Disclaimer: The characters in this story do not belong to me. The plot was originally from a novel called “Secret Santa” by Sabrina James that I read and I decided to twist it a bit. I loved the plot, and decided to use it as a fan fiction. Happy Holidays everyone!

The Announcement:

To: The Students of Archangel Academy

Fr: Principal Mu La Flaga

Date: Friday, December 17

Subject: Christmas Cheers!

This year, the entire student body of Archangel Academy is participating in a school wide Secret Santa activity. The names of all the students will be placed in a drawing and every student on every grade level will pick out a name. Everyone MUST participate.

All presents must be appropriate. The limit for the presents can be no more than twenty dollars. You may give your person multiple presents during the week or a single present that may be given next Friday, when you reveal yourselves at the winter dance.

Names will be selected during lunch today at the cafeteria. A student chosen by the faculty will go around with a bag of names.

Happy Holidays!

Chapter One – Secret Santa

It was that time of the year again, when you nearly go bankrupt while buying all your friends and family presents for Christmas. For high school students, it’s both exciting and frustrating at the same time. Sales at the mall draw the attention of everyone and usually cause some kind of disaster, but that’s not the main concern.

No, money is the main concern. Students don’t earn much from their part time jobs, and sometimes their income doesn’t even begin to cover the expenses one pays to keep attending Archangel Academy. It’s a very expensive school. Most of the students were accepted through a scholarship program so the tuition is free, but when it comes to the supplies and books, that’s when they go bankrupt.

Lacus Clyne was making her list while sitting with her friends in the cafeteria eating the packed lunch she prepared that morning. It was chicken fettuccini Alfredo with toasted garlic pita bread. The scent of her meal had been making her mouth water all day long, even her best friend who currently stared at her food across the table.

“It’s not alive anymore, Cagalli. I cooked the chicken this morning and made sure it wouldn’t move.” Cagalli Yula Athha had been her best friend since elementary school. It all began when they started bonding over the box of crayons in the classroom. They were both curious at how many boxes of crayons existed in their classroom and when they finally had the courage to ask the teacher, they discovered that there were fifty eight packs. From then on they were inseparable, and those who knew them knew that they were best friends, although some still ask to confirm since their personalities are the extreme opposites.

The blonde from across the table stuck her tongue out. “You know I wasn’t glaring at the food, but I will stop staring if you give me some.” When Cagalli leaned over to snatch some of her friend’s lunch, she caught a glance of the pink pad and pen sitting next to her bag. “What’s that?” she pointed at it.

“Oh you mean this? It’s my Christmas list. I’m writing down the names of the people who I’m giving presents to.” She let her friend have a look at the list. So far she only had ten people, but the list will get longer in time.

Cagalli scanned the pink pad paper and grinned at the first name. It was her name and it made her proud and happy that she was first on her best friend’s list. But the smile quickly changed to a confused frown by the time she reached the bottom. “Who’s SS?”

“SS stands for Secret Santa. You got the note from the principal this morning, right?” Of course she had. Everyone knew about the Secret Santa gig and has been gossiping about it all morning long. Almost all of the students at Archangel Academy are excited about the activity.

Cagalli stared at the paper, and then frowned. “This idea is really stupid. I mean, how can they manage to keep track of who’s getting who with that many students? The whole school? At least do it by grade.”

Being the more optimistic and cheery one, Lacus smiled. “It’s a large group, but think of it this way. It’s a lot more exciting because you might now know who you get.”

Cagalli took a sip from her soda, not taking her eyes off her friend. “And how does that make it more exciting? That means you don’t know what to give the other person.”

Lacus shook her head. “No, but you get to find out who they are and in the process get some sense of adventure.” She was one of the people who were very excited at the prospect of giving gifts to someone and leaving hints and clues on who they are. But at the same time she was a little frightened too.

Cagalli sighed in defeat. “No one would take you for the adventurous type but me.” She rummaged through her bag and pulled out the sheet of paper that contained the information about the school-wide gift exchange.

“It says here that the limit for the presents can be no more than twenty dollars. You may give your person multiple presents during the week or a single present that may be given on Friday, when you reveal yourselves,” she read from the handout. “This is total madness! Not to sound like the Grinch or something, but that’s too much! Why can’t the limit be ten dollars?”

“Your present doesn’t have to be worth twenty dollars, Cagalli. Just as long as you don’t exceed that amount,” Lacus assured.

“You think anyone really listens to a limit rule? I just paid my tuition for this month and the loss still hurts,” Cagalli groaned. “I think this school is trying to bankrupt us.”

She had to suppress a giggle to prevent aggravating her friend. “Calm down Cagalli. It can’t be that bad. We’ll just work extra hours this week so we can afford presents. It’ll be fun!”

“This is really too much!” Cagalli rested her head stop her arm and glanced around the cafeteria. Her eyes narrowed when she swept through the doors. “Except maybe for some people.”

Lacus tilted her head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Cagalli cocked her head towards the cafeteria doors and Lacus saw what her friend had been glaring at. In walked the queen bee of the school, Flay Allster along with her two friends, Meer Campbell and Miriallia Haww. They saw the crowd part before them and make way toward the “cool” table.

Cagalli wanted to gag.

Lacus went pale.

The secret Santa gig gave them the opportunity to get to know other people and give them presents, but Flay and her friends aren’t just “other” people and there was still the possibility that either one of them could pick out her name or someone from her group. This was what had Lacus frightened. What if she picked someone who was impossible?

She watched as Flay approached her social group and wraps her arms around a very handsome boy with Brunette hair.

What if she picked Kira Yamato?

Lacus’ complexion turned three shades of red at the sight of Archangel Academy’s super sweet prince charming. It happened every time she caught a glance of him whether it was in the cafeteria line, the hallway or in class. He never failed to make her temperature rise a few degrees.

And snatch her attention.

“Earth to Lacus! You still there?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah…I’m sorry.” Cagalli followed the direction of her friend’s gaze and laughed. She knew about her crush on Kira Yamato since the seventh grade, but had never once done anything about it.

And it suddenly gave her an idea.

This whole Secret Santa gig could turn out to be fun after all, Cagalli thought. Fun, using Cagalli’s definition of the term. She supported her friend’s crush KiraYamato, but she hated his girlfriend, Flay. She had a few bones to pick with her. And if somehow Lacus could pick her name then they would have lots of fun giving her awful presents that would surely make her cry. Who knows they might even drive her out of school. This was the ultimate chance on getting revenge!

As Meyrin Hawke, a sophomore at Archangel, went around carrying the red velvet bag containing the names of all the students, she exposed her plan to Lacus.

“Are you crazy? There’s no way I can do that! And there’s no telling that I would pick out her name!” Lacus turned so pale she looked like she was about to pass out.

“It’s ingenious! We’ll finally be able to pay her back with how she treated us! Meyrin, over here!” She waved the girl over to their table.

Lacus began to panic. No, she didn’t want Meyrin to come over. The thought of picking out Kira’s name made her all flustered and nervous, but Flay? It made her shiver and frightened. She had to calm herself down. Cagalli was talking nonsense. Out of all those names, what are the chances that she’ll get her? Flay Allster is fierce with a capital F and someone she doesn’t want to get entangled with!

But it was too late to send Meyrin away and Lacus watched in horror as Cagalli fished out a name from the bag. After taking a piece of paper, she quickly glanced at it and stuffed it in her jeans pocket. Now it was Lacus’ turn.

She gulped. It took all her might to control her hand from shaking as she dipped her hand inside the velvet bag. It was warm inside and there were a lot of names. She glanced across the table and found Cagalli’s grin too intimidating. It rang with a message that was all too loud in her head: “Revenge!” Her hand swirled in the bag once, twice, before going for the kill. At last she pulled out a piece of paper and Meyrin moved on to the next table.

“Well, take a look at the name already. Who is it?” Cagalli prodded. “Did you get her?”

She was afraid. It was ridiculous to be nervous about flipping open a piece of paper, but she was scared. But after a minute, and a few deep breaths, she finally opened the flap and glanced at the name.

And froze in the spot.

Cagalli snatched the piece of paper from her friend’s still hands. One look at the name and it took all her might not to perform a victory dance at the spot. “Even better.”

The name etched on the paper, had been Kira Yamato.

Author's Note: Hope there aren't any errors! Well, I know I haven't updated, but I've been really busy. This is just something I thought of after reading the novel! Hope you guys like it. If yes, then I'll continue. I will continue Four Way No Way though! Promise!

In any case, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!