Holidays are Hell

The parking lot was still full of people rushing about, but now they were all headed in the same direction, toward the row of floats parked at the edge of the lot. Jill and Nick joined the herd, making their way to the middle float that held the small wooden building with the sign "Santa's Workshop" on it. It was a shed really, but quite charming with all its decorations and left plenty of room for the big black bag with gift-wrapped boxes falling out, the fake reindeer standing around and Santa's chair. There were already several people on the float, not one of them taller than four feet. Santa's elves.

"Up we go," Nick urged as they approached the steps that had been wheeled up to the side of the float.

Murmuring a thank you, Jill scampered up the stairs, her gaze slipping nervously around the parking lot as she went, eyes searching for John. While he shouldn't be able to recognize her as she was, she couldn't help fearing that he would.

"This way, cutie," Jay said cheerfully, leading her toward Santa's chair. "You and Nick stand here and smile and wave."

"Thanks Jay," Jill murmured, following him.

"No problem." He grinned widely and then wiggled his eyebrows and said, "So, if you aren't doing anything later, maybe we could get together and I can show you why us elves are so popular with the ladies."

"Scram Jay," Nick said firmly, joining them at the chair.

"Ah, come on, Nick. Don't be such a spoil sport," the elf complained. "Why should you get all the babes? Anyway, I thought you were interested in Jill. Don't take it out on me because she stiffed you today and didn't show."

Jill glanced sharply at Nick, her heart leaping with hope when she saw the blush on his face. It seemed he was interested in her… but then why hadn't he done anything about it?

"Ignore him," Nick suggested. "He's a rude little bugger, but has a good heart for the most part."

"So you aren't interested in Jill?" she asked, unable to help herself.

Nick was silent long enough she didn't think he'd respond, but then he muttered, "Like I said, just ignore him."

She was frowning over that, when he said, "I don't know how much Jill explained to you, but the deal is there are boxes of candy canes and treats in the shed. There are two trays. One out here," he gestured to the large tray overflowing with candy canes and toys on the small table beside the throne, then waved to the "workshop." "And one inside that the elves are supposed to use to keep the tray loaded. We throw them to the crowd."

Jill nodded.

"There's also a gas heater in the shed to warm up by if you get too cold, but try to stay on deck as much as possible. The kids want to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Okay?"

His glance at her costume suggested he suspected she'd spend more time in the shed than out of it. Feeling self-conscious and stupid, Jill tugged the cape tighter around her, more to hide than because she felt cold.

The truth was Jill wasn't feeling as cold as she knew she should. It was almost at freezing temperature and she should have been shivering in the chill air, but wasn't. Claire and Kyle hadn't seemed to suffer from the heat or cold like other people since being zapped though, so she supposed it had something to do with that.

A shout from the end of the parking lot drew her attention. Bev was at the head of the first float in the parade, waving her arms and gesturing.

"We're about to start," Nick said. "You might want to hang onto this to keep from losing your footing when the float starts moving. You'll get used to the motion quickly, but the first movement might startle you."

Jill moved to his side and took hold of the back of the chair, knowing he was right. Her gaze slid over the float as they waited to move forward, noting that everyone was now on board. There were six elves on their float. Three were children of store owners who'd volunteered to be elves, and the other three were adults, Jay and two of his friends, both little people like himself.

The float started forward, sending everyone swaying where they stood. Once in motion however, Jill quickly adjusted and was able to stand unaided.

"Okay?" Nick asked as she released the chair back she'd been clinging to.

Jill nodded and offered a smile. "Fine."

"Good." He scooped out a handful of candy canes and whatnot from the tray and passed them to her. "Just smile, wave, and toss treats to the kids."

They worked in silence at first, smiling and waving and throwing candy, but Jill found herself repeatedly glancing toward Nick. This wasn't how she'd expected the day to go. Every time they were together they tended to chat up a storm. She'd rather expected this day to go the same, the two of them laughing and chatting and sharing secret smiles as they tossed the candy and waved, but she wasn't Jill today, she was Noelle, and Nick didn't seem interested in talking to her.

Jill supposed she should be glad. After all, she'd taken on the appearance of a model most men would be drooling over, yet Nick hardly seemed to notice she was there.