Jenna opened her dark eyes into the opening dawn. Four days now remained for Christmas shopping, and she had to get her present for Garet. She yawned lightly and sat forward in her bed, rubbing her eyes gently.

"Morning, Jenna." Mia's voice sounded quietly. You're up early.

"Hi, Mia. I guess I am an early riser this morning. I think it's because I have shopping on the mind right now." Mia smiled.

"Your secret Santa?"

"Yes. I've got to figure out what to get."

"I'd offer to help, but it's a possibility you drew me." Mia stated. "So, I can't help you, Jenna. Sorry."

"It's not a problem, Mia. By the way, where's Sheba?"

"I don't know. I think she got up even earlier than us; her bed's empty."

"Shopping, perhaps?"

"It's likely. Who knows who she got. It would be funny if she drew Ivan. I can only imagine what she'd get him."

"Probably something sappy." Jenna smiled. "Everyone knows how much of a crush she has on him."

"Like the crushes we have on our boys, right, Jenna?"

"Crushes nothing." Jenna smiled. "You know how much you love Isaac, and I know how much I love that big, good-for-nothing Garet."

"You two have a real love-hate relationship, don't you?"

"No. I just enjoy frustrating the big lug. He's so much fun to mess with, you know."

"Well, I don't know that. I just know how I feel about Isaac, and that's enough for me."

"You and Isaac are hopeless together. It's like. . . I don't know. Like Cupid decided to go rapid fire on you two."

"Maybe he did." Mia smiled. "Well, you might want to get going. Who knows how long it will take you to find a present for your person."

"It shouldn't take me too long." Jenna smiled. "I have exactly what my secret Santa needs in mind." The Mars Adept departed the room after getting changed. She descended the stairs and exited the inn with a quick pace. She stepped into the cold December air of Fenten City; the snow beneath her feet crunched as she walked carefully down the street. This place was too much like Imil; Jenna hated the snow. That is, except at Christmas time. She felt it was appropriate for the Christmas season to be white, but as soon as the joyous holiday came to a close, she wanted nothing more to see grass for the rest of the year. She shoved off in the direction of the town's bustling 'shopping district.' The couple streets- wide district had a store for just about everything, but the first place Jenna decided to go was supply store. She walked in, and quickly waited in line behind an old man who was talking with the clerk behind the counter.

"What do you mean, you don't have my teeth?!" The old man shouted, angry about something.

"Sir, this is a supply store, not the dentist's office. he's the one who has your dentures. Try going down the street."

"I came here to get me teeth, and I'm not leaving until I get me teeth!"

"But sir. . ."

"No buts, sonny! I wants me teeth!"

"Sir. . ." The clerk begged. Jenna sighed lightly and began to tap her foot impatiently. "You're holding up a line."

"Line?" He asked, turning to see Jenna standing behind him. "You call this a line?! In my day, lines were ten times as long and people had to wait ten times longer! I tell you, kids today have no respect for their elders! Now, gimmie my TEETH, youngun!"

"Sir, for the last time, I don't HAVE your teeth!"

"Excuse me, sir. The clerk is right, I don't think he has your teeth." Jenna stated. The old man turned, and looked Jenna in the eye, then studied her for a moment.

"WOW! You're a knockout!" The old man exclaimed. Jenna jumped backward a foot on the saying. Jenna frowned, and promptly slugged the old man out of reaction. He fell to the ground unconscious, but still having a big grin on his face.

"How's that for a knockout, you old pervert?!" Jenna shouted, red in the face. She paused as she realized the shopkeeper was staring at her in awe. "Uh, sorry." Jenna chuckled, highly embarrassed.

"Don't be. Old Gil was getting on my nerves anyway." The shopkeeper stated. "What can I do for you today, miss?"

"Can you sell me a bag of charcoal?"

"Surly." The man said, reaching under the counter, producing a bag of the black rocks. "May I ask what you intend to cook with it?"

"Cook? Oh nothing. I'm giving it to my boyfriend for Christmas. He's going to get a kick out of it."

"Ooh, has he been bad?"

"No, not in that sense. . . he's just been. . . well, himself." Jenna smiled.

"Ah. Okay. That'll be twenty coins, please."

"No problem." Jenna smiled, handing over the money and taking the bag. "Thank you very much for your help, sir."

"My pleasure, and thank you for knocking out crazy old Gil here."

"Someone say my name?!" The old man shouted, sitting up straight.

"Gil, you may want to go back to the happy place you were in after this young lady hit you, or you may end up seeing nothing but black and blue for awhile."

"Shucks, you know she wants me."

"I do NOT!" Jenna shouted, smacking the man upside the head with the bag of charcoal briquettes. Gil promptly passed out once more, and Jenna left the store in a bit of a huff.

Well, Jenna knew that could've gone better, but she had to admit that she was justified in using her senseless violence on the old man. Now she was in possession of Garet's joke gift, but what could she get him for a serious present? Garet never complained about anything except the amount of food he got or what kind of weather was going outside. He was going to be quite tough to buy for, but she figured a quick browse up the shopping district might get her a decent idea. She shuffled through the snowy streets, browsing through shop windows, trying to discern what Garet might want. She knew he wouldn't want anything impractical; he was much like Isaac in wanting to cut down on unnecessary items that might get in the way. Even though the coal was a joke, the blackened stones still had a purpose that they could fulfill, but stuff like foot massagers and other goofy items didn't. Garet didn't care for reading, either. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy a good book, it's just he never really had time to read. Even when he did have time, he'd usually spend the time sleeping or practicing his fighting techniques.

Anything that was food certainly wouldn't go to waste, but Garet would have whatever food item it was gone before noon of Christmas Day. Jenna sighed as she walked by another shop, where something caught her eye. She spun, and saw a nice set of leather boots in the window. They looked especially high-quality and even though her feet weren't nearly the size of Garet's, they looked very comfortable. She smiled, realizing Garet's boots had recently been worse for the wear, so she quickly stepped into the shop and secured the boots from the window. They looked much like Garet's large shoe size, so she took them up to the clerk-less counter and sat the shoes on top. She stood, tapping her foot impatiently for a clerk to show up; eventually, she sighed and looked at the boots again.

They were a lighter brown leather than Garet's older boots, but they'd still look good with his outfit. Again, they were massive in size, but they'd fit Garet's enormous feet perfectly. Jenna smiled warmly. She knew the big lug would love the new footwear; best of all, she didn't have to say she got them for him. It could be her little secret if she wanted it to be, but she could easily tell him if she wanted to. Jenna frowned as she turned back to waiting for the clerk.

"Excuse me? Um, I'd like to make a purchase. . ." She called lightly.

"What?!" A voice shouted from the back room.

"I'd like to buy this pair of boots!"

"What?!"

"You know! Use money! Buy Boots!"

"What?!"

"Invest in capitalism!"

"What?!"

"Yargh!" Jenna shouted in frustration in frustration, banging her head against the counter in front of her. She turned as she heard the front door open.

"Oh, did you want to buy those?" The man who walked in asked. "I'm sorry, I was running late this morning." He said, walking behind the counter. "Ah, those boots. They're a fine choice. They're excellent boots for any season."

"They look nice. How much do I owe you?"

"Eighty coins." Jenna handed over the money.

"By the way, who's the person in the back room who can't hear anything?"

"Oh, that's Joe. He's not too bright."

"What?!"

"See what I mean?"

"I do. Thank you sir." Jenna sighed, taking the boots and leaving the shop. The only way things really could get worse is if she ran into Garet doing his shopping. Go figure she heard the big oaf's booming voice coming down the street. Jenna caught eye of him and Isaac speaking, and Isaac seemed to be laughing his head off at something he was saying.

"It's a good thing that problem cleared up, isn't it, Garet?!" Isaac was saying between laughs.

"Shut up, Isaac! You know it happened to you too!"

"Yeah, but it's funnier with you." Isaac gasped out. Jenna gasped as she dashed back into the boot store.

"Quick! Hide me!" Jenna told the shopkeeper.

"What?!" Joe yelled.

"My boyfriend's coming and I don't want him to see me!"

"Fine, get behind the counter!" The shopkeeper said. "Duck behind the counter." Jenna did as ordered, and just as Garet walked into the store.

"Hang on, Isaac. I want to look at some boots. . . boots make good gifts."

"Yeah, I think I'll look myself." Isaac stated, not giving any indication who his person to gift was. Isaac browsed through the shelves of boots along with Garet.

"So, do you think you know who your secret Santa is, Garet?"

"Not a bloody clue. For all I know, you could be it."

"Yeah, or it could be you."

"Very droll, Isaac." Garet retorted.

"Droll? You actually used an uncommon word! I think that's the third sign of the apocalypse."

"Shut up, Isaac." Garet sighed. "You're full of it today, you know that, right? What'd you put in your coffee this morning?"

"Didn't have any, and you know it. I think it's just the Christmas spirit, Garet. Why don't you let it get to you?"

"I think the eggnog's been getting to YOU, Isaac."

"I don't even like eggnog!"

"Can I help you gentlemen?" The shopkeeper asked.

"No, we're just looking." Garet replied. "Thank you, though."

"What?!"

"Who was that?" Isaac asked, puzzled.

"Just my idiotic assistant, Joe. Ignore him." The Adepts shrugged, and continued browsing the store for about twenty minutes before finally leaving with a list of possible boots to get for the people they were buying for. Of course, Isaac's list was completely bogus, and Garet's was far from true as well, but he did make sure to make note of a pair of dark boots for Felix.

"Okay, they're gone now, you can come out." The shopkeeper told Jenna.

"Thanks. I owe you one."

"If you don't mind my asking, which one was your boyfriend?"

"The bigger one with the red spiky hair. His name is Garet. . . he's a really good guy."

"The kid with him seemed a little crazy."

"Isaac? Normally he's the most serious one among the lot of my friends. I think it's like he said: The Christmas spirit has gotten to him. Thanks again. Garet will really love these boots."

"No problem. Have a great holiday, miss."

"I will. You have a great holiday too." Jenna smiled. "Thanks, I will."

"Merry Christmas!" Joe shouted from the back room.

"Oh, he can actually say something other than 'What?!'!" Jenna laughed, on her way out of the store.

"What?!"