Scarlett got up and was about to leave.


    “Believe me or not, things will happen, and you wille to me again. See you then.” The woman said slowly, with a mysterious smile on her face.


    Scarlett walked out of the hall without listening to the woman. She just wanted to leave that ce as soon as possible.


    “Child,” A voice that haunted the room stopped Scarlett from walking out of the shop.


    “A kind warning to your marriage. To start when there should be a start; to end when there should be an end. What brings you here is what leads you there.” Scarlett waspletely puzzled, and the weird fragrance made her dizzy. She rushed out of the shop and took a deep breath.


    “Where are you?” Familiar as always, Chuck’s voice reached Scarlett’s ears through the phone. Scarlett received his call right after she ran out from the strange fortune tellerdy’s shop.


    “I’m just strolling about on the street, why? What’s up?” Scarlett bought an Oreo gto from the ice cream stand and said.


    “Send me your location. I’ll be right there.” Chuck immediately got off the phone.


    Scarlett thought that Chuck was definitely in trouble; what was the big deal anyway? What was he so bothered about, and howe he had decided to absent himself from the important family reunion on Christmas?


    “What happened?” Scarlett asked him as soon as she got into the car.


    Chuck stepped on the gas, and the car shot out speedily.


    “Tiffany came to the family dinner.”


    Scarlett licked her gto a few times and then said with levity, “So?”


    “So I ran out! I don’t wanna see her smug ever again. She just makes me so sick.”


    Scarlett had already gotten used to Chuck’sints, and she thought it was just no big deal. She continued to enjoy her ice cream as if Chuck hadn’t said anything.


    Chuck was very annoyed and looked at her. “Say something, dude? Are you listening? What’s wrong?”


    “Fuck, I bum around on the street all alone on Christmas, and you’ve just got your tiny, little, stupid problem. Do you think you’re the one who needsfort and support? Can you even think about anyone but yourself? You’re so selfish.”


    “I’m sorry. So, why were you just around all on your own?” Chuck turned down his tune.


    “I actually had dinner with Skyler, but he went back to school ’cause theirb had some kinda emergency. Honestly, if you got really pissed off, why not call those sexy hotties that always chased you around and have fun with them? I can’t help you; you’vee to the wrong person for help. I got my hands tied, and there is nothing I can do to help.”


    “Be a  friend, Scarlett.” Chuck was fed up with Scarlett’s strange tone.


    Scarlett smirked and said, “Then let’s go to the fireworks show!”


    “What?!” Chuck almost got choked.


    “Jones Beach; let’s go now!”


    Chuck reluctantly drove the car to the beach. The firework shows had already started.


    Scarlett jumped off the car and rushed to the beach. Chuck didn’t follow after her, but instead, he just stood beside the car and watched Scarlett jump around on the beach alone.


    “Come here, stupid!” Scarlett waved at Chuck and said.


    “What is the beauty of pollutants anyway? I don’t really understand you, girls!” He murmured.


    “You never try to understand women, so you can never find true love, you understand me?”


    He smiled disdainfully. “I’ve tried. God knows how many stupid things I’ve done after I met you!”


    Scarlett ignored him. Instead, she became immersed in watching colorful, ring fireworks sparkling in the air. She liked fireworks because the fireworks represented, to some extent, her own attitude towards love and life. She believed that in the same way that fireworks are bright and dazzling for a few moments before they burn out, love and life are transient fantasies that should be enjoyed to the fullest while they’re around.


    Another firework burst into light in the sky, Scarlett turned to Chuck and said,Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    “To our lousy Christmas.”


    “And a crappy new year.”


    Chuck held Scarlett’s shoulders and looked at her seriously.


    “You know… maybe I wouldn’t mind spending my life with you after all…”


    Scarlett looked up at him and said,


    “You know, I think I finally figured out why every romantic scene in the movies happens when there are fireworks around. In the movies, everyone’s always kissing each other and falling in love with fireworks in the background…” She trailed off.


    “But that magic isn’t really doing anything for me. Oops!”


    Chuck snorted and withdrew his arms from Scarlett. “She’s a real wet nket, always.” He thought to himself.


    Scarlett snickered. She actually felt grateful. Though Chuck came to her on Christmas just for advice and help, she felt d to have someone who could offer her some warmth andpany, she found herself alone. She had always acted like a tough little monster, but deep inside, she was soft and vulnerable. She grieved, and she needed love and affection just like anyone else.


    ***


    After the show, Scarlett jumped back into the car and immediately turned the heating on. It had been freezing outside. Her face had be pale, and there was no feeling in her toes and fingers; her body had gone numb.


    Chuck’s cellphone rang even before he had started the car engine. He took a nce at the caller’s name, and his face turned sour. He answered the phone and hung it up just a few secondster.


    “They’re calling you home?”


    Chuck nodded.


    Scarlett beamed at him and said, “Then just go. It’s no big deal, bro. Let’s face the music. You just have an act as if you don’t care about her or the stupid marriage. If you’re cold and heartless enough, and she finds it impossible to impress you and melt your stony heart, I bet she’ll just leave you of her own ord! You won’t even have to do anything to make her leave.”


    Chuck took a look at Scarlett, and suddenly an idea struck his mind.


    “Then how about we let her witness her fiancée bringing another woman back home on Christmas? That’ll hurt her more than anything else in the world. Thank you for your advice, Scarlett! You’re a genius!”