Non-Denominational Secret Santas

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Higher Ground characters or locations. The only thing I made up was the plot.

Chapter 4: Shelby Merrick

[JULIETTE]

Shelby had never before had a positive experience with Secret Santas. There was that time in fourth grade when Robbie Thomas gave her a rat. A dead rat. Then in eighth grade, Kayla Johnson gave her a pack of peanuts. It wasn't much of a gift to begin with, but worse, Shelby had discovered that she was violently allergic to peanuts that day. But nothing compared to the time in tenth grade when Jake Tyler handed her a condom. She had laughed it off with the rest of the class (except the teacher, who was quite angry), but it had hurt. A lot.

But this year would be different, Shelby decided. That wink Scott had given her, the way he would just shake his head, grinning mischievously whenever she brought up the assignment. She knew her gift would be something good. Scott knew her like no other person, and this year, Secret Santas would be perfect. For the first time.

The one disappointment was that she had drawn Juliette's name. How should she know what to get the little princess? Queenie could write home and ask for whatever she wanted, and Shelby had to get her a meaningful gift?

She wandered out of the girls' dorm, wondering absentmindedly where Scott was. As she passed the kayak barn, she saw Daisy coming out of it, looking perfectly emotionless. Shelby raised a hand in greeting.

"How's it going?" she asked.

"I hate Secret Santas," Daisy declared. She shrugged. "I got Auggie, and he's been no help in deciding what I should get him."

"Is he supposed to be?" Shelby frowned slightly.

"He should be," Daisy grumbled. "He wants a basketball. How am I supposed to make a basketball?"

"Good question," Shelby replied. "You'd need some rubber. And some sort of skills. No offense, of course."

"None taken," Daisy said. "Who do you have?"

"Queenie," Shelby told her, making a face. "I'm tempted to just give her a jar of ipecac syrup."

"I don't think Peter, despite his sense of humor, would look too kindly upon that," Daisy commented.

"Yeah," Shelby agreed, sighing dramatically. "Poor little princess would probably have an emotional breakdown. Set her healing back a few years."

"Who would what?" Ezra asked, joining them.

"Do you think Juliette would like a thing of ipecac syrup for Christmas—" Shelby paused to correct herself. "—oh, excuse me—our non-denominational holiday celebration?"

"That's mean," Ezra said quietly. "You can't take advantage of her problems. Last I checked, you had some of your own."

"Oooh, sticking up for Queenie?" Shelby raised her eyebrows at him. "Got a new crush, Freakin'?"

David chose that instant to come bounding into the picture. "Hey girls, lookin' good!" He flung an arm around Daisy's shoulder and nodded to Ezra. "Ezzy, man, can't say the same for you. What's this new crush you have?"

"I don't—" Ezra began indignantly, but he cut himself off, realizing it would likely be more beneficial to not finish that thought.

"Hey guys—smile!" Juliette seemed to have materialized beside them, holding a camera to her eye. David made a goofy face, Daisy deadpanned, and Shelby raised her eyebrows again. Ezra avoided the camera.

Juliette clicked the shutter and jogged off. "Thanks!"

"What was that all about?" Daisy asked.

"Trying to cash in on our film monopoly here at Horizon," Ezra joked, trying to distract Daisy from David by reminding her of the film project they had done together a while ago.

Shrugging, Daisy said, "Whatever floats her happy little sailboat."

David smirked at Ezra's disappointed expression and gave Daisy's shoulder a squeeze before removing his arm. She ignored him. "I just love the holiday season!" he said joyfully. "Don't you guys?"

"Awakens a fervor of merriment in me," Shelby said dryly.

"Every wonderful year," Daisy agreed sarcastically.

"Humbugs, the both of you," Ezra said. "Christmastime is great."

"Riiiight." Shelby sighed. "Any ideas on Juliette, though? Since we've ruled out the ipecac thing."

"Ipecac?" David grinned. He ran off suddenly, but they could hear him laughing. None of them wanted to know what was running through his mind right then.

"You should make something for her," Ezra suggested. "She'd like that."

"Yeah, Freakin', she's really gonna appreciate my lack of artistic talent."

"You know, he's right." Daisy pushed a lock of her dark hair behind an ear as Ezra shot her an grateful look. "Something homemade would probably mean a lot to her. Because she'd know that you spent time on her. That's the kind of thing Juliette likes."

Shelby shook her head unenthusiastically. "Then I suppose I'd better go haunt the arts and crafts room until inspiration strikes me."

"Sounds like a plan," Daisy said. "And if either of you figure out how I can make a basketball, let me know."