"No," Flame cried, "no, what's happening?!"
The beautiful blue dragoness he was embracing was fading away, slowly. Her mouth was moving, but no words were being heard by Flame.
"Please, don't go, I love you!" Flame begged.
But it was too late. The dragoness disappeared….
***
Flame woke up - but he didn't open his eyes. He hugged his pillow and sighed.
"Another dream," he thought, "another reminder of how lonely I am."
He opened his eyes and laid there for the next five minutes, staring blankly at the dimly lit ceiling. Then, he turned and looked at the calendar nailed to his door.
"Christmas morning." Flame mumbled. He tried to go to sleep again.
Flame really thought he had no reason to get out of bed anymore. The feeling he got from hanging out with his friends, although it had given him great joy the first hundred times, was now just a norm.
He wanted more. He was perfect - charming, nice, attractive, attentive - so why couldn't he find the perfect companion?
He sighed again.
Just then, his door flew open, letting in an excess of light. Flame turned to see who it was, but he was temporarily blinded.
"Merry Christmas!" Ember sang.
She walked in, sitting on the side of the bed next to Flame, who sat up in his bed, rubbing his left eye lazily.
"Ember," he whispered, "what's up?"
"What's up?" She giggled. "Uhh, it's Christmas! Get out of bed!"
Flame plopped back onto his pillow, facedown.
"Hey," Ember said softly, while she poked Flame's back, "I'm not about to let you spend Christmas alone."
Flame felt as if those words actually meant something. It was no secret that he had a huge crush on Ember, and those words just rekindled those emotions. He seized the opportunity, and sat up again.
"Ember, you know I like you, right?" He smoothly said, although he felt awkward.
"Erm," Ember started, "but I like Spyro."
"Come on, you know you don't have a chance with him - he's dating Cynder."
Ember stood up. "Actually, they broke up a few days ago. Spyro's available now!" She grinned.
Flame just couldn't believe it. How could Ember keep her stupid schoolgirl crush for so long? Also, why did the 'perfect couple' break up?
"But that doesn't matter," Ember laughed, "come on down, we're all here." She started walking to the door.
"Ember, wait." Flame called, as he slowly got out of his sheets.
She turned around, and looked right at Flame. Flame looked into her eyes, and felt…
"What is it?" Ember kept smiling.
"Nothing." Flame said disappointedly. "I'll be down in a sec."