice of East, West, or North. But she's only MET Negatia. She's never met Marigold! And how can she know who she wants to work for, if she hasn't met both of them? (And North--well, it's COLD! Not that cold really bothers her, but if she splashes norms accidentally in a fight, she doesn't want them catching pneumonia!)

There's one way to meet Marigold, she thinks as she looks at the name on her contact list. But calling her now is as good as promising her future, right?

"What's up?" Justin asks, almost making her jump. She looks up, watching as he pulls himself onto the platform of the tree house next to her hammock. "Tomorrow's your day, right?"

"Yeah," she says. "I need money," she tells him a bit too bluntly, looking up at him.

"For what?"

"I want to take everyone to the aquarium downtown--and then, since it's at Crown Center, I was thinking we could go ice skating," she says. "But it's not a cheap trip--well, it's not for me. I'm broke."

"I'll pay," he says.

She laughs at him. "No, seriously, it's something I need to find a Hall Leader or someone for--"

"I'm not broke," he says, looking at her a bit dryly. "I can pay to get a few people into an aquarium and go skating. In exchange, you help me with my Christmas Concert. Will that work?"

"Are you going to bring the band in?" she asks, her eyes widening. "Will they even LET you bring them in? And if you do, wouldn't they count as your helpers?"

"Nah, they let us use black suits, I should be able to sneak my bandmates in under that level," he says shamelessly.

"Just wait until I tell them you said that," she drawls. "I bet, though, that the Liberty boys won't want to skate, will they?" she says abruptly, looking worried. "Jack doesn't even swim, because he's afraid of drowning. He's probably going to avoid ice, as well, even if it IS probably over concrete--"

"Relax," he says. "Make it an option--if they don't want to skate they can go shopping at Crown Center. They have a ton of stuff to do there, right?"

"Yeah, and food courts!" she says, cheering up again, "and that restaurant with the train!"

"That's for little kids, isn't it?" Justin says, only to get "The stare." He blinks as the stare turns darker by the moment. "Not that there's anything WRONG with trains," he says quickly, holding up his hands. "And I'm not calling YOU a kid--" he adds, tripping over himself until she starts to laugh.

"Yeah, but it's so cute!" she says, grinning. "They have the food delivered BY the trains over your head and you order on the phone!"

"Maybe we should go sometime," he says. "I've never seen it, myself."

"I haven't either," she admits. "Carla told me about it."

"Then we'll at least walk past it. Who are you going to make your second helper?" he asks.

"Carla, of course!" she says with a huge smile.

"Carla."

"Carla," she repeats, poking him for his incredulous tone. "She'll love having the responsibility."

"If you say so," he says, digging out his phone. "I'll book our tickets," he tells her. "You go tell Carla what the plan is."

"Okay!"

Morning comes and every single door in the dorms gets knocked on at practically the same time. "EVERYBODY UP AND DRESSED!" Carla yells after knocking on the doors. "It's Malina's big day!"

"Carla, I'm not getting married!" Malina says, trying not to laugh.

"But it's still your day!" Carla says, practically bouncing where she stands. "This is going to be so fun!" She zips off, coming back bundled in her coat and pompom top hat.

"We still need to get breakfast first," Malina tells her dryly, "and the aquarium doesn't open until ten."

"Oh. Whoops." Carla looks at her phone.

"And what time IS it, Carla?" Malina asks.

"Um... seven?"

"Exactly." Malina laughs when she pouts, hugging her happily, "you're so adorable," she adds, getting a happy hug back. "Thank you for working so hard for me, already!" she blinks as a phone appears in front of them, and Morgan snaps a picture of them hugging.

"Totally worth waking up for," Morgan declares happily, admiring her picture. "Vinny! I want pancakes!"

"Sounds good," Vinny says as he enters the dorm, yawning. "Blueberries? Strawberries?"

"ALL the berries!" Malina says.

He heads into the kitchen as the rest of the dorm get out of their rooms, heading for the cafeteria.

After breakfast, at 9:30 sharp, the school bus honks, making them all jump and head outside. Snowflakes decorate the bus, floating gently over the side and landing on the words, "Malina's Day." They board, not that surprised to see the rest of the school already on the bus. Malina steps to the front, hesitates for a second, and then steps on the chair next to her for height.

"Hi, everybody!" she says, waving at them with a grin.

"Hi, Malina!" Morgan says.

"Hey, shortie!" Jack says, only to get glared at by his girlfriend. "What? I'd let her call me disco ball if she wants!"

Malina tries and fails to cover her laugh. "Hi, disco ball," she says, waving at him. He grins.

"Did I tell you about how she threatened me with you?" he asks Aubrey.

"Ahem," Malina says. "I'm talking, okay?" He promptly shuts up, earning her soon-to-be-trademark impish grin. "This isn't completely Christmas-y, and I'll admit, a part of me is using this to do something I've REALLY wanted to do for a while," she admits, making the group laugh. "But I think you'll forgive me when I tell you who's footing the bill--everyone, these are my helpers," she says as Justin and Carla stand up. "We'll be taking you to Crown Center, where we've got tickets for the aquarium! You can spend all day there if you want, or if you get bored, there's also ice skating. If that's not what you want to do, you can visit the food courts or go shopping--just make sure you get back to the bus by seven, okay?"

The group cheers, and Justin has to wait for a bit before speaking. "And because I'm the helper for this, I did something--and this will be a shocker--NICE for Jack. Well, actually it was more for you, Ace, since we're bros," he says, digging in his pocket and pulling out two watches. "This one's mine--and this one's yours," he says, holding it out to Jack.

"What is it?"

Nico looks up into the rearview mirror from the driver's seat. "Justin talked me into giving you your Christmas gift early, Jack," he says. "You'd better not screw up on your day, otherwise I'll change the illusion to Jackie," he drawls as the watch is handed from kid to kid until it gets to Jack.

"That means you don't have to follow him and Aubrey around for the day," Justin says to Ace, getting a stunned look.

"Usually I'm against hugs, man, but if I wasn't stuck in the back, I'd hug you right now," Ace says, much to the amusement of the group.

Jack puts the watch on and touches a button, and the illusion Ace usually gives him appears. "Awesome," he says. "Best Christmas gift EVER."

"Before we get off the bus!" Carla says, making everyone jerk slightly, "We have some rules that you ABSOLUTELY have to follow! No running around or using your powers! Don't draw attention to yourself, and um--" she stops, looking at them. "I'm being SERIOUS," she tells them, placing her hands on her hips. "Stop laughing, it's rude."

"Did anyone get that on video?" Nico asks. "Because I definitely want to show it to her, later."

"I got it!" Zoe says, waving her phone in the air.

"Good," he says.

"I don't see what's so funny," Carla complains, making them laugh even harder. Malina reaches over and hugs her again. Once the hug is over she sits down, practically humming as she anticipates the day. Carla sits down next to her, and the bus starts down the road. After a moment, though, Carla leans down and whispers in Malina's ear, "Can you teach me to ice skate?"

Malina's grin widens. "Absolutely," she says.

"Can you teach me, too?" Ace calls from the back, showing the whisper didn't work at all. Soon everyone is chiming in, asking for her help. She can't help but laugh, already picturing herself, the smallest of the group, teaching these big, tough supers how to skate.

"I'll do my best!" she tells the group as the bus pulls to a stop in front of Crown Center. "Let's go!" She gets off the bus, looking up at the brightly lit building with a brilliant smile. "This is going to be awesome," she says, looking at the rest of the group before heading inside. "And best of all, no one will make me ride with an adult because of my height!" she declares proudly. "BEST IDEA EVER!"

She doesn't even mind when they start laughing.

***

The aquarium is awesome, Malina thinks as she reluctantly steps out. It's only because a dozen of the others are giving her meaningful looks right after mentioning ice skating that she's leaving. "Okay, okay, I get it," she says with a laugh. "Let's go ice skating!"

"Yeah, no," Jack says. "I might look normal, but I'm not going to risk the weight thing. Aubrey can go, though," he says to his girlfriend. "I was going to hit the food stands--"

"I'm in!" Trent says. "The food stands, that is--no offense, Malina."

"None taken," she says, trying not to laugh. "Everyone that wants to learn to skate, or knows how, follow me!" she adds. To think she used to be afraid to speak in class. Now she's got most of the school following along. They head out of the building and across the street to the ice rink, renting skates and wobbling out onto the ice. It's the first time she's seen some of the kids look awkward, she thinks as Emily almost falls over.

She steps out onto the ice, sliding into place in front of the group. "Okay ," she says, "everyone partner up--if you fall, make sure to record it! I'm sure we'll all want to see it in slow motion later," she teases with a little spin.

"I shoulda named her Snowflake," Max says, looking a little too--

"Feet on the ice, mister!" Malina says, pointing at him. "That's cheating." He drops an inch and promptly falls onto his butt. The group starts roaring with laughter, only to have half of them fall over, as well. "I guess even we aren't all naturals at everything," she says, pulling them to their feet one by one before starting to teach.

As she skates backwards, pulling Justin along, he asks, "How did you learn how to skate?"

"It has to do with water, doesn't it?" she says, smiling. "When I was little--even before I realized what I was--I was obsessed with everything to do with water. I talked my foster mom at the time into trying it. I was probably... six or seven," she admits. "I loved it."

"Is she--is she still your foster mom?" he asks.

"No," Malina says, her expression turning bittersweet, "she's not. I wasn't... I didn't mean to be difficult to raise, but how can I not be?"

"Yeah," he says quietly. "Have you ever thought of visiting her, though?"

"Maybe," she says. "When I'm a big name in the hero world I can go up to her house and say..." she falls silent, trying to picture it, "thank you," she decides. "I'll say thank you for trying, and that I don't blame you--or her, I mean."

He goes silent, staring at her with a hint of awe. A tiny smile finally crosses his face. "I really do like you," he says, simply. She feels her cheeks turn red and looks around for some sort of distraction.

"Oh, Emily fell," she says, letting go of his hands and skating off. Even if Emily's already on her feet when she gets there, she stays there. It's better than dealing with the awkward conversation.

Emily doesn't say a word. She just glances from Justin to Malina and grins, taking the hand that's offered.

Advent Calendar - Day Sixteen

"Look," Nico says, leaning back in his chair and staring at the large woman on the screen. "He's ours--that takes him off your wanted list--"