"Papa, really? We don't need more decorations!" Maka Albarn said to her father as he grabbed his keys to head out to the store for, yet another string of Christmas lights and who knows what else?
"Maka, yes we do. Now, I will be back on about an hour or two. Keep an eye on the enemy and text me if anything new happens." And he walked out the door without another word.
Every year in December, the neighbourhood had their annual House Decorating competition. Spirit Albarn always went all out for it. It started out as a fun thing to try, but ever since their neighbours, the Evans' beat him by one whole point, it had become personal.
It was a rivalry.
Maka has had to deal with it for 18 years now and she hated it every year. Yet she always got roped into it every year because her father would make her come and help him set up all the lights.
Honestly she thought it was pointless, starting a war with the Evans'. They were rich and had much more to work with. But nooo! Her dad had put a savings away every year for buying more Christmas decorations.
It was insane.
She was about to grab a book off the coffee table to get her mind off this whole shebang when she heard a knock at the front door.
She walked over and opened the door to reveal a tall boy with messy snow-white hair and sleepy red eyes. He looked about her age, and she couldn't help but notice that he smelled nice—maybe Old Spice cologne?—and looked really attractive.
"Albarn right?" —Oh jeez, he even sounded sexy— "I'm Soul Evans, I live in the house just up the street and I've got something to say to you."
"Evans? Oh dear, is this about the light contest?" Maka didn't try to hide her irritation at the mention of the dreaded annual event.
"Of course it is. And it's not just a light competition. It is a decoration war. And I've come here to get my reindeer back." He looked angry and determined. Did not seem like a good combination to Maka.
"Reindeer? What are you talking about?"
"You, or someone in your family stole my reindeer. I can't have Santa's sleigh without all nine reindeer."
"Oh good lord, I am going to kill him." She mumbled under her breath. She looked back up at the boy at the door who had his arms crossed over his chest in irritation. "Sorry, Soul, was it? I did not steal your reindeer, nor do I know where it is. Why do you automatically assume someone in my family did it, anyway?"
"Because you're the enemy. You guys are the only ones in this neighbourhood that actually takes this almost as seriously as I do."
"I'm sorry, I don't take kindly to people who call me "the enemy." If you could please leave, that would be much appreciated." she started to close the door when a large boot stopped it.
"Listen tiny tits, I don't have time for your games. I need my reindeer, and I better get it back, or else." he lowered his voice threateningly.
Maka was now fuming. This kid had a lot of nerve to come to her house and threaten her. There was no way she would give him his reindeer back after that. Even if she did know where it was.
"Excuse me? I already told you I don't know where your reindeer is. Now get off my property."
"No. I need my Vixen back."
Maka's eyebrows shot up.
"Shit, no, the reindeer. Vixen is the name of the reindeer. And I better get him back."
"Listen. I didn't steal anything. If you're right in saying that someone from this house did, then it was my dad. Actually, there's a fairly large chance that you're right, and that it actually was my dad. I could care less about this stupid competition!"
Soul just looked at her and laughed.
"Do you find this amusing? Because just a moment ago you were practically threatening me, and now you're laughing at me. I'm not sure how to feel about this…"
"You want to go get some coffee with me?" He asked nonchalantly.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Christmas flavours are all over the place. Gingerbread lattes. Personally I prefer peppermint, but hey, whatever floats your boat."
"I'm sorry, am I missing something here? I thought you were angry about your precious Christmas decorations. Now you're… you're asking me out on a date?"
"Sure, if you want to look at that way. I'd like to look at it that way. So what do you say?" He flashed her a charming smile, showing shiny white—and pointy?— teeth.
"I'm sorry, I'm still a bit confused. Weren't you angry just a moment ago?"
"I was, still am, kind of. But not at you." He started rubbing at the back of his neck. He seemed… nervous? "I knew your crazy dad stole that reindeer. I was actually kinda happy when he did, because it gave me an excuse to come and talk to you. And when you said you don't like the competition, I knew you wouldn't care if 'the enemy' asked you out. Soo… about that coffee?" The corner of his mouth lifted into a nervous half smile.
Maka was dumbfounded by the whole ordeal. Her cheeks were warm and she figured they were bright red at this point. When the whole thing registered in her head and she regained her composure she told him, "I don't know. I don't think my dad would approve of me dating the enemy."
Soul let out a genuine laugh. "Something tells me you don't quite care about your dad's approval."
"Not for this, I don't. I'd love to come! Let me grab my coat." She went and retrieved her coat from out of the closet and hopped out to door.
They went and got into Soul's red Camaro, and she texted her dad saying:
"Hey, I'm not sure, but I think I saw some sparks coming from the Evans'"