A Mistletoe.
It's a lovely little plant, I'm quite fond of it. I wished people payed more attention to it year-round, not just during the Christmas season. It means so much more to me than just a little meaningless smooch once a year. It reminds me of someone dear to my heart.
I never thought much of a Mistletoe until one Christmas. I was off of work, for the first time in what seemed like eternities, which I was thankful for. I was inviting friends and family over to my house for a small get together of sorts. That's when he showed up. Well of course, since I had invited him.
He arrived with a bag of refreshments in hand, and a huge grin on his face. I had never seen a day without that grin, not matter how grim things seemed.
"Hey, Arthur! What's up, man? When's the party startin'?" He was so incredibly nonchalant about everything, even his speech.
"Nothing much, Alfred, please come in from the cold. You put the drinks right over there." Alfred. That's his name. I loved it when he came to visit me, appearing out of nowhere, wanting cheery light conversation.
"Alright!" Alfred said, walking over to my dining room table. He set the plastic bag on the table, pulling out a variety of assorted soda. How course, buying junky things such as that was so typical for the blond-haired man. If he would have bought anything different it would give me the strong urge to check his temperature for any sings of illness.
"Well, I have set out some snacks out in the den if you wish to munch on something before the others arrive." I grabbed some cups, setting them out in preparation for when everyone else arrived. Alfred was the first one to show.
"Cool! Wait.. you didn't cook them, did you?" He chuckled, but I knew he dead serious. No one liked my cooking, they just never wanted to admit it to my face. It was something I have been forced to accept.
"No, I did no such thing. They were purchased at the convenience store."
"Good, Good! Well, if ya don't mind, I'll go and eat some." Alfred walked towards the den, plopping down on the couch and picking up a soft peppermint, pushing it between his lips.
"Fine by me, that's what they're there for."
"Awesome. Glad you're having this party this year." Alfred spoke, his mouth full of food. That was a quirk about him, whenever he wanted to say something, he didn't wait to swallow, he just said it.
"You bloody fool! Have you got no manners? Don't chew with your mouth full!" I hated it when he did that, I just couldn't resist the urge to yell.
"Sorry, man. It's just habit, you know what I mean?" He apologized every time, I don't know why he bothers.
"Yes, I get it's a habit but it's one you need to get over." I huffed. "Excuse me, I need to finish a few things."
"Don't mind me, I'll just me here." He responded, so cheery. So cherry, in fact, that if it was anybody else but him I would've gone completely mad.
The night moved on, and soon enough, everyone arrived. The house was full of people, it was a peaceful, light, and happy sort of atmosphere.
I didn't talk to Alfred much, but I saw him around in varies rooms of the house. He had something peculiar looking in his pocket, I couldn't make out what it was. My curiosity nagged at me throughout the night.
I was walking into the kitchen to refill my cup of tea when I overheard Alfred talking to someone, I wasn't quite sure who. I could only really make out his voice on the other side of the wall when I put my ear up to it.
"Yeah, man, he'll totally freak out!"
"......."
"Arthur will be so flustered! You just wait and see! I've had this Mistletoe in my pocket for a long time now, I need to find him soon before everyone leaves!"
Alfred and I with a Mistletoe. I was surely flustered now, and he hadn't even found me yet. He knew what the Mistletoe tradition, right? Of course he did, why would he wanted me to "freak out" and I was certainly doing that. I planned on avoiding him for the rest of the night.
Later on that night, I heard Alfred calling for me, sending my heart into a cycle of vicious pounding.
"Arthur! Hey what's up? Havin' fun?"
"Ah, yes! But, if you'll excuse me, I need to use the restroom." Perfect comeback on my part. I went to make my quick escape.
"Alright, go do what you've gotta do!" Alfred called back, cheery, and a bit excited.
I did my business, but I mostly just sat on the floor of my very own bathroom twiddling my thumbs. I was honestly too flustered to go back outside where everyone else was. Finally, I got bored and tired of just sitting in the bathroom all by my lonesome and decided to go back outside. I was hosting this party, after all.
I opened the door and went to take a step out when something came hurling toward me. I only had enough time to scrunch my eyes shut before it hit me right in the face. It wasn't hard, and didn't hurt at all, but that didn't mean I appreciated it hitting my face.
My eyes opened and I looked down. It looked like a plant of sorts. Before I had began to examine it, a fit of laughter broke out on the other side of the room. I looked up to see none other than Alfred F. Jones doubling over in a fit of what seemed like never ending laughter.
I was surely flustered, just like he said I would, it wasn't what I had expected. I soon figured out it was a Mistletoe. A Mistletoe's purpose is not to get pelted at someone else's face, most definitely not during the Holidays.
"What on earth was that about, Alfred?" I looked at the plant a little, only to realize that it was a fake rendition, no were near the real thing.
"To get you embarrassed, or course! Why else?" Alfred laughed.
"Dare I ask, but do you know what Mistletoes are typically used for during the Holidays?" I held the plant so he could take a better look.
"Someone told me you throw those at people!" He was dead serious. What a fool.
"What? Is this a bloody joke? Are you serious?"
"Yep. Pretty much." How blunt. Alfred F. Jones was an even bigger idiot than I once presumed him to be.
"Well, if I must inform you, that's not what you do with a Mistletoe. A Mistletoe is placed under two people during the Christmas season. And according to tradition, those two must share a kiss. It has never, in any way, been used to throw at people!"
Now Alfred was flustered. He honestly did not know that?
"Aww.. Sorry, man. I didn't know, really. You get me? I'm sorry.." He stumbled over his words. The young man blushed deeply as if he was extremely embarrassed.
"It's quite alright. Just..learn not to be such an idiot, can you do that for me?"
"Y-Yeah.. Can do."
The night went on, and soon everyone left, leaving the house to me once again. Except, Alfred didn't leave when everyone else did, so it was just me and him. A bit of an awkward atmosphere, surely.
"Hey, man, sorry about earlier." Alfred apologized again for what seemed like the millionth time that night.
"Honestly, Alfred! You don't need to apologize anymore, it's alright." I tried to reassure him, pouring myself a cup of tea. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No, no , but thanks." He responded, "I just didn't know.. A kiss? Wow. I guess it doesn't use it for it's proper purpose, huh?"
"Yes, that's it's purpose alright. You didn't hang it up in the ceiling like most do." I began to chuckle, this situation was so bizarre and silly, I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Yeah, but if you want, we can use it for what it's for.." Once again, Alfred was so blunt.
I was flustered once again. How many bloody times was he going to do that in one night?
"Uh, Alfred, we don't, I mean, it's no big deal, I-"
"Just let me do this, okay?" Alfred cut me off, hanging the Mistletoe from my chandelier.
Suddenly, he pulled me into a tight hug, kissing my forehead tenderly. Not what I was expecting, but it still made me turn a darker shade of red. I couldn't understand why Alfred would do such a thing.
"Hey! It's a bro-hug and a holiday kiss. There." He grinned. "You said a kiss, you didn't say where, though."
"You git."
"That's the Arthur I know!" He laughed. The relationship between Alfred F. Jones, and I, Arthur Kirkland was now ten times more confusing. What was he to me? A friend, a lover, or perhaps something in the middle? I just had to ask.
"Say, Alfred, what are you to me?" I asked, blushing as I finished the sentence.
"What am I to you? A person, of course! What else would I be?" He smiled as I sighed. Ah, and to think that I could actually get somewhere with someone like Alfred. Foolish me.
"Well, it's getting late, I should get going." Alfred slipped on his jacket, along with his shoes, opening the door, bringing in an unbelievable rush of cold.
"Alright, Merry Christmas Alfred."
"Right back at ya, man!" With that said, the door closed and he was gone. I was rather tired, so I put on pajamas, preparing for bed. I got myself one last cup of warm tea, climbing under my blankets. Just as I was about to open my book to read, I heard a knock at the door. I grumbled, cursing as I trudged down the stairs. I opened the door to see none other than Alfred.
"DUDE! It's a blizzard out there! I can't drive in this weather, can I stay with you, please?" He was shivering, so I quickly ushered him in.
"I guess I can't say no. You can take the guest room."
"Thanks, man!"
I gave Alfred some dry clothes and showed him into the guest room. Finally, I was back in my own bed, snuggling into my pillow for some much needed sleep. That's when I heard a knock at the door. What could Alfred possibly need now?
"Arthur! It's cold in the guest room. Can I sleep with you?"
"Bloody hell."
That night changed my view on Alfred. I presumed him to be a best friend who like to hug and be loud, but now I believe he treats me a bit different than he does everyone else. I know he loves me, whether it be as a friend or something else. I know I feel the same, I just don't know how to express it. Don't get me wrong, I'm still confused. Even after Alfred left, I still kept that plastic Mistletoe. It always reminds me of him. Alfred's gone now. No, no, not dead. Not long after that night he informed me that he was going off to fight in some war, which I strongly opposed. I miss him terribly, I didn't know I could miss a moron that much.
Alfred's coming home today.
I'm going to be the first friendly face he sees.
And that very Mistletoe will be in hand.
It's payback time, baby.
Sta.sh
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