“Are you ready to go? By the way- you have a red crayon behind your ear” Jimmy asked as he shrugged on his jacket, staring over at Ellen who was clearing up the last of the classroom. It had been an active day for them, and both of them were exhausted.

It was coming up to Thanksgiving and the children had been making cards to give to their parents. While Ellen had helped the children draw make-shift turkeys and reindeer, Jimmy had danced around the classroom singing ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and asking all the kids what they wanted for Christmas this year. He loved Christmas time- and Thanksgiving to him was like the dress rehearsal for Christmas.

“Doesn’t it make me look more creative?” Ellen asked as she tugged the crayon out of her hair, holding the little piece of wax in the palm of her hand. It was barely bigger than her index finger and as she looked around for the box the crayon had come from, Jimmy couldn’t help but smile. He still hadn’t admitted to himself that the two of them were dating, but it had been a unanimous decision. The best way for the two of them to move on was to find solace with each other.

They’d been spending a lot more time outside of the classroom together, and today he was going to take her out on their first proper date.

“I hate to disappoint you, El, but I think I win creativity wise. Who was the one who danced around the classroom and nearly broke his neck?”
“You’re the only person I know who could trip over a child. A whole child I tell you!” she said as she located the box and slid the crayon neatly in, glancing at all the other colours.

“I always thought the white crayon was a little bit of a misfit. Nobody really uses it, do they? It’s not as popular as the red one. I guess that makes me the white crayon” Ellen mused quietly as she stared down at the packet in her hands, refusing to meet Jimmy’s gaze.
He picked up her coat from the hook behind the door and walked over to her, narrowly avoiding tripping over a small wooden chair.

“El, I said this to your sister once, and now I’m going to say it to you- because it fits so perfectly. I wish you could see how beautiful you really are. You’re not the white crayon in the pack like you believe you are; the one that everyone looks over. Really- you are the red crayon, the one that stands out amongst the rest. To me anyway” he whispered as he draped her coat around her shoulders and leant down to kiss her lips, the same way he had when he’d said those words to Gabby

But that was then and this was now. He had to focus his love on Ellen, rather than on Gabby. He had to know that he was moving on.

“So where are you taking me tonight?” she asked as the two of them walked out to the parking lot where Jimmy’s car was parked. He tapped his nose secretively and opened up the passenger door for her before running around the car and slipping into his own seat.
“A magician never reveals his secrets” Jimmy replied as he drove out onto the main highway. He had found the perfect place to take her, right in the centre of his hometown. He loved it there, and he was sure that she would love it too.

“What can I say? It’s not like you’re going to tell me you’re Batman”
“How did you know?”

“What?”
“I mean…I’m not saying I am Batman- but have you ever seen me and Batman in a room together?”

Ellen giggled as Jimmy turned a corner and shut off the car, leaving her to stare up at where they were. They were at the beach, and some way along the shore, she saw a little bubble of bright light, like someone had put a hundred candles there or something.

“Come on- we’re here” Jimmy said as he stepped out of the car. When Ellen joined him, he slipped his hand in hers and the two of them walked along the beach, staring up the stars that littered the sky above them. It was such a beautiful scene, like something straight out of a movie.

“Close your eyes! I don’t want to ruin the surprise for you!” Jimmy said excitedly, jumping up and down on the spot like one of their children when they got excited about something, and with a little smile, Ellen obediently closed her eyes, letting Jimmy lead her to wherever he was taking her. As she stood a little blinded for a moment, when suddenly she stopped moving and Jimmy whispered,
“Open up”

As she opened her eyes, she couldn’t help but gasp slightly at the sight before her eyes. Hundreds of white candles littered the rocks and the sand, the flames flickering in the light breeze. In the background she could hear soft music floating out and when she turned to find Jimmy, she saw him holding out his hand.

“You wanna dance with me, El? I’ll warn you, I’m not that good a dancer” Jimmy said as he blushed a little, and she nodded taking his hand and letting him pull her into a little slow dance. For a moment, they slow danced in a comfortable silence, Ellen holding onto his arms tightly as the danced together. She loved how romantic he could be sometimes- and how much she wished her relationship was just like Brian and Zacky’s.

Maybe it would be…someday.

“Hey, Jimmy?”
“Yeah?”
“Did…did I ever tell you that I fell in love with you the first day I met you?”

For a moment, Jimmy smiled back at her and then suddenly he leant down and kissed her tenderly, wrapping his arms around her tiny little body. She tasted so sweet, her soft lips against his as they held each other underneath the moonlight.

“And did I ever tell you…I fell in love with you just now?” he replied softly and she smiled, leaning up to kiss him once again, her leg lifting up a little bit.
It was love. But he couldn’t help feeling so guilty.

What would Gabby say if she knew he was in love with her baby sister?