Joyuex Noel, Cerise (story)

Cherry was on Winter Break from school. Which meant she had more free time, which made cold, dark Forte feel all warm and light inside. He of course was very stoic and kept his emotions, especially his feelings for Cherry, hidden, very well. He sounded like he was in pain when he would speak though, but Cherry was the very same as him. They were both very depressed together, but still considered each other as friends. Forte wanted to be more than a friend to Cherry, but she was very young and unaware of his affections for her. Forte watched Cherry walk across the white, crunchy snow and she walked right in without knocking.

"Good day, Cerise, I trust you had a good day at school?" Forte asked, trying to keep a good mood, even if he knew it was hopeless.

"Meh." Cherry spat and walked across the emerald church floor and sat on the bench with her hands in her pockets.

Forte followed and sat down beside her. He avoided her chocolate death stare in her eyes, and played a slow, heartbreaking tone. Cherry looked up with half-interested. She did not frown with anger, nor did she smile at all, but her face was just more pleasant and calm. Forte noticed her glance and smirked at her, then continued to play. Once he finished, he rested to show he was done, and Cherry slowly clapped.

"Cerise, you approve?" Forte asked.

"What a wonderous, hopeless sonata," Cherry smirked. "You must be very proud of your achievement. When did you write this?"

"Actually Cerise, I've known this piece for a while back," Forte looked into her eyes. "Ever since... Christmas in 1784..."

"1784..." Cherry said to herself, quietly. She then did a little math in her head, straining her brain. "That was 10 years before the castle you lived in was cursed and Adam turned into a beast."

"Indeed," Forte sharply sighed. "He didn't like it as a Christmas present though... He threw down Lumiere's storybook gift and demanded something better from me, so I played him that little piece written in his honor."

"Why didn't he like it?"

"He said my stuff was gloomy."

Cherry rose an eyebrow. "And...?"

"Adam was always such an ungrateful little brat," Forte grumbled, but sighed. "I loved it, but... No one understands my music... Well, no one of good taste."

"I liked it, Maestro." Cherry told him with slight emotion in her voice.

Forte couldn't believe Cherry was actually in a good mood. Sure, her mood earlier was a little frightening, but she was still pretty chipper. She probably changed due to being friends with him. Forte then shook his thoughts to make Cherry feel she wasn't being ignored by the only other person in a room with her. "Merci, Cerise." he uttered out with a smile.

"You're welcome..." Cherry then asked a question which haunted Maestro Forte for a very, very long time. "Maestro, I have to know... Why did you try to do what you did all those years ago?"

Forte's eyes widened, then they hardened. "You remember that, huh?" he growled.

"Well... Yes... I'm sure Adam and Belle, do, but-"

"I believe I told you not to mention those two when you're around me!"

"Calm down, Maestro, I just thought-"

"WELL DON'T!"

"Forte..." Cherry's eyes widened at his sudden rage toward her.

Forte noticed her fear, even though she was trying to hide it. He remembered the very similar look in her eyes from when she was nearly psychological traumatized all those years ago. He felt an aching heart pange of guilt and tried to soften his expression. "I-I'm sorry, Cerise..." he gulped. "Why don't we talk about Christmas presents, huh?"

"You know what?" Cherry sighed. "Don't bother..." she hopped from the organ bench and went to her house slowly and drearily.

Forte got up to stop her, but Cherry slammed the door closed. The court composer watched her leave and felt very sick to his stomach because of what he had done to her. Cherry was now her usually gloomy self and it was all his fault because he couldn't control his anger toward what he did at midnight.

Cherry ignored her parents' greetings to her and just threw herself on her bed and cracked open her private journal. Meanwhile, at the church, Forte felt completely guilty of his outburst. He had to make this up to Cherry somehow. It wasn't Cherry's fault he did what he did, it wasn't Cherry's fault he hated Belle with a black-hearted passion, it wasn't her at all. The only good that came out of Belle visiting the castle was that Cherry was there too and Cherry was the most interesting human had ever met.

"What am I going to do," Forte sighed, burying his face in his hands. "She probably hates me now... What could I get her? A song? No, I do that too much... But, what does she like? Think Charles, think!" Forte rubbed his head, thinking of the perfect present for Cherry. He then noticed how adorable she was, yet she never wears jewelry or dresses, and he collected some money together.

Forte quickly gathered as much money he could collect, a total of exactly $100. He then took the money together and walked into town as he looked at the various shops. A lot of dresses he thought would look good on Cherry were too pricey, even too much for her high school prom dress. He then saw a jewelry store with some pretty great items on sale. He walked in and saw the fancy dressed jeweler.

"May I help you, sir?" the jeweler asked.

"Yes, how much can I get for $100?" Forte asked.

"You can get this entire box of a collection of rubies, emeralds, pearl necklaces and cubic zirconium earrings." the jeweler displayed a diamond encrusted jewelry box with the items he listed.

"That's perfect!" Forte smiled as he held the box in his hands. "Could you wrap this up to for the holidays?"

"Of course, sir, pick a wrapping paper?" the jeweler showed the different types of wrapping paper.

There was pine tree green, ruby-red, gold, silver, and white with colorful balloons. Forte examined them all and pointed to the green one for one of the festive colors of the treasured holiday of Christmas. He then picked the red ribbon to wrap up all together. The jeweler happily wrapped up the jewelery box and handed the court composer the finished product.

"Merci, beaucop." Forte smiled and signed his name on the sticker and handed the jeweler his money.

"Your welcome, sir." the jeweler waved him off. "Happy Holidays!"

"Joyuex Noël!" Forte waved and held the box tight and didn't go anywhere else until he walked back up to the church.

Forte kept the present with him and was a little disappointed Cherry hadn't come to visit him on days before Christmas. He felt he might have deserved it because he yelled at her for mentioning Belle and Adam. Finally, it was midnight after a long day of December 24th. Forte couldn't wait until later on in December 25th to give Cherry her present from him. He then grabbed his emergency key Chester and Naomi gave him, unlocked Cherry's front door and walked in.

Forte tip-toed around to make sure no one was awake. He heard Cherry's parents snoring and sleeping soundly and Cherry's bedroom door was closed. He spotted the well decorated tree in the corner of the living room and noticed all the blue presents with Cherry's names on them. Forte smiled and placed his present at the top of the present tower. He then still felt icky inside and gently cracked Cherry's bedroom door open and saw her snuggled up with her childhood teddy bear and sleeping soundly. There was slight drool escaping her mouth and drenching her pillow and fluffy bear. She was shivering slightly. Forte pulled the comforter closer over top of her, making her warm and snuggly, he then gently kissed her forehead and left without a word, gently closing the door behind him.

Christmas morning came. Cherry was awake with her visiting brother, Charlie, and they happily wrapped open their presents while Naomi took pictures and Chester played around with his stocking. Cherry received a lot of new clothes, comic books, Gothic Horror novels, movies and then took out the last present. She saw the last present reading:

To: Cerise
From: Maestro Forte

Cherry opened to see it was a jewelry box from her mentor. Cherry didn't say anything, but she was smiling as she had a Merry Christmas with her family. Also Forte, even if he wasn't there to witness it. She was sure the both of them would soon have a Happy New Year as well.