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If there was one thing that I couldn't stand it was Christmas. Now don't get me wrong the twinkling lights down main street, soft blankets of snow, and the constant music filling the air is nice and all but I still hate it. You see my parents got divorced ten years ago on Christmas eve. I mean really how does anyone have that bad of timing, but they did. That Christmas was the worst I'd ever experienced. China and silverware sounded like drums the noise slightly dampened by the carpet that had already taken in the vessel's contents. To this day the carpet is still stained with the burgundy wine from years ago. Even looking at it revives memories of the carpet wet with wine, the glass that had once held it's contents was scattered around the floor shining light up to the ceiling. Worst of all the noise that rose to feverish screaming had driven me to the safety of my bedroom. Then came the sirens that took my mother and father away leaving me forgotten behind.

Never again did I feel any joy on Christmas only sadness and pain remained. Gone was the innocent girl of six who'd counted down the days till Santa came down the chimney with a bag of treats. Replaced by a humbug girl of sixteen who went out of her way to avoid having anything to with the holidays.

It was a week before Christmas and I'd been assigned to my grandparents this year. Unlike my father my grandparents didn't particularly like my lolita stilted wardrobe. Their complaints had driven me from their house and down main street. If there was anything decent about Christmas it was that people didn't pester me about how I dress. After all I passed Kris Kringle at every other corner and I just walked past an angel and a sugar plum fairy laughing merrily on the street.

Today I was drawn away from the bustling main street and towards the towns forested area. I knew it would be quiet and peaceful on account of all the ghost stories, however I didn't believe in things like that and no ghost had bothered before. I wandered though the cemetery of trees their bare skeleton like branches reaching up to touch the sapphire blue sky. The scene was dotted with snow laden evergreens their spiny needles quivering with the weight of it's load.

Today I made a new path through the woods heading towards the distant sound of running water. The waxing moon was high in the sky not quite full but nearly there sending down beams of light through the branches. After some time I finally arrived at the lake it's surface painted sapphire and silver to match the night sky. Of all the places I was sent for Christmas this was defiantly my favorite. The lake was so clear that during the day you could see all the way to the bottom with crystal clarity. Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by a "Hey You!" I was so startled that I nearly fell into the lake. Normally I could pick out someone from quite a bit away but as I turned I saw how close the voice actually was. Less than five feet away from me stood a tall boy with a shaggy haircut. Everything about him seemed to be washed of color from his pale skin, white blonde hair, and light gray blue eyes to his worn out jeans and gray sweater.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!" I say finally regaining my composure.

"You shouldn't be down here, people aren't allowed." he says as if that explained his abrupt appearance.

He does have a good point though, the area surrounding the lake is roped off to keep people from polluting it. Still it doesn't explain why he's down here so I ask. Suddenly he seems embarrassed though I notice that even when he blushes his cheeks are still washed of color.

"W-Well you see I-I mean I..." he says stumbling over his words.

I sigh and simply turn to walk to another less crowded part of the bank.

"W-where are you going? You- you're not going to hurt the lake or anything are you?" the boy said meekly.

I smile to myself before turning my head to say "What's your name?" then as a second thought add in "Mine's Libra by the way."

"Libra?" the boy questioned slightly confused.

"Yeah pretty bad name huh. Blame my parents they're astrologers. Though most people call me Libby." I say holding out my hand.

"Mine's Lucifer" he paused for a moment staring at my outstretched hand before finishing "I don't have a nickname though."

"That's fine Lucifer's a great name by itself." then noticing his blank stare at my still outstretched hand said, "You're supposed to shake it."

"Oh!" Lucifer said finally shaking my hand; his cheeks again that strange washed out pink color.

Suddenly an owl's hoot interrupts our conversation and I realize just how late it is, the sky is a deep black and stars dot the night sky.

"I need to get home." I said to Lucifer preparing to dart off into the woods then stop when I see his downcast look. "Tell you what how about we meet here tomorrow?" I say with a slight sigh.

"A-Alright!" he says his face suddenly uplifted.

"Tomorrow then." I say before scampering off into the woods.

My grandparents were furious with me for being out so late. I snuck in at 2 o'clock in the morning to their faces glaring down at me. Nevertheless I enjoyed talking with Lucifer he was really the closest thing to a friend I had. After all with me being shipped from one house to another my parents had decided it would be better for me to be home schooled. Not that being home schooled is necessarily a bad thing, I mean I was two years ahead of most people my age. However all that studying left no time for playing or socializing.

For the next three days I went down to the lake and talked with Lucifer. We had such a great time talking with each other that I couldn't believe I hadn't made a friend before. On the fourth day I went down as with most days Lucifer was sitting on the bank staring out over the lake.

When I sat down he turned to me and said "Libby what do you do for Christmas?"

"What?" I said slightly confused.

"I mean how do you celebrate it?"

"I don't."

"Why not?"

It took me a minute to decide whether or not to answer, but in the end my friendship with Lucifer won over my unwillingness to tell him. After I finished I just sighed an looked over at him.

"Sorry I think I started ranting somewhere in there."

"It's fine I'm sorry about your Christmas though seems like you have as much bad luck as me."

"You have Christmas troubles too?"

"Mmhmm people always pick on me around this time of year." then realizing what he said blushed and turned his head down.

"Has anyone picked on you yet?" I said my voice softening.

He simply shook his head and hunched his shoulders whatever it was he didn't want to talk about it.

"Sorry for pestering you." I said quickly hoping I hadn't been to pushy.

To my relief he smiled and said "It's fine In was being kind of pushy too."

"See you tomorrow then?"

"Tomorrow." He said obviously glad that I hadn't pressed him on the subject.

As I was walking home I realized exactly what tomorrow was, the day before Christmas. I was having so much fun with Lucifer that I didn't even notice. Then a strange feeling hit me right before the 25th I always get so stressed and mad like that Christmas ten years ago was happening. This time I didn't feel that in fact, I felt not overflowing with joy but happy because I could spend another day with my new friend.

Most people who know me knew to keep their distance when Christmas was around especially the 23rd and 24th. So it confused my grandparents to no end when I got up and went about my chores with a smile on my face. When I was just about to leave I hear my grandmother's voice small and confused say

"Where are you going?"

"Friends" I say before I dart out the door and down the street.

Soon I'm about ready to arrive at the lake when I hear a rush of beating wings, two thumps and a splash. With the thought of poachers on my mind I ran into the clearing. To my surprise I saw Lucifer in the water with a bruised check over him stood two boys with brightly colored garments. Then finally my eyes registered wings, both the boys and Lucifer had wings protruding from the back of their clothes. Both of the boys wings were a painfully bright white and shaped like a hawks wings. Lucifer wings were like the rest of him washed of color almost like an old ravens when he noticed me his mouth gaped open and completely flushed. Noticing his expression the boys quickly turned startled by my prescreens. Cursing under their breath they beat their wings once and were off leaving me with my mouth open in disbelief.

"Uugh..." I heard Lucifer say struggling to regain his footing.

I ran over to help him out of the lake trying not to stare at his wings to much.

"Ummmm.... Libby?"

"Yeah?"

" Just so you know just because my wings are black and those other guys are white it.....I mean I'm not evil or anything."

"Yeah I know." I say propping him up against a tree. His bruise was swollen pretty bad.

"So is this what you mean by getting picked on every year."

"You don't hate me because I have black wings do you?"

I shake my head and chuckle under my breath before saying "I'm not sure but I think that would be considered racism."

"So does that mean no?" Lucifer asks nervously.

"Of course it does."

The sky is starting to turn from sapphire to black signaling my need to return to my grandparents.

"I'm sorry Lucifer but I need to go." I say giving his cheek a last check before darting through the woods .

That night I can't go to sleep, I'm worried about Lucifer. He looked pretty bad when I left him and those boys knew where he was now. I didn't wait till the evening that day. I left immediately after I got up running down to the lake. When I got there however Lucifer was nowhere to be seen. I started panicking thinking that the boy's might have came back. Suddenly I hear a rustling behind me.

"Libby you can be really loud."

"Lucifer you're okay!"

"Yeah I was just about to leave."

"Leave?"

"Yeah I have to move every once in a while so those guys from yesterday don't find me" explains Lucifer.

Suddenly I have an idea. "You know I have to travel a lot, every other week" I say looking up at Lucifer.

"Really?" he says then finally gets what I'm trying to say. "So I could come with you?" he says excitedly.

I simply smile and say "Merry Christmas Lucifer" and for once I mean it.