Chapter 1: Decorating
Max POV:
I hummed along with my iPod as I wrapped red tinsel around our tree. The tree wasn't big, only about seven feet tall, but it was perfect. We would get together later and put the ornaments on. I twisted the last little bit of tinsel around a branch at the base of the tree and stood back to survey my work.
Fang and I were in charge of decorating the inside of the house. The rest of the Flock were doing the outside, under Mom's supervision. Now, I know you probably think putting up lights and such would draw too much attention to the house, but it was actually the opposite. We looked more like an innocent, happy family in our ski home with festive lights and wreaths coating our house.
"Perfect," I said proudly. I felt a pair of strong arms slide around my waist. I turned and kissed him.
Fang pulled away. "I'm done too," he said. I looked around. Each doorway was lined with garland, and the entrance to the hall had a clump of mistletoe hanging above it.
"Mistletoe?" I asked.
Fang nodded. "Mm-hmm. I won't tell you were I put the other ones though," he winked.
I stepped closer and slid my hands up his chest and around his neck. "I hope we can make good use of them later," I whispered. We had just started a passionate kiss when we heard a crash from out side. I sighed and we went to see what had happened.
"It's your fault!" Nudge yelled as we ran around the side of the house.
"Is not!" Gazzy shot back. Nudge was sitting in the snow, a huge wreath around her shoulders and a scowl on her face. The ladder was laying beside her.
"What happened?" I sighed. Iggy, Angel, and Ella went back to decorating. Mom watched us.
"Gazzy was supposed to be holding the ladder for me but he turned to talk to Iggy so I fell. You should hang him upside down by the ankles or-," Nudge started angrily.
"Okay, okay," I said. "Look, are you hurt?" Nudge shook her head. "Then there's no harm done. Fang, will you hold the ladder instead?"
Nudge looked pleased with this arrangement. She picked up the wreath and headed back up the ladder. Fang looked at me out of the side of his eyes. I shivered. "Aren't you cold?" I asked. We hadn't had time to properly bundle up before coming outside. Fang shrugged.
"Wagh!" Nudge lost her grip and fell from the ladder as she climbed down.
"Oh geez," Fang quickly moved and grabbed her before she hit the ground.
Nudge landed haphazardly in his arms with an oof. "Gosh, that ice is slippery. Thanks Fang. I, like, could have died 'cuz my foot slipped while I was coming down and I didn't have time to snap my wings out so I might have just hit the ground and-" Fang set her feet down and took his hand off of her mouth. Nudge's face had turned red.
"Done!" Ella called triumphantly. I smiled.
"Alright, then I guess it's time for some hot cocoa," Mom had barely finished speaking before the Flock, minus me and Fang, had rushed inside. Mom laughed softly and followed them.
Fang slid his jacket off and wrapped it around my shaking shoulders. I looked at him to protest, but he just put one arm around me and took me inside. By the time we had reached the kitchen, his jacket was back on his shoulders and his arms were at his sides. Mom was boiling water on the stove and the Flock was arguing about something stupid, minus Iggy, who was getting out mugs for my mom.
After we had our hot chocolate, Mom started to cook dinner. Fang had pulled our box of ornaments out of the garage, which was used only for storage. Every year we would do an ornament exchange. Everybody drew a name out of a hat and bought an ornament for that person. My favorite was the one Fang had gotten me two years ago, a pickle with wings and sunglasses. It was so random that I couldn't resist loving it. We had also bought some ornament sets to fill up the tree.
Many of our ornaments were Smores, you know, those little ornaments that look like marshmallow snowmen? They came in so many varieties that is was easy to find them for each other. Angel was hanging one that looked like an angel when Mom called us for dinner.
We were halfway done with our chicken when we heard a crash from the living room. "Oh no! The tree!" Angel cried.
We hurried into the living room to see our tree laying on it's side, ornaments rolling all over the floor. "What happened?" Ella asked.
"It was probably just unbalanced," I said. "Come on, let's clean it up."
Gazzy brought me a broom to sweep up the broken glass while Fang and Iggy stood the tree back up. Angel and Nudge picked up all of the surviving ornaments that had fallen off. The tinsel was messed up, but the lights and about two-thirds of the ornaments were fine. Only five or so ornaments had broken, so there was really no harm done.
After we cleaned up the tree, we finished eating. "We should sing a Christmas carol before bed," Nudge suggested.
"Um, no. I already can't see, I don't need Max's voice ruining my ears too," Iggy said. I smacked him. I agreed though. I definitely didn't want to sing.
Sadly, Mom overruled me and made us sing Jingle bells before bed. That was a disaster. First of all, Fang and I weren't actually singing. No way. Then Nudge and Gazzy got in a fight about the lyrics, and Iggy started wailing the song in an opera-style voice. Mom gave up and sent us all to bed.
Fang stopped me. We were alone in the hallway. He gave me a warm kiss and whispered goodnight. I had a stupid grin on my face as I pulled on my pajamas. I love Christmas.
Yeah, well, that was filler crap, but whatever. I need a few chapters before I can start a conflict. The inspiration for that last part came from my tree, which fell over yesterday. But we fixed it. :)