Human-guy nodded. “Who doesn’t?”

“Are you something to do with the film, then?” I paused. “Although if it’s a ‘no’, then this is a really weird place to have ended up.”

He laughed. “Long story. But short answer is yes. Elijah roped me into this last minute. Well, more gave me zero option…” He trailed off. “And what about you? Or is this is your usual Molly-on-a-weekend look?”

I nodded. “One hundred per cent. Every Saturday. Why wear—” But I stopped. “Sorry, how do you know my name?”

Was Elf Girl recognizable, even under all this?

“Elijah mentioned you, that’s all…” He shrugged. Did he look awkward or was it me projecting? “I’m Harry, by the way. And you didn’t finish. What’s your film connection? Or are you just a mega-fan?”

I didn’t want to go into any detail. “Also a long story. But not exactly a mega-fan, no. I haven’t even seen it yet. Been busy wrapping presents at the North Pole, all that stuff.”

Harry nodded solemnly. “Understand. It’s a hectic time of the year.” Truth was, a tiny bit of me had started to want to see the film. Just so I knew what everyone was talking about. But after that waitress had recognized me and Grace had confirmed views of the old music video were creeping up, a much bigger elf-shaped bit of me wanted to obliterate it from existence. “Although…” He sat down on the small wooden bench. “I thought everyone was dying to see Joseph D Chambers in action.” He pretended to swoon.

“Speak for yourself.”

“At least it means you’ve been spared sitting through that terrible, terrible title song.” I froze. “What kind of ridiculous family music ensemble could write such cheese?” A noise came out of me, slightly like a balloon deflating. But Harry laughed. “Joking, Molly. I know exactly who are you. Elijah filled me in. In fact” – he bounced his shoulders – “it’s kind of a tuuuune. Although that might just be because I’ve been brainwashed by hearing it a zillion times a day on TikTok.”

He’d been what?!

And why was he doing some kind of elfy-dance?

This couldn’t be happening!

I dropped my head so fast the bell swung round and whacked me in the eye.

“Tell NO ONE it’s me!” I knew Elijah was on a mission to reveal my identity, but even telling just one person felt too much already. “And for the record, I personally think the director must be out of his mind choosing that stupid song.”

Harry failed to hide a grin. “Out of her mind.” Cringe. “I’ll tell my mum you said that.”

Oh, jingle bells. His mum was the director?!

“Oh, man, I’m SO sorry. I didn’t mean it.” I mean, I did, but…

“No stress.” He held up his hand. “Team out-of-control parents, am I right?” OK, he got it. I laughed and slapped his hand. “Is that why you’re here on your own?”

“Nah. Elijah said there was only room for one. My best mate is somewhere down there.” I waved to where I was getting Grace vibes from. And, like we were psychically linked, my phone vibrated. I fished it out.

Grace: Don’t panic. But … no, in fact do panic.

Grace: In fact. JUST RING ME.

“PHOOOOOONES AWAY!!!!” Elijah bellowed as we trundled past the bottom of the circle. I shoved it down my elf sock. “I can still see the GLOW!!!!” he yelled again, shining a torchlight right in my eyes. “OFFFFFF.”

Fine! I switched it off. But I needed to ring Grace. If this was Simon-related, I was going to kill him. I could see the headline now:

ELF GOES ON RAMPAGE.

OK. Why was that making me feel happy? Maybe I was about the rampage life after all?

“You OK?” Harry looked concerned.

“Hypothetical question: if I murdered someone looking like this, do you think I’d get away with it?”

He thought for a second. “I think the mugshots would be very interesting.”

I laughed, and chatting away, the hour passed way quicker than I thought it would, and it took me by surprise when the brass band marched onstage playing Christmas carols for the grand finale. And as they worked their way through “Silent Night” and “Once in Royal David’s City” – the lights twinkling and crowd swaying – Harry and I stopped speaking and just listened, looking out over the water. Harry and I stayed silent until the very last note of the very last song. And for a second, way up in the sky, I pressed pause on all the thoughts that were stressing me out. Grace’s message. Elf Girl. The Grotto. The lyrics I hadn’t written for The POWR. And it was weird. In the hole they left, a new thought crept in.

Should I message Ru back?

But Harry was nudging me. “Photo?” We were at the very top of the wheel. “It’s the last circle, and Elijah can’t kill us when we’re three hundred feet up.”

I flinched.

“Don’t look like that. It’s just for us. And look.” Harry held his battered handset up. It was the same ancient model as my dad’s but had a Sleigh Another Day sticker on it. “This thing’s so old we’ll just be two blurs.”

“Fine.” I stood next him. “But one take only.”

He took it as I was still speaking.

How had Harry managed to get the perfect light on his face? His chin back, textbook smile. There was even fake snow behind him. But me? I was a blinking green person, who looked like they were mid-chew on a particularly challenging Christmas toffee. Oh well. I typed in my number so he could send it over and then it was time to say bye. I immediately rang Grace.

“Where are you? And are you OK?”

She sighed. A really long sigh. A really long happy sigh? “OK?! I just saw Joseph D Chambers, so, erm … slightly more than OK actually!”

Phew. She didn’t sound upset.

“So what’s up… No one posted any pictures of me, did they?”

“No! Not one. You’re in the clear.”

I did a celebratory dance-shuffle, much to the amusement of Harry, who had just walked back past. “So … what is it?”

“What it is … is…” Grace took a deep breath. “How do you think the village hall will cope with bringing the outdoors indoors?” She paused. “Mol, I MANAGED TO GET A SNOW MACHINE FOR THE PARTY.” Her voice wobbled as she jumped about. “Grampy G’s Grotto is going to go OFFF!!!!!”

I was so happy it was good news, not her being upset. But I couldn’t head off to celebrate with her until Elijah had given me the all-clear, so we agreed I’d ring once I was done and she would go with Dad and Tess to Wagamama, then come back to pick me up. First stop was the posh portaloos (that had full-length mirrors on the doors!), where I scrubbed at my green paint so hard I triggered a workout alert on my watch. When I finally looked more normal (although, I’d swapped bright green for bright pink), I headed to the production office and found Elijah leaning against a golf buggy.

“Hi,” I said. He didn’t even look up from his phone.

“Sooooo… You can say thank you now.” He was scrolling like his thumb was in a race. “Best view of the city, am I right?”

“Yeah, it was pretty cool actually.” I leant over to try and see the photos he was looking at. “How did all the press go?”

“Would have been better if I could have revealed who Little Elf Girl was.” He finally looked up. “Oh, and you decide to look like a normal human girl now, do you? Thanks so much.”

“Anytime.” I smiled.