you remind me of the babe

“Oh, I’m sure me ripping my tights in all the wrong places would give them a Christmas they’ll never forget!” Cole joked, making sure to look at her forehead and her forehead only. Yeah, he believed the importance of eye-contact too, but with Cammie it was like baring your soul to the abyss. A very bright, sunny and bubbly abyss. Thank God, she was so short. “Are you volunteering anywhere?”

Cammie lets out a hearty giggle at his words. “We could always say it’s a surprise Hulk re-enactment. You know, really tap into that Avengers and Marvel hype going on nowadays,” she says in hopes of making Cole feel better about that possibility. “Yup-si-doo, sir. You’re looking at one of the handful of people with the power to judge creations of snow at this here Christmas Market. It’s going pretty well so far. If you ignore Carson’s very sad attempts at snow people. But some real Michaelangelos are out there. Or maybe Michaelangelo-Picasso hybrids. A lot of the work of the younger ones are a little... abstract.” She says ‘abstract’ because she doesn’t want to call their work ‘ugly’. It’s... thought-provoking. There you go, that’s a good word for it. “I’m going to take a wild guess and say you didn’t know you’d be wearing tights signing on to this.”

She put the money away, handing over the donut to Camden. “Oh, of course! Is that where you’re stationed? You must be so cold.” She glanced around, looking to see if anyone else was around, wanting a break from the stand. “If I can get away for a few minutes, I’ll definitely stop by. I’m no artist, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see what people were coming up with. Anything good so far?”

Leaning in, she reveals to Violet in a hushed tone, "Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve been drinking a lot of water solely for the excuse of going to the bathroom where it’s warm.” And with a giggle, she leans away again, an easy smile on her lips. “Oh, it’s a party and a half. I recommend jumping in sooner than later though because a lot of people seem to be going in because it’s getting so cold.” Even Cammie, a judge, is in here for some relief from the weather. “I mean, there are some standouts. It depends on what you’re looking for. We’ve had some adorable traditional snow people. But one kid tried to make a ‘lying down snowman’ because they weren’t so tall and I’m not trying to be crude but it definitely just looked like a penis. Two balls for legs and he said the body had to be long because the snowman was half hot-dog. I mean, he could have been playing us but innocent until proven guilty, so he got a prize anyway. I may have taken a selfie with it before telling the kid he could jump on it for an extra prize.” Saved Cammie several awkward conversations with concerned parents.

“Well, you know what they say – if you keep saving things for later, later will never come,” Violet laughed in return. “Awesome – all you need is one. They’re phenomenal. I’m surprised I haven’t eaten all of them, honestly. But that’s a good plan. Seriously. Come back and tell me how everything is, okay?”

Cammie hands over some money for that incredibly gorgeous lone sufganiyot. As much as she wants more than one, she’ll have to restrain herself till the end of the day. “Will do, Vi. If you get a break and are feeling artistic, come find me outside by the attempted snow people. I’ll be lenient judge,” she tells her with a wink.

“Those kids will cheer for everything they can recognize. I’m the same way. If someone sings a song from my childhood, I’ll love them instantly.” He stops to think as to what his goal was for him snowman as it was obviously not winning. “Uh… Not have it look like a pile of mashed potatoes when it’s done and hope that someone comes in with a magic top hat, so the coming to life and talking can distract people from how ugly it looks?”

"So you’re saying if I hit you with like, The Flintstones opening theme song, I’d have a new member in my fan club?” She teases. Nothing screams childhood to her like Cartoon Network and all of their older shows. “That’s some game plan. I really love the duality of it all. Like realistically accepting that your snowman will look like a popular Thanksgiving side dish, but unrealistically hoping some magic person with a hat comes in and saves the whole thing. Love that. Complex. If anything, you should give yourself a prize for being so creative.”

If he could go back in time to kick his past self for volunteering, he would. Cole pulled down the tights that were riding up his ass, or tried to, at least. It was the biggest elf outfit available, but it couldn’t fit him. And he was supposed to wear this for eight hours? Cole groaned. If only he had signed up for firewood cutting. He could’ve gotten a workout out of that. This was just embarrassing. He peeked past the false wall of Santa’s Workshop and winced. There were so many people in line. He would never live this down. “Who ever heard of a 6′ 3″ tall elf anyway?”

"I think it mixes it up,” Cammie chimes in positively. “I mean, who can say they have a 6′3″ tall elf in their village? Not most people, that’s who. Northlake’s giving people a run for their money.” She gives him a playful nudge. “Don’t be nervous, Cole. You’ll do great! Just remember it’s for Santa. And the children. You wouldn’t want to give kids a crappy Christmas season would you?”

“I know the Hebrew is scary, but they’re just jelly donuts. Delicious, home-made jelly donuts. Trust me, it’s the hardest thing in the world working this stand without eating all of them myself. Can I get you one?”

“I mean, I was planning on saving this for later so I have incentive to stay in the snow and watch kids make snow people, but you know what, one donut won’t hurt.” Cammie giggles. “Hit me with a donut. But just one. That way I have the strength to carry on outside and then come back in for more later.”

She’s really enthusiastic and excited. It’s kind of cute - but on the other hand, they are just cookies. “Yeah, um…that’s called being stale, I think.” She chuckled with a shake of her head. “I think Bobby might need some therapy for his sad gingerbread houses. Like, let it go, man. It’s supposed to be edible. Some people like chipping their teeth on their food, but most people don’t.” It was nice to see someone with such a seemingly good-natured relationship with their stepfather, but there wasn’t much Naomi could add besides cookie preferences. Finally, to her relief, Camden seemed to take a breath and move onto another topic. “Christmas Market with my uncle, I guess. He’s selling books. He thinks nothing is more Christmas-sy than drinking hot chocolate, reading a book while it’s snowing. Then the year is over…and hopefully next year is better.” For her and for this town. “What about you? Besides making the best gingerbread house in town, of course.”

"Oh, books! That’s super cute,” Cammie chimes in with a bright smile. “I’ll have to pass by then. Pick up something for my mom. Big reader. And maybe my dad. He claims to love to read but I swear he just likes to use it to decorate the apartment and make us look cultured.” She giggles. But books did look great as decor -- their actual purpose aside. “I’ve always been more of a Christmas movies and chill kind of girl, but I can totally appreciate what you mean. Books and hot cocoa sounds like a great aesthetic.” And probably better to take Instagram photos of. “Aww, you’re so sweet.” Cammie’s vacant hand come to touch the girl on the arm kindly before launching into her answer, “I actually think we’re staying in town. We thought about heading out to the cabin but with the... you know, thing that happened recently, my parents -- all three--” She clarifies with a silly roll of her eyes. “--don’t think it’s too great an idea. I’m fine with it though. Christmas at home sounds just as great.” A beat, “Unless my dad decides on a last minute trip which is a total Him move, so we’ll see. Hoping for no surprises, but I wouldn’t mind one if it happened.”

“I have to physically restrain myself from singing Do You Want to Build a Snowman right now. Mind you, I hate that song.” He said, while trying desperately to roll the snow into a ball. 

“Well, to each is their own. Mr. Taylor, because I’ve been singing it plenty and it’s helping me gain hella points with the little kiddies,” Cammie shares gladly. She loves Frozen. Even if it’s a little too much sometimes. It helps get the kids really stoked and who doesn’t love the sight of happy children? It keeps everyone’s mind off of the frigid cold as well. “What’s your game plan for the snow man?”

He wasn’t aware that Christmas could be seen as socially acceptable so early. But was Cam the rule or the exception in this case. Usually he waited until people stopped complaining about the big department stores being too early to get into the Christmas season. But the Godless town was proving difficult. “That’s intense.” he commented, not knowing what more to say. “I’m not as brave as you with my Christmas flag, sorry babe. I like to fit in nicely with the Christmas season, not start it. Though playing Mariah as I put the tree up does sound pretty magically. I’ll chat with my brother. See what he thinks.” he said, a warm smile on his face. 

"Hey, more for me. Someone’s got to be brave enough to kick off the Christmas season in Norla and I will gladly do it,” Cammie announces all too proudly. Her Christmas cheer knows no shame. She knows no shame in general. “Is it just you two in charge of putting up the tree? I’ve come to find the recipe for absolute efficiency in tree decorating is 3 people. 4 just pushes it, too many idle hands.”

Naomi has recently been all talk and no threat. Her aunt and uncle, as loving and accepting as they are, have begged and pleaded for her to stay out of trouble (for the sake of their wallets, sanity, and Naomi’s own free time) “Okay, okay…” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll be nice because you brought cookies.” She gave Camden a smile. “but seriously, never say baby cheese again…” Grabbing both and taking a bite of each, she pursed her lips and squinted - deep in thought. “Crispy outside, soft inside. It’s magical. What did he say?”

"See! That’s what I said!” It’s a miracle the cookies didn’t fall out of their container with strength of Cammie’s gesture. “Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. That’s the way to go. Bobby is a crazy person. He thinks gingerbread cookies should be hard. Like your teeth practically have to go through a battle to bite through them.” It’s silly. But they need to agree on the style they want their gingerbread to be before they build their annual gingerbread house. “Personally, I believe a gingerbread house should be just has fun to eat as it is to make. Just because it’s soft on the inside doesn’t make it any less great as building material. That’s why it’s tougher on the outside, and Bobby is such a stickler for it being hard all the way through because he’s apparently had sad gingerbread cookies his whole life and--” Cammie is rambling, rolling her eyes at Bobby’s stubborn belief. “Anyway, thank you. That’s 3 to 1 so far. I still have the rest of the day to get results but society is on my side so far,” Cammie is glad to say. “All that side, Happy December.” She flashes a smile at Naomi now that the dilemma was out of the way. “Big plans this year?”

“yo!” the skater walked up behind the other and playfully yet lightly hit them on the legs with his basically empty backpack. “how about pizza? i’m starving and i don’t feel like going on my own. last time i think they wanted to kick me out then again i don’t judge them- i was sitting there drunk and singing to celine dion.”

"Ah--!” Cammie yelps when she feels something brush against the back of her legs, turning around for her eyes to land on CJ. “Ceej,” she chides lightly before putting on a smile, hearing out his offer. “I could go for some ‘za but you have to tell me what Celine Dion song you sang. Also: Celine Dion? Color me shocked at your music choice.”

“So,” he drawled, grabbing the books needed for his next class, “How soon after Thanksgiving is too soon to put my Christmas tree up.” It was a question that had been plaguing him for years. He never quite knew what the socially acceptable timeframe was. “Follow up question, when does the Mariah Carey start. Before or after the tree.”

"I mean, I wouldn’t use my family as a point of reference. After we did the dishes for Thanksgiving, we started clearing out Fall decorations to make room for Christmas joy.” She and her dads get very excited about decorating. They would have started decorating that same night but the food coma was too much and it would just be treacherous to make anyone decorate under those conditions. “It’s never to early for Mariah to start. Mariah can start in June for all I care. Let your Christmas flag fly, Aiden.” And then after a beat, “But I highly recommend playing her once you stand your tree up. Like press play just before it’s tilted upright so it stands right when she says ‘I~’.” Cammie sings the word. “It’s pretty magical.”

“Hey now… I can be when I want to be. I just don’t really talk a lot unless I have something useful to say. Or snarky. You seem nice, so I didn’t want to ruin it by being my typical asshole self,” he warned. She was definitely different than what he was expecting from a Queen Bee. She did remind him slightly of Piper; however, this girl was on a whole other level.

"Aww, you think I’m nice? That’s so sweet, Ash Billings. Thank you,” Cammie tells him with a happy grin. She feels genuinely heartwarmed by that. “Now, let me get this straight with these... principles you have. So you never say anything just to say anything? Like, just to start a conversation with someone or because you feel like talking?” She thinks it’s absurd because she says things just to say things most times on the off-chance of starting a conversation with someone. She loves getting to know people and what better way to do that than starting a random conversation. “Like, what about when you’re staring at the stars? Don’t you just feel like saying the first thing off the top of your head?”

“Please, dude - just…leave me alone or get decked.” She was working on her anger - in the past, she would’ve just went for the punch. It was sometimes surprising to her, that people still tried. ( maybe they just felt bad, considering the recent turn of events in her family )

“Jeez Louise, baby cheese. Okay. I was just wondering if you’d be interested in giving an opinion on something because I’m trying to make a point with my step-dad.” She launches into said point she’s trying to make despite being told just a few seconds earlier to leave the girl alone at the threat of ‘getting decked’. Cammie feels it’s harmless to try. “Crispy on the outside but soft on the inside or hard gingerbread cookies?” She holds up a thing of tupperware divided into two sections with each type.

He listened to the girl and found it easy not to interrupt her. It was strange to find someone so genuinely positive. When they first met, he had assumed that it was a ruse to curry favor with everyone that she could leverage at a later date. But the girl believed what she was saying. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but he was starting to believe what she was saying. The way she lived her life was a stark contrast to how he led his. Ash was in a perpetually angry state over everything. Over people being fake. Over all the lying. Over his inability to maintain a normal relationship. Over his condition even if it was in remission. Over his family’s expectations. There was little that he was truly happy about. “Wow,” he mustered after a short silence between them. “That’s… kinda cool I guess.”

Did she just stun Ash into a silence? Is that what just happened? Cammie can’t help but giggle a little. And she giggles even more at Ash’s words. Or lack thereof compared to hers. “Ash Billings, you’re a man of many words, anyone ever tell you that?” She jokes, teasing him. All in good fun. She thinks she likes that about Ash. He’s so different from her, which piques her interest in getting to know him. She feels you learn the most with people who share little in common with you.