A big thank you to Uncle Meat for going through this story and editing out all my stupidities and putting in the good things.
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"Get. Set. Aaaand... GO!"
People scurried off in different directions, looking for the gifts hidden around the house.
Kelly leisurely downed the last of her drink, and only then did she stroll away. The host was beginning to give her polite, interested looks. Well, she could
pretend
to join the treasure hunt even if she couldn't cook up much enthusiasm for the childish game.
She shouldn't have come to this party anyway. She had a deadline for a magazine article on Monday, and all this time she was wasting could be put into that article. The editor would gladly chew her head off if she was late this time. Amy, her roommate, had dragged her here under the assumption that she would enjoy a little fun and cheer on Christmas Eve, especially as she had been moping around the apartment since Alex dumped her.
Kelly stumbled going up the stairs. God! These high heels were killing her. No idea why she allowed Amy to talk her into wearing them. She wasn't used to them. And the stupid red skirt. It was so short that it was almost indecent. Well okay, other people her age had been wearing the same thing, but she was not really comfortable in clothes that didn't do a good job of covering her. She promised herself that she would stay another half hour and then she could leave without causing offence.
Up the stairs and she came to a little terrace that was barred by a door with fancy metal work. Unlike the rest of the house, it was
not
lighted like a bloody Christmas tree. She took the absence of lights and the barred door to mean that the guests weren't supposed to go there, so she promptly opened the door and entered. At least she would be alone.
Closing the door quietly behind her, Kelly wandered onto the dark terrace. As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she saw a long settee in the far corner. She walked over to it and flopped down. Very comfortable. She massaged her aching back and kicked off the heels, lying down contentedly.
A few minutes later she turned onto her side to get into her usual position of knees tucked up to her chin, when her eyes caught something glittering in the other corner. She stared for a minute at the place, wondering whether she had been mistaken. No. There it was again. Kelly debated whether to get up from the comfortable spot and prod into what was there or just let it be, but curiosity won. Slipping her feet into those blasted heels, she made her way over to it.
Oh No! It was a present. The very thing she had tried to get out of. She fumed for a bit on her rotten luck and wondered whether to pretend she had never seen it. But, well, curiosity prompted, and she got down to opening the damn thing.
It was quite large, almost up to her waist. It was wrapped in shiny paper; that was what had glinted at her. She picked at the cello tape with her nails, but got frustrated with the time it was taking and tore open the wrapping. A box inside with a vertical opening on the side facing her. Kelly laid the box down on its side and opened it.
"About time, really. I swear I was going to suffocate in there."
Kelly jumped back. A little chocolate-coloured arm poked out of the box and then a little... something... got out. Kelly thought about backing away a little more. If only her legs would obey her. The Thing looked around and spied Kelly. Then It gave her the sweetest smile ever. Without thinking too much, Kelly smiled back.
This probably encouraged the little thing because it started to speak in a child-like voice. "Hi. I'm an elf. You know, those things that help Santa with the presents and everything? And it's such a tiresome job too." It looked a little sad. "That's why I decided to do this," It whispered, bowing Its head.
"Do what?" Kelly asked.
It looked at her. "Well, run away," It mumbled. "I wrapped myself up in this box – I should have used a bigger one now that I come to think of it - and how I got here is a long story better left untold."
Kelly was quiet. She didn't know what to say. She tried to remember how much she had to drink.
"I'm Fabian."
It was looking up at her shyly and one little hand was offered to her. She took it and shook it.
"Are dwarfs called Fabian? I mean, don't they have cuter names? Like Pookie and Cuddles and things like that?"
It looked offended. "I'm not a dwarf," it shot out indignantly. "I'm an elf. Elves are different. Dwarfs are... well, dwarfs. And what's wrong with being called Fabian?"
"Err... nothing. Nothing, of course. It's just that it's a kind of a grown up name."
"Well, I'm grown up too." Fabian pulled himself up to his full height. Which was about half of Kelly's.
"Yes. I can see that." Kelly was having a hard time believing this. But what the hell? She would play along. "So, umm... there's Santa Claus?" she asked.
Fabian glanced to his left and right with horror. "Where?" he squeaked.
"Oh no. Not here. I mean, does he exist?"
She could see that she had offended him again. "Of course he does. Do you actually think the things you were told as a kid were untrue? I wonder why all you grown-ups have to deny his existence. I think it's got something to do with power and control. You don't like anything magical. You like to think you're the boss. The ones who can buy presents and give them to people and hog all the love and affection from them. Why can't somebody else do the same? What do you have against Claus anyway?"
Fabian stood glaring at her. He seemed to be waiting for an answer.
"Well, I don't know. I hadn't thought about it much. I guess he could exist but then everybody says..." she trailed off.
The only response was a disparaging 'Humph'.
