Disclaimer: The first five chapters explain what I do and do not own, so there is no need to repeat myself anymore…

…but I do have to mention something to the reviewers who keep asking "Who is April?" because I'm getting a lot of those questions. The disclaimers in the first five chapters explain that April is an OC created by SweetStar17, and she is the rebellious tomboy type of girl with a kind heart. She also happens to be paired with Duncan to the request of the creator. To those who are fans of Duncan/Courtney, this is not the story that you are looking for. Sorry, maybe another time.

That being said, I am actually surprised that most people ask about April. Does that mean that Brooke and her pairing with Cody are approved? Just curious. XD Anyways, on with the chapter!

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Day 10: Santa Claus?

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After two full days of harsh blizzards, it was once again calm at Camp Wawanakwa with more snow on the ground than before. Several campers took this opportunity to have more fun in the snow while it lasted, including talk of that familiar jolly old man known as Santa Claus. That was the talk of Lindsay, Beth, Katie, and Sadie as the girls gathered around the Justin snowman that had surprisingly survived the elements.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if Santa could bring us boyfriends this Christmas?" Katie asked the girls with an excited grin.

"That would be the most wonderful thing ever!" Sadie and Beth exclaimed in unison.

"Although I already have Taylor," Lindsay said, "it would be so cool to see you girls get boyfriends for Christmas!"

"I wonder what kind of boyfriends Santa could bring us," Beth wondered. Katie and Sadie already had an idea as they exchanged glances and grins.

"Tall, dark, and handsome!" All four girls sighed dreamily at the same thought. "Wouldn't it be great if Santa could do that?"

"I hate to break it to you, ladies, but Santa doesn't exist."

The four girls snapped out of their fantasies and turned to Noah, who was standing nearby with a mug of hot cocoa in one hand and a novel tucked under the other arm.

"What do you mean 'Santa doesn't exist'?" Katie asked.

"Plain and simple, Santa is not real," Noah replied before taking a sip of hot cocoa.

"Oh, I get it," Sadie said with a giggle. "He's just upset because Santa won't be getting him a boyfriend for Christmas."

Noah spat out his cocoa, startled by Sadie's comment, and glared at her. "That's not it!"

"Oops, sorry! I meant girlfriend in your case," Sadie corrected. "Still, why doesn't Santa exist?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Noah stated with a roll of his eyes. "Santa Claus, Saint Nickolas, Kris Kringle- whatever you want to call him –is nothing more than a made-up person to get children to behave all year. His workshop at the North Pole is nonexistent, flying reindeer are scientifically impossible, Rudolph is a product of shop advertising, and elves are only known to exist in MMORPGs."

Lindsay blinked in confusion as she tried to follow along with the egghead's logical talk. "Uh…Say what now?"

Face-palming himself, Noah let out an agitated sigh before answering. "Basically, everything that you have heard about 'Santa' is a lie."

"That can't be right…Can it?" Beth asked Katie and Sadie, who merely shrugged.

Noah looked around for other camper reinforcement, spotting Heather farther away filing her nails. Of course she would deny Santa's existence but only because she was inconsiderate to other's feelings, so he would not even bother with her. Then he saw April and Brooke talking together and decided to call for them. "Hey, April, tell these girls here that Santa is not real!"

The red-banged tomboy glanced over at the group and shrugged her shoulders. "I have no opinion on that matter, but I still believe."

"Gee, thanks," Noah mumbled as the four girls beside him giggled. Then he looked at Brooke with hopeful eyes. "Brooke, babe, sweetheart, you're the voice of reason. Tell them the truth."

Shaking her head, Brooke faced Noah with an irritated expression. "First of all, please do not me those names." Her expression softened before continuing. "Second, there may not be proof that Santa does exist, but there is also no proof that he does not exist."

"So in other words, he may or may not exist?" Katie asked curiously. She and the other girls turned to each other with big smiles.

"Ooh! Mysterious!"

"Brooke, you were my only hope…" Noah sighed. "I am telling you all, Santa does not exist!"

"NOAAAAAAH!!!"

The egghead gasped as he saw the green clad, redheaded Izzy swinging on a vine heading toward him, a wild and angry look in her eyes. Before he could get out of her way, he screamed as he was tackled into the snowy ground and shaken furiously by Izzy.

"Blasphemy, I tell you!! How dare you talk about Santa like that?!"

While this was going on, April and Brooke had resumed their discussion and the other four girls had moved on while talking about the magical wonders of Santa Claus…

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Poor Noah, trying to prove that he's right. XD We still believe in Santa!

Coming up next:

Day 11: Down the Slopes!