Ana carefully drew the final line of her picture and then leaned back to examine her work. It was beautiful! Better yet, it even looked like him! She'd spent a full minute searching for the right shade of green in the crayon box and it had clearly been well worth it. Aster was going to be impressed!
Across the table, the current master of her heart and the subject of her picture was carefully drawing his own image, though she really couldn't see what it was from where she was sitting, but that was okay. He'd show it to her when he was done like he always did and she couldn't wait to show him her picture right back!
Humming happily, she grabbed her drawing and got up from the table to go and bother her other friends while as she waited for Aster to finish his drawing. A quick glance around the room informed her that Nick was working on building a log cabin out of Lincoln logs while Sandy was taking a nap as he always seemed to do during recess.
Since Ana wasn't the least bit sleepy, she joined her Christmas loving friend with his current task and began to help him build his cabin. When she called it that, though, he happily informed her was not a cabin, but was in fact, a model of Santa's workshop. Ana let out an appreciative gasp at the declaration and allowed Nick to tell her all about the design and where different types of toys were made and where the kitchens were and everything else he'd imagined up.
She was so busy listening to her friend that she didn't notice when Aster got up and came to join them. In fact, the only thing that clued her in to the Australian's arrival was a very loud cry of, "Is that me?" as he pointed at her picture.
The declaration made Ana frown. Aster didn't sound flattered, he sounded horrified!
He looked horrified, too.
Not knowing what else to say, she whispered, "Well, who else would it be?"
Aster's expression grew even more upset at the admission. "My hair isn't that dark and why are my eyes puce?"
Ana looked at her picture again. Puce? That wasn't puce! It was a pretty green, like Aster's eyes. Okay, well, maybe not exactly like Aster's eyes, but it was close and she liked the color she'd picked for his hair. It was nice. Tears began to well in her violet eyes and spill down her cheeks as her crush continued to berate the picture.
"I've never worn that color of shirt in my life, either! Why would you…"
The young art critic's complaints were cut off by Nick shouting, "Shut up, Aster!"
Everyone in the room had grown quiet and they were all staring at the trio. Sandy had even woken up from his nap due to all the noise.
When Nick spoke again, it was in a quiet and deadly voice that made Aster quiver where he stood.
"Apologize to Ana now."
Aster looked at his blonde friend and felt shame take hold of him. He hadn't meant to upset her and he'd been so busy getting worked up over the picture that he'd failed to notice the tears his words were causing.
The Australian child stared down at the ground and said, "Sorry, Ana. I didn't mean to make you cry. It's not a bad picture; I just don't think it looks like me."
Ana nodded and wiped away her tears. "I forgive you."
"Really?" Aster asked as he looked at his friend with spring-green eyes full of hope.
Ana giggled nodded. "Yes, you're forgiven, but no more saying mean things!"
"Okay!"
Nick nodded in approval at his friends and then said, "Good. Do you want to help us build Santa's workshop?"
Aster rolled his eyes. "Santa's workshop? Can't we…"
His complaint trailed off when he saw the way his friends were looking at him and he grinned sheepishly before saying, "Sure, I'll help."
As the trio got to work building Nick's creation, Ana privately decided that Aster really wasn't worth her time. After all, a young lady such as herself deserved a real gentleman who did nothing but praise her every idea. A guy who defended her like prince charming! She would just have to wait until he showed up because she knew she'd meet him someday.
With that happy thought in mind, she picked up the Lincoln log sitting next to her and offered it to Nick, who took the wooden toy with a smile and asked, "Did you have any ideas for Santa's workshop, Ana?"
She nodded happily and began to tell Nick all about how the workshop should have its own fashion studio where Santa's helpers made dresses while Aster carefully began to build Santa's workshop a greenhouse out of Legos while claiming that "even a place surround by snow needs a little touch of spring."
Someone asked for the gang as kids, so here's my first attempt at writing one of those. Ana's 8 here so that means Aster's 8, Sandy's 9 and Nick's 9.
