Chapter Text
“Silent night, holy night…”
Luna was drifting down a river. The gentle waves pushed and pulled at her raft, buoying her along on its powerful current. A soft breeze tickled her face, like the tender caress of a familiar hand, Then, suddenly, the raft gave out, the water disappeared, and she was falling, falling, careening down into nothingness—
Luna’s eyes flew open and she looked around, startled. Through her blurry, half-asleep vision, she could make out her table full of papers, the tree farm, and the figure of a girl about her age standing across from her, looking as if she had just asked a question. She was at work, and she had a customer. She quickly pulled out her earbuds and gave her head a quick shake to clear it of the remnants of sleep.
“I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
The girl in front of her smirked, perfect eyebrows quirked over her deep brown eyes and warm brown skin. She was wearing a large red sweater with the outline of a bird embroidered across the front, and a pair of dark blue jeans. A metal brace was laced around her left leg, and it glinted in the mid-afternoon sunlight. The outfit seemed a little light for the snowy weather, but the girl wearing it didn’t appear all that cold.
“I asked if you were still open,” she repeated, clearly amused at the situation.
Luna checked her watch, then vigorously rubbed her eyes. “Right, yeah, sorry. I just wasn’t expecting many customers today, it being Christmas Eve and all. Plus I haven’t been sleeping too well, so I guess I drifted o—”
“It’s totally fine, I get it,” the girl cut her off gently. “So, what’s the deal here? I’ve never done this before.”
Luna straightened up and rattled off her spiel on prices, payments, and procedures. “So, basically, go pick out a tree, then come find me. I can help you cut it down and carry it back to your car.” She paused, then added apprehensively, “You do have a car, don’t you? I’ve had kids coming through on bikes who tried to tie it the back. Let me tell you, that did not work out for them.”
The girl laughed. “I do have a car. Borrowed my friend’s pick-up truck just for this, in fact.”
Luna breathed an over-exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. I’m glad I won’t have to be patching up cuts and bruises when the operation goes south.”
“You’re so very welcome.” The girl hesitated, then stuck out her hand. “My name’s Raven, by the way.”
Luna shook it. “Luna. Let me know when you’ve picked your pine.”
“Will do,” Raven called over her shoulder as she headed off towards the trees. With a small smile, Luna popped her earbuds back in and leaned back in her chair. She didn’t let her eyes close this time; she was determined not to fall asleep on this customer twice.
She was humming along to Let it Snow, wondering what movie she was going to watch that night, when Raven returned. The sweatered girl had donned mittens and a hat some time in her venture, and her face was flushed from the cold.
“Hey, you ready?” Luna asked, getting up from her chair. Raven nodded. “All right, Raven, lead the way.” It felt a little odd to call her customer by her first name, but it would feel even weirder to address her as “ma’am” or “miss” as if the two weren’t practically the same age. Besides, it was a Christmas-tree farm. Not exactly the most formal of operations.
As they set off into the trees, Luna felt the need to strike up a conversation. That was her duty as a good salesperson, right? Besides, she was slightly intrigued by this girl.
“So, leaving it a little late on the Christmas-tree buying, aren’t you? Our last customers started trickling off a few days ago. Wait— you are getting this for Christmas, aren’t you? I wouldn’t want to assume you celebrate—” Luna backtracked, panicking slightly. She already had screwed up her first impression, she wouldn’t want to dig herself in any deeper.
“Oh, it’s totally fine,” Raven assured her. “I’m having a Christmas party at my apartment tonight, and my friends only had the decency to tell me I was hosting yesterday morning. Kind of a last-minute thing.”
“Leaving it a little late, aren’t you?”
Raven flashed a cocky grin. “I find I work best under pressure.”
“I wouldn’t say the same for me. Sorry about freaking out over possibly offending you, by the way. I usually try to limit my festive remarks to ‘Happy Holidays!’”
“I’d think it’d be a safe bet that most people buying pine trees around this time of year celebrate Christmas, wouldn’t it?”
“I’ve worked here a long time, Raven. I’ve seen some stuff.”
Raven smirked at Luna’s impersonation of a tough, world-weary tone. “Oh yeah, like what?”
“Well, let’s just say, it was not fun being on duty when the local middle school put on Macbeth and decided that they needed some honest-to-god pine trees for the kids to carry around for Birnam Wood. I actually went to watch their production— had to see if all my hard work paid off.”
“How was it?” Luna threw her companion a glance, but Raven seemed genuinely curious. She rubbed her chin in mock-thoughtfulness.
“I’d rate the acting an eight, the costumes a two, and the sets a solid six-and-a half. But the amount of dead pine needles on that stage was off the charts. I’m pretty sure Macduff slipped on some in act five.”
“So, pretty good show all around?” Raven deadpanned.
“Definitely entertaining, I’ll give it that.” Looking at the girl next to her, Luna realized that she had slowed down slightly, and seemed to be leaning more heavily on her right leg.
“Hey, are you okay to keep walking?” she asked gently. “We can take a break whenever you need to. I’m not in any hurry.”
Raven shook her head with a wince. “Because of this old thing? Hardly bothers me anymore.” Luna flashed her a look.
“I’m serious. There’s no shame in taking it slow. I wouldn’t want to make anything worse. That would go against my sacred oath as a pine tree salesperson.”
Raven hesitated for a moment longer, then shrugged half-heartedly. “If you insist. Just for a few minutes, though. I can handle it.”
Luna smiled, and took a seat on a nearby tree-trunk. “Never said you couldn’t.” Raven joined her on the trunk. It barely fit the two of them, so it was a pretty cozy situation. It seemed to Luna as if Raven was radiating warmth, but that could have just been the cold air playing a trick on her.
Luna coughed, painfully aware of the closeness, and inquired, “So, is this party something you all do every year? You and your friends, I mean.”
Raven bobbed her head. “Yeah, ever since I’ve known them. We’re using a kind of rotating-host type situation, which is why I got saddled with it at the last second. My friends Jasper and Monty held it last year, and that was probably the best one yet. I’m definitely going to top it, though.”
“Oh, a little competitive, are we?”
“You have no idea. I’m going to make their holiday get-together look like a playdate for toddlers. I’m talking full-on festive Christmas extravaganza.”
“Sounds like a good time,” Luna remarked.
Raven grinned in affirmation, then turned so she was facing the girl beside her. “What about you? You don’t have somewhere better to be on Christmas Eve than helping out stragglers like me?”
Luna shook her head with a wry smile. “Nope. Most of my friends are out of town, and I’m not exactly on the best terms with my family right now. I’m planning on spending Christmas in the company of my cat and Bing Crosby. Should be fun.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Raven murmured. “It’s no fun being alone on Christmas.”
“It’s fine. It meant I could pick up this extra shift and nobody would miss me.” Luna winced. “Sorry, that made it sound really sad. It is fine, really.”
“Well, I hope you find something fun to do, get out of the house. I’ve found it’s really easy to just sit around and feel sad, and a whole lot harder to make yourself do something. But the payoff is usually worth it.”
“Thanks.” Luna paused, and looked away. “That’s some good advice.”
“Any time.” They sat in silence for a few more moments. Luna blew on her hands to keep them warm. Raven checked her watch.
“Okay, I think we can keep going. I’m going to need all the time I can get to get my apartment up to standard.”
“Alright. We can take it slow, if you need to. Let me know if you need to lean on me or anything.”
“I just might take you up on that,” Raven replied, getting to her feet. “But I think I’m good for now.”
As they started walking again, Raven changed the subject. “So, do you sell trees here year round? I can’t imagine that it’s a booming business anytime except the holidays. And whenever middle-schoolers put on Shakespeare.”
Luna chuckled. “No, this is just a winter job for me. The rest of the year, I work on a clean water initiative for the lake. Lots of pollution these days. But, as it tends to freeze over this time of year, it’s useful to pick up another job on the side.”
Raven nodded in understanding. “I get that. I’m in school right now, but I’m working a part-time job at an auto repair shop down by the waterfront.”
“Oh, Sinclair’s Repairs? Yeah, I drive past that on my way to work.”
“Really? That’s cool. You should stop by and say hi sometime,” Raven offered.
“Sure, maybe I will.”
They walked in silence for a few more moments, until Raven suddenly came to a halt. “Ah, here it is.”
Luna raised her eyebrows. They were standing in front of what was easily the heaviest tree in the lot. Its branches were long and full, its trunk was short and thick, and it seemed more likely to be topped by an actual celestial body than a traditional Christmas star. Fine, that might have been a slight exaggeration, but it certainly didn’t seem that way to the one who had to carry it.
“Raven, this thing is huge,” Luna said incredulously. “You’re sure it’ll fit in your apartment? I mean, I don’t know where you live, but I assume it doesn’t have a crazily abnormal ceiling height.”
“Come on, what’s a party without a good-sized tree? Besides, I don’t think this is unreasonably big, there are plenty of larger ones over there!” Raven gestured to her right. Luna glanced over and snorted.
“I don’t think it’s a very good sign that you’re comparing trees from an actual forest to the ones in our farm. You see that fence? That’s the cut-off.”
“Oh.” Raven looked sheepish, but quickly bounced back from the embarrassment. “Whatever, I think this is the perfect one. It’ll look great in my living room. Besides, it’s only for two nights.” She looked it up and down, a thoughtful expression coming across her face. “Or maybe longer… there’d be no one to complain if I keep it around till it starts to shed needles everywhere. My apartment could use the nature-y feel.”
“So, you live alone?” Luna asked, then casually added, “No friends or significant others or family or anything?”
“Nope,” Raven responded with a small smile. “Used to have some roommates but they all moved out. Haven’t lived with my family in years; I moved in with my first boyfriend pretty young. He turned out to be a douche, but it was better than staying at home, let me tell you. Lived with a girlfriend for a little while after that, which also did not work out. On a little bit of an unlucky streak right now.”
Luna grimaced. “I feel that. Broke up with my last girlfriend almost two years ago, and I’m definitely ready for the universe to make good on some better karma.”
There was a beat where neither of them said anything, just looked at each other, side by side. Luna found herself noticing how pretty Raven’s eyes were, intelligent and confident. And she smelled like— what was it? Cinnamon? Nutmeg? Something Christmasy, that was for sure. Maybe she had been baking for the party.
Then, just as silence became too much to bear, they both started talking simultaneously. Raven laughed, and gestured for Luna to go first. She obliged, feeling her face grow red. She only hoped it would be mistaken for the effects of the weather.
“If you’re really sure this is the one, I can get to chopping it down.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure. As long as it won’t be too much trouble to get to the truck…”
Luna waved her hand dismissively as she hoisted her axe. “I’ve dealt with bigger.” That wasn’t exactly true— Raven sure had an eye for the heaviest tree they had. But Luna wasn’t about to refuse this girl her Christmas vision… and there may have been a part of her that was eager to impress.
“Stand back,” she warned as she drew back the axe. Once Raven was a safe distance away, she swung the hatchet deftly, over and over with a satisfying “thunk!” until the pine began to topple. She jumped out of the way.
“Timber!” Raven cried, cupping her mouth with her mittened hands. The tree thudded to the ground.
“Let’s get this thing to your truck!” Luna proclaimed, squatting down beside the felled pine.
“Well, you just showed how strong you are with that axe, I’m sure you can lift it. Do you work out?” Raven asked innocently.
Luna looked over and rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Yeah, I’m a black belt. So you better help me get this to your car, missy.”
Raven lifted her hands in defense. “Woah, sure I will. Not looking for a demonstration of your badass skills.”
“Don’t worry,” Luna told her as she wrapped her arms around the trunk. “I only bust them out in emergencies. Grab the end?”
Raven complied, and together they lifted the enormous pine off the ground. Raven grunted under its weight. “Wow. You weren’t kidding. This is pretty heavy.”
“Think you can handle it?” Luna teased, then added in a more earnest tone, “But seriously, we can take a break whenever you need too.”
“I can take it. My leg may be crap, but my arms are plenty strong. And nothing like a little pain to remind you you’re alive, right?”
“I guess you’re right.”
They managed to carry the tree all the way to the pick-up truck in barely any time at all, despite their haul being peppered with short breaks. They kept themselves entertained as they carried/dragged the pine through the lot, exchanging stories of previous holiday disasters.
They had to pause for a full few minutes after Raven told the story of a caroling attempt gone horribly wrong, an event that somehow ended with not one, but two phone calls to the police. Something about “disturbing the peace.”
“I told Jasper two days wasn’t enough time to learn the violin, but he was determined to prove me wrong. I honestly feel most sorry for Monty; he had to endure 48 hours worth of that stuff, while we only had the pleasure for one night. And besides, we were caroling! A traditionally a-cappella activity!”
When they eventually reached the car, the pair gently lowered the gigantic tree into its trunk.
“Whew. That was a work-out,” Raven remarked, gazing at their handiwork.
“Yeah, come back here next time you’re thinking about lifting weights. Same benefits for half the price.”
“Speaking of, what do I owe you?”
They made their way over to Luna’s station, where she deposited the axe safely back in its place. She was briefly tempted to tell her "it's on me," but knew that would be unprofessional. She couldn't give discounts to every pretty girl who caught her eye, or she'd be out of a job. Instead, she grabbed her pen and helped Raven figure out the price.
Once she had paid, Luna walked Raven to the car to see her off. It definitely wasn’t something she normally did, but she felt a strange connection with this girl in the red sweater. She would be sad to see her leave, even sadder knowing that it was unlikely they would ever meet again. And yet— she couldn’t quite bring herself to say anything about it, in fear of the feeling being unrequited.
“So…” she started. “Good luck on your party. I’m sure it’ll be amazing.” She managed a small smile. It was clearly time to say goodbye, but neither of them moved, only stood awkwardly beside the truck.
“Well, you know…” Raven paused, gazing at the pine, which lay quietly in the trunk. “You could be right. This is a pretty big tree. It might take two to decorate it.”
Luna glanced at her, brow furrowed. “Are you saying—” she started cautiously.
“I’m saying… maybe you could… help? Or at least… come to the party? Only if you want to, I mean. I just thought that maybe— I thought you might be interested in—” She was clearly getting flustered, and Luna found it adorable.
Raven continued breathlessly. “Maybe I’m reading the signals all wrong, but—”
“Oh, no no no,” Luna interrupted in a rush. “No, you’re not. I would love to. Definitely.” She grinned in disbelief. “I just wasn’t expecting you to ask.”
Raven laughed in relief. “I wasn’t expecting me to either. But what the heck, it’s Christmas. And it just seemed right.”
“Christmas Eve,” Luna corrected with a smile.
Raven gave her a playful nudge. “Close enough. Wait here for just a sec.” She darted back to Luna’s table, grabbed a pen and a slip of paper, and returned to the car, where she scrawled her digits on the sheet before handing it over.
“Here. Text me when your shift’s over, I can give you the address.”
Luna accepted it happily. “Great, I’ll be off around four. See you at… four thirty?”
“It’s a date,” Raven confirmed. “Maybe you can even convince me to tone down my Christmas extravaganza.”
“Why would I? I’d hate to come between an artist and her masterpiece.”
“Well, I can just tell it’s going to be a success, even if I don’t manage to find live birds to reenact the Twelve Days of Christmas. I’ve just got a feeling.”
Luna smiled at this, and they enjoyed another comfortable beat of silence as the snow began to pick up around them, the wind blowing loose strands from Raven’s ponytail. That and her flushed cheeks gave her an adorable windswept look. Luna wanted to stay in this moment for as long as she could, but she knew that they both had to get going. With one last sigh, they said their goodbyes.
As Luna watched the truck drive off into the distance, she pressed play on All I Want For Christmas is You, sat back down at her desk, and sighed happily. Four thirty couldn’t come soon enough; she just couldn’t believe she had a date for Christmas Eve. Things were definitely starting to look up, and the excitement coursing through her veins was enough to keep her awake for days.