Kim Diehl and Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupré (Part 1)
Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupré was dumbfounded.
"What do you mean you've never had a Christmas?"
Kim finished swigging her glass of water, knocking it down onto the table-without putting a coaster under it first. Kim studied her weapon's face. Usually, Jackie would've immediately shouted at her for such poor etiquette. And she definitely would've gotten pissed after Kim insulted that gaudy green and red sweater she was wearing. Why was this topic of Christmas and-What did Jackie call them? "Ugly Christmas sweater contest"?-more important than leaving a mark on the table?
"I grew up in the Witches' Realm," Kim explained, looking around to make sure no passersby was going to walk into the girls' dormitory den. "Not exactly Christmas Village there. Hell, we're so behind on the times compared to this realm. We only just started getting 1970s music there when I left."
"Kim!"
The witch's eyes widened as Jacqueline was practically on top of her, having leapt off her armchair, around the table, and onto the couch, seizing Kim by her hands. Kim blushed. Had she done something wrong? She glanced at the grandfather clock. It was only 9:07. Not enough time for her to have pissed Jackie off yet.
But Jackie had a big stupid grin on her face-the kind she got after getting an A on an exam, finishing an essay a week before it was due, or getting that rarest of gifts, a compliment from Kim.
Kim reclined in her seat. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Jacqueline's hands leaped out and clutched Kim's.
"This is going to be your first Christmas!"
Kim blinked. "Yeah?"
Jacqueline pulled her up. "Come on! We're going out! We have shopping to do!"
"Hey!" Kim shouted. She tried to dig her heels into the floorboards-which only managed to snag her socks along the wood and cause her heels to kick up one of the rugs. "Stop! Let go!" As Jacqueline dragged her out the doorway, Kim tried to clutch the door jam, but to no avail. Down the hallway and towards the front door, Kim's voice echo: "At least tell me we're spending your money and not mine!"