Zeke

"Oh, h-hey Alicia!" Jared said. His hair was all askew, and dark circles lurked under his eyes. It appeared finals hadn't been kind to him.

Alicia just stared at him.

"I'm so sorry!" he continued. "I was running late, I didn't see you there—"

"Whatever," Alicia snapped, waving off his apology. A chill had settled over her expression, all her warmth gone. Even her blush had faded. "Don't worry about it."

"I really am sorry," he continued before his eyes sliding to the guy beside her. His eyes went wide.

"Zeke?"

"Hey, Jared!" Zeke said cheerily. "Long time no see."

Alicia shot him a horrified look.

What? Zeke wondered, frowning back at her. Did she not think I knew Jared?

Jared had been Celeste's boyfriend for two years. Of course, he knew him. Jared tagged along for a few weeks when Celeste returned home for the summer, and they ended up getting along great.

He actually liked Jared and had always thought he was an excellent match for Celeste. He came from a good family, got good grades, had ambition... Jared was the kind of guy that was going somewhere. Zeke had to admit that he had been disappointed to hear that he and Celeste had broken up. At least it hadn't been anything dramatic.

Zeke offered his hand to Jared.

Jared eagerly took it and leaned forward to give him a bro-hug. Alicia looked on, her horror only growing. Zeke wanted to roll his eyes at her dramatics. Did she hate him just because he was Celeste's ex? That seemed childish. But he guessed he shouldn't be surprised...

"What have you been up to?" Jared asked as he pulled away. "Last I heard, your company got a big fat round of funding. That must be exciting!"

"Y-Yeah," Zeke replied, his smile faltering. "About that..."

One of the reasons they'd bonded so well was that Jared had taken an interest in his company. If Zeke still had that company, he would've hired Jared right out of school.

When he figured out his next project, he still might.

"It's not actually 'my' company anymore. I took a buyout."

Jared's mouth fell open in shock. "Really? That company was your baby..."

Zeke fought off a wince, keeping his smile in place. "Yeah, well, now I'm onto new things."

"Whatever that is, I'm sure you'll succeed at it," Jared said. "Any ideas of what you'll do next?"

"Not yet," Zeke said, eager to change the subject. "What about you? What have you been up to?"

"Oh yes, Jared," Alicia interjected, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do tell us what you've been up to this past year."

Alicia butting in made the two guys realize it wasn't just another bro out. Jared turned around and spotted Celeste and Sterling standing just behind him. The blood drained from his face.

Celeste gave Jared a shaky smile, while Sterling didn't even react. Zeke wondered what the icy reception was for. He hadn't heard anything about Celeste and Jared's breakup being contentious... But if someone like Sterling was involved, then it probably was.

Jared shrank back. "I-I haven't been up to anything exciting," he said, his voice flat. "School, studying, y'know. No time for much else."

"Yeah, I remember my final year being hectic, too."

"I-It sure is," Jared agreed, dropping his gaze. "Sorry, I've... I've really got to go. But it was nice seeing you, Zeke." He started to step away, inch back towards the crowd.

"Hey, we should meet up for coffee while I'm in town," Zeke called after him. "You still have my number, right?"

Jared glanced back. "Uh, yeah. Sure."

He gave one last wave and dove back into the crowd, disappearing in seconds.

"Of course you like Jared," Alicia muttered under her breath.

Zeke shook his head. His sister and her friends had basically just chased the poor guy off. "Jared's a great guy—someone with potential."

None of them reacted well to that. Alicia glared, Sterling frowned, and Celeste flinched.

They knew what he meant by that.

Jared had potential... and Sterling didn't.

Zeke squared his jaw. He wasn't sorry for saying it. It was true.

Sterling put his hand on Celeste's shoulder and pulled her away towards a nearby booth selling Christmas knick-knacks made with stained glass.

Alicia clicked her tongue and just shook her head. "Well done."

"What?" Zeke challenged, feeling pretty annoyed now. "Am I not allowed to like Jared?

Alicia just stared at him like he had a brand new hole in his head. "He broke up with Celeste."

"So?" Zeke shot back. "She's clearly moved on, so what's his crime? He's a good guy, a guy with actual..."

"Potential?"Alicia finished for him with a sneer.

"Yeah, actually. If he and Celeste were still together, they really could've made something of themselves."

Alicia let out a sharp laugh.

"You are so blind! Jared may have all the so-called potential in the world, but he broke Celeste's heart," she snapped. "Sterling was the one that put it back together."

Zeke was taken aback.

Jared broke Celeste's heart?

Judging by that last interaction, he would've thought the opposite had been true. He hadn't thought their breakup had been that bad. His parents hadn't mentioned it much.

If she was here, she'd agree with him—

The thought of her sent a sharp stab of pain through his chest.

He had his own broken heart to worry about.

He looked over at his sister and Sterling. They were still at the booth selling stained glass and laughing over a chubby bear figurine.

They did seem happy together...

Had Sterling really put his sister's heart back together?

Seeing them like this reminded him of how he had been with...

Another stab of pain as a memory flashed through his mind.

His penthouse apartment, the city glittering below. Distant voices. He calls out to her... but she doesn't respond.

Maybe she didn't hear him.

Maybe she left the TV on.

Maybe she has a friend over...

He heads deeper into the suite, looking for her.

He snapped out of the memory and grimaced.

"Put her heart back together?" Zeke said, his tone snide. "How sweet. But you can't survive in this world on love alone."

Alicia bristled, her face flushing for a different reason. "And what's the point of 'surviving' in the world without it?"

"Love doesn't last forever."

"It can."

Zeke scoffed. "Don't be so sure."

"And how would you know?"

With the memory still raw in his mind, Zeke's temper flared.

"Damn it, Alicia," he shot back. "Let it go! Isn't it enough that I'm here? Isn't it enough that I'm tolerating the loser?"

Alicia's eyes went wide, and then they looked over his shoulder.

Zeke's gaze followed.

Celeste and Sterling overheard that, too. Sterling's face was like stone, impenetrable, but something was seething in his eyes. Celeste, however, just looked crushed all over again. Her eyes shone as though she was trying to hold back tears.

Zeke felt a rush of shame. He hated to hurt his sister. He knew his opinion still meant a lot to her. But he couldn't give her what she wanted—his approval. The only reason his approval was worth anything was because he did not give it easily. He knew all too well the pain that could follow if you put your trust in the wrong person... the wrong people.

If he could protect her from that, he would.

"No," Alicia mumbled. "It isn't enough."

Zeke turned back to her, confused.

As their eyes met, the ember in her dark eyes seemed to spark to life, lighting a flame within her. She looked as though she was about to do something crazy...

She raised her arm...

Zeke flinched, worried that Alicia might hit him.

But instead, her hand shot into the air.

"Hey, Herb!" she sang, beckoning to his dad.

Herb and Lydia turned away from the booth where they were shopping, looking at her with confusion.

"What is it, Alicia dear?" his dad called back.

Alicia dropped her arm, pointing at something just over Zeke's shoulder.

"Have you seen this poster?"

Zeke turned to get another look at the poster. THE WINTER GROVE GAMES, cheesy family event—

The pieces of realization started to slide into place.

No, she wouldn't...

She couldn't...

"What poster?" his dad said, pushing past him to get a look for himself. "The Winter Grove Games, huh? That sounds like fun..."

His mom joined them. "Games? What is it, some kind of competition?"

"Bring the whole family together with fun and festive games!" his dad read directly from the poster.

"What do you think?" Alicia asked, her voice sugary-sweet. "Do we want to sign up?"

"No, I don't want—" Zeke started.

But no one seemed to hear him.

"Celeste, darling!" his mom called, waving at his sister, who was still looking at stained glass. "Come here and look at this!"

Celeste looked hesitant but took Sterling's hand and led him back over. Neither of them looked at Zeke.

"What is it?" Celeste said as she leaned in to read the poster, too.

As Sterling took it in, his face fell. He whipped around to look at Alicia, staring daggers at her. Alicia avoided his sharp gaze, focusing instead on Celeste.

"What do you think?" she asked her best friend. "Looks like fun, right?"

"It does," Celeste said, sounding unsure until her eye fell on the final line. "Wait, the winner gets to light the star on the big tree at the Christmas Eve Ball? Oh my god! I want to do that!" She turned back to her boyfriend. "What do you say, Sterling? Can we sign up?"

Zeke glanced at Sterling, hoping his deadly glare at Alicia meant he might object, too. There was no way she could force both of them to participate. For once, Zeke felt a shred of camaraderie with the steely Sterling—

But as soon as Celeste looked up at Sterling, her green eyes sparkling, his glare melted away.

"Of course," he agreed. "If it'll make you happy."

Celeste gave a happy squeal and reached up to kiss him on the cheek. Sterling just smiled back at her.

Zeke faltered.

Was Sterling really so devoted to Celeste?

He noticed his parents were staring at him while Alicia looked on with a devilish grin. He glanced between them all, fearing the worst.

"What do you say, son?" his dad asked, his face bright. "Up for a little fun with the family?"

He'd been outnumbered again. "I... I don't..."

"Oh, please, Zeke?" his mom pleaded. "It's just a few events."

He squared his jaw. He didn't have to play along with this. He opened his mouth to object—

The speakers overhead sparked to life. A booming voice echoed out.

"It's time to gather round for the Christmas Tree Light Up! The countdown will start in ten minutes! So, find your places!"

"Ooh, we better go find a good spot!" his mom cried. "Come on!"

Before Zeke had a chance to say anything more, his mother grabbed his wrist and started pulling him toward the giant tree that loomed over the festival. Laughter followed after him. He looked back and saw his father laughing with Alicia, who shot him one last smug look.

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