December - The Third Day

The next day went by incredibly slowly, the ticking of the clock as it's hands moved from number to number almost taunting Quinn. All she wanted to do was go home and start baking cookies for the homeless shelter's bake sale which was only a few days away. Finally, the last bell sounded and the kids jostled each to get out of class, jostled each other in the hall and jostled each other as they all made a mad dash to vacate the premises. Most didn't even check their lockers. Quinn, however, slowed near her locker, frowning when she saw that no note was taped there. Maybe Sam had decided to end the twelve days of Christmas after two. Sighing, she walked past her locker, towards the double doors at the end of the hall. She had just reached them when she heard a voice clearing. Without shifting her eyes, she smiled.

"Hey, Artie."

Grinning up at her, he replied, "Hey, Quinn," while pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

Leaning against the door, she glanced down, her smile growing when she saw his sweater, which she hadn't paid the greatest of attention to earlier. "Rudolph!" she cried in joy.

Self consciously tugging at the sweater, he blushed a little. "Yup. Red nose ready to guide the sleigh."

"I love it!" Without thinking about it, one finger stretched out to trace the reindeer's red nose, which made Artie blush even more, though Quinn didn't notice. "You're still coming on Monday, right?"

"I'll be there," he told her, nodding, affirming that he would indeed be at the homeless shelter bake sale.

"Perfect!" Bending at the waist, she gave him a brief hug, then ran a hand through his hair, pushing the door and running out into the blustery weather before he could respond. Gazing over her shoulder, she laughed as he mock glared at her and yelled,

"Not the hair, Quinn! I will get you for that!"

Quinn practically giggled the whole way home, thinking about Artie's face and the indignation on it over her mussing his precious hair. Artie's concern over his hair looking just so always amused her.

Just as she got home, it started to snow. Instead of rushing in to start her baking, she stood in the snowfall, lifting her arms and letting the snowflakes fall on her face. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the moment for several seconds before a shiver ran down her spine. Carefully, she made her way to her porch, pausing when she noticed a package on her welcome mat. Picking it up, she saw the Times New Roman 14 point font and knew what it was.

"On the third day of Christmas…"

Flipping it over, she read the rest.

"…a true friend gave to Quinn, three Reese's Peanut Butter cups, because they are her absolute favorite, two hair ties and one red rose."

Cold, deft fingers unwrapped the tissue to paper to reveal one red rose, two hair ties, pink this time, and three almost frozen Reese's Peanut Butter cups. Even though she knew they were from Sam, she couldn't help but smile as she entered her nice, warm house.

She had only take a couple of steps when she paused as a thought struck her. When they had been dating, Sam had constantly mistaken her favorite chocolate candy to be dark chocolate Hershey bars. They were her second favorite so it was something she usually overlooked and, eventually, stopped reminding him about altogether.

Which meant the gifts couldn't be from Sam.

But then…who?