Monster High: Christmas Spirits

Monster High is copyright of Mattel

Lagoona and Gil

Lagoona scowled as her foot sank into another pile of snow and sand, causing her to nearly fall over. Gloom Beach would always be her home away from home, but on days with heavy snowfall like this, it was like walking through a freezing cold lake of mud.

She looked at Gil, who walked a few steps ahead of her. "Gil, what are we doing out here? It's freezing."

"I told you." Gil looked back. "I'm gonna give you your Christmas present."

"And we have to plod through here, why? I thought you said we were going to your place to pick it up. I know you don't get to it through here."

"We are, it's just..." Gil stepped back and took her hand in his. "I'll explain when we get there, I promise."

Lagoona didn't reply, instead choosing to squeeze his hand. While it gave her some comfort when he squeezed back, it wasn't much.

Gil had been oddly distant the last couple of months. Sure, they still had dates and enjoyed their time spent together, but lately he'd been more quiet and reserved around her, even more than he usually was. Not to mention how he had been spending more time working at his part time job at the local marina.

She wondered if it had anything to do with the 'magic lamp' incident from last autumn. She cringed at the thought of it. While she had no conscious memory of her time as a freshwater monster, a video of her bizarre, obsessive behavior on FrightTube (which had been entitled Overly Attached Gillfriend and had over 500'000 views, much to her embarrassment.) had shown her the frightening consequences of trying to please Gil's parents. Frankly, she was amazed Gil had decided to stick by her.

They hadn't talked about it, and their relationship had been quite uneventful since then. She hadn't even heard Gil complaining about his parents preventing him from seeing her lately. Which pleased and worried her at the same time. If his parents were backing off, why wasn't he happier about it? There was definitely something weighing on his mind, she just wished he would open up about it.

"We're here." Gil spoke. Lagoona blinked as she looked to where Gil was staring, confused as to why he stopped here.

They stood before a row of small beach huts, simple wooden buildings which could easily fit into her living room at home. They served as simple living areas for tourists and fishermen during the summer. Lagoona could remember going on fishing trips with her father as a child. They would sleep over in a hut like this before fishing the next morning.

"Gil, what are we doing here?" She asked as Gil unlocked the door of the nearest hut. "Aren't we going to your home?"

Gil looked at her with a sheepish expression. He rubbed the back of his helmet. "Well um... right now, this is my home."

"Wha..." Lagoona looked back and forth at him and the tiny house. "What? You're living here?!"

Gil nodded. "It belongs to Dr Clamdestine. You know, our Lost Literature teacher? He uses this place for when he's writing his novels, and he said I could stay here until he gets back from his sabbatical. I've been here for the last month."

"You've been here a month?! Bu... but why are you living here..." Lagoona gasped as it suddenly hit her. "Oh dear Neptune... did your parents kick you out?"

Gil sighed. "More like I kicked myself out."

He beckoned for her to sit on a wooden bench fixed on the hut's porch. He sat next to her, taking a deep breath.

"I know I've been acting weird lately, and I'm sorry for making you worry. It's just that I've been dealing with some problems at home, problems I've been ignoring for a long time."

"And.. this is part of it?" Lagoona indicated the hut.

Gil nodded. "I always thought that my parents didn't like you because you were a seawater. That it was just some ridiculous old prejudice they couldn't let go off like vampires and werewolves. It's why I never really fought back when they prevented me from seeing you. I figured that if I tried to keep them happy and kept defending you, eventually they would break down and realize you were a perfectly normal ghoul and accept you."

He looked out at the inky black lake. "But when you turned into that... person." Lagoona didn't miss the distaste in his voice. "And when I found out that you had wished for my parents to like you, I was horrified."

"I'm sorry.." Lagoona murmured.

"No no, not at you!" Gil waved his hands before her. "None of this was your fault. It was my parents." He then added in a quieter voice, "I couldn't believe that that insane freshwater version of you was the kind of person my parents wanted me to be with. I thought it was just the seawater thing, but to find out that they would rather have me date some emotionless, servile twit than an actual person... and that they imposed that on you, even unconsciously... it made me sick."

He stared at the horizon again. "So I lost it. Some time after I found out about the wish from Gigi, I confronted my parents and gave them both barrels. Every bit of anger and frustration about how they thought I should live my life I've been holding back for years... I let it all out. And a lot of unflattering curse words." He managed a small smile.

"What did they say?" Lagoona asked.

"Well, Mom was actually sympathetic. But Dad told her to be quiet and we got into this huge fight. He gave me the old spiel about the Webber family name and how I shouldn't disgrace it by mingling with the likes of you, and how I would be throwing away my future.. the usual excuses. Finally, I had enough. I grabbed as many things as I could and got out of there. I haven't been back since."

"Oh Gil..." Lagoona grabbed him in a hug. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, really." Gil consoled. "I was planning to move out anyway once I started college. This is just moving things up a little."

"But you shouldn't have to live in a place like this!"

"It's not that bad, honestly. And I'd rather stay here than spend another day putting up with my parents."

"Gil.." Lagoona looked into his eyes. "It's great that you're standing up to your parents, but you shouldn't have to put up with this just because you want to keep seeing me."

"It's not just you I'm doing this for Lagoona." Gil said. "I've been coasting along, letting others make my life decisions for far too long. My studies, my future career... I've always been too willing to just go along with the flow. I want to prove to everyone that I can go it on my own, be my own monster. Even if it means I have to live in a place like this for a while.." He indicated the hut. "At least it will be my choice."

Lagoona looked at him, stunned by the transformation in his expression. Gil had always been mild mannered and compliant, but now there was a fierce confidence in his eyes she had never seen before. She could tell he meant every word he said.

She moved closer and hugged him. "If you're really sure about this, then you've got my full support."

"Thanks, that means a lot." Gil smiled.

He took her hand and led her toward the door. "So, let me give you the tour."

He took her inside the hut. It was a small room, with a fold-out couch and laptop set up in one corner, a large dresser in the other and a small kitchen area in the back.

"Well, it's cosy." She spoke encouragingly.

"You don't have to lie, I know it's not impressive.."

"No, it's nice, really." She smiled. "And hey, at least you have some privacy now."

"True.." He nodded. "Which brings me to your present..."

She'd forgotten that was the reason he'd brought her out in the first place. She watched as he moved to the dresser and pulled open one of the shelves.

"Take a look."

She peered inside the drawer, and gasped as she saw what rested inside. A stunning pearl necklace with a topaz gem set in it.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" She picked it up gently.

"That's only part of my gift." Gil spoke.

"What's the other part?"

"Well... the drawer."

"Huh?" She looked at Gil curiously.

"This drawer, it's yours. If you want to stay over, or just have a few things nearby in case you visit, you can keep them safe in there." Gil suddenly looked bashful, rubbing the back of his helmet. "I mean, if you want to. I understand if you don't want to visit, it's not exactly..."

He stopped when Lagoona hugged him tightly.

"No, it's perfect! Of course I want to stay over!" She felt elated. He had offered to make his new home as much hers as it was his... after months of sneaking around, they finally had a place to call their own...

She definitely needed to repay him for this. And since her gift to him was still wrapped up at her place...

She looked at at him, a sly grin on her face. "This place has a bathroom, right?"

"Sure.." Gil pulled away and moved to open a door at the back of the room, revealing a tiny tiled bathroom. "It's pretty much just a shower and toilet.."

Before he could react, he was shoved against the wall of the shower. Lagoona reached up and yanked off his helmet, spilling the water within all over them.

Gil's eyes were wide. "Whoa, Lagoona! What are you.."

She silenced him with a kiss on her lips. "Since you're letting me stay here, I think it's only fair that I get used to the place... and stay the night."

He blinked rapidly as he realized the meaning of her words. "Whoa.. are.. are you sure?"

She pressed herself against him. "Do you want me to leave?" She asked, voice husky.

He chuckled. "Hell no."

They kissed again, much more passionately this time. As she fumbled to pull off his clothes, he managed to turn the shower on, sending a stream of warm water over them.

Later on, he would agree that it was the best housewarming gift he'd ever received.

END