I'm taking suggestions on Tumblr (link in my bio!) for holiday stories you'd like to read. I'll be writing eleven more between now and the 25th (or at least the 31st!).

Let me know what you think of each Christmas crumb!

– Sessediz

Sweet Tooth

Words: 1,359

Posted: 1 December 2018

Inspiration: Moonlight Usagi-Chan (cookie exchange)

"This is seriously the best idea I've ever had," Serena smiled to herself. She stood on her tiptoes of the booth seat, trying hard to keep from putting her feet on the table. Her hand stretched up high to tape up more tinsel around the gang's usual spot at the arcade. "We should do this every year!"

Raye shook her head as she adjusted the small Christmas tree centerpieces on the open corners of the booth. "So you're patting yourself on the back for finding yet another way to stuff your face?"

With the last bit of tinsel in her hand, Serena's arms dropped as she took a deep breath. Turning slowly, the faint hints of rage masked her attempts at calming that anger.

"First of all, I do not just 'stuff my face' all the time, Raye!" Serena's anger boiled up now, causing her to undo half of her tinsel decorations. "And this was a creative way to have a party without one person having to provide all the food."

"Meatball head!" Raye shouted, "You've ruined the decorations!"

"I've ruined it? Gosh! Not even during the holidays can you give me a break!"

The two continued to bicker back and forth until they heard the doorbell ding.

"Wow, guys!" Mina gushed. "This looks amazing."

Serena beamed, but Raye leaned in front of her. "You're welcome!"

Sensing a fight brewing, Mina opened her red and green Tupperware container to reveal peanut butter kisses. "Want to smell them, Sere?"

For a moment, she considered, then she looked to Raye and decided against it. "I can wait," she said begrudgingly. Serena went back to rehanging her tinsel and Raye swirled short stacks of red and green napkins.

The doorbell rang again as Amy and Lita walked in carrying one and two boxes, respectively. Mina asked why Lita held two boxes and her answer was a shock to most, but especially Serena.

"Well, I overheard Raye invite Darien and I wasn't sure if he could bake. The more cookies, the merrier, right?" Lita grinned as she placed both beautifully wrapped cookie boxes on the table. The gorgeous bows on them almost looked too pretty to pull apart.

Momentarily ignoring the fact that Serena was going to have to focus on not embarrassing herself in front of Darien, instead of enjoying delicious cookies, she began scolding Raye once more. "Why didn't you tell me? I bought cute gift boxes for everyone to take home their assorted treats. Now I have one less than I need!"

"That's alright," a lilthy voice said behind her. "We'll make do."

Each of the girls, sans Serena, smiled brightly. "Hi, Darien," they said in unison.

Serena nervously brought her hand to her mouth, but tried hard not to chew on her nails. "I guess we can fill yours after we divvy up the cookies you brought," she said, motioning to his glass container with a snowflake motif printed on the sides. "What'd you bring?"

"Chocolate and peppermint crinkle cookies," he said as he handed her the container. She pulled the lid off and licked her lips. They looked as amazing as they sounded. "They're rolled in powdered sugar and then – well – crinkled."

When it seemed like Serena had spent too much time gawking at Darien, she cleared her throat. "Well, let's get started shall we?"

They all scooted around the table and opened their boxes. Mina handed out her kisses with a brief explanation about holiday kisses being the best kisses, and Amy opened her container of assorted, pressed shortbread cookies sprinkled with cane sugar.

"Those look so good, Amy!" Serena said. "They're almost like the cookies in a tin." Everyone took a bite and made varying sounds of satisfaction. "I have to say, though," Serena added, "they'd probably taste better coming out of a tin."

Darien cocked his head to the side, Raye furrowed her brow, and the others giggled.

"That doesn't even make sense, Serena," Lita laughed.

Amy, who looked beet red by this point, reached into her bag to pull out a metal, blue tin. "I'm sorry. I know the rules said homemade, but I really wanted to get started on the study guides for my classes."

Mina leaned gently on Amy, "Don't worry about it, hun. We understand. Besides, Serena's already ate four of hers!"

Serena paused and looked up to see five pairs of eyes watching her. Raye handed her a napkin, and Serena snatched it quickly. "I'm a hungry woman," she smiled as she winked towards Darien. His eyebrows shot up, and she immediately realized what she had done. "Anyways, so who wants some of my gingerbread men?" Tilting her box, she showed off classic gingerbread men and women, complete with cutesy-piped white, royal icing; just like Lita had taught her.

"Sereeena!" Raye squealed. "I told you I was making gingerbread," she said as she opened and revealed her donut-shaped cookies.

"Noooo, you said you were bringing spicy cookies," Serena whined. "Everyone knows that my gingerbread is legend."

"Legend, huh?" Darien spoke up. He looked at her with questioning permission as his hand hovered her box. "May I try one?" Serena shyly nodded, and watched as Darien tasted one of the cookies. Darien smiled, and swallowed his bite. "These are pretty good, and I don't usually like gingerbread."

Serena smiled brightly, happy that he liked them so much; not that she was too surprised as everyone always did.

"Oh, com'on! She just doubles the sugar for extra sweetness and to calm down the ginger taste!" Raye moaned.

"Raye!" Serena scolded, but Raye had moved on to get everyone to try her cookies.

"I gave them some heat, you know, to combat the cold outside," Raye grinned as everyone took a bite. Mina and Lita enjoyed them, Ami and Darien weren't big fans of heavy spice, and Serena wouldn't admit it, but she actually quite liked the new take on the cookie.

Aside from Darien's portion, Serena, Raye, Amy, and Mina's boxes were empty and their take-home boxes were filling up.

"Alright, now what we've all been waiting for," Serena began, "Lita's cookies!"

Lita opened the first box to showcase an assortment of colors with stained-glass window cookies. Somehow, the 'stained-glass' even looked frosted, like it was a real snowy window.

"She's done it again, ladies and gentle . . . man," Mina sing-songed. "And the other box?"

Inside the second container was chai macarons dusted with freshly ground spices. "Wow! Aren't these really hard to make?" Serena asked.

Lita blushed, "Not really." She didn't want to make it seem like she had tried too hard, but it was her first successful attempt out of a dozen prior attempts at making macarons, and she was quite happy about it. "I only have two sandwich cookies per person though."

"That's plenty," Darien smiled as he grabbed one.

As Serena bit into one of hers, she closed her eyes and moaned. "These are fantastic! The Food Network always makes them sound so hard to make. It's like successfully making ice cream on Chopped." Everyone laughed at that and then turned to Darien.

"Guess it's my turn," he said as he held out the container for the girls to grab their share.

As they all enjoyed their sampling of his cookie, Lita asked, "What inspired you to make this? It's really good."

"Uh," his eyes flashed to Serena's and then to the almost empty box that Mina snatched to start filling for him. "Well, Serena loves the seasonal milkshake they make here every year," his face was turning redder every second, "and I was wondering about a cookie that tastes like that. I found the recipe online."

Serena almost choked on the cookie and started coughing furiously. Raye leaned in with another napkin and whispered, "Want me to get you a milkshake?" Her smile would have said it all, and Serena would have scolded her, yet again, if only she could talk.

Clearing her throat, Serena found that she could breathe again. Before she could speak, Raye leaned in again. "I knew he liked you. Merry Christmas," she said, sticking out her tongue with a wink.