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 5: Augusto Ciceros

[DAVID]

Auggie had no problem with Secret Santas. Really, he didn't. But he had a problem with David. The other boy was, quite simply, a jerk. And for that reason, Auggie was not finding it easy to figure out what to get for him.

He thought about it off and on for a day or so, always mindful of the looming due date for the project. But every time he had a minor run in with David, he would have even more trouble deciding on a gift.

One snowy Wednesday, Auggie awoke to hear a noisy verbal argument between Scott and David, both of whom looked as though they had just gotten up—tousle-haired and pajama-clad. Apparently, from what Auggie could discern, David had put some kind of small woodland animal into Scott's bed in the middle of the night, and Scott had not appreciated it. Auggie groaned tiredly, his mind racing through a litany of practical jokes to which David had subjected his fellow Cliffhangers over the time he had been at Horizon.

"Cut it out, you guys!" Ezra exclaimed, coming out of the bathroom showered and fully dressed. "I don't think you want Peter coming in here."

"Yeah," Auggie agreed, sitting up, but not leaving his warm bed. "He don't appreciate fights, especially not in the morning. And I don't think you want to start out the day on KP."

David made a face at Scott, who maturely made a face back, grabbed his clothes, and retreated to the bathroom. Auggie tried desperately to conjure up enough motivation to get out of bed. It was going to be one of those days.

At breakfast, the Cliffhangers gathered around their usual table. Auggie watched David carefully pour his glass of orange juice into the container of honey before shoving it back into the middle of the table and starting in on his bowl of oatmeal. Auggie decided to skip the honey that morning. Did David ever quit?

Sophie came over to their table. "Morning, gang." There were a few mumbled greetings. "I wanted to give you a heads up. We're going to be learning about how to build protective shelters this morning, so wear coats."

"But it's so cold out there," Juliette whined.

"Afraid your royal crown will freeze?" Shelby asked.

"Shut up, Shelby!" Juliette shot her a hurt look.

"Juliette has a point, you know," Ezra said diplomatically. "It is awfully snowy out there."

"It's going to be hard to have a hands-on snowstorm survival lesson without snow, Ezra," Sophie replied. "So we aren't going to put this one off. See you all out in front of the main lodge in thirty minutes."

As she started to walk off, Auggie jumped up and followed her. "Sophie? Can I ask you something?"

She stopped and turned. "What's on your mind, Auggie?"

"Secret Santas."

Back at the table, as Kat was wedging herself between the bickering Shelby and Juliette, Ezra demanded, "What the heck is wrong with this honey?"

Auggie stifled a laugh, and Sophie looked at the Cliffhangers strangely before turning back to Auggie. "Having trouble deciding what to give to the person you drew?"

"Weeeell…" Auggie hesitated. He didn't want to give up, but he was feeling kind of stuck. "Does the gift have to be serious?"

"Serious?" Sophie asked. She thought for a second, obviously running through every potentially hazardous situation that could possibly result from her reply. "No, it doesn't."

"Really?"

"Just has to be appropriate, Auggie. Nothing that you wouldn't feel comfortable giving to someone in front of Peter and me."

"Okay." Auggie nodded. "That makes sense."

"And it has to be meaningful," she continued. "You have to think about this assignment."

"So it's gotta be something that means something to him, coming from me?" Auggie asked. He snorted. "That's not the easiest thing."

"I don't know who you have, Aug," Sophie said. "But I have a pretty good idea now. Stay appropriate, but seriousness is not a necessity. Got it?"

"Yeah. Thanks Sophie."

"Anytime," she said, then gestured at the Cliffhangers' table. "You might want to get back to your breakfast. The oatmeal's probably getting cold." As he turned to go back, she added, "And tell David that orange juice and honey are to be kept separate."

He laughed and returned to the table, wondering, not for the first time, if Sophie Becker didn't have eyes in the back of her head. At any rate, she was incredibly perceptive, and he now had an idea of what to give David.