Holli
One Week Later
As the train pulled into the station at Ho, Ho, Ho Academy, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. I knew what I was getting into, of course - I was here to train as a Christmas witch, after all. But seeing the throngs of happy, jolly people dressed in their Christmas best made me feel like a fish out of water.
I looked over at my two best friends, Gracie and Abbi, who were dressed in their usual black and gray outfits. They looked just as out of place as I felt, and I knew we were all thinking the same thing: what have we gotten ourselves into?
As we made our way through the crowded station and into the halls of the academy, I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between our outfits and those of the other students. Everywhere I looked, there were red and green sweaters, candy cane-striped leggings, and Santa hats.
Gracie and Abbi were dressed in their usual leather jackets and combat boots, and I had on a black hoodie and ripped jeans. We must have looked like a bunch of grumpy goth kids in a sea of Christmas cheer.
I could feel the stares and whispers as we walked by, and I tried my best to ignore them. But the incessant ringing of jingle bells and the cheerful holiday music blasting from the speakers was making me feel more and more agitated by the minute.
By the time we made it to our dormitory, I was practically fuming. I knew I had to find a way to deal with all this Christmas nonsense if I was going to make it through the semester. But for now, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and try to forget that I was stuck at Ho, Ho, Ho Academy for the foreseeable future.
As we walked through the halls of Ho, Ho, Ho Academy, we finally arrived at our dormitory. It was called the Candy Cane Cottage, and it looked like a gingerbread house. The walls were made of candy canes, and the roof was decorated with icing and gumdrops. I couldn't help but think it was all a bit too much.
As we stepped inside, we were greeted by the head witch of the dormitory, who introduced herself as Frostina the Icicle Witch. She looked like a drill sergeant, with a stern expression and a frosty demeanor.
"Welcome to the Candy Cane Cottage," she said, her voice as cold as ice. "You will abide by my rules if you wish to remain here."
She went on to explain the do's and don'ts, including a curfew of 10:00 PM and breakfast starting at 5:00 AM. We were not allowed to see Santa's real workshop, which was a disappointment for me. I had always been curious about the man in the red suit.
Frostina's rudeness was a bit off-putting, and I couldn't help but make a snide remark under my breath. “Who peed in her hot chocolate this morning?” Abbi and Gracie snickered beside me, but I knew we had to abide by the rules if we wanted to make it through our training at the academy. The last thing we needed was another run in with Baba Yaga. But overall, Abbi and Gracie, seemed to love the dormitory and the room.
The room was decorated with red and green accents, and the beds were shaped like sleighs. The walls were adorned with stockings and wreaths, and the air was filled with the scent of peppermint and cinnamon.
Abbi and Gracie bounced around the room, admiring the decorations and the view from the window. I couldn't help but feel like I didn't belong. Everything was too cheery and too Christmassy for my taste.
As we settled into our beds for the night, I couldn't help but feel homesick. I missed my old life, where I could be alone with my thoughts and my spells. But as I looked over at my friends, who were already fast asleep with smiles on their faces, I knew I wasn't alone in this strange new world.
* * *
The next morning, we walked into the cafeteria, feeling a little out of place. Everyone else was dressed in their Christmas garb, with Santa hats and tinsel accessories. Meanwhile, we were dressed in our usual black and gray outfits, trying our best to blend in with the crowd.
As I looked around, I couldn't help but be fascinated with all the different species. There were Christmas elves with pointy ears and red and green clothing. Christmas Fae with delicate wings and glittering outfits. Christmas Fairies with sparkly wands and flowing dresses. Nutcrackers with their wooden exterior and festive uniforms. And of course, there were Christmas Warlocks and Christmas Witches, all dressed in their finest holiday attire.
It was clear that everyone had their little clicks, and we weren't sure where we fit in. Abbi and Gracie were usually good at making friends, but even they looked a little lost in this crowd. We had always been outsiders, but this felt like a whole new level.
As we walked further into the cafeteria, everyone stopped talking and stared at us like we were aliens. I felt apprehensive and was starting to rethink our decision to attend Ho, Ho, Ho Academy.
That's when three guys walked up to us. While I felt a little relieved that someone was being friendly to us, I was still skeptical.
"Hey there," a tall, dark-haired guy with a muscular build, chiseled jawline and warm, friendly smile said. His dark hair is styled perfectly, framing his face, and his silver eyes sparkle with joy and excitement. He has a certain charisma about him that draws people in and puts them at ease. "I'm Cristof Nicklaus. This here is Dane Poindexter and Jack Snow."
We introduced ourselves in return. “Hi, I’m Holli Jacobson. This here is Abbi Phillips and Gracie Knight.”
"Don't worry about everyone staring. They're just not used to seeing new faces. It’s nice to meet you ladies." Dane said with a chuckle.
He stood tall at around 6 foot 2 inches, with a lean, muscular build. His sharp, chiseled features, strong jawline and high cheekbones made it hard to look away from him. His rich, chocolate brown hair is styled in a messy, yet deliberate manner that gives him a rugged wild look. But what intrigues me the most is his soothing emerald eyes that seem to shift in intensity when he looks at Abbi.
His friend, Jack, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's a pretty tight-knit community here at Ho, Ho, Ho Academy. But we're always happy to welcome new members."
I tilted my head sideways and smiled as I assessed the guy who had just spoken. Jack Snow is a strikingly handsome warlock with a dangerous edge. He has jet-black hair that falls in messy waves around his angular face, giving him a mysterious and alluring appearance. His piercing eyes are a bright, icy blue that seems to glint with malice and mischief. And, he only has eyes for Gracie.
We smiled, feeling a little better about our situation. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all.
As Cristof, Dane, and Jack invited us to join them, the cafeteria resumed its usual bustle of activity. Abbi and Gracie started chatting with some Christmas Fae, while I lingered behind, taking it all in. Maybe we could make it through this after all, but the cynic in me doubted it.