I turn my head away, continuing to look at the factory. I feel Bernard's warm hand gently grab my wrist and turn over my hands. I look up at him with furrowed eyebrows in confusion.
He glances up catching my stare and he gives me a side smile removing his hands from mine. I leave my hands in place as he reaches up to his necklace, he unhooks one of his bells. Realizing what he's doing I remove my hands from their place and put them on his hands as he holds the bell.
"Y-you shouldn't reall-" He cuts me off from protesting and grabs my hand. "Aria, it's okay don't fret." He laughs and reopens my right hand placing the bell in it. "This should help with that habit of yours." He continues pointing down at my hand
I look down at the golden bell in my palm giving it a small shake quietly ringing it. "Thank you, Bernard." I say gratefully, looking from the bell I smile up at him still confused "But what habit?" I question.
"Wringing your hands? I know a stressed person when I see one and you certainly are." He says mimicking what I was doing with my hands before removing his green hat from his head and holding it in his hands.
"I didn't even realize I was doing that." I laugh shaking my head "I suppose you're right. I mean look!" I grab onto the golden railing helping myself stand up from the step. I throw my hands out "Santa's freaking workshop, I mean this is crazier than the seventies!" I loudly say moving my hair out of my face.
I hear the jingle of Bernard standing up beside me. "Yes it is quite magical I suppose…" He trails off. "Eventually you'll learn to get used to it, I can imagine it's a lot to take in." He stares off looking at the factory in concentration swinging his arms at his side.
"Eventually? You mean…I can stay here?" I whip my head to the side to find he's already looking at me. I feel my cheeks heat up and I clear my throat awkwardly.
He grins "Well I don't see why not?" I jump slightly in excitement "Oh my god really I-" I stop and look down and cover my mouth with my hand. "I can't" I pout slouching against the stair's railing making the bell in my hand jingle softly.
"Why not?" he questions. I throw my hands up looking at him sadly. "I still have school, friends...you know boring stuff… responsibilities" I groan throwing my hands over my face "How could I stay here?"
Bernard makes a sound of disapproval "Aria, there's no pressure. You always have the choice to stay here after you graduate!" He beams smiling with his hands on his hips. "Really?" I question softly shyly looking at him. "Really." he confirms. I nod my head slowly in acknowledgment.
An awkward silence comes over us. The only sound is the bell in my hand moving as I swing my arms behind and in front of me. Bernard fiddles with his hat in his hands looking down. Staring into space I imagine how life would be like here. Endless food supply check, living with people my height check, no life long student debt check. Sounds good enough to me. I giggle quietly with excitement at the idea of living here.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bernard lift up his head at the sound of my laugh. "Would you like to go get something in the kitchen? I think I make better hot chocolate than Judy if I do say so myself." He laughs pointing upstairs in the direction of the kitchen.
I give him a sly smile "Oh yeah?" I give him a pointed look "I challenge you to that then." I laugh walking up the steps closer to him. He throws his hat back on his head "I'll win. Now shall we?" He tilts his head towards the top of the stairs.
"We shall" I confirm smiling and start following him upstairs. When we reach the top he grabs my wrist and guides me the rest of the way.
I let out a laugh that sounds like a seal. "No way! Stop! Stop! My stomach hurts! I can't stop!" I nearly fall out of the green chair in the kitchen, almost spilling my hot chocolate.
Bernard trying to hold himself together reaches across the table in a fit of laughter to grab a hold of my drink. The bells on his necklace made more sound than usual. His cheeks were more rosy than normal from laughing. "Okay okay! You're gonna burn yourself Aria!" he says through laughter.
He leans back in the chair trying to control his breathing and I do the same. I grab onto the table to lift myself back up into the chair with small giggles still slipping out.
"I don't know why that was so funny." I giggle looking up at Bernard across the table with a huge smile. He leans forward with the same big smile with his arms on the table "How was I supposed to know to lock Dasher's pin? It's not my fault he escaped and got stuck in the tinsel!" He laughs.
"That was the funniest story I have ever heard Bernard!" I say biting into my third sugar cookie. He smiles and nervously rubs the back of his neck. We become quiet again but it's comfortable. I play with the edge of the table's snowflake designs realizing how tired I was.
"We should probably get you to bed. I can only imagine how tired you are." Bernard insists gently. "But what about you? Aren't you tired?" I question.
He shrugs his shoulders before rising up and grabbing our plates and mugs. "I'm used to staying up late. Kind of a package deal with being the head elf." He says placing them in the sink and walks over to me.
I push my chair away from the table "Sounds terrible." I state groggy slowly getting up from my chair and pushing it in. "Let's go Aria, you look like Sandman." He says ignoring what I said.
I tilt my head at him in confusion "Sandman?" I question. "A story for another time perhaps?" he gestures "Come on now." He grabs onto my wrist and starts walking me back to my room in silence. The only sound is our footsteps and the bells on his neck.
When we reach my room, we both stand outside my door not saying anything. I step closer to him and watch his posture straighten when he sees me closer now slightly looking up at him. Damn my short frame, "Bernard?" I whisper trailing off. "Aria?" He replies just as quiet.
I give him a half smile and close the distance between us. I give him a hug. I feel his body tense up before somewhat returning the hug. I feel him rest his head on top of mine before releasing a deep breath. His striped sweater is soft against my cheek. "Thank you, Bernard." I say pulling out of the hug.
I see that his face is bright red "R-right of course Aria." He stutters. I grab onto the golden doorknob still looking at him and twist open my door. Finally looking away from him I step into my room and turn around to see him still there looking at me with his hands behind his back.
"Goodnight Bernard." I say gently starting to close the door. "Go-odnight Aria." He stutters again. I giggle before shutting the door completely.
Turning around I shut off the light and walk to my bed, pulling back the covers and jumping in. I hear the soft sound of a bell as I pull the red sheets over me. I smile and reach into my pocket pulling it out. Sinking into bed and getting comfortable I grin at the bell.
Bernard is more fun than I thought. He already felt like a best friend. I giggle at all the times his face turned red throughout the night. Adorable. It was odd seeing him so relaxed. He was so… tense today.
I turn over to the right and gently place the bell on my nightstand. Closing my eyes I fall into a deep dream filled sleep.
Authors Note
Hey guys I'm so sorry I haven't been updating fast. I moved into college so things are a bit hectic.
I'll hopefully be updating on a more regular schedule from now on. :)