Monsters Under Mistletoe

2. Kat

Chapter 2

Kat

I t’s getting late.

To be precise, it’s almost 8. That’s well past the time I’d ordinarily stay at something like this. I can’t find a way to make my excuse to leave, though.

I wish I’d thought of something before I came out. A reason I need to leave. Only the usual things won’t work on Michelle. She knows I’ve got no family in Heartstone who could call me up with an emergency. She also knows I don’t have work in the morning.

I’m stuck.

Only the longer I’m stuck, the more fun I start to have.

There really is a reason Michelle is my work friend. She pulls me onto the dance floor and we find a secluded corner where I can shuffle awkwardly to the beat of the music when no one is watching. With the buzz of alcohol in my system that I’m not used to and the loud music, the darkened room. I can almost relax. So for a few songs, I close my eyes and give into it. Only blinking them open every now and again to check that no one has come near.

I stop worrying so much after the next song. It’s one I recognize. And while I’ve danced at home alone to this tune, I’ve never done it in public. It feels good.

The dance floor gets more crowded. It’s only a small venue.

I start to feel anxious when a human with a bright yellow dress sways nearby, backing slowly toward me until I’m hurrying to get out of her way.

“Ooooooh!” The same call as earlier silences the room. The music fades out. The lights turn on and everyone pauses what they’re doing.

It’s happened again, hasn’t it? Someone stepped under mistletoe. That’s all.

Only I blink around the room, trying to work out who it is, only to realize everyone is looking at me.

I take another hasty step back and encounter a wall behind me. A solid, warm, moving wall that holds me by the arms and steadies me.

I turn, already knowing in my heart who’s behind me.

My stomach still does that awful little dive into the void. Only this time, he’s looking down at me, so instead of coming out the other side feeling elated, I feel like I want to throw up.

“You OK there?” Mr. Kvalt’s voice is a low rumble, just for me.

I nod, instinctively, but I can’t talk.

Then I realize how close we are. I straighten, brushing down my hair only to get nipped. “Sorry,” I mumble.

“Quite alright.” He glances up. Above us a bunch of green leaves sprinkled with red berries hangs on an overarching beam.

I grimace. “Sorry,” I say again.

The chant starts up around us. “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.”

It makes no difference that Mr. Kvalt is the boss. This is the one night a year when things like that don’t matter. Even I understand that social convention.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss.”

I should say something. They’re not stopping.

Mr. Kvalt will say something. Instead, he steps a little closer and lowers his voice. “Is it OK, Kat?”

I gulp like a fish out of water. He knows my name. He’s asking if it’s OK to… to what? To kiss me?

I should speak, but all I can do is grin like a fool, my mouth stretching into a nervous smile I can’t hold back.

Mr. Kvalt must take that as a yes, because the next thing I know, he’s stooping down, bending his head and—

Oh no! I close my eyes, waiting for the moment my snakes strike and make a fool out of me and minced meat out of him.

Only they don’t. His warmth closes in around me and I’m surrounded by strong arms. A gentle knuckle at my chin lifts my face. The snakes are perfectly still as if each one is smirking to herself. I wonder what they’re planning.

Then firm, tender lips touch mine and I’m melting, falling into a tangled mess at his feet, while I’m still standing. The room swoops around me like an angry dragon, but the kiss is sweet and soft and fleeting. His lips brush mine and then it’s over.

I hold my breath, not daring to move at all.

The lights and the music and all the faces of the people staring at us crowd around me all at once.

Mr. Kvalt releases me.

I stumble back.

With a growl, he turns and stalks away and I’m left burning with embarrassment. I’ve disappointed him. Done something wrong. Offended him. I wish I’d had a chance to tell him I’ve never been kissed before. That I don’t know what to do.

I can’t leave things like this!