Disclaimer: I own nothing of this, you understand? Nothing! Only my idea.

Will wiped her tears aside, swallowing the sob that was building up. She walked past the pet shop and stared at the sign that said 'For Lease'. It was Matt's grandfather's pet store. Cold and empty it laid and waited, begging for a new owner to come in and take it.

Will kicked a stray stone aside, and swallowed another oncoming sob.

"Why does life have to be so cruel?" she sobbed softly. Her memories reverted back to just two days ago:

Matt set the large box on top of the counter and turned to Will. "Will, I'm sorry," he had said. "Moving wasn't my idea. But what my parents say goes."

"Then why not run away?" Will demanded. "You have Shagon powers!"

"Will, Boston is miles away," Matt insisted. "Even with Shagon powers, it would take me days to get to Heatherfield and back. Besides," he added sternly, "running away won't solve anything."

Will bit her lip and staggered back as tears fell down her cheeks. "No! You can't do this to me, Matt. Not after all we've been through!"

"I'm sorry, Will," Matt said again, this time in a bare whisper. "If there's something I could do, I'd do it."

"You can do something!" Will screamed. "You can! Stall it, change their minds, pay Irma to mind zap them!"

Matt shook his head solemnly. "It's not that easy, Will. My folks already sold our old place and bought a new house. It's too late."

Will choked on a sob, and her brown eyes welled up with tears. "Why are you doing this to me, Matt? Why?"

Matt walked over to her and wrapped his arms around Will. But Will sobbed and shoved him away. "Get away from me, you . . . you jerk!"

Before Matt could say another word, Will bolted out the door, crying and sobbing as she went.

Will grimaced at the memory. After that, she had refused to say good-bye to Matt. Now he'll never want to talk to me again, she thought tearfully.

She kicked a rock off to the side and sniffled. Why was life so cruel? What had she done to deserve this?

A flash of red and green lights flooded Will's vision overhead. She looked up and saw a cheerful neon Santa waving at her with a jovial look on his white face. A young man was on a ladder, tinkering with the lights.

Will sighed, a warm rush of air exiting her mouth in the form of a cloud. It's Christmas time, Will thought, and I should be full of Christmas cheer. But instead I have a huge rain cloud hanging over my head, a wide gap in my heart, and there's no one to share or laugh with me.

As recalled, Irma was going over to her grandparents' place for the holidays, Cornelia was visiting an aunt of down in California, Hay Lin was going to China for exploration of her past, and Taranee was out in nature (her dad's idea), and seeing the great outdoors and hopeful to take some nice pictures.

And where does that leave me? Will thought miserably. To spend one Christmas with my dad and one with my mom.

Will had been so deep in thought that she hadn't noticed the teenaged boy climbing down the ladder. "Hello there," the boy said. "Nice winter evening, huh?"

Will looked up, startled by the boy's address, and gave a nervous smile. "Uh . . . yeah. Nice day."

The boy reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a pair of gloves. Will watched him put them on, sizing him up. He was cute, no doubt, with brick brown hair and emerald green eyes.

Will felt her face warm up, and she subconsciously brushed a red lock of hair out of her face.

"So," the boy continued, testing his now mittened hands, "what brings you out on a cold night like this one?"

"Oh, no reason," Will replied quickly, or rather, squeaked quickly. She gave a silent gasp and covered her mouth.

The boy didn't take notice and glanced over at Will. "My name is Souji, by the way. What's yours?"

Will smiled nervously at him, her heart pitter-pattering in her chest. "Mine's Will."

He nodded. "Glad to meet you, Will. I'd love to talk some more, but I need to get home." He turned around and began to walk off, but not before glancing over his shoulder and saying, "Maybe we'll meet again?"

And then he was gone.

Will couldn't explain it, but she felt lighter, like the burdens of the world were suddenly taken off her shoulders. Then, the weight of the world came crashing back onto her shoulders. But still, the glimmer of happiness, she enjoyed that.

In fact, she hoped she would meet that boy again.