Wish Upon A Star Chapter 3

by Susan C. on December 17, 1999 at 11:35:57:

Hi everyone. Sorry I haven’t updated in a while but last Sunday my computer monitor blew and I haven’t had time to get a new one with all the Christmas shopping I had to do. I decided that today on my lunch break I would write a chapter and post it for the weekend. This is the next chapter of my adaptation of the movie the Christmas List that aired on the Fox Family Channel on December 8th at 8 pm Eastern time. I’m using the scene where they race to put the Christmas List into the mailbox at the Santa display at the store here but other than that everything that happens here did not happen in the movie. Enjoy.

Chloe hummed a to herself as she wrote out her Christmas List. There was something magical in the air this year and she knew that if she dreamed and wished hard enough her life would change. She also knew that if she could convince Brenda and Lois to dream as well good things would come to them. It had to, after her Uncle Herbert had died living with her Aunt Gertrude was a nightmare and all Chloe wanted to do was be able to support herself enough so that she could get out from under her thumb. Gertrude was pushing her to marry an unforgivably boorish man that Chloe couldn’t stand simply because he was wealthy. Of course, the only reason she was pushing for the union was because Gertrude in her greed had already gone through poor Uncle Herbert’s inheritance money and, as Chloe’s guardian had also gone through what he had left for Chloe leaving her penniless. Since Gertrude was living in debt it was up to Chloe to support herself and squirrel away money for her dream, her own fashion line. She already had notebooks filled with designs for all occasions tucked away in her closet. If she could only get the right backing and someone to look at those designs she was certain she’d be set. With a sigh Chloe folded up her completed list and tucked it into her purse before turning out her light. Music soared up from the first floor, evidence of another one of Gertrude’s expensive parties. She only wished that her dreams would take her out of her world if only for the night.

Brenda sat alone in her apartment. Christmas music played on the CD player Lois had bought her for her birthday that year. As she stared at the blank piece of paper in front of her she pondered what Chloe had said earlier. There was no harm in dreaming was there? After all, life couldn’t get any worse than it all ready was. Picking up her pen Brenda quickly filled out a few things on her list, folded it and tucked it into the pocket of the pants she was going to wear the next day. A modeling contract, she sighed, all she wanted was for someone to think she was beautiful and tell her that she was. With dreams in her heart Brenda closed her eyes a fell asleep.

“Ma I’m going to bed! “

Lois screamed to her mother down the hall and shook her head when she heard laughter in response. Her mother and father had been married happily for 37 years and right now they were downstairs in the pizza parlor. Cleaning had been done for the night and her father had dropped some money into the juke box and when the Etta James song At Last had come on he had spun her mother into his arms and started dancing. Lois smiled as she shut her bedroom door and sat down at her desk. She loved her family so much. Her parents were always there for her and she chewed on the end of her pen for a minute. There were only two things she wanted for herself for Christmas and as she scrawled them onto the paper. A smiled spread across her lips as she thought of her two best friends and the raw deals they had been handed in their lives. After adding two more things to her list she tucked it into her purse and started getting ready for bed. If the fates had any kindness in them at all they would give Chloe and Brenda a break for the holidays.

Brenda, Chloe and Lois eyed each other speculatively as they walked into the store from the employee break room the next morning. Each of them was wondering what the others had put on their lists or if they had actually completed the list. With a grin on her face Chloe turned to her two best friends and smiled.

“Well, did you do it? “

Chloe pulled her list out of her purse and held it up. All three girls grinned as the others followed suit.

“Okay, “

Brenda laughed and handed Chloe her list just as Brenda did.

“so I guess in some way we all still believe in Santa Claus. “

“Of course we do. “

Lois was watching Chloe’s face intently. There was something going on in that crafty mind of hers.

“Chloe what are you up to? “

“Who me? “

Trying to feign innocence Chloe got ready to carry out the next part of her plan.

“Yes you. “

Lois put her hands on her hips in a gesture much like one her mother was always using with her but she wouldn’t admit it if someone told her that.

“I’m not up to anything. “

Chloe starting backing slowly away from Brenda and Lois with the lists in her hands judging the distance between her and the giant mail box by the Santa house. Just before her friends realized what she was doing Chloe took off.

“Chloe DON’T YOU DARE!!!! “

Lois and Brenda took off after Chloe racing across the store. Customers in their path ducked out of the way before the three laughing girls could barrel them over. Chloe leapt up on the platform that had been set up for Santa and with a war whoop dropped the wish lists into the mail box. Brenda and Lois stood on the floor below her and glared at her.

“Chloe Morgan you get those out of their. “

“I will not! “

With a turn and a swivel Chloe bowed to the group of children already waiting for Santa who were cheering her.

“Thank you, thank….”

Chloe’s last word trailed off into a scream as her foot missed the edge of the platform and she started falling.

Jerry and Jacks had been walking through the store when Chloe, Brenda and Lois raced past them. Puzzled they had decided to follow the three girls they had spent most of the day before researching.

They couldn’t help but smile when they saw Chloe drop three pieces of paper one at a time in the mailbox. Shooting each other amused looks the two brothers stood aside while Chloe did her victory dance on the platform.

Jerry’s heart stopped as he saw Chloe’s foot misjudge the distance on the platform. Without thinking he rushed forward and caught Chloe in his arms as she fell. Both of them landed on a heap on the floor. Chloe sprawled out on top of him. Her ankle twisted beneath his leg as they lay in a tangle of bodies.

“ Are you okay? “

Brenda and Lois rushed forward to help Chloe up when they noticed the man under her. Neither he nor Chloe were moving and they had both turned to look at each other.

“Thank you. “

“You’re quite welcome. “

Jerry adjusted Chloe from his lap onto the floor and took his first good look at her. She was beautiful. Her blonde hair was pulled back with butterfly hair clips and her eyes brown eyes were widened with shock. He felt a tug of desire shoot through him and new the instant it happened for her as well. Shaking his head he got to his feet and offered her his hand. She took it nervously but when she went to stand she cried out in pain.

“Whoa. “

He sat her on the edge of the podium she had just fallen off and propped her foot up on his leg. It was already starting to swell up.

“Ms. Barrett, could you get me some ice please? “

Brenda’s mouth dropped open.

“How do you…”

Jerry smiled at Chloe and her heart melted a little more.

“Let me introduce myself. “

“Brenda, Chloe and Lois I’m Jerry Jacks and standing directly behind you Brenda is my little brother Jax. “

If the floor could have opened her up and swallowed her whole Brenda would have wished for that. Holding her breath she and Lois turned around and nearly fell over themselves. Standing in front of her was one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen in her life. His eyes were sparkling and a smile was spread across her face. How could this be happening to her?

“Oh God…”

Brenda’s face turned ashen as she turned back to Chloe and Jerry. Lois regarded Jax first and then turned back around.

“Well, this is embarrassing. “

Lois shook her head and ran off to get some ice.

Chloe was finding it difficult to breathe as Jerry felt around her ankle to see if anything was broken.

“Looks like it’s just a sprain, but I think you should probably see a doctor just the same. “

Jerry lifted Chloe into his arms and she gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck. Their eyes met and she tried not to melt into them.

“Let’s get you upstairs shall we? I think your friends should come too and then we can discuss what just happened here. “

Brenda’s face got even whiter and when she tried to turn and walk away Jax directed her towards the elevator. Jerry turned to the security guard who had shown up and smiled.

“Could you please show Ms. Cerullo to our office when she returns with the ice? “

The guard nodded and Brenda held her breath as she, Chloe, Jax and Jerry got into the elevator. This was it, was all she could think, the final step that was going to prove to her that things could indeed get worse then they already were. She was going to lose her job and her apartment and be living on the streets before the new year. As the elevator inched up towards the top floor of the store she closed her eyes and wished fervently that she was anyplace else but on an elevator with the Jacks Brothers.